The WildLife Radio
The WildLife: Whale Poop (and Whales), Joe Roman
Joe Roman, Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School for the Environment and Natural Resources and author of the book Whale, discusses whale dung and its importance to the ecosystem. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that, contrary to most other marine species, whales feed at the ocean depths but defecate near to the…
Read MoreBid for the Barn – bid on signed copy of Animal Investigators
This is why I love living in Vermont. We all enjoy eating local produce and were devastated after hearing of the tragedy that struck one of our favorite producers — Pete’s Greens. On Wednesday morning, Pete’s barn burned down to the ground. It was a complete loss. Localvores throughout the state wanted to do something…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Seahorses, Helen Scales
Helen Scales, author of Poseidon’s Steed: The Story of Seahorses from Myth to Reality, reveals the unusual anatomy and strange sex lives of seahorses. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that seahorses live mysterious lives, tucked away out of sight on the seafloor, and provides insights into their strange characteristics, including: kangaroo-like pouches for the males to…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Elephant Trauma & Psychology, Gay Bradshaw
Gay Bradshaw, author of Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us about Humanity, discusses the psychological health of abused and traumatized elephants and what can be done to help them. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that elephants are traumatized by a number of events – including mass slaughter due to culling (which she compares to…
Read MoreFirst Rehabilitated Orangutan Releases Coming in May
To follow on to some of my recent stories on orangutans and the Nyaru Menteng rehabilitation center — good news! After a decade of teaching orphaned orangutans how to be wild, the center just received official permission so that they can now proceed with their release back into the wild. A big victory for…
Read MoreWildlife Inspectors on the Front Lines
FWS Wildlife Inspectors are the unsung heroes in the fight against wildlife trafficking. You can check out more about their work in my book Animal Investigators, or a piece I helped put together for Nightline, or a recent Washington Post article.
Read MoreNational Wildlife Health Center Investigates Mass Bird Deaths
Exams at the National Wildlife Health Center showed the mass die-offs in Arkansas were a result of impact trauma. No blunt force object but rather collisions. They found no evidence of poisonings or pesticides. Scientists are thinking the culprit was commercial-grade fireworks that went off. The Louisiana bird die-offs are still being investigated, but initial information…
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolutions to Make a Difference for Wildlife
What are your New Year’s resolutions for actions to help wild animals? I’m consistently struck by how powerful we, as consumers, can be — and consequently how important it is to educate ourselves about where the products we buy come from. For example, most of us don’t realize that 50% of the products on our…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Detection Dogs for Conservation, Megan Parker
Megan Parker, Executive Director and co-founder of Working Dogs for Conservation, talks about using detection dogs for wildlife conservation. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how she trains dogs to detect wildlife samples, including plants, animals, seeds and scat. The dogs are often able to uncover what wildlife biologists can’t easily see or find, and they do…
Read MoreNancy Bazilchuk reveals reindeers’ special adaptations
Nancy Bazilchuk reveals reindeers’ special adaptations as she describes her dramatic cross country ski trek across Hardangervidda Plateau in one of Norway’s most famous national parks in search of this elusive animal. Traveling the same route that nearly defeated legendary explorer Roald Amundsen, she tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about the slow seasonal waltz from east…
Read MoreIntergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) established
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which was established yesterday, is a new international body that will help catalyze a global response to the loss of biodiversity and recognize the the economic importance of forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems. Its creation sets up an IPCC-like platform to bridge the gulf between…
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