Defender Radio and The Switch

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...

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. Marrio...

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...

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...

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/53h2PqGuJCc5qZgvtVvV...

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 in...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 rec...

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...

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 wa...

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 he...

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, whi...

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, whi...

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 b...

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 b...

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...

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...

What! Still not Defender Radio? That's right, it's the SECOND episode of The End of Time and Other Bothers. You can go back to an earlier episode and hear a full interview with the cast, creators, and myself and why I wanted to share this special show on my birthday week. Or you can listen and enjoy! More episodes can be found at iTunes, OtherBothers.com, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Episod...

Hey – this isn't Defender Radio! That's right, it's the first episode of The End of Time and Other Bothers. You can go back to an earlier episode and hear a full interview with the cast, creators, and myself and why I wanted to share this special show on my birthday week. Or you can listen and enjoy! More episodes can be found at iTunes, OtherBothers.com, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.  Episo...

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 th...

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 l...

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 lo...