The Mink VIRUS Act featuring Devan Schowe
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 of the border can support it, Devan Schowe, Campaigns Associate for joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES Photo of a mink on a Canadian fur farm by We Animals. BornFree USA's Mink VIRUS Act page and...
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The Canmore cougar tragedy featuring John E. Marriott
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 what he wants to see happen next, John Marriott joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES: Photo of the orphaned cougars provided by John E. Marriott / WildernessPrints.com Exposed Wildlife Conservancy:...
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A Dam Good Conversation: Ben Goldfarb on Beavers, Wetlands, and Rewilding the World
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 , the journalist behind . This book has made big waves since it landed in 2018, and Ben joins Defender Radio to share how he started out writing Eager, what he loves about beavers, his newer works, and how we can look to beavers for hope in uncertain times. SHOW NOTES: Cover photo by jamesvancouver / Getty Images Ben...
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Canada's Most Distinct Species featuring Emma Kominek
Defender Radio and The Switch
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, , published in the journal . The final list included some not so surprising results – like beavers being near the top for mammals, and some unusual species that aren’t commonly known, like mudpuppies, an amphibian that can...
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The Switch: Going Green for March Break Travel
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (), Facebook (, or Bluesky (. Defender Radio and The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers...
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Takaya's Ongoing Legacy featuring Cheryl Alexander
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 permission. This not only created a social media outrage, but put the spotlight back on the pressures facing wolves in British Columbia and the need to connect public belief with policy. To share...
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The Switch: Road Salt Solutions
Defender Radio and The Switch
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 / Getty Images Check out Ottawa Riverkeeper's work on salt monitoring and reduction: Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? Reach out to us at by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (), Facebook (, or Bluesky (. Defender Radio and The Switch is produced...
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Saving North Atlantic Right Whales featuring Sheryl Fink
Defender Radio and The Switch
North Atlantic Right Whales are at extreme risk of extinction, with only around 370 individuals and around 70 reproductive females. According to , over 142 individuals have been injured or died since 2017 – a shocking 35% of the current population. Fortunately, individuals like Sheryl Fink of the or IFAW are working hard to collaborate and find solutions to protect this endangered whale species, who can be found off the coast of Canada. To share more about how North Atlantic Right Whales reached such critically low levels, what the largest impacts on their populations are, and how...
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The Switch: Meal Planning to Reduce Food Waste
Defender Radio and The Switch
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: Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? Reach out to us at by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram () or Facebook (). Defender Radio and The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and...
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Biodiversity and Urban Connectivity feat. Dr. Thami Croeser and Dr. Holly Kirk
Defender Radio and The Switch
Enhancing biodiversity in urban areas is a critical step in improving our ecosystems, resilience against the climate crisis, and ensuring nature exposure for residents. But how do you increase biodiversity on pavement? According to two researchers, it can start with stepping stones. Drs. Thami Croeser and Holly Kirk tackled this issue and showed the brilliance of available solutions in their paper . In short, the researchers showed that converting underutilized parking spaces in urban Australia can improve ecological connectivity – the ability for various species to move across the landscape...
info_outlineHundreds of black bears are killed in British Columbia every year; often, the issue leading to government agents killing bears is attractants such as unsecure garbage that bears may want to explore or eat. While there is much to be said and debated about this situation, one thing is clear: communities need solutions. And that’s where the Ursa Project comes in.
Founded in Nelson, BC, in 2022, the Ursa Project was created by concerned citizens who wanted to see the bears of their community protected, not killed simply for looking for food. To date, the non-profit has made inroads in getting new waste management tools, increasing education, and providing an important voice to represent the needs of bears in local decision-making. To share more about the origins, work, and goals of the Ursa Project, Defender Radio is joined by founding member Katie Graves.
SHOW NOTES
Ursa Project's website: https://www.theursaproject.ca/
Ursa Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/789619325665220/
Ursa Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ursaprojectnelson/
FREE coexistence door hangers: https://thefurbearers.com/resources
The Fur-Bearers' Attractants page: https://thefurbearers.com/attractants
The Fur-Bearers' BC Black Bears page: https://www.thefurbearers.com/bcblackbears
Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at [email protected], 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).