Scapegoat with Clare Follmann

In this episode, Michael talks with environmental writer Clare Follmann about her new book Scapegoat: What the Invasive Species Story Gets Wrong (AK Press) - and yes, we are talking about invasive species again, but this time with sharper teeth. Together they question the fantasy of eradication, unpack "plastic words" like management and health, and examine how invasive species rhetoric can distract from capitalism, climate disruption, and the systems actually reshaping our landscapes. From novel ecosystems to the ethics of killing in conservation, this conversation asks restoration practitioners to be more precise, more honest, and maybe a little less trigger-happy with the war metaphors. Because in a warming world, clarity matters - and not everything that spreads is the villain.

Clare Follmann https://clarefollmann.com

Scapegoat: What the Invasive Species Story Gets Wrong (AK Press):
https://www.akpress.org/scapegoat.html

Barred Owl Controversy (Referenced in Episode)

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Barred Owl Management Strategy:
https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owl-management

To Kill or Not to Kill? The Controversial Plan to Kill Half a Million Barred Owls https://www.earthlawcenter.org/blog-entries/2024/12/to-kill-or-not-to-kill-the-controversial-plan-to-kill-half-a-million-barred-owls

Grove & Grit Substack

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Intro/Outro Music by: Xander and The Grey Room