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. #fueledbynature #meateater ---------------- Check out the gear the MeatEater Crew uses in the field here: https://store.themeateater.com Follow us: Web: https://www.themeateater.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/meateater Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater 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