Shark Week has come and gone for the year, but your chance to learn and celebrate sharks can go thanks to a new book that brings together academic study and the thrill of learning about the ocean’s great predators.

Shark Biology and Conservation: Essentials for Educators, Students and Enthusiasts is set to publish September 1, 2020 by John Hopkins Press. The title may be dry, but the authors, Drs. Daniel Abel and Dean Grubbs, bring a clear passion and naturalist view of shark biology that encourages curiosity and excitement for readers.

Dr. Grubbs joined Defender Radio and discussed how he and Dr. Abel developed the book to be accessible for most readers, why including scientific information with context was important and the incredible human impact on the hundreds of shark species that inhabit our planet. We also talked about our favourite monster shark movies, which shark is the Labrador retriever of the sea, and the oceanic adventure stories that captured our imaginations. Dr. Grubbs even took the time to give a scientific opinion of my irrational fear (and firm belief) that sharks inhabit Lake Ontario.

This episode is sponsored by AnimalStone.com! Use promocode DEFENDERRADIO for 10% off.

Shark Biology and Conservation: https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/shark-biology-and-conservation

Dr. Dean Grubbs' Florida State University Lab page: https://marinelab.fsu.edu/people/faculty/grubbs/

CONTEST:

1. SHARE a post about or from Defender Radio on any social media platform and let people know WHY you love the episode!

2. SEND a screenshot of the post to me (info@thefurbearers.com)!

3. WIN you may win a free gaiter or facemask from The Fur-Bearers! We'll be in touch with winners the first week of Sepetember.

Wildlife corridors are a great idea: they connect habitats and ecosystems, allowing animals of all types to safely get across roads. As over 20,000 animals are killed, 570 motorists injured and $700,000 spent for clean up of animal-vehicle collisions in BC according to WildlifeCollisions.ca, corridors are also a wise investment.

They come in many shapes and sizes, but generally are under or above ground passages that allow for safe passage where humans travelling at high-speeds represent a risk.

Questions about the efficacy of these corridors are being answered with ongoing research; but one that jumped out at me was the question of how a wildlife corridor impacts predator-prey relationships. There’s a logic to the concern: if a predator figures out that their prey are routinely using a narrow, easy-to-ambush tunnel, they may be able to outwit and negatively impact prey populations.

Of course, the best way to find an answer is to ask a question: and that’s what April Martinig did.

Martinig, a PhD candidate at University of Alberta, was the lead author on a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, titled ‘Temporal clustering of prey in wildlife passages provides no evidence of a prey-trap.’ This study adds to the growing list of benefits of wildlife corridors around the world. To explain why wildlife corridors are great, the lengthy process of reviewing tens of thousands of images from trail cameras, and what insights about predators, prey and their relationships she learned, April Martinig joined Defender Radio.

Want to show the world your love for wildlife? Check out AnimalStone.com, a family-owned business that hand makes animal-inspired jewellery! Available in multiple, ethically-sourced metals, the charms, necklaces, bracelets and cufflinks showcase the personality of each animal. The best part is that through their Wildlife Communities and Ambassador programs, contributions are made to organizations making a real difference in the lives of animals. I really can’t say enough the people behind this company and their mission. To find out more and pick out a gift for a loved one (or yourself, because #selfcare) visit AnimalStone.com – and use promocode DEFENDER RADIO to get 10% off your order! That’s AnimalStone.com and promocode Defender Radio.

The Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-67340-8

Jefferson Salamanders close Burlington Road: https://www.inhalton.com/its-that-time-king-rd-closed-for-salamander-mating-season

Defender Radio on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DefenderRadio/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/howiemichael/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/defenderradio)

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CONTEST

Share your FAVOURITE episode of Defender Radio anywhere on social media; send us a screen grab of the share along with your contact info; one listener will be selected to win a gaiter face mask from The Fur-Bearers! Email your screen grab and info to info@TheFurBearers.com or to any of our social networking channels!

Animal advocacy is a huge community. There’s folks like us at The Fur-Bearers, who focus on wildlife coexistence, habitat issues and a specific commercial issue; there’s groups like Coyote Watch Canada or North Shore Black Bear Society who focus on specific wildlife; then there’s groups who focus on farmed animals, domesticated animals, vegan principles, international policy, local policy and more. In short: it’s a huge community.

As such, when we ask the question, “How ya doing, animal advocates,” the response is a collective blurring of various voices. That is, until, you bring in the researchers.

Faunalytics is a non-profit that does research, maintains a research library and directly supports advocates and organizations. In one of their latest projects, they took on the rather large task of figuring out the experiences of animal advocates in Canada and the United States. This is important work: it creates a reference point for future inquiries, shows advocacy organizations where we must improve, and highlights the absolute need for amplifying the voices of and reach to marginalized groups within the animal advocacy community.

Dr. Jo Anderson, Faunalytics’ research director, joined Defender Radio to explore the study, the need for asking these questions, how to interpret the data and what solutions we can seek to improve the animal advocacy community not just to be successful for the animals, but to be good to each other.

Faunalytics is hosting a Q&A about their study! Get the details and submit questions on their Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/297775314823761/

CONTEST:

Share your FAVOURITE episode of Defender Radio anywhere on social media; send us a screen grab of the share along with your contact info; one listener will be selected to win a gaiter face mask from The Fur-Bearers! Email your screen grab and info to info@TheFurBearers.com or to any of our social networking channels!

LINKS:

The State Of Animal Advocacy In The U.S. & Canada: Experiences & Turnover -- https://faunalytics.org/advocate-retention/

Defender Radio Patreon -- www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

EMail Updates: https://thefurbearers.com/sign-save-animals

This episode sponsored by AnimalStone.com. Use promocode DEFENDERRADIO to get 10% off!

British Columbia has ordered the killing of hundreds of wolves as part of their caribou recovery plan in recent years. You can hear more about this plan, the maternal penning and ongoing habitat destruction in episodes past. A 2019 study gave scientific support to killing wolves to protect the caribou – despite widespread opposition, it largely became government policy.

But this summer, a new paper was published that not only challenges the first study, but points to multiple flaws that may have contributed to government sanctioned killing of 463 wolves in the last year alone. The new paper, titled No statistical support for wolf control and maternal penning as conservation measures for endangered mountain caribou was published in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation. In it, the authors describe the lack of a ‘null model’ in the original paper as a major flaw – as well as a few other issues.

This is a highly politicized issue with many factors; but truly understanding what the missing null model means and how it impacts the rest of the science – and ultimately the government policy – was difficult for me. That’s why I reached out to Amelia Porter.

Amelia is one of The Fur-Bearers science advisors; as a registered professional biologist, Amelia works as an environmental scientist and has the skills – and patience – to break down the complex science of these cull-related studies. She joined Defender Radio to review the two primary studies involved in this latest conversation and why we should be pushing for government to follow the latest science to protect caribou and wolves.

We’ve got one extra bit that didn’t make it into our interview, too, so hang on after the full interview to hear it!

Links:

The Atlantic Article https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/07/how-simple-statistical-error-killed-463-wolves/614134/

Study: The long road to protecting critical habitat for species at risk: The case of southern mountain woodland caribou 

https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.219

Study: Saving endangered species using adaptive management

https://www.pnas.org/content/116/13/6181

Study: No statistical support for wolf control and maternal penning as conservation measures for endangered mountain caribou

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-020-02008-3

Article: 500 dead wolves vs. 500 lost jobs: Town balks at potential cost of saving caribou in northeastern B.C.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-jobs-wolves-chetwynd-northeastern-british-columbia-1.5087317

AnimalStone.com!

Media outlets paint wildlife as the perpetrators of actions against people. But in their own recounting of events, they show how humans often started the conflicts. Former journalist and host of Defender Radio Michael Howie explores this issue and asks the questions that went unanswered by media outlets when humans and wildlife come into conflict.

This audio essay was first published at https://thefurbearers.com/blog/essay-media-blames-wildlife-people-source-conflict.

All associated links can be found there.

This bonus episode is brought to you by AnimalStone.com. Use promocode DEFENDERRADIO to get 10% off your ethically made, animal-inspired jewellery today!

Hi folks!

There's no episode this week because I'm on vacation! The episode art is from earlier today of JJ the Lake Hound, waiting for me to toss her ball in the water (which was necessary as it was 40+ with the humidity!). 

We'll be back soon with a new episode. Don't forget to check out AnimalStone.com, where you can get 10% off the purchase of a Made in Canada animal charm. Not only are the metals ethically sourced and often recycled, a portion of proceeds go to help in field animal projects! Hit up AnimalStone.com and use promocode DEFENDERRADIO for 10% off. 

From a cabin deep in the woods, I'll talk to you soon!

Mike and JJ

Nearly five years ago to the day, then-Conservation Officer Bryce Casavant famously refused an order to unnecessarily kill two healthy bear cubs; he was suspended, effectively fired and eventually left government service entirely. But just a few weeks ago, justices in BC’s appellant court ruled that the province did not play by their own rules, meaning Bryce has been, in a word, vindicated. Today, Bryce shared the story of how doing the right thing left him in a legal battle with the province that lasted over four and a half years.

Additionally, Bryce recently successfully defended his doctoral thesis – which happens to look, in part, at the history of the Conservation Officer Service and how they went from game wardens to an armed law enforcement agency.

In this in-depth conversation, Bryce and I discuss the background and decision of his court case, the need to have hard conversations about less visible law enforcement agencies, legislative hide and seek, mission creep, and how it feels to be vindicated.

This episode is sponsored by AnimalStone! A family-owned and operated business based in Toronto, AnimalStone handmakes gorgeous charms of animals – and gives back a portion of proceeds to non-profits working to protect those animals! Even better, the metals used are ethically sourced in Canada and often come from recycled materials. Listeners of Defender Radio can get 10% off their order by using promo code DEFENDERRADIO at AnimalStone.com. Learn more about this great company and their beautiful jewellery at AnimalStone.com.

Conservation officer suspended for refusing to kill bear cubs:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bryce-casavant-conservation-officer-suspended-for-refusing-to-kill-bear-cubs-1.3141652

No charges against Coquitlam residents accused of obstructing conservation officers:
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/no-charges-against-coquitlam-residents-accused-of-obstructing-conservation-officers-1.4792991

Casavant v. British Columbia Labour Relations Board), 2020 BCCA 159:
https://www.bccourts.ca/jdb-txt/ca/20/01/2020BCCA0159.htm

Black bears are common throughout much of Canada and, despite their gentleness and general lack of interest in people, end up the accused source of conflict with people regularly. Unfortunately, that also means that law enforcement agencies are the ones responding to, and frequently killing bears. These agencies can lack training, funding and/or third-party oversight of officer discretion in the field.

Bears pay for the mistakes made by people. And that’s why organizations like The Fur-Bearers and North Shore Black Bear Society work so hard to educate residents on how we can prevent conflict.

At North Shore Black Bear Society, education coordinator Luci Cadman speaks regularly about residential and commercial attractants, advocates for the bears who are victims of human behaviour, and, in a recent online presentation, how to be safe while recreating in BC’s bear country.

Luci joined the Defender Radio podcast in the first week of June for this interview.

North Shore Black Bear Society: www.NorthShoreBears.com

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

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Email updates: https://thefurbearers.com/sign-save-animals

Stash Your Trash Music Video: https://youtu.be/rsD982wJ7_0

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? The last time I posted an episode it was February and a global health emergency was landing hard in Canada and the United States. Since then, we’ve learned a lot about the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 but a lot of questions remain. You’re probably not going to get answers to those questions on this podcast.

But what you’re going to hear is a solid summary of what we know about coronavirus and its link to animals, a conversation about the difficulty in media rapidly disseminating scientific information, and how ready some North Americans are to make big lifestyle changes as a result of the virus. Tom Beggs, a research scientist with Faunalytics, joined Defender Radio last week to discuss general information about coronavirus and animal advocacy in the time of coronavirus, as well as the results and analysis of a fascinating US poll regarding public knowledge on coronavirus and its animal links.

Before we dive in I want to remind everyone that this information should not replace that given by health professionals and neither participants in this interview are health professionals; for up to date information on COVID-19 in your community please seek your municipal, provincial or the Health Canada coronavirus websites.

Read The Faunalytics Report: https://faunalytics.org/covid-19-poll/

Sign Up To Get Faunalytics Email blasts: https://faunalytics.org/alerts/signup/

Health Canada COVID-19 Page: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

CDC COVID-19 Page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

Eighty-one per cent of BC’s southern mountain caribou local populations have lost more habitat than what’s needed for survival. That’s the lede from the Wilderness Committee news item announcing the release of the NGO’s report, State of Southern Mountain Caribou Habitat in BC: Exceeding Disturbance Limits.

The fate of the mountain caribou in this region has been spotlighted in part due to their status under the Species at Risk Act and the controversial methods the government has utilized. Wolf culls and maternity pens are in use but aren’t considered a long-term solution by advocates – and doesn’t address the clear and indisputable cause of the caribous’ perilous position: habitat destruction.

The report released by Wilderness Committee measures “all destructive activities within caribou critical habitat over the past 80 years.” The results, according to the report, show that “critical habitat disturbance levels are far beyond the threshold for caribou recovery in 17 out of 21 local population units.”

What that means and what Canadians can do to protect caribou – as well as wolves and other wildlife being killed in recovery efforts – is discussed with Defender Radio by report author Charlotte Dawe of Wilderness Committee.

Episode cover photo by John E. Marriott: www.WildernessPrints.com

Wilderness Committee Report: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/news/bc-allows-destruction-caribou-habitat-point-extinction-new-report

Defender Radio on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

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Let’s talk about the economy. An exciting start to any conversation, right? Here’s the thing: events like Ontario’s spring bear hunt are pushed by governments because they look at the financial impact of them. But here’s the thing: hunting and trapping aren’t the only activities that bring in dollars to the province. In fact, ecotourism as a whole is a multi-billion dollar industry in Ontario and British Columbia – and hunting is a tiny fraction of the cash flow created.

In the last episode of the show we spoke about the spring bear hunt in Ontario – and if you haven’t heard that episode along with advocacy options please do go back and listen to it. In this episode we’re talking about the wild world of ecotourism in general terms through the experiences of an ethical and successful operator, Eric Boyum.

The owner/operator of Ocean Adventures on the coast of beautiful British Columbia, Eric and his partner and photographer extraordinaire Trish take both local residents and international visitors to explore the coastline, see the beauty of the natural environment and get a chance to witness and photograph stunning wildlife. Eric joined Defender Radio recently to discuss his business and experience, the opportunities that exist for people with outdoor experience in the ecotourism sector and the ethics and considerations he takes into account on a daily basis.

Ocean Adventures: www.OceanAdventures.bc.ca

Referenced article about polar bear killing a dog: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/frightening-truth-behind-viral-video-polar-bear-petting-dog

Defender Radio social media

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Let’s talk about the economy. An exciting start to any conversation, right? Here’s the thing: events like Ontario’s spring bear hunt are pushed by governments because they look at the financial impact of them. But here’s the thing: hunting and trapping aren’t the only activities that bring in dollars to the province. In fact, ecotourism as a whole is a multi-billion dollar industry in Ontario and British Columbia – and hunting is a tiny fraction of the cash flow created.

In the last episode of the show we spoke about the spring bear hunt in Ontario – and if you haven’t heard that episode along with advocacy options please do go back and listen to it. In this episode we’re talking about the wild world of ecotourism in general terms through the experiences of an ethical and successful operator, Eric Boyum.

The owner/operator of Ocean Adventures on the coast of beautiful British Columbia, Eric and his partner and photographer extraordinaire Trish take both local residents and international visitors to explore the coastline, see the beauty of the natural environment and get a chance to witness and photograph stunning wildlife. Eric joined Defender Radio recently to discuss his business and experience, the opportunities that exist for people with outdoor experience in the ecotourism sector and the ethics and considerations he takes into account on a daily basis.

Ocean Adventures: www.OceanAdventures.bc.ca

Referenced article about polar bear killing a dog: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/frightening-truth-behind-viral-video-polar-bear-petting-dog

Defender Radio social media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefenderRadio/

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FurBearerDefenders

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Well, there’s no nice way to put it: the Ontario government wants to make permanent the spring season for killing black bears.

There’s a whole lot of reasons the Ontario spring bear hunt shouldn’t exist at all, let alone be made a permanent fixture. To explore the myriad of reasons it’s a bad idea and more completely outline the harm this hunt can and does cause, I was joined by bear expert Mike McIntosh of Bear With Us Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre here in Ontario.

TAKE ACTION: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/action-alert-spring-bear-hunt-ontario-could-become-permanent

Fact Check TVO article: https://www.tvo.org/article/are-ontarios-hunting-rules-about-managing-wildlife-or-making-money

Bear With Us Sanctuary & Rehab Centre: https://bearwithus.org/

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Bill 156 is dangerous for animals.

This legislation, introduced in late 2019, targets those who find their ways onto animal agricultural facilities and document disregard for animal welfare or individuals who are working on farms and become whistleblowers in the face of blatant animal cruelty. It even targets those who protest or bear witness for animals on their way to slaughter. It is billed as a way to protect the security of farmers and food production, but if that was the intent it would focus on the farms – not those who find problems with them.

Animal agriculture isn’t an area I spend a lot of time researching outside of its relationship to wildlife conflict; some of the dear people in my life are passionate about this subject, however, and I witnessed their distress in the face of this legislation. That’s why I wanted to talk to Camille Labchuk, Executive Director at Animal Justice. We get into what this legislation will actually mean and how animal lovers and activists can take action against it. We also discuss the PAWS act – Ontario’s new animal welfare legislation that replaces the enforcement actions of the Ontario SPCA.

Animal Justice: www.AnimalJustice.ca

Cover art: www.WeAnimalsMedia.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

We’ve all been angry at a situation and let it out on social media. It makes sense: that’s a place our friends and community can gather from afar and acknowledge our feelings and join in the process of venting. The trouble these days, however, seems to be when that’s all we do when we have legitimate concerns about policies or the actions of others, particularly those in a position of authority.

When it comes to complaining, there’s not necessarily a right way, but there certainly are effective ways, especially when we want to see change as a result of our concerns. Whether it’s someone trespassing on property, a community member feeding wildlife inappropriately or a complaint about how a public official conducted themselves, it’s important to understand that without proper communication, little may change.

That’s why I connected with Bryce Casavant, the former Conservation Officer who faced disciplinary action for refusing to kill two innocent bear cubs. With his mixed background of military and law enforcement, as well as his PhD studies at Royal Rhodes and new role with Pacific Wild, Bryce was the ideal candidate for this interview. We discussed government complaints processes, how and when the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act can be utilized, and the reality that many people in our communities may face very real fears or wade through the tides of others’ privilege to exercise their rights. 

Pacific Wild: www.PacificWild.org

Defender Radio Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio/

Defender Radio Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Tim Gordon is an Exeter University PhD student working on some fascinating solutions to help fish on coral reefs in Australia using sound. As cool as this research is, that’s not what brought Tim’s work to my attention: it was a short letter published in the journal Science. Titled, Grieving environmental scientists need support, Gordon co-wrote the letter with colleagues Andrew Radford and Stephen Simpson. It is a call for cultural change in the scientific community. Researchers are witnessing the loss of ecosystems and species, something that can cause anyone to experience grief. But traditionally, scientists are considered impartial and dispassionate observers. This dissonance can be outright harmful, and Gordon and his colleagues believe the scientific community must begin discussing and addressing these problems – or as he puts it, allowing scientists to cry.

Tim joined me all the way from the northeastern coast of Australia to share his views on the subject, his personal efforts to live with the heavy emotions he feels working on the great barrier reef as its existence hangs in the balance and, because I was curious, how he’s helping Nemo find his way home.

Read 'Grieving environmental scientists need support': https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6462/193.1

Tim Gordon's Exeter University page: http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/profile/index.php?web_id=Tim_Gordon

"Helping Nemo Find Home" three-minute thesis video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eixMvMdF_cg

Crisis Services Canada: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/

Suicide Prevention (USA): https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Bears are hungry. Like super duper hungry. This time of year they’re getting ready for hibernation and are spending most of their time getting all the calories they can – and that means it’s extra important to manage attractants and do what we can to keep them from hanging out in our neighbourhoods. Even if we individually like having the bears in our yards, other neighbours may not – and having them grow comfortable around people can and will lead to other conflict. And despite available solutions, in BC it often means they are killed by conservation officers.

The North Shore Black Bear Society is working tirelessly within their community and others in BC to get municipal by-laws in place and push for greater education and enforcement from governments. Their own work on education is also impressive, including traditional and social media, classroom visits and more. To help us understand what bears are up to, the importance of changing our behaviours to protect them, and what attractants we may not be thinking about this time of year, Luci Cadman of the North Shore Black Bear Society joined Defender Radio.

Learn more about North Shore Black Bear Society: https://northshorebears.com

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We need change in how we view wildlife and the management of species and their homes. Outdated science and traditions need to be updated with current data and effective traditional ecological knowledge. But how do we start?

With a paradigm shift – and that’s what the Cochrane Research Institute and Cochrane Ecological Institute are hoping to create with their Wilderness Wildlife and Human Interaction Symposium. Taking place Saturday, November 2 at the Cochrane RancheHouse, this one day event features speakers including Dr. Gilbert Proulx, Bryce Casavant, Joe Englehart, Lesley Fox (my boss) and others. There will also be a documentary viewing, an artisan market, silent auction, book signings and more. It’s going to be a great day – and to help share more about why the symposium is needed, what visitors can expect to take away and what inspiring change really means Defender Radio was joined by Cochrane Ecological Institute spokesperson Lisa Dahlseide.

GET TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wilderness-wildlife-and-human-interaction-elements-of-ethical-co-existence-tickets-68316341015

Support Defender Radio with Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/defenderradio

This episode is later than originally anticipated – between human and canine health issues and some technical whoopsies, things got delayed. And before we get into it, I want to let you know that JoAnne and I get into some heavy conversation about compassion fatigue and the emotional weight of advocacy work. If that isn’t something you’re up for – no problem! Please know that there are many available resources to help manage self-care, compassion fatigue, and other emotional or mental-health related topics. Start by talking to your doctor, caregiver, or Googling what local resources exist in your municipality or county.

Now let’s get started with this week’s episode.

Photographs tell stories. Some of them are funny, some sad, some tragic, some a mixture of many emotions. Regardless of what story is being told, photography has a way of getting to people when words have failed. And that’s why We Animals Media matters.

Through a variety of storytelling methods – including founder Jo-Anne McArthur’s incredible photography and photojournalism – We Animals Media is a home for a catalogue accessible to traditional media, advocates, and everyone in between. It’s also the site of exciting new projects – like a We Animals masterclass, book sales, mentorships, and really, more than I can say in a short introduction.

I was thrilled to chat with Jo-Anne about the history of We Animals, the current projects she’s developing with a growing team, and what the future holds for the world’s premiere animal advocacy storytellers.

We Animals Media: https://weanimalsmedia.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

The Ontario government is considering liberalizing wolf and coyote hunting in Northern Ontario in a bid to increase moose hunting opportunities. But their own science and facts indicate that killing more wolves and coyotes won’t have the impact they want – making this an entirely political policy.

This issue isn’t just about wolves and coyotes and moose; it’s about understanding what is being said by those affected in Northern Ontario by the climate crisis and a rapidly changing ecosystem. It’s about learning to bring science to story and story to science to ensure that we’re doing what’s best for people in Ontario, as well as the individual animals and infinitely complex ecosystem that we all share.

To dive into the policy, the history, the science, and the difficult ethical conversations, Defender Radio was joined by Hannah Barron, Director of Wildlife Conservation Campaigns for Earthroots.

TAKE ACTION: https://earthroots.good.do/wolf/huntingcomment/

Earthroots website: www.earthroots.org

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

What is compassionate conservation? How can teaching today’s students the tenets of this movement affect government decisions tomorrow? And why does it matter in the end? All these questions and more are discussed with UBC professor and researcher Dr. Kristen Walker on the first episode of Defender Radio’s seventh season!

Join the Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/defenderradio

Sign up to get email alerts from The Fur-Bearers: www.thefurbearers.com/updates

Dr. Walker's reading list: