A Wildlife Agent Goes Undercover | The MeatEater Podcast | Ep. 655

A Wildlife Agent Goes Undercover | The MeatEater Podcast | Ep. 655

Steven Rinella talks with Ed Newcomer, Brody Henderson, Janis Putelis, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.

Topics discussed: Being a USFW Special Agent; trafficking wildlife; LA, NYC, and Miami hot spots; rescuing species, not animals; caviar trafficking; how the US lists globally endangered species; the Birmingham Rollers and roller pigeons; synchronized seizures; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; the hawk body; public shaming; the "Fish and Wild Guys"; elvers; the IUCN; the World’s Most Wanted Butterfly Smuggler; getting turned in by the criminal; the Queen Alexandra’s Bird Wing; serving Justin Bieber for his monkey; getting ambushed by duck hunters; and more.
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Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:08 Meet Ed Newcomer: A Retired Wildlife Agent
04:58 The Journey to Becoming a Federal Agent
08:15 Passion for Wildlife and Law Enforcement
12:56 Understanding Wildlife Trafficking Cases
16:41 The Role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
20:54 The Fascinating World of Roller Pigeons
24:43 Investigating Wildlife Crimes: A Case Study
32:58 Undercover Operations in the Roller Pigeon Community
39:58 Hunting and Wildlife Management Challenges
42:19 Coordinated Wildlife Law Enforcement Operations
44:44 Empowering Communities Against Wildlife Crime
45:41 Federal vs. State Wildlife Law Enforcement
49:47 Illegal Wildlife Trade and Restaurant Involvement
50:42 Trafficking of Native Wildlife
52:33 The Flow of Illegal Wildlife Trade
57:04 Port Inspections and Wildlife Trafficking
01:00:21 Undercover Operations in Wildlife Trafficking
01:07:20 The Butterfly Trafficking Case
01:18:22 Challenges of Undercover Work
01:19:44 Undercover Operations: The Butterfly Smuggler's Den
01:24:04 The Mind of a Smuggler: Insights and Strategies
01:30:13 The Art of Deception: Building Trust in Undercover Work
01:35:57 International Cooperation: Challenges in Wildlife Crime
01:40:07 The Risks of Undercover Work: Life on the Edge
01:52:55 Life After Undercover: Reflections and Future Endeavors