Ep. 250 : Jewelweed

Jewelweed is a very common, very attractive and conspicuous species on the landscape. We see them often and are probably pretty familiar with the flowers, fruit and form. I see them down by the river, in the understory of thick forests, and sometimes on the edge of wet meadows. I have also been hanging out with them recently in areas which can be called “post-industrial wastelands”; lands where industry has so polluted and harmed that there are still pollutants and chemicals wrapped up in the soil. But still the Jewelweed thrives.

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Ep. 217 : Controversial Considerations of Non-Native Plant Communities

The car broke down on our way to visit my mum. My brother and I got out of the car, and while he researched how to change the alternator, I went behind the vacant garage where we parked the inoperable vehicle. When I explored to the far back of the lot I was grateful to find a small wetland, thriving with tons of species. Trees, tall and low shrubs, and understory thick with both native and non-native, aggressive opportunistic plants vying for life. I was totally impressed and appreciated this wild oasis in the midst of an annoying happenstance.

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Ep. 176 : Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats with Dr. Cylita Guy

When I began reading it I realized Dr. Cylita Guy’s new book Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats I realized that it is more than what it seems. Cylita has written about how eight different researchers go about conducting their research along with how they themselves, as individuals, some as BIPOC scientists, interact with and encounter their work.
There are stories of late night encounters with the police, and of a scientist observing birds in park being asked to leave because other park goers were “uncomfortable” likely because the scientist was a Black woman. There are stories of urban ecology researchers that reflect the urban human population dynamics which, in some ways, are comparable to the wilds they work to understand. Life blooms everywhere, and within these pages I read the stories of the broad ecologies which I am not only witness to, but also apart of.

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Ep. 160 : Bird Collective

Tina and Angie are “the Wizards behind the curtain” of an awesome company based out of Brooklyn called Bird Collective. They make beautiful patches, t-shirts, sweaters and hats and more celebrating birds from across the continent while also donating 20% of the proceeds to conservation organizations and other projects that help make the world of birding more accessible to everyone.
Our outfits show who we are and what we’re into. Why not make it count by sporting a fav pastime of birding, and by supporting amazing conservation projects?

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Ep. 159 : Tracking Urban Adapted Coyote Ecologies with Sage Raymond

Certified wildlife tracker Sage Raymond, is completing her Masters of Science studying Urban-adapted Coyote ecologies in Edmonton. She has been working with colleagues on the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project studying the patterns and behaviours of these urbanized Coyotes in hopes to be better able to predict, and reduce some of the possible problems or conflicts which could occur between these wilder animals and human/pet populations.

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Ep. 143 : Lesley Sampson and Lauren Van Patter on Co-existing With Urban Coyotes

Highly adaptive, intelligent, “wily”, and resilient, Coyote is not going to stop just because our human made landscapes get in the way. In fact, Coyotes make the way for themselves within our constructed spaces, finding edges and cracks and turning them into home.
But how do we co-exist with an animal that so many have feared, hunted and sought to destroy for so long? How can we share the urban environment with a predator? When animals re-occupy the urban in novel ways, or ways that humans didn’t intend, how do we make space for that?
Lesley Sampson of Coyote Watch Canada, and animal geographer Lauren Van Patter share some of their experiences with Coyotes in urban environments, and how they are looking to help communities learn how to coexist with these wonderful animals.