Nakoda was a grizzly bear who lived in Yoho National Park. She was a well-known bear, having been tracked by Parks Canada as Bear 178, and popular with photographers and tourists who caught a glimpse of her famous blonde-white fur. Tragically, on the evening of June 6, 2024, Nakoda was struck by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada highway near the park, and was later found dead. This came only 12 hours after Nakoda’s two cubs were also struck and killed on the highway.

Nakoda isn’t the first grizzly to die due to the railways and highways that flow through and around national park sites; but John Marriott and the team at Exposed Wildlife Conservancy hope she may be the last.

John, the cofounder of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy and an award-winning wildlife photographer, joins Defender Radio to share the tragic story of Nakoda and her family, what is leading to the deaths of grizzlies in the area, and how wildlife lovers can take action to protect more grizzly bears.

SHOW NOTES:

Take Action with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://win.newmode.net/exposedwildlifeconservancy/nakodasletter

Connect with Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://www.exposedwc.org

Exposed Wildlife Conservancy on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/exposdwc/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/exposdwc/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@EXPOSEDWildlifeConservancy)

Support Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: https://www.exposedwildlifeconservancy.org/one-time-donation

Episode art photo of Nakoda by Exposed Wildlife Conservancy Ambassador Lee Horbachewski

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Mustachioed dog-nappers chasing animated pooches around the city may be what’s in some of our heads when it comes to animal control, but the important front-line officers in our communities go well beyond that trope.

In Arlington, Virginia, the community knows they can rely on the Animal Welfare League of Arlington to help, whether it’s support for expensive veterinary procedures, getting an injured raccoon into care, or working with citizens to ensure that everyone’s dignity and welfare are considered. Chief of Animal Control and Senior Director of Community Resources Jennifer Toussaint joins Defender Radio to discuss how considering an intersectional approach to animal welfare makes an impact, the importance of crisis intervention training, and why finding moments to celebrate matters.

SHOW NOTES:

Visit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington's website: https://www.awla.org/

Find AWLA on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/awlaarlington/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AWLArlington/), and X/Twitter (https://x.com/AWLAArlington).

The Office Clip (Dwight and the bat): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6i4rubASKs

Parks and Rec (Andy catches the opposum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0-c3bF-bdc

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Room to roam for wildlife is essential to their health, particularly as they face increasing pressures related to development and the climate crisis. But many communities aren’t planned with wildlife in mind – or ecological connectivity between neighbourhoods and boundaries. The California state assembly has passed the Room to Roam Act, which compels local governments to work with each other and state agencies to ensure resilient, sustainable ecosystems are connected to protect wildlife, the environment, and human health.

To share more about this exciting legislation, the impact it may have, and why connectivity is an essential tool for climate adaptation, Dr. Tiffany Yap, Senior Scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

SHOW NOTES:

Episode photo of a bobcat using an underpass by National Park Service

Read the Room To Roam Act: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1889

Read Center for Biological Diversity's News Release: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/california-assembly-passes-first-of-its-kind-bill-to-improve-wildlife-connectivity-2024-05-20/

Support the Center for Biological Diversity: https://biologicaldiversity.org/support/

Report - California Connections: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/wildlife-connectivity/pdfs/California-Connections-wildlife-connectivity-report.pdf

Dr. Tiffany Yap: https://tiffanyyap.com/

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Traditional media has long portrayed coyotes in a negative light – and you don’t have to take my word for it. Nicole Murphy, a student at Peterborough’s Trent University took on the issue of how coyotes are perceived by undertaking a three-part project: she ran an analysis of media reporting on coyotes across the Greater Toronto Area, surveyed staff, faculty and students at Trent University to get their perceptions, and setup trail cameras around the campus to learn and showcase how coyotes are already coexisting with people.

The paper, titled Perceptions of Urban Coyotes in Ontario: The role of media as a barrier to tolerance and possibilities for coexistence, is an outstanding look at how traditional media continues to paint coyotes in a negative light – and how, surprisingly, that impact may be shifting. It also provides insights into how advocates and educators can help people understand who coyotes are, the roles they play in ecosystems, and steps we can all take toward coexistence.

To share more about the paper, the results, and what it all means is Nicole Murphy, with Dr. Stephanie Rutherford of Trent University.

SHOW NOTES:

Coyotes of Trent (Nicole's Thesis website): https://www.coyotesoftrent.com/coyote

Trent University News: Why Are People Afraid of Coyotes? Trent Student Research Explores Our Perceptions of the Often-Feared Animal

Find Nicole Murphy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemurphy003/

Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Rutherford: https://www.stephanierutherfordphd.com/

Trent University School of the Environment: https://www.trentu.ca/environment/

Trent University's Bachelor of Environmental Science / Studies: https://www.trentu.ca/bess/

Cover photo provided by Nicole Murphy

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Some days are hard. The world feels like it’s falling apart, forests are burning, ecosystems are breaking down, and hope can be a long, long way away. But you’re not alone in this feeling – and there are ways to manage and cope that not only support you but can make for a healthier community and planet.

Climate Grief, From Coping to Resilience and Action is a new book from Dr. Shawna Weaver that dives into the realities of climate change, the grief so many of us are experiencing, and how that impacts our day-to-day lives. Importantly, Dr. Weaver shows how facing our grief is the first step toward making change for ourselves and for the planet. An experienced eco-therapist with advanced degrees, Dr. Weaver joins Defender Radio to share what led to this book, how grief is unique to everyone, and what tools we have to ensure we not only cope but become resilient and lead fulfilling lives.

SHOW NOTES:

Cover photo by Peter Kolejak / Getty Images

Dr. Shawna Weaver's website: https://www.shawnajweaver.com/

Climate Grief on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Grief-Coping-Resilience-Action/dp/1590567161/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DCSKZH51R3K8&keywords=climate%20grief%20weaver&qid=1687959054&s=books&sprefix=climate%20grief%20weaver%2Cstripbooks%2C78&sr=1-1), Bookshop (https://bookshop.org/p/books/climate-grief-from-coping-to-resilience-and-action-shawna-weaver/19810317?ean=9781590567166), Indigo (https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/climate-grief-from-coping-to-resilience-and-action/9781590567166.html)

Follow Dr. Shawna Weaver on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drshawnajweaver/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/shawnajweaver?lang=en).

Mental Health Resources

Talk Suicide Canada:
https://talksuicide.ca/
1-833-456-4566 (toll free, 24/7)
Text 45645 (4 pm to midnight ET)

Government of Canada resource list:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

Wellness Together Canada:
https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-ca/

Canadian Mental Health Association:
https://cmha.ca/find-help/

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1.

For American listeners:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
https://afsp.org/
Crisis interventions https://afsp.org/im-having-thoughts-of-suicide/

Episode originally released September 2021.

The idea of walking into a flat earth convention makes my tummy hurt. For Dr. Lee McIntyre, it was an exercise in curiosity explored in the introduction of his new book, How To Talk To A Science Denier.

Dr. McIntyre is an author, a research fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an instructor in Ethics at Harvard Extension School. An award-winning teacher, McIntyre has penned several popular titles on the philosophy of science and anti-science sentiments and strategies. His latest, published by MIT Press this year, is a dive into science denial in the modern era.

How to Talk to A Science Denier combines Dr. McIntyre’s own experiences and thoughts with a well-executed explanation of what, somewhat ironically, science and history can tell us about the current state of science denial. The book itself covers subjects ranging from climate denial to conspiracy theory, flat Earth to anti-vaccine and more. However, as I learned by reading the book and through my conversation with Dr. McIntyre, curiosity, compassion and disconfirming inquiries will play a far greater role in bringing science to those who deny it than I initially thought.

Learn more about Dr. Lee McIntyre and How To Talk To A Science Denier at https://leemcintyrebooks.com.

Want to suggest topics for the show? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael), TikTok (www.tiktok.com/@howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

The search for home is something most people can relate to, at some point in their lives. Regardless of circumstance, that need for the place that is yours, surrounded by the people you love, and the sense of wellness that comes with it, is a universal desire. And it’s not just for humans.

Animals bred and kept as livestock – or farmed animals – have similar feelings and needs. And one incredible group of people is helping make sure that a forever home exists for those they can help. A Home For Hooves Farm Sanctuary is a haven for animals on Vancouver Island, where pigs, goats, horses, chickens, and other domestic animals can live out their days with love, peace, and serenity.

The first Canadian farm sanctuary to be accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, A Home For Hooves was founded in 2017 and cares for over 170 animals. To share the story of how the sanctuary was born, how the location is managed to protect wildlife and the sanctuary animals, and how a big pig named Cyrus led to an even bigger move, Defender Radio is joined by A Home For Hooves founder and director Michelle Singleton.

SHOW NOTES:

Episode photo shows Sanctuary residents Penny and Buddy. Photo provided by A Home For Hooves.

A Home For Hooves website: https://www.homeforhooves.org/

Meet the Animals: https://www.homeforhooves.org/meet-the-animals.html

Sponsor an Animal: https://www.homeforhooves.org/sponsor-an-animal.html

A Home For Hooves on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahomeforhoovesfarmsanctuary/

A Home For Hooves on Instagram: https://instagram.com/homeforhooves

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).

Making an emotional connection to a non-human animal is a defining moment in many peoples’ lives. It could be the family dog, a squirrel who hops past a window every day, or a black bear known to meander through a local forest. It’s that connection that can help people understand the depth of non-human animal emotion and make changes in how they view the world around them.

Dr. Marc Bekoff knows a thing or two about this connection – and has revisited a classic publication to show how far science and society have come in understanding animal emotions. Dr. Bekoff is a celebrated ethologist, best-selling author, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, and along with Dr. Jane Goodall, a co-founder of Ethical Treatment of Animals: Citizens for Responsible Animal Behavior Studies. His popular book, The Emotional Lives of Animals, was originally published in 2007 to great response.

Seventeen years later, Dr. Bekoff has updated and revised the book with new studies, anecdotes, an updated foreword from Dr. Jane Goodall, and more. Dr. Bekoff joins Defender Radio to share what he’s most excited about in the newly revised book, if recognition of animal sentience is the finish line for advocates, and where he sees hope for the future.

SHOW NOTES:

Episode photo of a coyote by Donna Feledichuk / Getty Images

Find Dr. Marc Bekoff's website at https://marcbekoff.com/

Animal Emotions blog at Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/animal-emotions

Dr. Marc Bekoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarcBekoff

Emotional Lives of Animals (book): https://newworldlibrary.com/product/the-emotional-lives-of-animals-revised

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at DefenderRadio@Gmail.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

Defender Radio is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).