Reggie Raccoon is looking forward to a day of loot on December 25. Will his greed reign, or will the spirit of giving find its way into his heart? 

The Bandit Who Gave Back Christmas was written by Marisa King, who also co-directed, and played the parts of Narrator, Snickers, Stickles, and Sniggles. Marisa King is a local actor, director and animal advocate and can be heard on numerous podcasts including "The End of Time and Other Bothers", "Alba Salix: Royal Physician" and "The Axe and Crown".

Sean Howard played Reggie Raccoon and can be heard as the Game Master in The End of Time and Other Bothers and is a co-writer and co-producer on the award-winning Alba Salix: Royal Physician. He can also been seen as a founding member of the improv troupe Executive Indecision. Hear more from him at www.OtherBothers.com.

Kristi Boulton played Skitters Squirrel and Reggie’s mum. She is an actress, singer, improviser and storyteller based out of Hamilton, ON. When she's not on stage or behind a mic, you can find her following her other passions like puppeteering or, photography or videography around the GTA.

This episode was recorded in part by Eli McIlveen. Eli is the creator of Alba Salix: Royal Physician, and has recorded, edited and sound designed some of today's top audio drama podcasts. Learn more about him at EliMcIlveen.com.

Special thanks to Marc Nascimento of Super 1Up Games in Hamilton for being the official production wrangler of JJ The Hamilton Hound.

On behalf of everyone who worked on this project and all of the team at The Fur-Bearers, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and May your tail always be striped and may your compost bin always be full.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Protest and activism are a cornerstone of change, particularly in social issues. While our right to protest and speak are guaranteed by law in both Canada and the United States, some law enforcement agencies push back at those participating in protest or activism – at times beyond their rights.

Understanding what your rights are is important for all advocates, but especially for those who hit the pavement as part of their advocacy. From knowing how to keep yourself and those around you safe to what to say when things go wrong, there’s a lot to learn. And to help get started on the path of learning, Bina Ahmad, a public defender with the Legal Aid Society in Manhattan, New York, joined Defender Radio to discuss activists’ rights, how to interact with law enforcement, and when it’s time to call a lawyer.

Legal Aid New Society of New York: https://www.legalaidnyc.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Before we get started, I want to put out a general advisory – in this episode we will be speaking in a matter-of-fact tone about the cruelty of snare traps and the poison strychnine. You will hear details about how these devices work and the devastation they cause in plain language and that may be upsetting to some listeners.

Dr. Gilbert Proulx has seen a lot in his years as a field biologist. And he’s had enough.

Dr. Proulx runs Alpha Wildlife Research and Management Limited, where he conducts in-field research, writes and edits studies, consults with landowners, businesses, and governments, and publishes papers on a variety of wildlife-related issues. Dr. Proulx has often delved into science-based ethical topics, too, and that’s the basis of his latest publication.

There is a clear body of evidence that killing neck snares and strychnine poison are inhumane – some of it developed by Dr. Proulx himself – yet trappers and governments continue to endorse both methods of killing for thousands of animals every year. Dr. Proulx’s new book, Intolerable Cruelty: The Truth Behind Kiling Neck Snares and Strychnine, is an accumulation of hard evidence, experience, and a clear case to end the use of these inhumane tools.

Dr. Proulx joined Defender Radio to discuss killing neck snares and strychnine in detail, as well as alternatives to lethal control and why governments, wildlife managers, and trappers continue to use methods that can scientifically and ethically be defined as cruel.

Order your copy of Intolerable Cruelty: https://intolerable-cruelty.convertri.com/book-release

Read more from Dr. Gilbert Proulx: www.alphawildlife.ca

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Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

The  World Wildlife Fund issued their bi-annual Living Planet report in late October, and it painted a dark reality: humanity has wiped out 60% of animal life on the planet since the 1970s, and that we are marching toward ecological disaster due to our consumption of food and resources.

The media had something of a field day with this – experts from WWF and other organizations spoke at length on the various aspects of the Living Planet report, often using broad terms such as humanity or society. But one essay challenged readers to consider a more specific issue – capitalism.

Dr. Anna Pigott, a postdoctoral research fellow studying environmental humanities at Swansea University in Wales, penned the essay titled “Capitalism is killing the world’s wildlife populations, not ‘humanity’”.

Dr. Pigott joined Defender Radio to discuss the essay and her motivations for writing it, managing the curious comments and conversation that have arisen online, and what it means to imagine solutions to socioecological concerns.

Read the essay: https://theconversation.com/capitalism-is-killing-the-worlds-wildlife-populations-not-humanity-106125

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Changes at the OSPCA, concerns about an NGO being in law enforcement, and the importance of filing reports, complaints, and creating paper trails are discussed with Animal Justice Executive Director Camille Labchuk.

Learn more about Animal Justice at www.animaljustice.ca. 

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

If you follow host Michael Howie on social media, you’ll know that last week his dog JJ required emergency surgery for a critical, and unpredictable ailment. Fortunately, he knew how to identify this deadly illness and was able to get her to the Mississauga Oakville Emergency Veterinary Hospital in time. Surgery was performed around 2 am Friday morning, and JJ was declared fit to come home and recover Saturday afternoon.

As a result, this special report is going to focus on bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus or GDV) – what it is, how to identify it, and some simple measures to help mitigate risks. This is not a replacement for medical advice, and you should immediately contact a veterinarian if you’re concerned your dog is ill. The articles referenced from PetMD.com can be found by clicking here.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Wilderness, Wildlife and Human Interaction - Changing the Paradigm is being hosted by the Cochrane Ecological Institute at the Cochrane Ranchouse on November 10.  With an impressive lineup of speakers including scientists, advocates, and rehabilitators, it is surely an event that could help shift the paradigm.

