Rarefied Podcast

Send us Fan Mail  In the final episode of Rarefied's first season, host Meredith Meeker delves into the world of caribou, focusing on their significance, unique characteristics, and the challenges they face. Meredith interviews Eddie Petryshen, a conservation specialist from Wild Sight, who works tirelessly to protect the deep snow caribou in British Columbia. They discuss the threats of habi...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker dives into the fascinating world of freshwater mussels, focusing on the snuffbox mussel's crucial role in maintaining healthy freshwater ecosystems. Joined by Dr. Catherine Febria and PhD student Lauren Damphousse from the University of Windsor, the discussion covers the unique biology and habitat of the snuffbox, the challen...

Send us Fan Mail Exploring the Ocean's Gentle Giants: A Dive into Basking Sharks with Dr. Dave Ebert In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker dives into the world of the basking shark, one of the ocean's gentle giants. Joining her is Dr. Dave Ebert, a renowned shark scientist and the director of the Pacific Shark Research Center. They discuss the enigmatic basking sh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker talks with Jasmine McCulligh (she/her), the facility coordinator at the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program. They discuss the critical situation of the Northern Spotted Owl, its unique reliance on old growth forests, and the significant challenges it faces from habitat loss and competition with Barred Owls. Jasmine shares insight...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker introduces listeners to the Southwest Spring Firefly, an understudied species primarily found in Arizona. Joined by Rachel Laura, Deputy Executive Director at Friends of the Verde River and a PhD student at the University of Arizona, the episode dives into the unique characteristics, life cycle, and habitat of this rare firefly. Ra...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied the podcast, host Meredith Meeker delves into the intriguing world of the Jefferson Salamander, a rare and imperiled amphibian found in Ontario, Canada. Meredith is joined by Jessica Linton, a senior biologist and project manager at NRSI, who shares her expertise on the species' lifecycle, habitat, and the unique reproductive strategy involving uni...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied with host Meredith Meeker, we explore the inspiring recovery story of the critically imperiled Vancouver Island Marmot. Joining Meredith is Adam Taylor, Executive Director of the Marmot Recovery Foundation, who shares his extensive experience in wildlife conservation. Discussions include the unique biology and habitat of the Vancouver Island Marmot, the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker spotlights the Chimney Swift, a bird known for its aerial acrobatics and unique nesting habits. Despite their global security, Chimney Swifts face vulnerability and imperilment across Canada. Meredith is joined by experts Gabriel Evans Cook, Ontario's aerial insectivore biologist, and Gwendolyn Clark, coordinator of the Chimne...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker continues a deep dive into the life and conservation of the American eel alongside guest Chris Bowser, an education coordinator for the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program. The discussion covers practical ways to help protect eels, debunks myths about the species, and touches on the storied cultural significance of eels...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker delves into the fascinating world of the American Eel. Despite its slimy and elusive nature, the American Eel is a remarkable and critical species. Meredith is joined by Chris Bowser, Education Coordinator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, who shares his extensive knowledge on these unique...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker revisits the past 14 episodes to reflect on the conservation efforts for some endangered and imperiled species across North America. Starting with the central theme of habitat loss and delving into issues like diseases, pests, recreation, and climate change, the episode intertwines powerful success stories and actionabl...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker introduces listeners to the Bogbean Buck Moth, an endangered, brightly patterned, daytime-flying moth reliant on wetland habitats. With guest Peter Soroye, the Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator at Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, the podcast delves into the moth's distinct characteristics, specialized habitat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Rarefied', host Meredith Meeker takes listeners on an adventure into the nocturnal world, featuring the little brown bat, one of North America's endangered bat species. The discussion includes detailed descriptions of the bat's physical characteristics, behaviors, and the severe threats they face, like White Nose Syndrome. Meeker shares pers...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker explores the conservation efforts surrounding the Oregon Spotted Frog, an amphibian facing critical endangerment. The discussion delves into the frog’s habitat, threats they face, and the innovative measures being taken to protect and restore their populations. Wildlife biologist Andrea Gielens shares insights from her...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker explores the precarious situation of the rusty patch bumblebee. Meeker is joined by Elaine Evans, an Extension Educator and Researcher at the University of Minnesota, and Mary Powley, a PhD student in the Native Bee Lab at the same university. Together, they discuss the unique characteristics, habitats, and life cycles of the rusty...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Rarified listeners are introduced to the beluga whale. Renowned for its unique vocalizations and smiling visage, the beluga whale inhabits the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. With conservation scientist William Halliday, the podcast dives into the life of belugas, exploring their behaviors, unique adaptations, and the threats they face, such as climate change and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, host Meredith Meeker explores the fascinating world of the black ash tree and its conservation challenges. Featuring guests Nina Hunt and Heather Zurbrigg from the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA), the discussion covers the tree's ecological and cultural significance, particularly its role in wetlands and its connection to Indigenous co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rarefied podcast, host Meredith Meeker explores the conservation efforts for the redside dace, a critically endangered fish found in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Meeker interviews Kat Lucas, outreach and communications coordinator at Ontario Streams, who explains the threats facing this unique minnow and the initiatives in place to preserve its habitat. T...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Rarefied,' host Meredith Meeker takes listeners on a journey to the beach to learn about the elusive and endangered piping plover. Despite its vulnerability, this small shorebird wins hearts with its charming appearance and behaviors. Meredith is joined by Sydney Shepherd, the coordinator of the Ontario piping plover conservation program with Birds Ca...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Meredith Meeker on Rarefied Podcast as she embarks on a journey into Ontario's wetlands to spotlight the Blanding's turtle. This episode details their unique features, the threats they face, and the conservation efforts led by experts like Tanisha Agarwal (she/her) from the Toronto Zoo's Adopt-a-Pond program. Learn about the zoo's headstarting initiat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied, we delve into the world of one of nature's most elusive and powerful creatures, the Wolverine. Joined by Matthew Scrafford, a conservation scientist with Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, the episode explores Matthew’s work with Wolverines. The conversation covers the Wolverine's behavior, distribution, and the challenges they face, inclu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rarefied podcast, host interview Dr. Jenny McCune, an associate professor at the University of Lethbridge, to discuss her research on rare and endangered plant species in Canada. The focus is on the wood poppy, a bright yellow flower native to the Carolinian forest of Southwestern Ontario. Dr. McCune delves into its characteristics, habitat, genetic distinct...

Send us Fan Mail  This episode of 'Rarified' introduces listeners to the rare and endangered Spotted Gar, a unique fish inhabiting the shallow coastal waters of Lake Erie. Host interviews Dominique Rumble, a PhD student from the University of Toronto, who shares insights from her conservation research on the Spotted Gar. They discuss the fish's distinctive characteristics, behavior,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Rarefied , we head to the savannahs and grasslands of Ontario to uncover the story of one of the province’s most endangered butterflies: the Mottled Duskywing. Despite its subtle appearance, this resilient butterfly plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Our guest, Dr. Ryan Norris, Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, shares his journey working with...

Send us Fan Mail In the debut episode of Rarefied, explore the captivating world of the Loggerhead Shrike, a small songbird with a predilection for predation. We'll take listeners to Ontario’s grasslands, revealing the bird's unique hunting behaviors, decline in populations, and the conservation efforts led by Hazel Wheeler from Wildlife Preservation Canada. Learn about the challenges an...