Christopher J Preston
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cjpreston.bsky.social
Christopher J Preston
@cjpreston.bsky.social
Writer, wildlife enthusiast, energy transition hawk, Montanan, author of Tenacious Beasts (2024 High Plains International Book Award winner for non-fiction).
Tune in tomorrow night (Wednesday) to PBS's Human Footprint: The Vanishing Act, and you'll see me in a cameo talking about extinction....and deextinction. 9 pm EST.

#HumanFootprintPBS #PBS #Nature #earth #anthropocene
#wildlife #documentary #naturalhistory
#extinction #NorthernWhiteRhinos
July 30, 2025 at 2:54 AM
So obviously immoral....
The shocking, violent reality of what bottom trawling does to the seabed and its creatures is filmed and shown for the first time in Ocean with David Attenborough. And then, after all that, three quarters of the catch is thrown away.

This is must-watch footage.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9...
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH | BOTTOM TRAWLING OFFICIAL CLIP | IN CINEMAS NOW | Altitude Films
YouTube video by Altitude Films
www.youtube.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:40 AM
About bloody time......
Fantastic news. Beavers belong Northern Hemisphere temperate landscapes. I wrote about England's start to bringing back beavers in "Water Always Wins," when guerilla beaverers were releasing the critters into streams to help with floods and droughts. 🌿🌎
Beaver releases into wild to be allowed in England for first time in centuries
Exclusive: Government to grant nature groups a licence for release of rodent species after earlier setbacks
www.theguardian.com
March 4, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The UK has so far to go to become comfortable with large carnivores. But as the evidence of their value builds, the tide will slowly shift. 🐺......(you heard it here first)

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Wolf reintroduction to Scotland could support substantial native woodland expansion and associated carbon sequestration
Our work shows reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands could help address the climate emergency. By controlling red deer populations, wolves would enable native woodlands to expand, capturing ....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 23, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Cows go 'moo,' right? But what other linguistically interesting things are going on? Turns out, there's plenty. Find out in my BBC Future story published today.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Stares and ear-twitches: The linguist learning to speak the expressive language of cows
Dutch scientist Leonie Cornips has become fascinated with how cows communicate. But can this really be called 'language'?
www.bbc.com
February 6, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It doesn't seem too far-fetched to imagine everyone would see the horrible cruelty in this and make changes to avoid it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Humpback whale entangled in rope at Skye fish farm
British Divers Marine Life Rescue say the humpback is caught up in rope and unable to swim freely.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Biotech has several roles in conservation - some seem good, while others are a bit questionable. My comments in this article are an attempt to thread the needle.
atmos.earth/a-new-geneti...
A New Genetic Life Support | Atmos
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biobank could shape how biotechnology will fit into mainstream conservation for centuries to come.
atmos.earth
January 30, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The headline is a bit dismissive of the issue, unfortunately. These cases deserve to be taken seriously.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Elephants are not people, rules Colorado Supreme Court
Judges ruled a bid to free five elderly African elephants from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was based on a law that only applied to humans.
www.bbc.com
January 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The myth that perfect deextinction is possible is remarkably sticky. Despite.....1/2
www.cnn.com/2025/01/16/s...
‘Resurrection science’ is gaining steam, but are scientists any closer to reviving lost species? | CNN
Colossal Biosciences, which aims to revive extinct species, announced it has raised an additional $200 million. Critics say de-extinction in its purest sense isn’t possible.
www.cnn.com
January 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Ever fancied your chances of deextincting a dodo? Think again. I explain why in an article out today with YaleE360.
e360.yale.edu/features/de-...
Despite Biotech Efforts to Revive Species, Extinction Is Still Forever
In the last decade, laboratory initiatives to recreate long-extinct species have stirred controversy. Now, scientists increasingly agree "de-extinction" is not possible, but breeding living animals wi...
e360.yale.edu
January 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
And even better......"Because the matter is squarely within the bounds of state law, he added, he did not see a pathway to appeal to the United States Supreme Court."
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/c...
Youth Climate Activists Get Major Win in Montana Supreme Court
The court agreed that the state’s energy policies violated Montanans’ constitutional right to a clean environment.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2024 at 10:44 PM
This is an interesting example of how new technologies change social norms. Plus, opportunities to be an a-hole or a good citizen.
December 20, 2024 at 8:15 PM
"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," said the EV.
www.autobodynews.com/news/new-stu...
New Study Shows Less Than 1% of EV Owners Would Return to Gas Cars
A survey of EV drivers in 18 countries showed 92% would purchase another EV if they needed to replace their current vehicle.
www.autobodynews.com
December 20, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Proud to be a Montanan again. Turns out you can't write a constitution that promises to protect its citizens and then ignore it.
montanafreepress.org/2024/12/18/m...
Montana Supreme Court sides with youth plaintiffs in landmark climate lawsuit
Governor, GOP lawmakers charge that justices overstepped their authority in deciding Held v. Montana.
montanafreepress.org
December 18, 2024 at 11:31 PM
Chilly but rewarding.
December 16, 2024 at 9:22 PM
Stokes has been terrific at giving climate hawks some hope ahead of January. Here's some more of it. Brava!
e360.yale.edu/features/lea...
Can Support for Clean Energy Withstand Changing Political Winds?
With billions in investment flowing to GOP districts, Donald Trump’s plans to repeal clean energy tax credits face Republican resistance. In an e360 interview, political scientist Leah Stokes, who hel...
e360.yale.edu
December 11, 2024 at 2:36 AM
Fun fact from Ferris Jabr's Becoming Earth... A 15 gallon tank of gas contains 300 elephants-worth of compressed, ancient life.
December 10, 2024 at 4:26 AM
www.caranddriver.com
December 5, 2024 at 3:28 PM
American Prairie offers an unusual model of philanthropy-based conservation in Montana. There have been bumps along the road. But they are doing good things.

americanprairie.org/the-latest/s...
American Prairie donates 109 acres to Montana State Parks Foundation
The parcel includes culturally significant portions of the PN Ranch and the Judith Landing Historic District.
americanprairie.org
November 19, 2024 at 4:58 PM
What's going to happen to the IRA's home energy rebate program? Any hot takes? (Please cheer me up).
November 14, 2024 at 2:36 AM