Defender Radio and The Switch

Fishers – Pekania pennanti – are secretive, forest-dwelling members of the weasel family found across parts of British Columbia. But the Columbian population in BC's central interior is small, isolated, and facing serious pressure from habitat loss, wildfire and trapping. Rich Weir is a senior wildlife biologist with Artemis Wildlife Consultants who has spent much of his career studying fishers an...

Hamilton's urban tree canopy currently sits at about 18 per cent, and the City has set a goal of increasing that to 40 per cent by 2050. That matters for people — but it also matters for wildlife. Trees provide food, shelter and movement corridors for many of the fur-bearing animals who share our urban neighbourhoods, from squirrels and raccoons to skunks and other species. A new pilot project fro...

For more than 60 years, researchers have been studying generations of yellow-bellied marmots in Colorado, creating one of the longest-running studies of wild mammals in the world. Dr. Julien Martin is a professor of biology at the University of Ottawa and one of the researchers now leading that project, studying how marmots respond and adapt to changes in their environment. But keeping a decades-l...

The Fur-Bearers' Wildlife Campaigns and Advocacy Manager Tijana S and Science Communicator and Researcher Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin join the Defender Radio podcast to talk Jimothy, wild animal welfare science, how our use of space impacts wildlife, and a new study on coexistence stats worldwide. Plus a bit of fun and laughter as host Michael Howie is taught more about science, as always. SHOW NOTES:...

Over 21,000 people were evacuated from Summerland , British Columbia, when the Bald Range fire rapidly grew to over 156 square kilometres. Among the thousands of homes that were impacted or destroyed by the wildfire is Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society . The volunteer-run organization, led by founder Eva Hartmann, focuses on water birds, bats, reptiles, and small mammals like beavers, otter...

When we talk about wildlife, we often talk about it as though it belongs somewhere else. A forest. A park. A protected area. Somewhere north of us, away from the roads, neighbourhoods, shopping centres, and backyards where we spend most of our lives. But nature is not somewhere else. It's everywhere. Coyotes on city streets, raccoons in backyards, skunks under sheds, birds crossing parking lots, i...

Defender Radio host Michael Howie is joined by colleagues Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin and Tijana (Wildlife Campaigns and Advocacy Manager at The Fur-Bearers) to talk about studies covering drones and British Columbia's endangered species, plus a chat about what kind of space wildlife needs this time of year.  SHOW NOTES Episode artwork of an edangered Vancouver Island Marmot by  James Telford / iNatura...

It feels like yesterday – and a lifetime ago – that the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world. I don't know about you, but I'm still dealing with that experience, and I see the impact of it around me regularly. What's most upsetting, perhaps, is that experts are sending clear messages: it's not if, but when the next pandemic will hit. A major source for potential virus spillover is fur farms, o...

This time of year is glorious for all of us – and for the wild neighbours with whom we share our communities. From black bears and coyotes to skunks and squirrels, wildlife is out and about, finding new den sites, food sources, and introducing their families to the world around them – even in cities. Sadly, human infrastructure and behaviours can lead to tragic outcomes for many animals; and that'...

Defender Radio host Michael Howie is joined by colleagues Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin and Tijana S. (Wildlife Campaigns and Advocacy Manager at The Fur-Bearers) to talk about The Fur-Bearers' recent time at the Humane Canada Summit for Wildlife, two studies reviewed for our article, and how communication is a key aspect to wildlife coexistence. SHOW NOTES Episode artwork by Brittany Crossman / Getty Le...

We want to look into the future for Defender Radio and The Switch – and that means hearing from you! We've put together a short (really) survey that will take fewer than 5 minutes and can help us know in which direction to go. It includes episode length/frequency, guest mix, accessibility, and more. Click here to open the survey now. To show our appreciation, we're also offering a $100 Visa Gift C...

Animal law is a topic of growing interest to Canadians, advocates, and legal experts. While there are some great people doing great work related to animal law in Canada, there haven't been any university-associated programs on it – until now. Angela Fernandez, a long-time University of Toronto law professor, is taking on the project as the director of the University of Toronto Animal Law Program....

September is fashion month, with massive week-long events in major cities worldwide, including New York, London, Milan and Paris. And the question on many peoples' minds is: will we be seeing fur, or will more designers choose to go fur-free? PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy for Humane World for Animals thinks the future of the industry is fur-free, and joins Defender Radio to discuss trends,...

The tragic story of a locally beloved cougar being killed near Canmore, Alberta, earlier this year was heartbreaking. John Marriott, an award-winning wildlife photographer and co-founder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy shared his harrowing experience with Defender Radio – along with his discovery of two cougar kits, orphaned by the incident. Several months later, the cougar kits were transferred t...

From streetlights to skyscrapers and everything in between, lighting up the night can help keep people safe. But, this often excessive lighting has a consequence: light pollution. Native wildlife across Canada gets impacted by light pollution in many ways–and they're not alone. Humans, too, are impacted in surprising ways by our bright night skies. Tijana Selak, Wildlife Campaigns and Advocacy Man...

Wildfires and drought, floods and ice storms, and a seemingly never-ending news cycle of chaos around us is a lot. I'll be honest – there are days I want to hide from it all myself. But carrying the weight of what's happening to the natural world around us isn't new, and it has a name – climate grief. This intense grief and anxiety can come from any source and impact anyone. It can be the terrifyi...

Mink fur farms are a virus's favourite place. There's lots of opportunity to transmit, mutate, and lead to more virulent strains that threaten public health. With the devastating economic impact of H5N1 or avian flu in the news, the reintroduction of the Mink Virus Act to the United States Congress is well timed. To share what this legislation is about, why it matters, and how people on both sides...

Anyone who follows John E. Marriott or Exposed Wildlife Conservancy on social media knows that a cougar John had tracked for many years was killed near Canmore, Alberta, earlier this year. It led to two orphaned kits, a harrowing experience for John, and a clear mission: to share this story with the public and lead to change for wildlife in Alberta. To give us the story from the very beginning and...

Fifty years ago this week, Canada officially made beavers one of our national symbols. In celebrating this anniversary – and the many ecological services and benefits provided by beavers – The Fur-Bearers have a bit of beaver fever. And who better to talk to about beavers than Ben Goldfarb , the journalist behind Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter . This book has made...

Canada's iconic wildlife include moose, beavers, and wolves. But of the many species of vertebrate, which are the most evolutionarily distinct? And why does that matter? A team of researchers from Simon Fraser University (emma Kominek, Olivia Cornies, Arne Ø. Mooers, and Wildlife Preservation Canada's Hannah McCurdy-Adams) explored these questions in their paper,  Evolutionary isolation of Canadia...

Whether you're heading south to escape the cold, across the provinces for an adventure, or just a town over for a quick getaway, there are a lot of choices we can make while travelling for March Break that reduce our impact on the environment – and can even improve it. SHOW NOTES Episode art photo by Petmal / Getty Images Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? Reach out to us at...

The journey of Takaya the Lone wolf on Vancouver Island was one of hope, inspiration, and ultimately tragedy. Cheryl Alexander, acclaimed conservation photographer and Founding Executive Director of Takaya's Legacy has shared her story countless times – but this past year the story took a new twist. An iconic photo of Takaya, taken by Cheryl, was used by a wolf hunting guide's website without perm...

Winter salt keeps sidewalks safe but harms Ottawa's waterways. A five-year study shows toxic chloride levels in local streams year-round. Learn how to reduce salt use, protect aquatic life, and keep winter walkways safe.  SHOW NOTES: Episode art photo by EyeEm Mobile GmbH / Getty Images Check out Ottawa Riverkeeper's work on salt monitoring and reduction: https://ottawariverkeeper.ca/sign-the-road...

North Atlantic Right Whales are at extreme risk of extinction, with only around 370 individuals and around 70 reproductive females. According to RightWhales.org , over 142 individuals have been injured or died since 2017 – a shocking 35% of the current population. Fortunately, individuals like Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare or IFAW are working hard to collaborate and find...

Canadians waste a ton of food - literally! Learn how meal planning can reduce food waste, save you money, and reduce your impact on emissions and climate change by listening now. SHOW NOTES: LoveFoodHateWaste.ca: https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/ Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com,  by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael...