Defender Radio

Let’s start with the obvious: stopping conflict with wildlife before it begins is always our preference. And there’s a lot of ways we can do that, as most conflict occurs when we’ve created a situation that allows for it, often through manipulation of resources. That is, we give food to animals and they say, hey, thanks, can I have some more? Or we knock down their houses and they show up, and say, hey, thanks for making us this new house.

Rather than try to force an interview in this double long weekend, or rush one that isn’t quite ready, we thought this would be a good time for host Michael Howie to sit, think, and record something more of a rant, and a little glibber, then you’re probably used to with this show.

When we hear the word “compassionate” paired with non-human animals, our first thoughts often go toDr. Marc Bekoff. A highly-esteemed field biologist, animal behaviour researcher, author, and speaker, Marc has penned multiple books, essays, and papers on concepts of compassionate conservation, compassion choices, and the sentience of animals with whom we share the world. Marc, along with bio-ethicist and past collaborator Jessica Pierce, have released a new book,The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age.

Bif Naked is a Canadian rock star, author, cancer survivor, and social and animal advocate. Her music career, which spans more than 20 years and

On January 10, 2017, Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States of America. While we all have personal feelings about the man,

Thousands of protestors in cities across North America marched on the weekend, calling attention to the need for science in society and government. So it

Witnessing the northern lights dance across an open arctic sky, watching a grizzly mother teach her cubs to fish for the first time, and feeling

Easter is around the corner, and for some reason, that means we’ll soon be surrounded by rabbits. Sadly, it isn’t just the stuffed toys or

It is remarkable how significant an impact people have on the wildlife around them, even if it isn’t always seen. Understanding our role, and what

The sun is shining, the rain is washing away the last of the snow, and families are hitting the trails and sidewalks with their four-legged

Steven Wise stood up in a New York court room to make his case last week. It’s something he’s worked toward for years, and so

Raccoons are the enemy, and green bins are the battlefield. At least, that’s how some Torontonians view an ongoing saga between themselves and the furry

Spring is in the air. Well, right now it is. Later today, it might be snow. Or hail. Or summer. It’s been a bit hard

Talking about conflict isn’t always easy. Emotions can be high – the sight of a large animal can be unnerving and cause instinctual fear reactions,

What happens when you put 20 international scientists in a room for two days to talk about human-wildlife conflict resolution? You get the seven principles

There is a war on wildlife in the United States, waged with federal dollars at the behest of large lobby groups. It sounds like a

Culling grey seals on Canada’s east coast will not help the recovery of Atlantic Salmon populations. That’s what the science says in a report prepared

Compassion is something we at The Fur-Bearers talk a lot about – but how do we speak with compassion? And, in a world of seemingly

Stopping wildlife conflict, protecting individuals, and ensuring co-existence can be a struggle after development. But it can be a whole lot easier if you incorporate

The Little Smoky caribou herd is in trouble, and the Alberta government is gearing up for a plan that scientists and advocates claim will only

If you see a dog sit down and pant, are they smiling, or showing anxiety? If they roll on their back, is it submissive, or

Jaclyn Penney’s family is in mourning. Their beloved dog, Doug, who had been with them only six months, died in front of Jaclyn’s mother from

The Rowles family was trying to find a home. But when they arrived in a tiny town in southern Bulgaria, they found their calling: finding

Two cougars killed by the Conservation Officer Service in a coastal community in British Columbia created quite the stir this week. Social media and the