The Mink VIRUS Act Featuring Devan Schowe Defender Radio And The Switch podcast

21:40

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 BornFree USA 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 action: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/2025/03/19/great-news-mink-virus-act-reintroduced-in-congress/ BornFree USA on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bornfreeusaorg BornFree USA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa BornFree USA on Tiktok: http://www.tiktok.com/@bornfreeusaorg BornFree USA on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bornfreeusa Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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The Canmore cougar tragedy featuring John E. Marriott 1:01:24

6 weeks ago1:01:24

1:01:24

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: https://www.exposedwildlifeconservancy.org/ John's Photography website: https://wildernessprints.com/ EWC on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSN6XzS07gO8xNxLWFGJY5Q EWC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exposdwc/ EWC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exposdwc/ Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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A Dam Good Conversation: Ben Goldfarb on Beavers, Wetlands, and Rewilding the World 38:20

7 weeks ago38:20

38:20

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 Ben Goldfarb , the journalist behind Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter . 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 Goldfarb's website: https://www.bengoldfarb.com/ More about Eager: https://www.bengoldfarb.com/eager More about Crossings: https://www.bengoldfarb.com/crossings Ben on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bengoldfarb.bsky.social Learn more about Canada's 50th anniversary of the beaver as a national symbol from The Fur-Bearers at: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/celebrating-beavers-50th-anniversary-as-canadas-symbol/ Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Canada's Most Distinct Species featuring Emma Kominek 31:12

9 weeks ago31:12

31:12

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, Evolutionary isolation of Canadian terrestrial vertebrate species , published in the journal The Canadian Field-Naturalist . 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 be found in a relatively small range of southern Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. To share more about the paper, how the species lists were developed, and why it’s important for conservationists to learn about, study coauthor Emma Kominek joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES: Episode photo by Chuck Miller / Getty Images Evolutionary isolation of Canadian terrestrial vertebrate species: https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v137i4.2673 SFU's coverage of the study: https://www.sfu.ca/science/news/2024-news/move-along-moose--sfu-study-reveals-the--most-canadian--animals.html Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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The Switch: Going Green for March Break Travel 2:59

10 weeks ago2:59

2:59

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 info@TheFurBearers.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram ( www.instagram.com/howiemichael ), Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio) , or Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/defenderradio.bsky.social) . Defender Radio and The Switch 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Takaya's Ongoing Legacy featuring Cheryl Alexander 26:41

11 weeks ago26:41

26:41

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 these updates and explore the impact the misuse of Takaya’s image had both personally and publicly, Cheryl Alexander joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES: Photo of Takaya by Cheryl Alexander Takaya's Legacy website: https://takayaslegacy.com/ Takaya's Legacy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takayalonewolf Takaya's Legacy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takayalonewolf Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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The Switch: Road Salt Solutions 3:32

12 weeks ago3:32

3:32

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 EyeEm Mobile GmbH / Getty Images Check out Ottawa Riverkeeper's work on salt monitoring and reduction: https://ottawariverkeeper.ca/sign-the-road-salt-reduction-pledge/ Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.com, by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram ( www.instagram.com/howiemichael ), Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio) , or Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/defenderradio.bsky.social) . Defender Radio and The Switch 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Saving North Atlantic Right Whales featuring Sheryl Fink 18:32

13 weeks ago18:32

18:32

North Atlantic Right Whales are at extreme risk of extinction, with only around 370 individuals and around 70 reproductive females. According to RightWhales.org , over 142 individuals have been injured or died since 2017 – a shocking 35% of the current population. Fortunately, individuals like Sheryl Fink of the International Fund for Animal Welfare 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 scientific collaboration can lead to solutions, Sheryl joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES: Episode art credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Image taken under NOAA Research Permit 665-1652 ( link to original use ). Find more about Sheryl and IFAW's work to save North Atlantic Right Whales at: https://www.RightWhales.org . Find IFAW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifawglobal/ Find IFAW on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ay3hmpazay7ndzmbxcyfasb7 Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at info@TheFurBearers.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 ), Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/thefurbearers.bsky.social ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/FurFree ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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The Switch: Meal Planning to Reduce Food Waste 3:52

14 weeks ago3:52

3:52

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: https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/ Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio and The Switch? 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 and The Switch 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Biodiversity and Urban Connectivity feat. Dr. Thami Croeser and Dr. Holly Kirk 53:46

15 weeks ago53:46

53:46

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 Nature-based solutions for urban biodiversity: spatial targeting of retrofits can multiply ecological connectivity benefits . 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 from one patch of greenspace to another. To share the need for such connectivity changes, how they developed and ran their study, the incredible benefits to both people and ecosystems, and what lessons we can learn, Drs. Thami Croeser and Holly Kirk join Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES: Episode art provided by Dr. Thami Croeser Read the paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204624001683 Dr. Thami Croeser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thami-croeser-822ab9a/ Dr. Holly Kirk's website: https://natureonthebrain.wordpress.com/ The Conversation Article: https://theconversation.com/stepping-stones-for-wildlife-how-linking-up-isolated-habitats-can-help-nature-thrive-in-our-cities-234923 Sound of Mole Crickets via Mostly Nature / YouTube 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Dealing With Winter Drafts 3:16

16 weeks ago3:16

3:16

Cold drafts in winter aren’t only unpleasant, they could be costing you money and wasting energy. Listen now to The Switch to hear how to quickly identify and deal with a draft. SHOW NOTES: Photo of a door equipped with two types of draft stoppers by AndreyPopov / Getty Images 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways To Love A Mink feat. Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard 32:17

17 weeks ago32:17

32:17

One day at school, 7-year-old animal loving Georgia discovers her best friend is wearing a coat made with mink fur; with the companionship of her dog Tizzy, Georgia and her friend begin to learn about animals that live in fur farms – and that they must stand up for them. Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways to Love A Mink is the lovely chapter book by NML Hazard (also known as Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard), a former veterinarian turned author. Published in late 2024 by Red Deer Press with illustrations by Alice Priestly, Tizzy and Me is a wonderful story for young people and families who want to discuss issues of animal welfare, talking about difficult topics, and making an impact for animals in our lives. To discuss her unique background, what went into writing Tizzy and Me, what she hopes people learn, and some great writing tips, Defender Radio is joined by Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard. SHOW NOTES: Dr. Nadja Lubiw-Hazard (NML Hazard): https://www.nmlhazard.com/ Tizzy & Me from Red Deer Press: https://www.reddeerpress.com/Detail/0889957509 Episode art photo of a mink by DanielLacy / Getty Images 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Season 11 Coming Soon! 1:14

18 weeks ago1:14

1:14

I’m excited to announce season 11 of Defender Radio and The Switch is going live this month! You’ll be hearing long-form interviews from expert scientists around the world talking about wildlife behaviour, population dynamics, and the environment. We’ll be exploring ways you can reduce your impact on the climate crisis and become more resilient through bi-weekly episodes of The Switch. And I can’t wait to hear from you! Make sure you’re following The Fur-Bearers on Instagram @furbearers and find us on Facebook , YouTube , and LinkedIn by searching The Fur-Bearers, where you can leave comments about the latest episodes, share your tips, and chat with me about upcoming episode ideas! Remember to subscribe and follow Defender Radio and The Switch wherever you listen, and sign up to receive email updates from The Fur-Bearers to ensure you hear about each new episode! Find more episodes and how to listen at DefenderRadio.com.…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Rescuing Rabbits with Amy's Bunny Barn 33:53

33 weeks ago33:53

33:53

We’re releasing this episode in time for International Rabbit Day – a celebration of our favourite floppy-eared lagomorphs. While rabbits do make wonderful companions, they are frequently released or dumped in the wild – and with an exceptionally quick gestation period, that can lead to a lot of domestic rabbits in the wild, really fast. Fortunately, there are incredible people who are working to find homes for rabbits and prevent the need for dumping – like Amy McLaughin of Amy’s Bunny Barn on Vancouver Island. A vet assistant, past SPCA worker, and passionate advocate for rabbits, Amy is providing essential education, foster care, and resources to help keep bunnies in homes with full, happy lives. To share more about what goes into caring for a pet rabbit, why dumping is such an issue, and the importance of meeting the many needs of bunnies in homes, Amy joins Defender Radio. SHOW NOTES The rabbit shown in the episode artwork is named Bella, and is one of many bunnies available for adoption! Visit https://www.amysbunnybarn.org/adoptables to see more. Amy's Bunny Barn online: https://www.amysbunnybarn.org/ Support Amy's Bunny Barn with a tax deductible donation: https://www.amysbunnybarn.org/donate Amy's Bunny Barn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amysbunnybarn/ Amy's Bunny Barn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amysbunnybarn/ Amy's Bunny Barn on Pinterest: https://ca.pinterest.com/amysbunnybarn/ Amy's Bunny Barn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amybunnybarn 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 ).…

Defender Radio and The Switch

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Speak at Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals with Natalia Hanson 10:34

35 weeks ago10:34