Discussing this is Lisa Dahlseide, an organizer of the event, biologist, bear hero, and volunteer with Cochrane Ecological Institute. Lisa also spoke to the positive news that two bear cubs (including one featured on this week’s episode art) will be allowed to hibernate with CEI and be released in the spring.

Book your tickets for this event now at https://www.cochraneresearchinstitute.org/2018-new-vision---changing-the-paradigm.html

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

How are ecosystems responding to the warming of the planet? It’s a big question, and there isn’t a single answer. But specific questions are being asked to help build a better idea of what’s happening globally. Two such questions were asked by Dr. Ben Freeman and his colleagues in a paper published in Global Ecology and Biogeography titled Expanding, shifting and shrinking: The impact of global warming on species’ elevational distributions.

Specifically, Dr. Freeman tested a classic ecology theory that predicts “temperature more directly influences species’ cool range limits than their warm range limits.” They also tried to determine “how warming‐associated shifts have changed the extent and area of species’ elevational distributions.”

To explain what the team found – as well as why it matters and how it could influence our thinking in policy creation, Dr. Freeman joined Defender Radio.

Read the study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/geb.12774

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

CONTENT WARNING: trauma, anger, depression, anxiety, grief, and issues related to mental health today

Liz Sinclair Ruth was a vegetarian at a young age. She went on to become a successful veterinarian, helping to literally save the lives of thousands of animals. Today, she is a counsellor in Guelph, Ontario, and saving more lives that she ever could have imagined.

I spent some time with Liz at her office several weeks ago where we discussed important issues for the well-being of advocates such as managing strong emotions like anger and grief, the importance of taking time for self-care and finding effective tools, and how to ask for help.

Connect with Liz: https://www.lizsinclairkruthcounselling.com/

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Wuxly Movement is the animal-free, made-in-Canada outerwear brand that animal lovers across Canada are raving about. Full disclosure – I myself have two of the jackets and they’re ridiculously warm and comfortable. Inspired to create a winter coat that wasn’t adorned with coyote fur or stuffed with goose down, James Yurichuk and his long-time friend Anthony DeBartolo developed Wully Outerwear, which was recently rebranded to Wuxly Movement.

A direct competitor to outerwear companies that use real fur or down, seeing Wuxly Movement gear on the street means, quite literally, that lives of animals were saved.

I visited James at the Trinity-Bellwoods office of Wuxly Movement to discuss the history of the outerwear company, the brand update, and what the Wuxly Movement has their sights set on next.

Wuxly Movement: www.Wuxly.ca

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Wuxly Movement is the animal-free, made-in-Canada outerwear brand that animal lovers across Canada are raving about. Full disclosure – I myself have two of the jackets and they’re ridiculously warm and comfortable. Inspired to create a winter coat that wasn’t adorned with coyote fur or stuffed with goose down, James Yurichuk and his long-time friend Anthony DeBartolo developed Wully Outerwear, which was recently rebranded to Wuxly Movement.

A direct competitor to outerwear companies that use real fur or down, seeing Wuxly Movement gear on the street means, quite literally, that lives of animals were saved.

Get the details in five with this news brief!

Wuxly Movement: www.Wuxly.ca

Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Those in consumptive wildlife activities – hunting and trapping – like to say that they’re responsible for conservation of many species. And, in some ways, they are. But there’s an important difference between the concept of hunting to conserve and regulating hunting to conserve. And that’s the subject of a paper by Dr. Adrian Treves, along with Drs. Kyle Artelle and Paul Paquet.

Differentiating between regulation and hunting as conservation interventions, published in the August 2018 edition of Conservation Biology, takes on the difference a word can make in conversation and policy.

Dr. Treves joined the show to tell us more about this paper, why that single word matters, and what this paper, and the discussion surrounding it, could do for conservation moving forward.

Read the paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cobi.13211

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMail Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Those in consumptive wildlife activities – hunting and trapping – like to say that they’re responsible for conservation of many species. And, in some ways, they are. But there’s an important difference between the concept of hunting to conserve and regulating hunting to conserve. And that’s the subject of a paper by Dr. Adrian Treves, along with Drs. Kyle Artelle and Paul Paquet.

Differentiating between regulation and hunting as conservation interventions, published in the August 2018 edition of Conservation Biology, takes on the difference a word can make in conversation and policy. 

Hear more in this five-minute news brief! The full interview will be available later this week.

Read the paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cobi.13211

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Wildlife conflict is a major issue across Canada and around the world. As humans continue to alter landscapes, break down connectivity of ecosystems and attempt to control environments without consideration for the complex relationships between predators, prey, and other organisms, it seems that this conflict is increasing. Increasing alongside this is the need for research into how to prevent and mitigate conflict. A recent literature review, supplemented with original research findings by the author, highlights some of the major flaws in how humans have been managing predator conflict.

Robert James Lennox, a PhD candidate at Carleton University, and his coauthors conducted a review into existing studies on predator removal. Their results were published in a study titled ‘Evaluating the efficacy of predator removal in a conflict-prone world’ in the August 2018 edition of the journal Biological Conservation.

Robert found, in paraphrased words of his abstract, that predator removal only showed efficacy in the short-term, and tended to be an ineffective and costly approach to conflict prevention and resolution. The results of his review also showed that co-existence methods were more successful.

While on a research trip in French Polynesia, Robert found time to join Defender Radio to discuss his motivations for the paper, the difficulties in defining success and failure, and why more research into predator management and co-existence matters.

