Defender Radio and The Switch

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 w...

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 i...

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, e...

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....

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 fr...

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 wildl...

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 sea...

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 o...

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.

West coast bears like their fish. I don't think we really need science to tell us that. But which bears eat what, how much salmon they're eating, where they're getting it from, what influence that has on the ecosystems around them, even at great distances from the coast, and how that could all impact management across geopolitical lines - now that's what science is good at. Megan Adams, PhD candid...

At one time, the Vancouver Island Marmot held a comfortable position as a unique rodent in high-altitude meadows on their namesake territory. And then humans came a long, and we all know how that goes. Vast changes to the ecosystems surrounding marmot's home ranges resulted in a disastrous drop in their populations – down to below 30 marmots at one time. Thankfully, the Vancouver Island Marmot Rec...

A quiet announcement made in March stirred the pot – and now it's brewing up to a storm. In the last week, dozens of wildlife protection non-profits, research groups, and nature-related businesses have clamored for the province to respond to calls for changes to a plan to put the fate of British Columbia's wildlife in the hands of a hunter-and trapper-funded agency. Despite pre-election pledges of...

Wolves are one of the most majestic creatures on the planet. They're intelligent, social, and thrilling to watch whether roaming their territory, hunting as a pack, or teaching pups the ins and outs of play. Some people love these animals so much that they want one in their home, and buy wolves bred in captivity, or wolf-dog hybrids. And according to the WOLF Sanctuary in Colorado, that's when thi...

Wildlife corridors are becoming beautiful and iconic scientific feats that show our ability to co-exist with animals, when we put our minds to it. And the TransCanada Highway through  Banff National Park  is perhaps the best example of that. Twinning of the highway – or doubling its width – began in 1981, and with it, a bold plan to make it safer for animals to get across the busy highway. Current...

Wildlife corridors are becoming beautiful and iconic scientific feats that show our ability to co-exist with animals, when we put our minds to it. And the TransCanada Highway through Banff National Park is perhaps the best example of that. Twinning of the highway – or doubling its width – began in 1981, and with it, a bold plan to make it safer for animals to get across the busy highway. Currently...

Conversations about coyotes can quickly get controversial, particularly in the media. Are they simply another creature trying to care for their families and live life peacefully, or are they menacing charlatans waiting to pluck away what we love most? If you're listening to this show, chances are you agree with the former, which also happens to be based in fact. But if you read or watch news, or,...

Let's start with the obvious: stopping conflict with wildlife before it begins is always our preference. And there's a lot of ways we can do that, as most conflict occurs when we've created a situation that allows for it, often through manipulation of resources. That is, we give food to animals and they say, hey, thanks, can I have some more? Or we knock down their houses and they show up, and say...

Given that it's a three-day weekend here in Canada, and people away, outdoors, and generally not in their offices. Next weekend it's Memorial Day for our friends south of the 49th, which means they'll be away, outdoors, and generally not in their offices. Rather than try to force an interview, or rush one that isn't quite ready, we thought this would be a good time for host Michael Howie to sit, t...

When we hear the word "compassionate" paired with non-human animals, our first thoughts often go to Dr. Marc Bekoff. A highly-esteemed field biologist, animal behaviour researcher, author, and speaker, Marc has penned multiple books, essays, and papers on concepts of compassionate conservation, compassion choices, and the sentience of animals with whom we share the world. Marc, along with bio-ethi...

Bif Naked is a Canadian rock star, author, cancer survivor, and social and animal advocate. Her music career, which spans more than 20 years and includes multiple hit singles and extensive tours, made her a household name – but her advocacy has made her an icon. From speaking out for fair treatment in the welfare system for British Columbians to advocating for a fur-free Canada filled with co-exis...

On January 10, 2017, Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States of America. While I do have my personal feelings about the man that I cannot in good conscience share on this family-friendly podcast, it cannot be said that he is a friend of the animals. Immediately upon his winning of the 2016 election, animal advocates began scrambling – and within the first weeks of his presidenc...

Thousands of protestors in cities across North America marched on the weekend, calling attention to the need for science in society and government. I absolutely loved seeing some of the signs that scientists, educators, and science enthusiasts came up with for their local marches. My personal favourite read: "First they came for the scientists, and the National Park Service said, 'LOL, no' and wen...

Witnessing the northern lights dance across an open arctic sky, watching a grizzly mother teach her cubs to fish for the first time, and feeling the solitude of a cold morning in the far north may be something few of us will ever experience. But thanks to John Marriott, we'll get closer than we ever have. John is an accomplished wildlife photographer, who also leads photography tours across Canada...

Easter is around the corner, and for some reason, that means we'll soon be surrounded by rabbits. Sadly, it isn't just the stuffed toys or chocolate egg variety, but real, live, fluffy bunnies who are given as pets by well-meaning parents or loved ones. While bunnies can make wonderful pets, there's a lot more to raising and giving them a home to them then you might think. The combination of impul...

It is remarkable how significant an impact people have on the wildlife around them, even if it isn't always seen. Understanding our role, and what we should do to help animals we see, is also something we're not too clear on. Fortunately, we do have some wonderful people in our communities who can help. Wildlife rehabilitators are ready for the influx of injured, orphaned or ill babies they'll be...