Defender Radio and The Switch

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

I have no words this week. There is nothing I can say that will soften the hurt facing people in North America, and particularly Indigenous peoples and people of colour. This is not the time for my voice. Now is the time for the voice of those who must be heard. This week, instead of Defender Radio, which will return next week with two new interviews, I hope you will join me in listening to podcas...

How can you tell the difference between a wolf and a coyote? What's a coywolf? Do they live alone or in packs? Are their packs like wolves, or different? We asked for questions and we got 'em! A few weeks back, I asked on social media what your questions would be for Lesley Sampson, Founder and Executive Director at Coyote Watch Canada. You answered. And then you kept on answering! Between Defende...

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

Eighty-one per cent of BC's southern mountain caribou local populations have lost more habitat than what's needed for survival. That's the lede from the Wilderness Committee news item announcing the release of the NGO's report, State of Southern Mountain Caribou Habitat in BC: Exceeding Disturbance Limits. The fate of the mountain caribou in this region has been spotlighted in part due to their st...

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

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

Well, there's no nice way to put it: the Ontario government wants to make permanent the spring season for killing black bears. There's a whole lot of reasons the Ontario spring bear hunt shouldn't exist at all, let alone be made a permanent fixture. To explore the myriad of reasons it's a bad idea and more completely outline the harm this hunt can and does cause, I was joined by bear expert Mike M...

Bill 156 is dangerous for animals. This legislation, introduced in late 2019, targets those who find their ways onto animal agricultural facilities and document disregard for animal welfare or individuals who are working on farms and become whistleblowers in the face of blatant animal cruelty. It even targets those who protest or bear witness for animals on their way to slaughter. It is billed as...

There's no interview this week but I do want to share with you a brief version of the 20-year history behind The Fur-Bearers' quest to regain charitable status and what that could mean for the animals and for you! Here are some relevant links: Donate Now: http://thefurbearers.com/charity Intuit Tax Article: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/what-charitable-status-would-mean-you Defender Radio Faceboo...

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

Tim Gordon is an Exeter University PhD student working on some fascinating solutions to help fish on coral reefs in Australia using sound. As cool as this research is, that's not what brought Tim's work to my attention: it was a short letter published in the journal Science. Titled, Grieving environmental scientists need support, Gordon co-wrote the letter with colleagues Andrew Radford and Stephe...

Bears are hungry. Like super duper hungry. This time of year they're getting ready for hibernation and are spending most of their time getting all the calories they can – and that means it's extra important to manage attractants and do what we can to keep them from hanging out in our neighbourhoods. Even if we individually like having the bears in our yards, other neighbours may not – and having t...

We need change in how we view wildlife and the management of species and their homes. Outdated science and traditions need to be updated with current data and effective traditional ecological knowledge. But how do we start? With a paradigm shift – and that's what the Cochrane Research Institute and Cochrane Ecological Institute are hoping to create with their Wilderness Wildlife and Human Interact...

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 availa...

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...

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 ge...

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 endan...

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...

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 conservatio...

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: 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-forw...

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 Y...

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 ev...

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...