Special thanks to Dr. Michelle Booze for technical scientific assistance on this episode!

Read the study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325857871_Evaluating_the_efficacy_of_predator_removal_in_a_conflict-prone_world

Join the Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Sign up for Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Wildlife conflict is a major issue across Canada and around the world. As humans continue to alter landscapes, break down connectivity of ecosystems and attempt to control environments without consideration for the complex relationships between predators, prey, and other organisms, it seems that this conflict is increasing. Increasing alongside this is the need for research into how to prevent and mitigate conflict. A recent literature review, supplemented with original research findings by the author, highlights some of the major flaws in how humans have been managing predator conflict.

Robert James Lennox, a PhD candidate at Carleton University, and his coauthors conducted a review into existing studies on predator removal. Their results were published in a study titled ‘Evaluating the efficacy of predator removal in a conflict-prone world’ in the August 2018 edition of the journal Biological Conservation.

Robert found, in paraphrased words of his abstract, that predator removal only showed efficacy in the short-term, and tended to be an ineffective and costly approach to conflict prevention and resolution. The results of his review also showed that co-existence methods were more successful.

While on a research trip in French Polynesia, Robert found time to join Defender Radio to discuss his motivations for the paper, the difficulties in defining success and failure, and why more research into predator management and co-existence matters.

Read the study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325857871_Evaluating_the_efficacy_of_predator_removal_in_a_conflict-prone_world

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

It’s my birthday! Well, it’s my birthday week. And since everyone has to do what I say for the rest of the week, we’re going to take a step away from the usual topics we cover on Defender Radio. Don’t worry – I have an awesome interview with Robert Lennox, whose work on a predator removal study is discussed all the way from his current location in French Polynesia. But that’s next week, because this week it’s my birthday!

As some of you may know I’m a bit of a geek. I love playing video games, table top games, and role-playing games. I also enjoy comedy audio dramas, like old fashioned radio plays, and improv. I’m very fortunate that two of my very favourite people in the world, Sean Howard and Eli McIlveen have created a fantasy comedy podcast I love: Alba Salix Royal Physician. And when they said they wanted to do a Dungeons and Dragons-type game in that universe, using improv and incredible friends and performers Marisa King and Carter Siddall, which would then be published as a podcast, I jumped at the chance. Literally. Sean may still have a bruise.

The End of Time and Other Bothers was born and episode six released just last week. On the weekend, I sat down with Sean, Eli, Marisa, and Carter and we talked about the game, how a decision to be empathetic to animals and others in our world transformed the story, and why we end up laughing and laughing every time we play together. As an added bonus, the next two episodes in your Defender Radio podcast feed are the first two episodes of The End of Times and Other Bothers! I’ll tell you more about how to listen to that show after our interview.

If you want to listen to the first two episodes of The End of Time and Other Bothers just click ‘next’ in your podcast feed! You can also visit otherbothers.com to learn more about episodes, the cast, and how you can get access to behind the scenes footage, outtakes, and more.

Listen to The End of Time and Other Bothers on iTunes here! 

Humane education is pretty awesome – we can all agree on that, right? But what exactly humane education looks like, how it’s delivered, and even what the goals are can be different from person to person, and organization to organization.

I was very fortunate to get to spend some time with Megan Moon, the Executive Direction of the Humane Education Coalition. This relatively young organization is looking to expand the impact of humane education around the globe by offering resources, research, and more to partners from all walks of life.

Megan joined Defender Radio to share the story of the Humane Education Coalition, dive into some of the programs, research, and resources they’re developing, and share how people can get involved.

Humane Education Coalition: www.HECoalition.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Humane education is pretty awesome – we can all agree on that, right? But what exactly humane education looks like, how it’s delivered, and even what the goals are can be different from person to person, and organization to organization.

I was very fortunate to get to spend some time with Megan Moon, the Executive Director of the Humane Education Coalition. This relatively young organization is looking to expand the impact of humane education around the globe by offering resources, research, and more to partners from all walks of life.

Megan joined Defender Radio to share the story of the Humane Education Coalition, dive into some of the programs, research, and resources they’re developing, and share how people can get involved.

This is a news brief edit of our interview. The full interview will be available later this week at TheFurBearers.com, on iTunes, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

The Humane Education Coalition: www.hecoalition.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNewsletter: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Cougars have been in the news recently, particularly in British Columbia. Conflict with Canada’s big cats isn’t overly common, but when cougars end up in communities, lethal action seems to be the first response. And that’s why we called up Bryce Casavant.

Bryce is a former Conservation Officer who made international headlines when he refused orders to kill two healthy bear cubs. Educating residents on safely co-existing with wildlife remains a passion of his, as he writes for his own blog and as is frequently contacted by media to serve as an expert source.

He joined Defender Radio to discuss who cougars are, how to distinguish between sensationalism and fact, and what we can all do to promote co-existence with cougars and other wildlife across Canada.

Defender Radio Patreon - www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails - www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Cougars have been in the news recently, particularly in British Columbia. Conflict with Canada’s big cats isn’t overly common, but when cougars end up in communities, lethal action seems to be the first response. And that’s why we called up Bryce Casavant.

Bryce is a former Conservation Officer who made international headlines when he refused orders to kill two healthy bear cubs. Educating residents on safely co-existing with wildlife remains a passion of his, as he writes for his own blog and as is frequently contacted by media to serve as an expert source. He joined Defender Radio to discuss who cougars are, how to distinguish between sensationalism and fact, and what we can all do to promote co-existence with cougars and other wildlife across Canada.

This is a news brief version of our interview – the full interview will be made available later this week at TheFurBearers.com, iTunes, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Email List: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Science literacy is growing more important by the day – particularly for advocates looking to make change in the lives of animals and the environment. But between complex, academic papers, bureaucrats and others who don’t fully explain theories or provide citations, and the world of instant-access social media, it isn’t always easy to be on the side of fact. That’s why the job of the science communicator is becoming vital – and that’s why I wanted to talk to the best science communicator I know, Dr. Anna Zakrisson.

Dr. Anna’s Imaginarium is a brilliant collection of podcasts, social media groups, and videos – as well as a new business – that allows Anna to discuss all sorts of topics and issues related to science. With her PhD in biology and love of talking about science, she was the perfect person to join Defender Radio and explore what science literacy is, why social media could be making it harder to think critically, and how we can do better as advocates, content creators, scientists, and content consumers.

Doctor Anna's Imaginarium: www.annazakrisson.com

Send Your Review Screengrab to: michael@thefurbearers.com

Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Email Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Science literacy is growing more important by the day – particularly for advocates looking to make change in the lives of animals and the environment. But between complex, academic papers, bureaucrats and others who don’t fully explain theories or provide citations, and the world of instant-access social media, it isn’t always easy to be on the side of fact. That’s why the job of the science communicator is becoming vital – and that’s why I wanted to talk to the best science communicator I know, Dr. Anna Zakrisson.

Dr. Anna’s Imaginarium is a brilliant collection of podcasts, social media groups, and videos – as well as a new business – that allows Anna to discuss all sorts of topics and issues related to science. With her PhD in biology and love of talking about science, she was the perfect person to join Defender Radio and explore what science literacy is, why social media could be making it harder to think critically, and how we can do better as advocates, content creators, scientists, and content consumers.

Dr. Anna's Imaginarium website: www.AnnaZakrisson.com

Email a screen grab of your review: michael@thefurbearers.com 

Support Defender Radio: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Get Defender Radio Email Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

It’s just about impossible to be Canadian and not hear about pipelines, oil, tankers, and other environmental and political hot potatoes in British Columbia and Alberta. But in much of the debates, regardless of which side you fall on, there is one element often forgotten: wildlife.

The impact of oil and other materials on wildlife can be extreme, and there is little in the way of support for the professional and volunteer rehabilitators who try to help the animals. Fortunately, training is available, and there are dedicated individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to help animals who come into contact with oil. To discuss what specialized treatment is required, how animals are able to recover from oil spills and other incidents, and what the public can do to help, Defender Radio was joined by Linda Bakker of the Wildlife Rescue Association.

Wildlife Rescue Association: www.WildlifeRescue.ca

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Photo provided by Wildlife Rescue Association

It’s just about impossible to be Canadian and not hear about pipelines, oil, tankers, and other environmental and political hot potatoes in British Columbia and Alberta. But in much of the debates, regardless of which side you fall on, there is one element often forgotten: wildlife.

The impact of oil and other materials on wildlife can be extreme, and there is little in the way of support for the professional and volunteer rehabilitators who try to help the animals. Fortunately, training is available, and there are dedicated individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to help animals who come into contact with oil. To discuss what the specialized treatment is required, how animals are able to recover from oil spills and other incidents, and what the public can do to help, Defender Radio was joined by Linda Bakker of the Wildlife Rescue Association.

This is a news brief edit of the interview – a full version will be made available later this week at TheFurBearers.com, iTunes, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Emails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

A hint of anger or disgust can be heard when conversation turns to wolves and coyotes in some communities – particularly those where managing livestock pays the bills. A long-held belief in many regions of the world – including many parts of Canada – is that eliminating these predators will protect livestock. Though numerous studies show that bounties or culls are ineffective at this, the practice remains in place.

Dr. Gilbert Proulx of Alpha Wildlife Research & Management, along with Sadie Parr of Wolf Awareness Inc., wanted to test some of the beliefs surrounding cattle and wild canids. In their paper Is Livestock An Important Food Resource For Coyotes and Wolves in Central Eastern Alberta Counties with Predator Control Bounties?, the duo tested three hypotheses based on assertations supporting bounties. The results showed, simply, that cattle isn’t an important food resource and  that a bounty made no difference in the amount of cattle consumed by coyotes and wolves. The results also led to the recommendation that the bounties be discontinued.

With communities spending tens of thousands of limited budgets on ineffective bounties, individual animals being killed, and ecosystems being irreparably damaged, this science is more important than ever. Dr. Gilbert Proulx joined Defender Radio to discuss the science behind the research, some of the factors that lead to the belief that predators are killing livestock, and what’s necessary to move forward from this outdated model of management.

Read the paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325010330_Is_Livestock_an_Important_Food_Resource_for_Coyotes_and_Wolves_in_Central_Eastern_Alberta_Counties_with_Predator_Control_Bounties_Original_Research

Join the Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Defenderradio

Get Defender Radio email updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

A hint of anger or disgust can be heard when conversation turns to wolves and coyotes in some communities – particularly those where managing livestock pays the bills. A long-held belief in many regions of the world – including many parts of Canada – is that eliminating these predators will protect livestock. Though numerous studies show that bounties or culls are ineffective at this, the practice remains in place.

Dr. Gilbert Proulx of Alpha Wildlife Research & Management, along with Sadie Parr of Wolf Awareness Inc., wanted to test some of the beliefs surrounding cattle and wild canids. In their paper Is Livestock An Important Food Resource For Coyotes and Wolves in Central Eastern Alberta Counties with Predator Control Bounties?, the duo tested three hypotheses based on assertations supporting bounties. The results showed, simply, that cattle isn’t an important food resource and  that a bounty made no difference in the amount of cattle consumed by coyotes and wolves. The results also led to the recommendation that the bounties be discontinued.

With communities spending tens of thousands of limited budgets on ineffective bounties, individual animals being killed, and ecosystems being irreparably damaged, this science is more important than ever. Dr. Gilbert Proulx joined Defender Radio to discuss the science behind the research, some of the factors that lead to the belief that predators are killing livestock, and what’s necessary to move forward from this outdated model of management.

Read the paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325010330_Is_Livestock_an_Important_Food_Resource_for_Coyotes_and_Wolves_in_Central_Eastern_Alberta_Counties_with_Predator_Control_Bounties_Original_Research

Support Defender Radio on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Join the Defender Radio eMail list: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

Dr. Max Foran is no stranger to telling Canada’s stories: he’s written dozens of books and articles on subjects ranging from urban sprawl to international trade of historic Alberta. But in his latest project, he takes on a subject steeped in philosophy, history, science, and industry: Canadian wildlife management.

The Subjugation of Canadian Wildlife, published in April 2018 by McGill-Queen’s university Press, is an outstanding look at the twisting tale of how wildlife in our country is managed. Perhaps the most all-encompassing book on the subject that does not simply repeat what managers and the political system tell the public, Dr. Foran does a superb job of bringing together the vast array of moving parts, history, and moral-decision making that makes up modern wildlife management. It is an absolute must read – and is accessible for readers of virtually any level, regardless of academic background.

Dr. Foran joined Defender Radio to discuss what drove him to write this book, what he learned along the way as a professional researcher and writer, and what he hopes Canada’s wildlife management policies can become as we move forward.

Get your copy: http://www.mqup.ca/subjugation-of-canadian-wildlife--the-products-9780773553163.php

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Email Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

Dr. Max Foran is no stranger to telling Canada’s stories: he’s written dozens of books and articles on subjects ranging from urban sprawl to international trade of historic Alberta. But in his latest project, he takes on a subject steeped in philosophy, history, science, and industry: Canadian wildlife management.

The Subjugation of Canadian Wildlife, published in April 2018 by McGill-Queen’s university Press, is an outstanding look at the twisting tale of how wildlife in our country is managed. Perhaps the most all-encompassing book on the subject that does not simply repeat what managers and the political system tell the public, Dr. Foran does a superb job of bringing together the vast array of moving parts, history, and moral-decision making that makes up modern wildlife management. It is an absolute must read – and is accessible for readers of virtually any level, regardless of academic background.

Dr. Foran joined Defender Radio to discuss what drove him to write this book, what he learned along the way as a professional researcher and writer, and what he hopes Canada’s wildlife management policies can become as we move forward.

This is a news brief edit of our extensive interview. The full interview will be made available later this week on TheFurBearers.com, via your iOS device on the iTunes store, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

The Subjugation of Canadian Wildlife: http://www.mqup.ca/subjugation-of-canadian-wildlife--the-products-9780773553163.php

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

There are 417 national Parks and historic sites in the United States National Park system, visited by more than 275 million people every year. Among those numbers is a power couple doing something pretty awesome.

Sarah and Lucas Villa-Kainec want to visit each and every park and site in the national park system – and along the way, they want to share the stories of these remarkable places. But they don’t want to write another travel guide, they want the real stories, told by the people who spend their days – and sometimes a good portion of their lives – at these locations. That’s why they started their new show: Podcasts with Park Rangers.

Sarah and Lucas interview park rangers and share their wonderful, passionate stories about these incredible places, including a love of the flora and fauna of caves, the historical significance of locations, and more. The Villa-Kainecs joined Defender Radio to share their story about the stories – and what listeners to this new podcast can expect to learn about national parks, RVing from park to park with their cats, and what makes these locations so special.

Listen to Podcasts With Park Rangers: www.PodcastsWithParkRangers.com

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Sarah and Lucas Villa-Kainec want to visit each and every park and site in the national park system – and along the way, they want to share the stories of these remarkable places. But they don’t want to write another travel guide, they want the real stories, told by the people who spend their days – and sometimes a good portion of their lives – at these locations. That’s why they started their new show: Podcasts with Park Rangers.

Sarah and Lucas interview park rangers and share their wonderful, passionate stories about these incredible places, including a love of the flora and fauna of caves, the historical significance of locations, and more. The Villa-Kainecs joined Defender Radio to share their story about the stories – and what listeners to this new podcast can expect to learn about national parks, RV'ing from park to park with their cats, and what makes these locations so special.

Listen To Podcasts With Park Rangers at www.PodcastsWithParkRangers.com.

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The East coast seal hunt has started in Canada, and with it a fierce public relations campaign from two sides: those who support the seal hunt, and those who oppose it. While the facts are available there are groups and individuals who pass on misinformation and disinformation regarding the hunt from both camps.

That’s why we turn to Canadian seal hunt expert Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare for answers. Using publicly available government documents, citing sources, and speaking plainly, Sheryl provides a fact-based look at the inherently inhumane hunt and helps Canadians and an international audience of animal lovers understand what’s happening in the east coast seal hunt.

Sheryl joined Defender Radio to discuss the seal hunt, dismiss some disinformation, and address myths surrounding the commercial seal hunt.

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The East coast seal hunt has started in Canada, and with it, a fierce public relations campaign from two sides: those who support the seal hunt, and those who oppose it. While the facts are available there are groups and individuals who pass on misinformation and disinformation regarding the hunt from both camps. That’s why I turn to my good friend and Canadian seal hunt expert, Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare for answers. Using publicly available government documents, citing sources, and speaking plainly, Sheryl provides a fact-based look at the inherently inhumane hunt and helps Canadians and an international audience of animal lovers understand what’s happening in the east coast seal hunt.

Sheryl joined Defender Radio to discuss the seal hunt, dismiss some disinformation, and address myths surrounding the commercial seal hunt.

A full version of this interview will be available later this week.

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From BC to the east coast, black bears are waking up and wandering about as winter finally gives way to spring. The best person to talk to about bears is a man who spends time rehabilitating them, teaching others to co-exist with them, and kind of looking like one when his hair gets extra scruffy: Mike McIntosh of Bear With Us. Defender Radio connected with Mike and talked spring bear adventures, feeding of bears and other attractants, and why rehabilitation of bears anywhere in Canada can be successful.

A shortened version of this interview is available as a News Brief at TheFurBearers.com, the iTunes store, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

To learn more about Mike and Bear With Us, visit www.BearWithUs.org.

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Bears! In British Columbia they’re starting to wander about, and across the rest of the country they’re waiting out the final days of winter before venturing into the world. 

The best person to talk to about bears is a man who spends time rehabilitating them, teaching others to co-exist with them, and kind of looking like one when his hair gets extra scruffy: Mike McIntosh of Bear With Us. We connected and talked spring bear adventures, feeding of bears and other attractants, and why rehabilitation of bears anywhere in Canada can be successful.

This is a brief edit of our full interview. The full version will be available later this week at TheFurBearers.com, in the iTunes store, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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Bear With Us: www.BearWithUs.org

This week I’ve got a special episode for you. I’m going to tell you about the #RefuseTheGoose campaign we’ve launched, targeting Canada Goose for their ongoing use of coyote fur. If you just want to get straight to signing the letter and sharing with your friends and family, head to TheFurBearers.com/refusethegoose.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Canada Goose and coyote fur, let’s start at the beginning. And don’t worry – I won’t be using graphic language.

Take Action: https://goo.gl/sjsdeq

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LaSalle Park in Burlington, Ontario, is a beautiful area, right on the shore of Lake Ontario. It’s a diverse area, full of wildlife, walking trails, and natural history. But it’s also where some individuals have complained coyotes are spending time, and not reacting how residents believe the wild canids should. I spent a few hours with Lesley Sampson, co-founder and president of Coyote Watch Canada, walking the trails, discussing what factors could lead to behaviour in coyotes that is received as troubling, and what we can do about it.  Following our walk, we recorded a conversation in the parking lot of LaSalle Park to review our thoughts and observations.

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LaSalle Park in Burlington, Ontario, is a beautiful area, right on the shore of Lake Ontario. It’s a diverse area, full of wildlife, walking trails, and natural history. But it’s also where some individuals have complained coyotes are spending time, and not reacting how residents believe the wild canids should. I spent a few hours with Lesley Sampson, cofounder and president of Coyote Watch Canada, walking the trails, discussing what factors could lead to behaviour in coyotes that is received as troubling, and what we can do about it.  Following our walk, we recorded a conversation in the parking lot of LaSalle Park to review our thoughts.

This episode is a news brief edit of our interview. A full version will be available later this week at TheFurBearers.com, the iTunes store, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

We’ve all heard the phrase Wildlife management should be science-based. It’s spoken loudly by advocates who are opposed to all hunting and trapping, those who think hunting and trapping is all that stands between humanity and bedlam, and everyone in between.

But is wildlife management in North America actually science-based? That’s the question posed by a team of scientists from Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Their study, Hallmarks of science missing from North American wildlife management”, published by Science Advances earlier this month, asked this question: and came up with some disturbing results.

Defender Radio connected with Dr. Kyle Artelle, one of the authors of the study to get a deeper understanding of what the team found.

A five-minute edit of this interview is also available at TheFurBearers.com, in the iTunes store, or where ever you listen to podcasts.

Read the study: http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/3/eaao0167.full

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We’ve all heard the phrase Wildlife management should be science-based. It’s spoken loudly by advocates who are opposed to all hunting and trapping, those who think hunting and trapping is all that stands between humanity and bedlam, and everyone in between.

But is wildlife management in North America actually science-based? That’s the question posed by a team of scientists from Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Their study, Hallmarks of science missing from North American wildlife management”, published by Science Advances earlier this month, asked this question: and came up with some disturbing results.

I connected with Dr. Kyle Artelle, one of the authors of the study to get a deeper understanding of what the team found.

Read the study: http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/3/eaao0167.full

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Defender Radio eMail UpdateS: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

The Gryphon Press is a wonderful publishing company The Fur-Bearers met through the Humane Education Coalition. Their children’s books on subjects from adopting dogs, rescuing rabbits, and of course, why the animals need their fur, all reflect the publisher’s tagline: a voice for the voiceless.

Emilie Buchwald, publisher of The Gryphon Press, joined Defender Radio last week to discuss why she came out of retirement to start up a new business that’s published several award-winning books, how truthful stories can create compassion in children, and what Gryphon Press looks for in a story about animals.

A five-minute news brief version of this interview is available at TheFurBearers.com or in your podcast feed.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

The Gryphon Press is a wonderful publishing company The Fur-Bearers met through the Humane Education Coalition. Their children’s books on subjects from adopting dogs, rescuing rabbits, and of course, why the animals need their fur, all reflect the publisher’s tagline: a voice for the voiceless.

Emilie Buchwald, publisher of The Gryphon Press, joined Defender Radio last week to discuss why she came out of retirement to start up a new business that’s published several award-winning books, how truthful stories can create compassion in children, and what Gryphon Press looks for in a story about animals.

This is the five-minute radio edit of our interview. The full interview will be available this week at TheFurBearers.com or in your podcast feed.

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Defender Radio eMail Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

You’ve probably heard the name Bryce Casavant: he’s the former Conservation Officer in British Columbia who made headlines when he refused an order to kill two healthy bear cubs. He also ran as an NDP candidate in the last provincial election in BC and continues to work for the government in the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. But it is his efforts as a student that has Bryce back into the news.

Bryce is working toward a doctoral degree in social sciences with Royal Roads University, and his area of study should come as no surprise: wildlife, law enforcement, and social change. Recently, Bryce was given the go-ahead to pursue a review of 100 years of wildlife enforcement records, described as a critical discourse analysis.  Bryce joined Defender Radio to get into what his research will look at, why it matters, and how understanding the history of wildlife enforcement could lead to a better world for people – and the animals.

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You’ve probably heard the name Bryce Casavant: he’s the former Conservation Officer in British Columbia who made headlines when he refused an order to kill two healthy bear cubs. He also ran as an NDP candidate in the last provincial election in BC, and continues to work for the government in the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. But it is his efforts as a student that has Bryce back into the news.

Bryce is working toward a doctoral degree in social sciences with Royal Rhodes University, and his area of study should come as no surprise: wildlife, law enforcement, and social change. Recently, Bryce was given the go-ahead to pursue a review of 100 years of wildlife enforcement records, described as a critical discourse analysis.

Hear more in this News Brief - the full interview will be available later this week on your podcast feed!

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While we all love wildlife and want to co-exist with the animals, sharing our bedrooms and walls with them isn’t exactly ideal; many species can cause significant electrical or structural damage to homes or businesses, putting everyone at risk. Some species do carry diseases that are harmful, particularly in locations like hospitals or restaurants. And, if you’re like me, having a squirrel scrabbling around in the vents causes the dogs to go absolutely insane.

Safely and removing wildlife is an important job that should often be left to experts – but who exactly are the experts, and what makes them humane operators are long standing questions. And now, the BC SPCA wants to help answer them.

The BC SPCA launched AnimalKind last week, a program that will help residents and business owners find accredited wildlife removal or pest control companies who put humane treatment of animals first. Dr. Sara Dubois, Chief Scientific Officer for the BC SPCA joined Defender Radio to explain the need for AnimalKind, how it was developed, and why it will benefit people, businesses, and the animals.

You can hear a five-minute edit of this interview in the News Brief released earlier this week in your podcast feed.

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The BC SPCA launched AnimalKind last week, a program that will help residents and business owners find accredited wildlife removal or control companies who put humane treatment of animals first. I connected with Dr. Sara Dubois, Chief Scientific Officer for the BC SPCA to talk more about this program.

The full interview will be available on Wednesday, March 7!

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Email Updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

I love raccoons. They’re smart little problem-solvers, who have learned to adapt into a landscape that’s difficult to navigate for a non-human animal and taken up an essential role in many ecosystems. But the furry bandits’ cuteness isn’t enough to prevent media from maligning them, social media posts blaming them for human-centric problems, and keeping them safe when conflict does occur. That said, their cuteness can be too much: some advocates and animal lovers may go too far in trying to help raccoons, which creates new issues, from generating future conflict to disease transmission.

To sort it all out, and understand what raccoons are up to this time of year – as well as address a few issues that have come up in the news, like rabies – I connected with Cara Contardi of Urban Wildlife Care in Grimsby, Ontario.

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This is the first Defender Radio News Brief, a more traditional radio interview, edited down to its core points, and kept within 5 to 7 minutes, for quick and easy listening. Regular, full-length episodes will still be published, but now on Wednesdays!

Raccoons are on the move. Whether you’re in an urban centre like Hamilton or Vancouver, or have forests or farmlands as your backyard, the masked critters are likely making more appearances – as well as interesting sounds – in your community. I connected with Cara Contardi of Urban Wildlife Care, a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Grimsby, Ontario, to talk raccoons. Full interview releases on Wednesday, February 28.

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In our world, there are many types of dogs, each unique and wonderful. And in a 12-episode podcast series, Adam Winston has explored makes our relationships with them so incredible. Adam has combined his passions for learning, his love of dogs, and his experience as an Air Force Radio and Television Producer to create this journey of discovery called Dogs In Our World. Each episode features a produced interview with an expert, including a philosopher, a historian, multiple trainers and behaviourists, and even Dr. Temple Grandin. These experts all discuss with Adam the dogs with whom we share our lives, history, and homes, revealing incredible insights. The thought provoking episodes are a wonderful chance for life long dog lovers and trainers to those who know little about our domestic canines to learn alongside Adam.

Having recently wrapped his first season, Adam joined Defender Radio for an exclusive, in-depth interview exploring his journey to becoming a dog person and ultimately developing Dogs In Our World, the excitement of nabbing conversations with high-profile experts, highlights from the season, and what he’s learned about himself and the world around him through a love of dogs.

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The story of Russell, the orphaned and injured bear cub outside of Calgary, broke hearts around the world. Wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians were ready, willing, and able to assist by examining his injured leg, and providing a safe environment for his rehabilitation over winter, but Alberta Environment and Parks refused. While the story of Russell is sad, and his fate following hibernation remains unknown, it highlighted a greater problem: several indigenous species that the government has decided cannot or should not be rehabilitated from injury or illness, or cared for as orphans.

The story of Russell also accomplished something remarkable: the government has stated they are now reviewing and implementing protocols for black bear rehabilitation in the province. Due to an overwhelming response by all of you, and the hard work of a core of advocates in Alberta, the media did not relent, and the science, ethics and logic of rehabilitation, forced a change.

To discuss the cautious optimism of this important victory, the combination of ethics and science behind rehabilitation, and why the advocacy can’t end now, Defender Radio was joined by biologist and former rehabilitator Lisa Dahlseide.

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Host Michael Howie discusses The Fur-Bearers' push for trap warning signs in provinces and territories across Canada, how it can help protect dogs, cats, other domestic animals, and children, and how easy it is for you to take action with our one-click advocacy letter!

New research from Dr. Adrian Treves and his colleagues Drs. Francisco Santiago-Avila and Ari Cornman highlights that lethal management of wolves to prevent depredation of livestock on properties in Michigan may be ineffective and could create detrimental effects for neighbouring properties.

The paper, titled Killing wolves to prevent predation on livestock may protect one farm but harm neighbors, was published by Public Library of Science, or PLOS One earlier this month. The researchers were given access to 16 years of data on wolf depredation and control in Upper Michigan and used multiple methods to analyze it. What they found was, in their words, that “given the evidence available, we cannot conclude that lethal management had the desired effect of preventing future livestock losses.

There is also evidence of a spill-over effect to other properties in the region.

The questions raised by this study play into a paper published by Dr. Treves with several colleagues in Nature Ecology and Evolution, titled Intergenerational equity can help to prevent climate change and extinction. This is an important subject that combines ethics, environmental sciences, and how we as a society, and as a species, must look at what we’re doing today and how it will impact tomorrow’s world.

Dr. Adrian Treves of the Carnivore Coexistence Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison joined Defender Radio to explore the implications of his latest wolf depredation study, the importance of adapting policies to match science, and how we can all play a role in safeguarding wildlife and the environment for future generations.

Support the Defender Radio Patreon with as little as $1/month at Patreon.com/DefenderRadio!

Cat declawing sounds like a reasonable way to prevent damage to furniture and homes, and keep cats who may be given to shelters with families. But the science simply doesn’t support any of it – and declawing isn’t even what it sounds like.

In this special report, I connected with Dr. Margie Scherk, a veterinarian who specializes in feline medicine and surgery, and wants the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia to outlaw the practice. According to a CBC article, nearly 80 per cent of BC vets who responded to the survey support a ban on declawing, and 62 per cent already stopped conducting the procedure themselves.

Dr. Scherk is hoping that greater public awareness on the truth about cat declawing and support for a petition she has created will push the College into moving forward with a ban – something that happened in Nova Scotia just last December.

This special report is brought to you by our wonderful Patrons – become a supporter at Patreon.com/DefenderRadio to help the show grow and increase our audience, and gain access to exclusive content.

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/college-of-veterinarians-of-british-columbia-stop-declawing-cats-in-bc

The International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW, has a campaign called the Northern Dogs Project. On the face of it, the program is straightforward: assist remote First Nations communities in Quebec and Canada to live with dogs in a positive way and manage populations humanely. But it’s a lot more than that – and it has less to do with dogs than you may think.

Jan Hannah, manager of the Northern Dogs Project, joined Defender Radio to discuss the project, the history of working with Cree and Anishinaabe communities, and why it matters that as advocates we focus on listening.

Before we get to the interview, I want to acknowledge how sensitive a subject this is. Colonialism and intergenerational trauma are subjects I don’t have a firm grasp on as I have not studied or researched extensively in this area, nor had the opportunity to be immersed in this culture. I do understand that they impact the lives of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and society significantly. The reason I wanted to do this episode is because it’s a subject that we as animal advocates and compassionate individuals must try to learn more about. I believe that IFAW’s method of working with communities through listening is a concept we can all learn from.

I believe we all can have a positive impact on the people around us, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or history, so long as we move forward with compassion and respect, and accept responsibility for the errors we have made, and those that we continue to make. And if this is a subject of interest to you, I recommend that you visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada website or visit your local library to learn more about colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and the cultures and history of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people of this land. I'll be doing that myself.

Fashion Animals, set to be published by Vegan Publishers and funded through Indiegogo, takes on the fur fashion industry in a whole new way. Fashion Animals was a labour of love for Joshua Katcher, who spent five years developing it, compiling research, data and a spectacular archive of rare images. Joshua joined Defender Radio from the road to discuss the writing of Fashion Animals, what readers and Indiegogo supporters can expect, and how he believes it will change the lives of countless animals around the world. 

See the Indiegogo campaign at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fashion-animals-art-vegan.

The law exists to protect everyone, and for advocates like us, that includes non-human animals. Canadian law isn’t quite there yet, but the folks at Animal Justice are always working to change that. And pretty soon, you’ll be able to hear a little bit more about the ins and outs of the legal fight for animals.

Paw and Order, the new podcast from Animal Justice, is set to release its first episodes this month. Animal Justice Executive Director Camille Labchuk board member and law professor Peter Sankoff will talk about the organization’s cases, legal news that relates to animals, and more in the new show. It’s an exciting prospect, as the intricacies of law, especially animal law, is hard to communicate in brief media clips – this in-depth discussion format will be fascinating for animal lovers of all stripes.

Become a Patron of Defender Radio and help grow the show and support The Fur-Bearers, and also get access to exclusive bonus content at www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio.