From Tight Loops: “Join us for episode 6 of For Wild’s Sake: The Rare Trout Chronicles, season 1! A series which explores human beings relationship to the natural world, in hopes of gaining a better understanding of how and why we assign value to wild things and places. In a quest to illustrate rare and threatened species of wild native trout in watercolor, artist Chase Bartee and wife Aimee set off on a multi year, cross country adventure of discovery. After killing several weeks in NM, we returned to Eastern Arizona in search of its fabled and threatened native trout, the Apache Trout (Onchorynchus apache). But finding them would continue to prove challenging, let alone catching them with a fly rod. Despite persisting in the White Mountains for nearly a million years, Apache trout have been on the brink of extinction since the settlement of the American West. Introductions of non native trout, as well as unchecked livestock grazing and agricultural diversions have proven more than these unique fish can handle. Thankfully, nearly 80 years ago the White Mountain Apache Tribe were quick to act, and have managed to protect the trout for now, but they still face myriad threats. We learn about them all as we navigate the ashes of recent megafires in search of the few remaining wild and native Apache Trout.”