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:

How do you grow empathy and protect the future non-human animals in a part of the world most people will never visit? One company has the answer – and the science to back it up.

Krikey, a mobile gaming company founded by Jhvani and Ketaki Shriram, recently partnered with The Ellen Fund to launch Gorillas!, a 3D, augmented reality game that allows people to learn about the lives of critically endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. What makes this fascinating is not just the adorable graphics and enjoyable gaming aspect, but that it’s backed by scientific evidence that indicates the augmented reality experience actually grows empathy in adults.

Despite my best efforts, I am unable to succinctly explain the various aspects of what Jhvani and Ketaki have created with Krikey, so let’s dive into the interview with these two incredible people and hear why I’m telling people that they may have developed one of the tools that could actually change the hearts and minds of humankind.

As many of you know, I’m a dog guy. I share my home with JJ the Hamilton Hound, who you’ll often hear clicking around and bringing me toys while I’m interviewing folks. And as you may also know, I’m a huge fan of Dr. Marc Bekoff. He’s a prolific author, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, and as an ethologist has incredible experience, wisdom, and insight into the animals around us. Along with his friend and regular writing partner Dr. Jessica Pierce, Marc co-authored Unleashing Your Dog: A field guide to giving your canine companion the best life possible.

I’m describing this book as the book anyone should read before they read a dog training book – because this isn’t a dog training book. Unleashing Your Dog examines our relationships with dogs and challenges us to give our dogs what they need to truly be who they are while living in a human world. Marc joined Defender Radio to discuss the motivations for the book, how we can all use the tools of ethology to learn more about the non-human animals in our lives, and what exactly unleashing your dog means.

Get your copy of Unleashing Your Dog: https://www.amazon.ca/Unleashing-Your-Dog-Companion-Possible/dp/160868542X

Learn more about Marc: www.marcbekoff.com

Read Marc's Psychology Today blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions

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

Bears are dying in British Columbia as spring turns to summer. I’d like to have a cute, chipper way of introducing this interview, but that’s the sad fact. Largely due to poor attractant management, bears wander into communities in search of easy meals, an inconsistent response from various residents results in their ongoing presence in the community, and, eventually, it often leads to conservation officers killing the bear for alleged habituation.

It doesn’t need to be this way. Luci Cadman of the North Shore Black Bear Society in British Columbia works tirelessly to educate communities and push for enforcement of existing by-laws regarding attractants and human behaviour that leads to these conflicts.  She joined Defender Radio to discuss the reality of living near bears, the things individuals and whole communities can do to stop the killing, and why this isn’t a bear issue, but a human one.

North Shore Black Bear Society: www.northshorebears.com

Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Sign Up For Emails from Defender Radio & The Fur-Bearers: www.thefurbearers.com/updates

Defender Radio on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HowieMichael

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

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

Cats love to climb, jump, pounce, and play. Unfortunately, they often want to do this outside, where those skills help them kill wildlife and birds in large numbers and are exposed to innumerous risks to their well-being. It’s not fair to tell cats they can’t be who they are, and it isn’t exactly fair to let them be at risk of causing damage or being injured.

There is, however, a middle ground: catios.

The BC SPCA recently hosted a tour of catios in the Vancouver region with great success and are strong proponents of people giving cats a safe way to live their lives and engage their behaviours fully. Marieke van der Velden , an outreach specialist for the BC SPCA joined Defender Radio to share the secrets of catios and how easily cat lovers can build or buy them for their furry friends.

Learn more about catios: https://spca.bc.ca/catio

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

Check out The Young Defenders: www.youngdefenders.ca

Mountain caribou are endangered in British Columbia. It’s a big deal: the federal government has threatened to intervene if plans aren’t put in place to protect them. One plan, worked on heavily by First Nations leaders, is receiving praise. But the plan for at least one other region has huge holes and fails to address some key issues.

While protecting caribou habitat may seem like a straight-forward task, the previous BC provincial government run in a majority by the Liberals and the current government run by an NDP-Green partnership is showing that it’s anything but.

From literally selling the rights to cut down trees in the habitat of the endangered caribou during negotiations to killing wolves despite widespread scientific and ethical opposition to a disturbing rise in racist comments and economic disinformation, it’s been a bit of a confusing journey.

As the consultation period winds down – and links to actions on that are included in this week’s show notes – I wanted to take some time to break out the points, challenge the myths, and hear opposing opinions to what industry and politicians have spouted. That’s why we connected with Charlotte Dawe, Conservation and Campaign Manager for Wilderness Committee, who patiently listened to my tangents and walked me through the last year of work on this campaign and how you can be part of the solution.

Take action: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/SouthernMountainCaribou

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Articles mentioned:

Agreements mark ‘turning point’ for six B.C. caribou herds, but leave most herds hanging
https://thenarwhal.ca/agreements-mark-turning-point-six-b-c-caribou-herds-leave-most-herds-hanging/

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

Northern B.C. leaders pressure province to halt caribou plans
https://www.princegeorgematters.com/local-news/northern-bc-leaders-pressure-province-to-halt-caribou-plans-1368244

Caribou protection plan spawns racist backlash in northeast B.C.
http://thenarwhal.ca/caribou-protection-plan-spawns-racist-backlash-in-northeast-b-c/

West Moberly First Nations chief denounces 'fear mongering' over caribou protection plan
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/caribou-draft-plan-west-moberly-chief-racism-jobs-1.5102961

The 0.1% that trappers contribute to nature-based economics
https://thefurbearers.com/blog/the-01-that-trappers-contribute-to-nature-based-economics

The Fur-Bearers and Defender Radio are proud to announce the launch of a new project: The Young Defenders, a site and podcast to help youth Defend The Future Of Wildlife And The Environment Through Education, Communication and Kindness.

Visit www.YoungDefenders.ca!

Young Defenders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyoungdefenders

Young Defenders Twitter: https://twitter.com/youngdefenders

Young Defenders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyoungdefenders/

Defender Radio & Young Defenders Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

PJ is the Director of Fashion Policy at the Humane Society of the United States and has played a major role in getting big brands like Armani to drop fur and institute fur-free policies. We had a wonderful conversation about fur, policy, the historic context of the current fight to #MakeFurHistory, and how his method has proven successful. We even got into self-care and what solutions exist for every advocate who wants to see an end to the use of fur in fashion.

Find out more about PJ's work with HSUS at: www.HumaneSociety.org. 

Become a Defender Radio Patron at: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio. 

Defender Radio Facebook page:

www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio 

www.YoungDefenders.ca

Defender Radio host Michael Howie spent four days in Belleville, Ontario, where a nearly year-long process to protect beavers after one was found in a trapped reached its conclusion. The interviews included in this episode were recorded in the field with local residents, political leaders, and the inventor of the Beaver Deceiver himself, Skip Lisle.

To donate to The Fur-Bearers' beaver campaign go to: www.TheFurBearers.com/SaveBeavers.

To Read more about The Fur-Bearers' involvement and see more photos from the field, go to: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/victory-protecting-beavers-belleville

To become a support of Defender Radio for as little as $0.25 per episode, go to: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio. 

Host Michael Howie shares the news that Defender Radio has reached 100,000 downloads, and gets a surprise midway through recording!

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

Sign up for The Fur-Bearers email updates: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates. 

Follow Defender Radio on: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

It’s the Easter long weekend and you know what that means – bunnies, chicks and other little critters are being discussed, if not bought, as presents. But as many of you know, little animals aren’t just gifts, they’re sentient beings who are a lifetime commitment, require love, patience, veterinary care, and many other things.

A while back I spoke with my friend Lisa Winn from the Ladybird Animal Sanctuary about the subject of bunnies – not just why they shouldn’t be bought and sold as gifts, but what it means to accept a rabbit into your home and family. It was a great interview, so rather than try and remake something special, it made sense to share the original interview again.

Please enjoy past me talking to past Lisa about the future of having a bunny in your family. 

Featured on this episode's cover art: Marcel the bunny.

Check out Ladybird Animal Sanctuary: www.ladybirdanimalsanctuary.com

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

Follow Defender Radio on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Have you ever looked over at your dog and cat and wondered, “Are they happy?” If you’re like me, you probably have. But have you ever asked deeper questions, like are they fulfilled, how do they view themselves in relation to the world, and do they consider life after death? I have, but I think it was 4 am on a Tuesday morning and I’d been up for 23 hours.

But that’s what ethicists do, sometimes: they ask hard questions. And Dr. David Peña-Guzmán asked one that I have in all honesty never even considered: can nonhuman animals commit suicide? As an ethicist and associate professor of humanities and Liberal Studies at San Francisco State university, it’s David’s job to ask those questions, which he addresses in his paper Can nonhuman animals commit suicide? What he may not have been prepared for was putting his brilliant paper on the subject in front of me, then dealing with me peppering him with questions for over an hour. And some of these questions: not my best.

But Professor Peña-Guzmán put up with them all and we spent more than an hour discussing his paper, the implications of increased awareness in the realm of animal cognition and sentience, and a whole bunch of rambling from me. It was a ton of fun – David even said so in a follow up email that I choose to believe was in no way sarcastic.

Read the paper: Can nonhuman animals commit suicide?

Join the Defender Radio Patreon

Suicide Prevention / Call Centre (Canada): www.crisisservicescanada.ca

Suicide Prevention / Call Centre (United States): www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 

The idea of a west coast seal and sea lion hunt or cull popped up earlier this year. It seemed a bit strange, but that perhaps there was some internal logic: killing seals and sea lions who eat fish could help the beleaguered transient and at risk Orca populations, ensure that fish stocks remain healthy enough for commercial use, and maybe exploit a new market for seal and sea lion -based products. But that’s not how science works. In fact, based on some research and the interview you’re about to hear, it seems that killing seals and sea lions would make things worse for Orca populations, potentially create new competition for commercially harvested fish, and cost tax payers millions in attempts to force a new market. Add on top of that the fact that all of this has been looked at on Canada’s east coast – and the millions sunk into that industry have yielded none of the desired results.

I wanted to talk to an expert about this, so I called up my good friend Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, who has spent the better part of two decades defending Canada’s seals from exploitation.

The blog we talk about: https://mersociety.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/to-kill-seals-and-sea-lions/

Solid news coverage of the west coast proposal: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-scientists-warn-of-damage-to-ecosystem-after-bc-group-proposes-seal/

Shery's IFAW page: https://www.ifaw.org/canada/news/history-ending-Canadian-commercial-seal-hunt

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

The science is pretty straight forward when it comes to rehabilitating grizzly bears: it works, and they’re not more likely to come into conflict as a result of rehabilitation. But that hasn’t stopped the Alberta government from continuing to prevent qualified rehabilitators from taking in grizzly cubs – despite the fact that it’s an acceptable and frequent practice one province over in British Columbia, and various other places in Canada and around the world.

Understanding this decision means looking at what grizzly rehabilitation includes, breaking down the government and anti-rehab arguments, and exploring the available science. There’s no one better than biologist Lisa Dahlseide, who helped lead the charge to defeat unscientific policies that prevented black bears and other species from being rehabilitated in Alberta. She joined Defender Radio last week to share her knowledge and analysis.

Learn more about Cochrane Ecological Institute or support their efforts: http://www.ceinst.org/

Support Defender Radio: https://www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Sign up for email notifications: https://www.thefurbearers.com/updates

If you read enough headlines about the environment and wildlife, it won’t be long until you see one like ‘kill wolves to protect endangered caribou.’ In simple terms, the suggested actions by some government-funded researchers or those with a vested interest in killing animals makes sense: if we remove the predator or competition, the population of an animal targeted for conservation will increase.  But that’s not how things work in the real world – particularly when policy writers and elected officials ignore overwhelming scientific evidence and focus on easy answers that won’t have a lasting positive impact.

Charlotte Dawe, a campaigner with Wilderness Committee penned an outstanding article on this issue for The Straight, an online magazine recently, and joined Defender Radio to discuss the concept of killing animals to save animals, science-informed decision making, and how we can all be part of lasting, compassionate solutions for the environment.

More on Wilderness Committee: www.WildernessCommittee.org

The Straight Article by Charlotte Dawe: https://www.straight.com/news/1202836/charlotte-dawe-our-obsession-killing-some-animals-save-others

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMails: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

John E. Marriott has taken some of the most breathtaking photos of wildlife that I have ever seen. He’s the keynote speaker at The Fur-Bearers gala event including the Clements Awards on March 30, and he’s been a regular on Defender Radio sharing stories about his adventures, ethical wildlife photography, and conservation.

In his latest episode of the popular web series Exposed With John E. Marriott, John tackles snares – the cruel devices responsible for killing wolves, coyotes, and countless other non-target species across Canada.

To discuss the episode, what he’s learned about government regulation on snares, and why every animal lover should be concerned, John joined Defender Radio.

EXPOSED website: https://exposedwithjohnemarriott.com/

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

Boss’ story is similar to many others we’ve heard this trapping season, but he was one of the few lucky ones. While on a walk with his guardian near his home in British Columbia, Boss was lured to a baited snare and became entangled. Fortunately, he was able to get loose – but the event injured him and has shaken his family. Now they’re asking questions like why is trapping taking place on a trail that’s listed on tourism websites, and why there were no signs indicating that active, baited traps were in the area.

Amanda Duke joined Defender Radio to share her emotional story about almost losing her companion, and the questions she’s asking.

Take Action To Ban Snares in Canada: www.TheFurBearers.com/Snares

Take Action to Require Warning Signs in BC When Traps Are Active: www.TheFurBearers.com/BCTrapSigns

Defender Radio Patreon (support the podcast): www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Not long ago, Kimberly Ross and her family lost their beloved companion Titus to a legally set snare. This episode features an emotional interview with Kimberly.

If you are unable or choose not to listen, I understand – but I do ask that you click on the links in our blog or show notes, or head to www.TheFurBearers.com/snares to take action on banning these horrible, inhumane devices. Snares are legal across Canada, and as you will hear, can be set without warning and without setback from publicly accessible recreation areas, property lines, and natural place.

Kimberly spoke with Defender Radio about her family’s experience losing Titus to one of these cruel devices, and how she hopes her story will save the lives of other pets.

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

Defender Radio Twitter: https://twitter.com/defenderradio

Defender Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howiemichael/

Defender Radio Patreon: http://www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

One year ago today, I spoke about hope in a video like this. It's been a long year, with loss and pain, but I know together we can make change for ourselves, and the world.

Listen to Defender Radio:
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/defender-radio/id718357541&ls=1

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/defender-radio

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/53h2PqGuJCc5qZgvtVvVmx

Web: www.TheFurBearers.com/Podcast

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

Defender Radio Patreon: www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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

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.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

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.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

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.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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

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.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

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

Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/Updates

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

Fur Free Retailer Program: https://furfreeretailer.com

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Sign Up for Defender Radio eNews: www.TheFurBearers.com/updates

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.

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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

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

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

Defender Radio eMail Updates: 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.

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

Defender Radio Patreon: www.Patreon.com/DefenderRadio

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.

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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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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!

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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.

The next regular episode of Defender Radio: The Podcast for Wildlife Advocates and Animal Lovers will be available January 8, 2018, featuring Animal Justice and their new podcast Paw and Order. In this short episode, Host Michael Howie explores the question of how to grow hope in the world after a difficult year, and his promises to the animals for 2018.

This is the Defender Radio Family Christmas Special! Christmas In A Cozy Cave is a heart-warming Christmas tale of two very different animals who were the best of friends, as they try to give each other holiday gifts to show how much they appreciate each other. But in their efforts, they may jeopardize Christmas for one another!

An audio drama written by Michael Howie and Megan Howie. Adapted from O. Henry's Gift of the Magi.

Narrated by Barbara Howie

Chipmunk played by Tracy Garnett

Otter played by Kate Howie

Bear played by Michael Howie

Episode art by Shannon Darch

Full credits, thanks, and acknowledgements in bonus file "Defender Radio Family Christmas Special (Thanks and Acknowledgements)."

We just released the Defender Radio Family Christmas Special, and decided to do this brief episode separately to not interfere with your enjoyment of the special. I’m going to tell you a bit about why I made the special, and thank and acknowledge those who supported and helped out. If you haven’t listened to Christmas In a Cozy Cave, go do that first, and then come back to listen to this special feature.

John Marriott is a wonderful wildlife photographer. I’ve had the good fortune to chat with him in the past about his work, particularly on the subjects of ethics and advocacy. When I saw the news that he’d released a new book, I immediately tweeted him, asking for a review copy and an interview. Then I emailed him. I think I called him at 3 am once or twice, too.

Long story short, I loved the book, wrote a review of Tall Tales, Long Lenses: My Adventures in Photography, for The Fur-Bearers, and managed to tie down John for an interview between his numerous signings and speaking engagements in recent weeks. We discussed the process of developing this new book, what it was like to invite readers into his memories and life, and why one of Canada’s most popular wildlife photographers is also one of Canada’s most outspoken conservationists.

In October I received a slew of emails about an injured bear cub in a community outside of Calgary, Alberta. Ordinarily, I’d just do a quick google search and provide the concerned animal lover with contact information for their closest wildlife rehabber. But that didn’t work in the case – because Alberta doesn’t allow for the rehabilitation of orphaned bear cubs.

Unlike neighboring British Columbia, and here in Ontario, Alberta has strict policies that will not allow several species of orphaned wildlife to be rehabbed – and they don’t really offer any studies or scientifically-based reasons as to why. As one can expect, this policy, particularly in the case of this injured bear cub, named Russell by area children, led to an outcry.

Local wildlife lovers have come together to push for change to the policy – both through a temporary permit for the local Cochrane Ecological Institute, which is set up and did rehab bears and bear cubs for decades, and for other cubs moving forward. The Fur-Bearers have proudly supported those initiatives. The informal group of advocates have also created a stir in area media on the issue, created a man-made den for Russell, and are on alert for changes in his health or behaviour. Lisa Dahlseide, a biologist and former rehabber at Cochrane Ecological Institute, connected with me to have an in-depth talk about the story of Russell, the lack of evidence behind the government’s no-rehab policy, the ins and outs of actions taken by the informal group, and what animal lovers from across Canada and around the world can do to help Russell, and other cubs in his situation.

More than four million animals were used in research in Canada in 2016, a 21% increase from the previous year. Included in this increase were the use of cats, up 68%, dogs, up 58%, nonhuman primates, up 53%, and pigs, up 70%.

It isn’t just that so many animals are used though. It’s that so many animals are used for research purposes that aren’t necessarily effective, when more effective and humane options exist. Dr. Elisabeth Ormandy, Executive Director of the Animal in Science Policy Institute, joined Defender Radio to break down the data, explain the alternatives, and share how everyone, from school kids to advocates to researchers can be a part of the necessary change.

Joshua Barkman, creator of the False Knees web comic, takes every day circumstances for the animals we see around us in urban areas, like raccoons, rabbits, and various species of birds, and applies absurdly humourous conversations or thoughts.  

Joshua gives great detail to his drawings, creating a wonderful juxtaposition between beautiful artwork and absurd humour. But he also gives life, emotion, character, and introspection to animals often seen, but seldom considered in our daily lives. Joshua sat down with Defender Radio at the popular Café Pyrus in Kitchener, Ontario for an interview, a locally roasted cup of coffee, and an opportunity to dive into the world of False Knees.

Here we are – season five! I can’t think of a better way to kick off this momentous run than with coyote expert, and my good friend, Lesley Sampson of Coyote Watch Canada. Lesley and I spent some time recording in a forest in the Niagara Falls region last week, talking about building community buy-in to co-existence programs, the ups and downs of developing a plan, and why living with coyotes isn’t just possible, but preferable.

That’s not all I have to share with you though – I have a few new features of the show I want to share with you. First is the 60-second advocacy bit – in less than one minute, I’m going to share with you what the primary focus of my guest’s advocacy is, what solutions they have, and how you can get involved. That way if you can’t stay for the whole episode, or it’s a subject you may struggle with, you’ll get the basics so you can still help the cause.

I hear from a lot of you that there’s an interest in helping the show, too, and that’s why I’ve created a new Patreon! That’s the online way of supporting creators – podcasters like myself, artists, designers, musicians, and so on. It’s simple: visit patreon.com/defenderradio, choose a tier of giving, and click! Each tier – starting at $1 per month and going up to $150 per month – has rewards. For only $1 per month you’ll get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, blogs, outtakes and more. Bump up to $5 and you’ll also get an additional stream of content from each interview that can’t be heard anywhere else. As the tiers go up, so do the rewards – a Defender Radio t-shirt, advocacy gear from The Fur-Bearers, and even an executive producer title are available! Check out www.patreon.com/DefenderRadio to learn more and help the show, And The Fur-Bearers grow.

Of course I can’t start a new season without a contest, so here we go: register to receive Defender Radio updates and The Fur-Bearers’ eNews at thefurbearers.com/updates and you’ll be entered in a chance to win a shirt and advocacy pack from The Fur-Bearers. If you’re already signed up, you’re already in the draw! If not, just visit thefurbearers.com/updates and make sure you opt-in to receive both email types and you’ll be entered. Winner will be announced on next week’s episode!

Going green is a good idea.There aren't many people who don't want to see a more sustainable world that lessens our impact on the planet, habitats, ecosystems, and individual animals, regardless of political affiliations. But how to get there – and what will or won’t work – remains controversial.

Curbing greenhouse gas emissions elicits a highly politicized conversation, with sides across the political spectrum using misinformation and disinformation to push for their own plans – and undermine those of their opponents.

The questions must become what actions are available and are practical for all political parties, how industries can transform without costing working families their livelihoods, and what we can do as individuals on a day to day basis. To help talk about these important questions, Defender Radio was joined by an authority on the politics of going green: Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada.

This story started with necessity too – Canadian Football player James Yurichuk was moving his family from tepid Vancouver to brisk Toronto, and wanted to buy his wife a nice winter coat to help with the transition. But there was a problem: they were all filled with goose down and lined with coyote fur.

From that simple necessity grew conversations with childhood friend Anthony DeBartolo, ideas and sketches, and a vision for an ethical, compassionate company. Fast forward a few years, and Wully Outerwear is creating high-performance, animal-free jackets that are competing in the marketplace – and growing in popularity every day.

The story of Wully Outerwear started in a small Ontario town hockey rink, and today is saving the lives of thousands of animals. To share their journey and explore their motivations, hopes, and what’s next for the made-in-Canada company, Defender Radio was joined by co-founders James Yurichuk and Anthony DeBartolo.

Poisons that cause extreme suffering and death are being used to cruelly kill wolves. But there’s an opportunity to get at least one of them out of our country. Strychnine, Compound 1080, and M-44 cyanide devices are all used in Alberta to kill wolves – and anything else that comes into contact with them. Some of these poisons are also used in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Several permits that allow the use of Strychnine in Alberta are set to expire in December 2017, creating a unique opportunity to outlaw these disturbing agents of death, and raise awareness of the plight facing not only wolves, but all manner of carnivores targeted with these poisons through baiting.

To understand why these poisons are being used, what other solutions exist for managing livestock conflict and protecting at-risk species, and how we can be part of the change, Defender Radio was joined by Sadie Parr, Executive Director of Wolf Awareness Inc.

. It was a day of mixed emotions when we heard that the new NDP-led government in British Columbia would ban trophy hunting of grizzly bears – but still allow them to be killed for the quote meat.

This pack out provision led to a big debate in the media, in comments, and on chatrooms across the province and country. It stood to reason that a good way to find out what people really thought about the hunting of grizzly bears was to ask them. Enter Insights West.

Funded by LUSH Cosmetics and the Commercial Bear Viewing Association, Insights polled a sample of BC residents to get their opinions on grizzly bear hunting. Seventy-four per cent of residents support a ban on all hunting of grizzlies, which is a positive stat, though not surprising. What left me slack jawed was that 58% of self-identified hunters also support a ban on the hunting of all grizzlies.

Immediately, this survey made headlines across the province and spurred even more debate. Throw in a mixture of all the fake news/inaccurate polling/lack of trust in media that has underscored the last 12 months, and the scientifically-valid survey got called into question. That’s why Defender Radio connected with Mario Canseco, the VP of Insights West. Mario discusses what the grizzly bear poll shows, why professional surveys are a valuable tool, and why advocates should be looking to the numbers.

Between our battles to protect animals, and the seemingly endless stream of terror attacks, natural disasters, and headlines involving Donald Trump, feeling tired isn’t surprising. But it’s important to understand the difference between being a bit tired, and burning out.

With all that’s going on in the world, we thought it was time to talk about mental health with someone who has knowledge of the world of advocacy, as well as the training and expertise to talk about burnout. That’s why we brought Defender Radio host Michael Howie’s wife, Kate Howie, onto the show.

Kate is a concurrent disorders outreach specialist for a health network in Southern Ontario, has an extensive background in counselling on issues like addiction, and an education in sociology and social work. She sat down with Defender Radio to talk about recognizing burnout in ourselves and others, learning the first steps we can take to prevent burnout, and how we can ask for help.

Extreme weather events have wreaked havoc across the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, hurricanes have torn apart communities, destroyed infrastructure, and created crises of significant scope for people who call the islands home.

But it isn’t only the people who are suffering. Community animals like cats, dogs, domestic livestock, and working animals who depend on humans can suffer greatly through these incidents, despite the best efforts of their owners or families. Even wildlife, who often are adept at managing through such scenarios, need a helping hand with injury, or accessing resources and shelter. But they have hope in the form of emergency response teams from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW. According to their website, IFAW leads, funds and provides assistance to animal rescue groups to assess disaster situations, formulate plans, and take action. They also provide food, equipment, medical supplies, and emergency expertise to help rescue, provide care, and when safe to do so, reunify pets with their families and/or return wildlife to the wild.

Defender Radio was fortunate to be joined by Res Krebs, a communications expert for IFAW who deployed with emergency response teams to the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this month. In an interview with Defender Radio between planning sessions and his next deployment, Res talked about the emergency response program, what it was like seeing the devastation to the islands and the communities, and how we can all help in recovery efforts and preparedness for the people, and the animals.

A visit to the aquarium or zoo could be magical as a child. Heck, for a lot of adults, it can still be magical. Seeing species from all over the world up close is remarkable. Of course, once we realize that they’re confined in unnatural circumstances, displaying neurotic and self-damaging behaviours, and that their incarceration rarely, if ever, plays a role in true conservation of their species in the wild, the magic fades.

Though many documentaries, non-profits, and passionate advocates are showing that zoos and aquariums are not what we once believed them to be, they still exist – and are sometimes quite popular. But from a total lack of regulation and laws in Ontario leading to alleged acts of cruelty, to the politics and ethics of keeping cetaceans in captivity in British Columbia, the fight for the freedom and even the basic welfare of these animals rages on. Animal Justice, a charity that focuses on using legal resources to pass animal legislation, push for the prosecution of animal abusers, and fight for animals in court, is facing two issues currently. In Ontario, allegations of mistreatment at a roadside zoo, and in British Columbia, advocating on behalf of the animals in a court hearing about the Vancouver Aquarium’s right to keep captive cetaceans.

Camille Labchuk, Executive Director of Animal Justice, joined Defender Radio to talk about both of these cases, the need to create precedent, and how whether we’re in the court room or on our mobile devices, we can all play a role in the legal fight for the animals’ freedom.

Defender Radio visited the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, we learned that there are eight native species of turtle in Ontario – and several of them are at-risk. We also learned that there’s a whole lot of dedicated people working exceptionally hard to help turtles. Dr. Sue Carstairs, Executive and Medical Director at the Centre and the Kwartha Turtle Trauma Centre shared her vast knowledge, experience and a tour with the show.

Turtle rehabilitation, surgery, their importance to our ecosystem, why some species are pretty much living dinosaurs, and what 3,000 turtle eggs are doing in plastic kitchen containers in Peterborough were discussed in this recorded Facebook live interview, with an additional 25 minutes not previously heard.

Kids are groaning, parents are cheering, and teachers are refilling hip flasks and chocolate drawers: it’s back to school week. While many families will be getting up earlier, shovelling breakfasts down, making lunches, and filling up dry erase boards with extracurriculars, appointments, and school events, there’s one member of our families who may be having a hard time – and they’re on four legs.

Family companions, especially dogs, can struggle with sudden changes to routine or schedules. These changes, from simply leaving the house a bit earlier, to members of the family not being around during the day, to getting walked or fed at a different time, can create stress and anxiety – and those can lead to behavioural problems.

Knowing how to recognize those symptoms and what’s causing them is difficult, but knowing to whom to turn for help, what questions to ask, and what kind of training will be most effective can be just as hard. That’s why Defender Radio reached out to friend, dog behaviour consultant through Fangs But No Fangs, and animal behaviour professor at Durham College, Joan Weston to help all of us get ready to go bark to school.

Bad Coyote, the 2013 documentary that purports to explore the state of Atlantic Canadians during a cull of coyotes after the tragic death of folksinger Taylor Mitchell in October 2009, is available to view online.  The documentary was released online as part of the National Film Board’s National Canadian Film Day this year. In the last week, several listeners, supporters of The Fur-Bearers, and friends, contacted the show and The Fur-Bearers to let us know that it was available for online viewing, and that the link was being passed around.

The write-up for Bad Coyote states that it asks if residents’ fears of a new “super species” are justified, or if they’re responding to fear mongering. While many filmmakers would have gone to great lengths to sensationalize beyond the title, writer and director Jason Andrew Young made clear efforts to provide some balance. This was accomplished namely through interviews with Taylor Mitchell’s mother, Emily Mitchell, who advocated for compassion to wildlife and an end to the cull, and Dr. Simon Gadbois, a canid researcher at Dalhousie University.

Though time is given to Dr. Gadbois, frequently his scientific-based statements are cut down to simple soundbites, and, ultimately rejected by the so-called folk logic of those who profit from the exploitation of coyotes, without an opportunity for rebuttal. Even the very question of what exactly happened on October 27, 2009, which led to the death of Ms. Mitchell in hospital the following day, isn’t fully explored – and that’s where our interview with Dr. Simon Gadbois, an opportunity for discussion and in-depth rebuttals, begins on this week’s episode.

Shooting a bear is remarkably easy. You need someone to help you find them, the equipment and knowledge of that equipment to be able to line up the shot, a bit of patience, and then you either push a button – or pull a trigger.

Trish Boyum and her husband Eric own Ocean Adventures, a successful ecotourism business on the coast, and are also advocates for the protection of grizzlies and other wildlife. Trish joined Defender Radio to share her reaction to the announcement on trophy hunting, how her husband confronted armed hunters trying to poach a grizzly bear in a provincial park, and why only one type of shooting has a future for grizzlies in British Columbia.

In my experience, when this hunt is discussed, us urban folk from away are dismissed for not understanding what it means to be a Newfoundlander. That’s fair – I don’t know what it’s like to be a part of that culture, which is very rich and distinct. But it’s not just me in Hamilton, or my colleagues in Vancouver, or even a sizable amount of the general population around the world who think the seal hunt is cruel and economically unviable – it’s the very people who call the Rock home that are questioning the industry.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW, conducted a survey of Newfoundlanders earlier this summer, and found that the residents of the Atlantic province have changing views on the economic future of the commercial hunt, as well as their personal connection to it, and own use of seal products.

Sheryl Fink, Director of Wildlife Campaigns for Canada, joined Defender Radio to discuss this survey, the ramifications of what was learned, and what else the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer its people and visitors.

The scene looks like one painted with the words of Tolkien: moss covered rocks, a babbling brook, various low shrubs, and monstrous trees fill the landscape. The photo I’m describing is this week’s episode art, and was taken by the guest you’ll hear from today. It’s truly beautiful, and exactly what I imagined when we started talking about the Acadian forests of Nova Scotia.

It’s also gone.

Full of biodiversity, hundreds of years old, and filling an ecological role that’s difficult to fully comprehend, the Acadian forests of Atlantic Canada are under attack. Clearcutting, ineffective replanting, backroom politics, and disinformation are creating a hazardous situation that, according to our guest Cliff Seruntine, is hitting the crisis point.

A member of Stop Spraying and Clearcutting Nova Scotia, Cliff says there is less than 1% of the original Acadian Forest left – and it is being cut 20 times faster than it can rejuvenate itself. Cliff joined Defender Radio to discuss the unique ecosystems found in the Acadian Forests, what’s driving the clear cutting, and what ecological and economic solutions exist to replace this dangerous industry.

Sandra Riches, the BC Coordinator for AdventureSmart, joined Defender Radio to talk selfie safety, the basics of being prepared, and what has led to nearly 1,600 search and rescue operations taking place per year in British Columbia alone.