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Professor David Sedlak is a renowned civil and environmental engineer with a distinguished career focused on the intersection of technology and water resources. He is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also leads as the director of the Berkeley Water Center. Professor Sedlak is celebrated for his significant contributions to the field, including his award-winning book "Water 4.0," which discusses the past, present, and future of the world's most vital resource. His latest work, "Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate," further solidifies his standing as an influential voice in water conservation and management. His expertise has been recognized and featured in prominent publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Nature, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Review of Books.

In this episode of BeProvided Conservation Radio, we're joined by the esteemed Professor David Sedlak to discuss the vital issue of water accessibility and the impacts of climate change on global water resources. With his new book "Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate" as the centerpiece of our conversation, we delve into the intricacies of solving one of humanity's most pressing challenges.

Professor Sedlak highlights the evolving water landscape, characterized by six distinct but interconnected water crises that affect communities worldwide. From the wealthy urban dwellers facing scarcity head-on to the unconnected billion without reliable water sources, the potential solutions are as diverse as the problems. Advanced treatment technologies, managed aquifer recharge, and community-led initiatives are just a few themes explored, revealing actionable strategies and future-oriented innovations.

• Professor Sedlak identifies six separate water crises: water for the wealthy, the many, the unconnected, safe drinking water, growing food, and healthy ecosystems.
• He emphasizes the importance of innovative water management strategies, such as in-building water recycling and managed aquifer recharge, to combat these crises.
• The conversation highlights the potential of technology transfer, where solutions working in wealthy nations could be adapted to help water-scarce communities in developing countries.
• The idea of water rights, both for humans and nature, is discussed as a critical component of future water policy and conservation efforts.
• The overall tone is one of cautious optimism, underscoring that despite the daunting challenges, there are viable solutions and opportunities for significant progress.

• "I'm pretty optimistic that if we set our minds to it, we can solve some of the most pressing water crises we're going to face."
• "When you look around the world, we can see pockets of innovation where people are pioneering new solutions."
• "Simply doing nothing is no longer much of an alternative, because solving a problem in the midst of a crisis is often not the way we want to go."
• "The water crises that we're seeing today are just a harbinger of what we see in the future, because climate change is having a larger and larger impact on the water cycle."

• Professor Sedlak's latest book, "Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate," published by Yale University Press.

Feel encouraged to listen to the full episode and join us for more insightful conversations. Stay tuned to BeProvided Conservation Radio for compelling discussions that yield understanding and action in conserving our planet's vital resources.

About our Guest:

Devan Showe is a wildlife conservation advocate and a committed professional actively contributing to the welfare of wild animals. She currently holds the position of Campaigns Associate at Born Free USA, an organization devoted to preserving wildlife and ending animal exploitation. With academic credentials from Oxford Brookes University in conservation, Devan couples her theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience garnered from her time as a primate caregiver and veterinary assistant at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Texas. Devan's work significantly revolves around campaigns aimed at topics like the fur trade and animal trapping, striving to educate the public and initiate action against the exploitation of wild animals in captivity.

Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening episode of BeProvided Conservation Radio, host Marcia Sivek converses with Devan Showe whose mission is to safeguard wildlife and halt the ill-usage of animals. The session begins by delineating Devan's passionate background, her educational endeavors, and her significant roles in animal welfare movements.

The narrative proceeds with a dive into Devan's enriching experiences at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, underlining the transformative journeys of primates from captivity to more natural environments. Devan also deliberates on pressing challenges in the framework of wildlife conservation, particularly addressing the misconceptions perpetuated by zoos and the need for accurate public information. The conversation offers an in-depth view of Born Free USA's strides and victories in legislation, underpinning the tenet that safeguarding wildlife is intertwined with public health and safety.

Key Takeaways:

• Born Free USA has been instrumental in passing legislations like the Big Cat Public Safety Act, signifying a landmark triumph in the wildlife conservation arena.
• Challenges in wildlife conservation often stem from misconceptions propagated by zoos regarding animal captivity and spurious claims of contribution to species conservation.
• Social media plays a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions about wildlife, and Devan underscores the importance of using social platforms responsibly to protect animal welfare.
• A gradual phasing out of zoos, halting captive breeding, and prioritizing animal welfare over entertainment are some of the goals Devan Showe envisions for the future.
• The episode highlights personal animal rescue stories from the sanctuary, unveiling the profound emotional impact these endeavors have on conservationists.

Notable Quotes:

• "And when they're prevented from doing these behaviors, they get very frustrated, and so they do other things to pass their time."
• "Zoos keeping these animals in these environments and saying that it's good for them, and also having the sort of interactive experiences they offer… those are all very harmful to people's perceptions of wild animals."
• "I wish that people could… speak out against [zoos] in the same way so that the demand would decrease for zoos to stay open and keep perpetuating the captive lives that they do in their institutions."
• "They are not prepared to have this being who is going to require around the clock care, expensive care for the next 20-25 plus years."
• "They never learned from their mother or other monkeys how to appropriately behave or submit… That results in monkeys having to live by themselves, just close to other monkeys, and not being able to interact with anyone for a while."

Resources:

• Born Free USA Website: bornfreeusa.org
• Born Free USA Action Center: (Link to be accessed on the Born Free USA website)
• Born Free USA Activist Toolkit: (Link to be accessed on the Born Free USA website)

Dive into this essential conversation with Devan Showe to grasp the complexities of wildlife conservation, the journey towards more ethical treatments of animals, and the optimistic strides towards legislative change. Tune in for this compelling and transformative episode, and stay connected with BeProvided conservation Radio for more enlightening discussions that challenge and inspire our role in the natural world.

*Show notes were outlined with Decipher AI and edits were made by author for more detail.

Humans have existed for about 300,000 years. And played a huge role in their environment in a positive sustainable way. They grew and killed what they could eat. Gradually, over most of that time or gradually until less than a century ago, humans somehow became separate from their landscape and began extracting from their landscape more than was needed. Small sustainable farms became overrun by industrial agriculture. 

Now the farms in the middle of the US are mostly monoculture crops or single crops to feed cows and livestock stuffed in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The cereal grains grown to feed these animals are not the foods that they are normally meant to be eating. So the animals are injected with hormones and antibiotics just to keep them alive enough until they get slaughtered. Growing enough cereal grains in abundance to feed the livestock crammed into CAFOs gave birth to chemical farming, genetic modifications and heavy pesticide use. The meat from these unhappy animals and grains are passed onto humans. Most of these meats go to feed the masses a cheaper source of meat like those found in the many fast food chains. 

Nowadays a week doesn't go by when I don't hear livestock being blamed for the climate crisis. We are told to not eat meat if we want to save the planet. This is so frustrating to me, because all meat is not the same. When we are told this there should be a disclaimer, don't eat meat from CAFOs. Meat from sustainably operated farms where humans are playing a role in helping livestock eat what they should, rotating crops to save soil, making use of pollinators and natural bug eaters like bats for pesticide control is completely different than meat from a CAFO. In sustainable farms the cows are happy not sick, the land is happy and not contaminated and the food makes people are healthier. 

So the thought here is, in order to be healthier, have healthier livestock that lives on healthier earth - being more a carbon sink than a carbon source, should humans and livestock be considered keystone species? This is one of the topics in todays episode

I am excited today to be interviewing Miriam Kate McDonald, the author of Emergent: Rewilding Nature, Regenerating Food and Healing the World by Restoring the Connection Between People and the Wild. In her book, McDonald explores how humans extracted from natural landscapes can be reintegrated to restore severed relationships with animals and the land. She discusses how regenerative farmers can help build soil, produce nutrient-dense food, healthy happy animals and foster a renewed sense of kinship with their communities. 

This ends todays episode. I hope you enjoyed it. Miriam's book Emergent can be found to purchase at www.johnhuntpublishing.com. Miriam's website is www.holisticrestoration.co.uk

and the website to her farm is www.wovenearth-mrh.com. 

About Miriam Kate McDonald:

Miriam Kate McDonald has over 15 years of experience in ecology, conservation and agriculture. Her fusion of science and practise lead her to the realisation that people are a part of the wild, entangled in interdependent relationships. 
​She co-directs Midlands Restoration Hub, Woven Earth and Heartwood and lives at High Leas Farm, Derbyshire, UK.  ​

I will have more information about Miriam and some pictures of her farm in our show notes at www.beprovided.com.

Music today was downloaded from soundstripe.com and is titled Back on the Farm by Andy Elison.

If you like what hear and want to hear more shows like this visit beprovided.com and drop us line, leave a review and let us know how we are doing. Again this is Marcia Sivek of BeProvided Conservation Radio. Until next time stay safe and stay healthy.

About Marcia Sivek:

Marcia Sivek has over 12 years experience in Environmental Engineering. In 2010, she receicved a MS in Nutrition and has been helping people make better food choices since. She began the podcast in 2017 after returning from a working guest volunteer stint at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (cheetah.org) in Namibia where she was inspired about the work being done there to save wildlife and people. 

This is a replay of my live Facebook interview with Beth Pratt, CA Regional Executive Director of the Wildlife Federation, author, co-creator of Save LA Cougars and the all around cougar lady.  The interview originally aired in 2020 during lockdown from the pandemic and I was experimenting with new audio equipment and FaceBook live. 

As many of you may know, the world lost a great soul on December 17, 2022. The world famous mountain lion, P-22, had to be compassionately euthanized. 

This is a summary in a written Eulogy for P22 by Beth Pratt of what the poor boy was suffering from :

"Before I said goodbye, I sat in a conference room with team members from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the team of doctors at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The showed me a video of P-22's CT scan, images of the results, and my despair grew as they outlined the list of serious health issues they had uncovered from all their testing: stage two kidney failure, a weight of 90 pounds!!! (he normally weighs about 125), head and eye trauma, a hernia causing abdominal organs to fill his chest cavity, an extensive case of demodex gatoi (a parasitic skin infection likely transmitted from domestic cats), heart disease, and more. The most severe injuries resulted from him being hit by a car last week, and I thought of how terrible it was that this cat, who had managed to evade cars for a decade, in his weakened and desperate condition could not avoid the vehicle strike that sealed his fate."

I dedicate this replay to Beth and P-22 as well as all of the other people and organizations that have helped with bringing the vision of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing to reality. Here is a link to the wildlife crossing website https://101wildlifecrossing.org/ and to Save LA Cougars https://savelacougars.org/ that has live coverage of the construction.

Here is the link to the moving eulogy for P-22 written by Beth Pratt. (have a tissue ready!) https://www.nwf.org/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2022/12-17-22-Eulogy-P-22

Welcome to BeProvided Conservation Radio with host, Marcia Sivek.

As temperatures rise and ecosystems are threatened, the news tends to make us feel there is no hope for our natural world. It is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But in his new book, The Rescue Effect: The Key to Saving Life on Earth, Michael Mehta Webster suggests that we can feel more optimistic about the survival life on earth because it is more resilient than we think. Webster shares stories of certain species rescuing themselves from extinction through six processes. He does not suggest that humans can sit idly but suggests that conservationists include the rescue effects of a species in their plans for protection or recovery.

If you haven't guessed already, my guest today is Michael Mehta Webster, author of The Rescue Effect. He is an expert in ecology, conservation, philanthropy, and non-profit management. His research interests focus on how organisms and ecosystems adapt to environmental change, how this information can be translated into effective conservation strategies, and the practical and ethical dilemmas that arise along the way.

Please go check your local bookstore for Michael's book, if they don't have it, ask them to stock it!  It is a great gift to your nature loving friends and family.

His book is also available through your normal outlets like Amazon as well if you don't have a local bookstore.

Today's music was provided by soundstripe.com and is titled Treehouse Instrumental by Andy Ellison.

If you liked this podcast, please visit our website www.beprovided.com or where you get your podcasts for more episodes highlighting people who are dedicated to protecting our wild world.

Thank you for listening and stay safe and stay healthy

I am Marcia Sivek of BeProvided Conservation Radio

This is a replay of my interview with Camilla Fox, founder of Project Coyote (www.projectcoyote.org).  We discuss the importance of coyotes and other carnivores to balance ecosystems. We talk about why there is fear around these and animals and most importantly, why there should not be fear around these animals.

We also touch on the horrible act of wildlife killing contests. Something that I was hoping, wishful thinking, would be banned in all 50 states by now. Unfortunately it is still legal in most of our states.  

Listen in and learn how Camilla Fox and Project Coyote are dedicating their time to help the public change their negative thinking about these carnivores. 

Here is their website so you can learn more and find out ways you can help https://projectcoyote.org/take-action/

My guests today are innovative and creative when it comes to removing aquatic weeds. They identified a problem and because of their love for beautiful healthy waterways, they created a solution in their company WeeDoo that preserves the health of aquatic life and native aquatic plants without chemicals.

Tara Lordi helped co-found WeeDoo with her husband and his father and was the marketing/salesperson. Since her husband's death a few years ago, Tara has stepped up and is now running the show. She is very passionate about keeping waterways clean whether by using a precision weed harvesting boat like WeeDoo or by just getting out there and pulling the invasive weeds out by hand—any method if it doesn't involve using chemicals. She also loves animals, is an avid equestrian and volunteers once a year to help victims of hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters. Listen in to hear her volunteer adventure to rescue dogs from the Virgin Islands during COVID.

Unbeknownst to Bobby O'Shields his childhood job mowing lawns and tossing a rake with rope tied to it into a lake to pull out weeds, would help shape his role with WeeDoo today. Bobby started working with WeeDoo not too long after it was created.  He now demonstrates and educates individuals, businesses, and governments in over 14 countries how to remove invasive aquatic weeds while preserving the native plants and aquatic life without using chemicals.

Tara and Bobby joined me on Zoom to tell us about the important work they do. It was a great conversation with passionate and enthusiastic guests. To learn more about WeeDoo visit www.weedooboats.com. They have some videos on their website showing the boats in action. Very cool to see if I say so myself.

Enjoy the episode.

Background music by: Downloaded from Soundstripe.com - Heads of People, Footwork Instrumental

Pictures in show notes provided by WeeDoo.

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Welcome Back Everyone!

I think every little girl I know, including myself, LOVES horses. I was never in a place to actually ride horses but as soon as I could pick up a pencil horses were the first animals I sketched. I fell in love with their eyes and their sleek muscular bodies.

I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio.

If you cannot tell, today's show is about horses, specifically horse rescue and rehabilitation with Julia Hyde, founder of Canham Farm Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation and her senior volunteer and outreach coordinator, Jackie Foley. Julia started Canham Farm Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation about 5 years ago when she realized horses needed her help.

In today's show, we talk about how horses come into their care. Julia and Jackie share stories on how domesticated horses are cared for and their dedication to getting them back to health and finding a new home. Julia also shares how our iconic wild horses in the American West are rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management using helicopters. We learn why these round ups are not good for the horses. Because of these acts, these symbols of freedom are diminishing from our lands.

I learned so much, which makes me want to learn more. If you know someone working to help save our wild horses and would want to share their experience, please contact me through my website at www.beprovided.com.  

Enjoy the conversation. I start by asking my guests to introduce themselves and tell us a little bit about how they were inspired to dedicate their time to horse rescue.

Show notes with more video of falcons at www.beprovided.com

Dr. Laurie Marker is a pioneer in the field of wildlife conservation, with a keen focus on the preservation of cheetahs. As the Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) since 1990, Dr. Marker's journey in conservation commenced at a wildlife safari park in the United States. Her pioneering research has traversed continents, leading her to the grasslands of Namibia. There, she uncovered the grim reality of wild cheetahs being killed due to human-wildlife conflict, a revelation that prompted the inception of CCF. Dr. Marker is acclaimed for her groundbreaking efforts, resultant research, and unwavering dedication to the fastest land animal on Earth.

In this exclusive episode of BeProvided Conservation Radio, we embark on a profound exploration of the challenges and strategies involved in cheetah conservation, featuring the esteemed Dr. Laurie Marker. As we delve into the pressing matters faced by the cheetah population, listeners are offered an intimate glimpse into the groundbreaking initiatives spearheaded by Dr. Marker and her team at the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

In the heart of Namibia, Dr. Marker uncovered a harrowing threat to cheetahs—hundreds being killed by livestock farmers. This drove her to establish the CCF and become a central figure in cheetah conservation. The episode further highlights the Global Cheetah Summit in Ethiopia, a milestone gathering where experts and organizations like Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and the IUCN specialist groups convene to discuss the future of these majestic animals. With urgent vigor, guests are transported to Africa, where the stakes for the cheetah's survival are laid bare, and the collaborative efforts for their preservation are underscored.

• Dr. Laurie Marker is a pioneering figure in cheetah conservation, with a career spanning over 30 years dedicated to saving these endangered animals.
• The Global Cheetah Summit in Ethiopia serves as a critical platform for worldwide experts to develop an action plan and address the several threats to the cheetah population.
• Cheetahs play a vital role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of their ecosystems, yet they face numerous threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and climate change.
• There are approximately 7,100 cheetahs left across 23 countries, representing less than 10% of their historical population.
• Engaging communities and developing conservancies are key to creating sustainable habitats for cheetahs and providing alternative livelihoods for people living in these regions.

• "We can't save the cheetah without the people. And our motto has always been, save the cheetah, change the world." – Dr. Laurie Marker
• "About 80% of [cheetahs] are found outside of protected areas." – Dr. Laurie Marker
• "The cheetah is actually in these fragmented areas and really struggling to survive." – Dr. Laurie Marker
• "The future is in the people's hands." – Dr. Laurie Marker

• Cheetah Conservation Fund website: cheetah.org
• Marcia Sivek's email for inquiries regarding being a working guest at CCF: marcia@beprovided.com

Discover the intricate world of cheetah conservation and the riveting strategies devised by experts like Dr. Laurie Marker by tuning in to this captivating podcast episode. Understand how every step toward the conservation of these majestic creatures leads us toward a more sustainable future. Stay connected for upcoming content that promises to enlighten and inspire.

Today's episode is about the magical world of swamplands with author, Edward Struzik. Ed recently published his book, Swamplands: Tundra Beavers, Quaking Bogs, and the Improbable World of Peat with Island Press. You can buy his book at www.islandpress.org  , your local bookstore or wherever you buy books. 

Please visit www.beprovided.com for photos, shownotes, video and audio of today's show. 

I hope you enjoy learning about the wonderful world of peat. 

Do you love raptors? Have you ever wanted to work directly with raptors? Do you know what is involved with rehabbing raptors?

Well if you want answers to these questions listen to this week's episode (just press play above!) with Kaitlyn Bohnet theo-founder and executive director of North Sky Raptor Sanctuary. We did a live show near the shores of Lake Michigan to celebrate this 100th episode of BeProvided Conservation Radio!! Below you will find photos of the event along with photographs of Vega, the red-tailed hawk and Sprocket, the northern saw-whet owl.

Do you love raptors? Have you ever wanted to work directly with raptors? Do you know what is involved with rehabbing raptors?Well, if you want answers to these questions, listen to this week's episode with Kaitlyn Bohnet: Executive Director and Co-founder of North Sky Raptor Sanctuary. We did a live show near the shores of Lake Michigan to celebrate this 100th episode with North Sky Raptor Sanctuary and my family and close friends. Enjoy the show and thank you for listening!

We are used to seeing birds, squirrels and deer in our suburban neighborhoods. But what about other animals that are exploring our yards as we sleep? I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio.

You may be surprised to that animals like bobcats, coyotes and even mountain lions may roam our yards at night. AND it doesn't matter if you live in the country or city according to my guest today, Sarah Killingsworth. Sarah is a wildlife photographer and educator in Northern California. 

Listen in as Sarah explains her observations of the elusive bobcats we have as quiet unexpected neighbors.

Today our show is about a Elinor Ostrom, a woman who pushed the envelope in the academia world when women weren't well respected in that community.  I speak with Erik Nordman, an Ostrom Scholar and author of The Uncommon Knowledge of Elinor Ostrom: Essential Lessons for Collective Action. In his book he explores the ideas of Elinor Ostrom (the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Economics), who argued that addressing a global problem like climate change will require a truly collective response, not just from governments but at the individual, local, and regional levels as well. Ostrom pushed the envelope at a time when women were not well respected in the academic communities. 

This book can be purchased at IslandPress.org: https://islandpress.org/books/uncommon-knowledge-elinor-ostrom. 

You can get a 20% discount by using the discount code all caps UNCOMMON.

Show notes of today's show are at www.beprovided.com.

Music by Chantry Smith and titled Woman: licensed from www.soundstripe.com.

"As a child, Tammy had a Pegasus as a pet (seriously, nobody else saw it?), she knew she was part mermaid, and liked to believe Africa was just around the corner rather than thousands of miles away. Using her passion for nature, and veterinary and wildlife degrees, she is doing her best to make the world a better place through research, writing, and education. "  ~ Tammy Cloutier

Tammy Cloutier is my guest today, she is a children's book author and former phd student of Dr. Greg Rasmussen of the Painted Dog Research Trust.  She introduced me to Greg and I thought it important to share her story, it is inspiring to young and old to pursue what they are passionate about.

 I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio.

Her book Painted Dog Pursuit is available on amazon.com

For pictures of Tammy and her book, Painted Dog Pursuit visit todays show notes on beprovided.com 

Background music is Rainbows and Candy by Dreamlamp and licensed from Soundstripe.com. 

My guest today is Dr. Greg Rasmussen, founder of the Painted Dog Research Trust.

The African Painted Dog is one of the most beautiful animals I have seen in the wild.  Their body is covered in patches of black and tan that do look painted on with a brush! AND they have huge rounded ears and a furry white tipped tail.

I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio.

My first sighting of the dogs in a natural setting was in Namibia, at Erindi Game Reserve. A gate opened to enter the natural area of the reserve and there they were, a pile of black and tan spots. There were groups laying around on each other, some curled up sleeping others laying on their backs with legs in the air just like a house dog playing and enjoying time in the sun.They are social creatures and I could tell there were both young and older dogs in the group interacting with each other. When seeing such playfulness I almost felt like I could reach down and rub their bellies!

Then one yawned and that's when I saw the teeth - large sharp scissor-like molars and I greatly appreciated I was safely sitting in a safari vehicle.  They definitely demand respect.

Listen to the high pitch greeting sounds of dogs as they greet each other. This audio and the video of these dogs greeting each other is provided by the Endangered Wolf Center in St Louis and can be seen at www.beprovided.com. 

This week's episode is created from conversations with 11-yr old animal advocate and CEO of Kids Can Save Animals, Kate Gilman Williams and IoT Solutions Architect for Microsoft and creator of Project 15, Sarah Maston.

We learn how Kate enlists the help of Sarah Maston of Microsoft to help create a platform to showcase new technologies playing important roles in saving our wildlife. We also learn of other creative ways Kate is influencing her generation to take action.

Links to Kate's and Sarah's websites and videos are in my show notes at www.beprovided.com. 

The musical clip, Kids Can Save Animals, is by Jenn Hartmann Luck and can be downloaded on any streaming platform for $1.29 or visit

https://www.jennhartmannluck.com/kids-can-save-animals for more information.

Background music by Avocado Junkie, song is How We Quirk It licensed from soundstripe.com 

I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio. As we enter summer with no real rain from the winter and no forecast of any rain in the future; California is drying up. It is time to be prepared for the worst, especially for those of us living in areas where there is a lot fuel for a fire. So in today's episode, I speak with Grey Hayes as some of you may remember he helped me start this podcast a few years back and did cohost several episodes with me. 

I sought out Grey, not only for vast knowledge of ecology, grasslands and nature in general but also because he, for the most part, alone fought the fire to save his home. He lives in the area designated as the CZU Lightening Complex. I want others to hear his experience and heed his advice on preparing for the next fire. It is not if the next big fire will happen, it is when. 

I met Grey at Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz on beautiful spring day. You may hear ambients sounds of nature and man!   Enjoy this episode and note you can learn more about Grey and his Community for Nature at www.greyhayes.net.  

Visit www.beprovided.com for more podcasts and show notes of today's show. 

Background music is Dark Cloud by Ian Kelosky and is licensed from soundstripe.com.  The news clip of Gov. Newsom is from www.cspan.net  (a public domain file). 

Enjoy and stay safe and stay healthy.

Our world is becoming more populated with urban areas increasing. This causes more traffic, more noise and more streetlights. How can birds thrive in these urban environments? Birds already face so many challenges without human intervention; but now they have to navigate daily flight paths will tall buildings made of windows, migration paths that are becoming more lit up at night and communicating with each other above all the noise. How can we make our cities more bird friendly? 

Timothy Beatley addresses some of these challenges in his new book,  The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban Habitats.  He is my guest on this episode of the podcast and our discussion includes the topics below:

examples of bird safe environments

biophilic cities - check out www.biophiliccities.org 

catios- a way to keep birds safe from domestic and feral cats\

how we can create safe habitats in our own backyard

incorporating bird safe measures in architecture - you don't have to sacrifice cool designs to make a building bird friendly - Tim shows many examples in his book.

The Bird-Friendly City is published by https://islandpress.org/books/bird-friendly-city and if you want to purchase a book please click the link above and use the discount code: BEATLEY to get a 10% discount. 

Background music is by Adrian Walth and is titled For the Birds.

Thank you for visiting and stay safe and stay healthy!  Now get outside and look for birds!

The War on Wolves with Michelle Lute, Carnivore Conservation Manager for Project Coyote

• How she became involved with carnivore conservation
• What is happening currently with the War on Gray Wolves
• The appalling practice of killing contests
• Why developing, implementing and using a gold standard of evidence based research in conservation decisions is important
• What we can do to help.

About The Guest(s):
Leif Cocks is the founder of the Orangutan Project and Wildlife Conservation International. He has dedicated his life to orangutan conservation and has worked with these great apes for over 30 years. Leif is also the author of several books, including "Finding Our Humanity" and "Orangutans: My Cousins, My Friends."

Summary:
Leif Cocks, founder of the Orangutan Project and Wildlife Conservation International, discusses the challenges and importance of orangutan conservation. He emphasizes the need for diverse support and funding across ecosystems and highlights the significance of grassroots involvement and community engagement. Leif shares heartwarming stories of his experiences working with orangutans and explains the role of orangutans in the ecosystem. He also discusses the current challenges faced by conservation efforts and the importance of securing funding for meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

• Orangutans have intrinsic value and deserve conservation efforts for their own sake.
• Saving the rainforest, which is the habitat of orangutans, is crucial for mitigating climate change.
• Indigenous communities play a vital role in orangutan conservation and need support to improve their livelihoods.
• Funding is a major challenge for conservation efforts and is crucial for achieving meaningful progress.

Quotes:

• "Saving the rainforest is the most effective way of mitigating the worst effects of climate change."
• "To dismiss the value and importance of individuals and their rights is to create a world that is worse for everybody."
• "Knowledge not only has to be gained, it has to be selflessly applied in an intelligent way to achieve meaningful impact."
• "Hope can come with despair, but having love and compassion and energy to keep working is a more effective strategy."

Note: The quotes provided are direct quotes from the transcript.

Websites:

Adopt:

https://www.theorangutanproject.org/about-orangutans/orangutan-adoption-program/

Donate:

https://www.theorangutanproject.org/donate/

Learn More:

https://www.theorangutanproject.org/about-us/

Have you heard of the unprecedented wolf hunt in Wisconsin this past February that nearly wiped out 20% of the state's gray wolf population in just TWO days? My guest this week is Adrian Treves, founder of the Carnivore Coexistence Lab at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He talks to us about this unprecedented hunt that occurred during wolf mating season. We also discuss that those managing wildlife need to be more responsible for implementing methods of coexistence that does less harm to the wildlife population.

Listen in to hear how this could happen and what we can do to better coexist with our wild neighbors.

In this episode you will meet author John Pickrell as he talks about his new book, Flames of Extinction: The Race to Save Australia's Wildlife that shares the stories of conservationists, wildlife rescuers, Indigenous rangers, ecologists who worked to save plants and wildlife impacted by the bushfires.

In this episode you will hear about:

The unique Australian species threatened by the fires, like the Nightcap oak, a dinosaur-era tree and Wollemi Pine

Why many species highlighted in his book now have a brighter future due to Australians efforts; and

How Australia's Black Summer offers an urgent warning to a world threatened by catastrophic wildfires.

Show notes and photos from John's book can be found at www.beprovided.com

John's book was published by Island Press and can be found at www.islandpress.org.

This is Aaron Prince, the educator and raptor care specialist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania. He is going to educate us about all things raptors and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. 

*Photo Credit: Coyote Face by Sheryl Hester

Historically the coyote features prominently in Native American mythology and folklore - In some stories the coyote is a sacred being with creative powers. In other stories the coyote is wiley, deceptive and a trickster but almost always referred to as creative and intelligent. I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio

Many people report observing more animals in places they had never expected. This is true for coyote sightings. Coyotes are highly adaptable to new environments. They are likely the first wild carnivore you will see. 

The coyote's adaption to new environments are good for the coyote in one way, but in another way, it brings them close to people, specifically people's pets and livestock. This has caused fear and anger for coyotes when they are living so close to us humans. This is why animals such as coyotes, wolves, bobcats, and bears are not revered as sacred, intelligent or creative — they are sadly considered varmints in some states. A varmint is defined as a troublesome wild animal— a pest to be rid of.

In this episode, Camilla Fox of Project Coyote helps us understand why we should learn to coexist with our wild carnivore neighbors.

The Native Americans say the spirit of the cougar has chosen to take the earth and walk as a spiritual hunter, to teach unconditional leadership, patience and determination.

These stealthy, strong and solitary cats feed our imaginations and unfortunately for many they feed fear. They are very misunderstood animals and are often shot for sport or when livestock or pets go missing. They are shot because people are afraid.

If these beautiful cats are so dangerous to coexist with, why don't we hear about more human attacks? In that last 100 years, there have been fewer than 20 fatal mountain lion attacks on humans, yet humans killing mountain lions is on the rise. I just don't get it.

I am Marcia Sivek and this is a Nature Short on Coexisting with Cougars. by BeProvided Conservation Radio. This episode is with Korinna Domingo, founder and director of the Cougar Conservancy. Their mission is to reduce human-wildlife conflict and conserve cougar populations. Here she explains on some basic things we can do to feel more safe and to protect our wild neighbors.

Please listen to our Nature Short below to learn more

This is Richard Pallardy, a freelance science writer. He uses is talents to write about our natural world; bringing attention to animal/ wildlife behaviors, the environment and their importance to our lives and world.

Richard recently published an article on an online publication called Hidden Compass, titled No Dog is an Island about the New Guinea Highland Wild/Singing dogs. (www.hiddencompass.net)

If you have never heard of these amazing animals thought to be extinct but recently rediscovered in the wild, you should really listen in and read Richard's article. They have become my new favorite animal! They are beautiful, strong, athletic and they can sing!! 

Hello everyone. Have you ever felt fear for your life when the turbulence of the plane is bouncing you around your seat and people around you are vomiting - hopefully in the vomit bags provided? Have you thought that that one mosquito who bit you in Africa was definitely going to give you Malaria, even though Malaria hasn't been seen in that area for decades? But you still start feeling symptomatic and the doctor cannot find anything wrong? I have and I am sure many others, even seasoned travelers.

I am Marcia Sivek and this is BeProvided Conservation Radio. My guest today, Jeremy Hance, feels this anxiety and more, yet he is probably one of the most traveled people I have spoken with yet and it hasn't stopped him. Today's show touches a little bit about anxiety and mental illness and how to deal with that when your work takes around the world to very remote locations. 

Jeremy Hance is a freelance environmental journalist and author of the recently published book: Baggage: Confessions of a Globetrotting Hypochondriac. Today we will be talking about Jeremy's travels, his new book, rare animals he has met along the way and his way of coping with his mental illness.

About The Guest(s): Ian Rowbotham is the Senior Land Stewardship Manager of Sempervirens Fund. With a master's degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University, he is an expert in redwood conservation and restoration. Ian has dedicated his career to protecting and restoring redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Summary: Ian Rowbotham, the Senior Land Stewardship Manager of Sempervirens Fund, discusses the pivotal role of redwoods in the face of climate change. Redwoods are resilient giants that can sequester carbon and provide essential habitat for a diverse range of species. Despite the challenges they face, such as drought and wildfires, redwoods continue to thrive and adapt. Sempervirens Fund focuses on active management and restoration projects to protect and restore redwood ecosystems. Through fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and wetland restoration, they aim to create more resilient forests and safeguard these iconic trees for future generations.

Key Takeaways: - Redwoods are resilient and adaptable, with the ability to re-sprout and regrow branches from their trunks. - Redwoods play a crucial role in sequestering carbon and providing habitat for a diverse range of species. - Restoration projects, such as fuel reduction and prescribed burns, are essential for creating more resilient forests. - Wetland restoration projects can provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, such as the California red-legged frog and Western pond turtle. - Redwoods are not only important for their ecological value but also as cultural icons that inspire and connect people to nature.

Notable Quotes From Our Discussion: 

"Redwoods are these incredible sinks for carbon, living 2000 years." - Ian Rowbotham

"Redwoods are sheltering and providing a last harbor for other species that rely on them." - Ian Rowbotham

"Redwoods have this incredible will to live and adapt to various challenges." - Ian Rowbotham

"We're trying to restore ecosystem processes and create more resilient forests." - Ian Rowbotham

When my guest today was a young boy, his grandmother would share stories about the many penguins on the beaches near where he was living. These stories stayed with Pablo (Popi) Garcia Borboroglu into adulthood and have inspired him to share the stories of penguins, not only with his children but with the world.

Popi founded the Global Penguin Society (GPS) just over 10 years ago in Argentina. GPS is now internationally recognized as one of the leading organizations dedicated to the conservation of the worlds penguin species, the coasts and the oceans they inhabit.

Below is a condensed audio version of a live FaceBook interview I did with Popi in July 2020. I have included some of the pictures we mention that I showed to the audience at the time of the show. If you prefer watching video, you can find the live video feed of the show at: https://www.facebook.com/BeProvided/videos/616550252395575

You can see photos at : www.beprovided.com

If you like what you hear and learn from this conversation, please reach out to the Global Penguin Society website to get more information. Please consider donating to this cause that is not only helping the survival of penguins around the world but also the health of the oceans. We all depend on the oceans health to thrive so this work is benefiting the entire world not just the areas where there are penguins. 

Other places to connect to GPS:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalPenguinSociety/

Instagram: @globalpenguinsociety or https://www.instagram.com/globalpenguinsociety/

Twitter: @PENGUINS_GPS

Marcia Sivek of BeProvided Conservation Radio speaks with Lisa Owens Viani, Co Founder of Raptors Are The Solution.  They discuss the signing of bill AB1788 by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 29, 2020 and what that will do to help our wildlife. Lisa also gives advice of what we can do next now that this bill is signed. 

Full show notes along with the Facebook Live video version of the show and photographs can be seen at www.beprovided.com. 

In early Spring 2019, Bigs Eyes and Laimos wandered into new territory around the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, California from Shoreline, near Mountain View. They are a young couple hoping to find more of their kind in this new area and raise a family. I don't know for sure, but I don't think they expected to be alone. They did not know that 25 of their kind died off in 2016 due to overpopulation, disease and drought, a perfect storm for wildlife, leaving no other gray fox in the Baylands area. Now, it is up to Big Eyes and her mate, Laimos, to bring new gray fox into this area. As they do so, the "Fox Guy." also known as Bill Leikam, is working hard to make sure the perfect storm of 2016 doesn't happen again on his watch. 

Since 2009, Bill has been going to gray fox territory in the Baylands twice a day, every day. The only time he has taken off is when he is on vacation in Montana. When he is near them, he talks to them and they listen. Many would come out to see him when he called their names. He became part of their environment which allowed him to observe their behaviors, understand they way they raised their young and their intelligence with problem solving. Since 2009, Bill has been going to gray fox territory in the Baylands twice a day, every day. The only time he has taken off is when he is on vacation in Montana. When he is near them, he talks to them and they listen. Many would come out to see him when he called their names. He became part of their environment which allowed him to observe their behaviors, understand they way they raised their young and their intelligence with problem solving. He spoke of a time when sitting on a log near one of the den sites writing notes and looking up to see a few fox pups sitting in the grass in front of him like students in front of a teacher- studying him as much as he was studying them. 

The population of fox seemed to be thriving until in 2016 when Bill started noticing certain fox would not show themselves like they had in the past. Bill started getting calls about fox being found dead in the area and no one knew why. Eventually, with the help of a UC Davis veterinarian, he was able to get necropsy reports and found that the fox all had canine distemper, a disease common in our pet dogs. Unlike our pets, though, fox cannot be vaccinated. 

It was soon realized that the fox population was too large for the Baylands area. Distemper in such a closed territory spread like wildfire among all the fox. The peak of the drought was also in 2016, water for all wildlife in the area was scarce. These conditions stressed and pushed the immune systems of the fox to the limit. Their weakened immune systems could not battle the distemper or any other virus or bacteria that they encountered. 

The problem overlying the drought and disease is the lack of wildlife habitat connectivity for fox and other animals to expand their territory and find new resources. Highways, like Highway 101, and new large scale building projects basically cut off the Baylands from other wildlife areas where the fox could travel - they are trapped in this area unless we can create corridors that connect for wildlife to safely travel. In order to do this, Bill needs to find pups in the Baylands and collar them so they can be tracked as they try to travel to new areas. Learning where the fox go will help determine areas for connectivity.  He needs camera traps to observe den sites of fox as well as the behavior of other wildlife such as raccoons and opossums. Without fox around to control the population of the other species, the other species can be experiencing overpopulation, disease and inbreeding as well. 

As of July 2020, Bill is pretty confident Big Eyes and Laimos do not have pups yet. He also has not given up hope that this young couple will hopefully have pups in the Spring of 2021. In the meantime, this allows Bill to continue his hard work with the Urban Wildlife Research Project to raise funding to purchase collars and game cameras to keep an eye on the resident couple and other wildlife. He is using this time to educate the community and world about importance of gray fox and why they need our help to create natural corridors for their survival. Bill gives me hope with his dedication to the gray fox and other animals as he motivates and educates the community to care. With Bill at the helm, I feel confident we will see wildlife corridors successfully connecting habitats in our area during my lifetime.

Live video show from July 2, 2020 is at www.facebook.com/beprovided/live.

I am honored to have Dr. Liz Tyson as our guest today. Liz is an animal advocate with over 16 years of experience working for animal protection and conservation. Since 2018 she has been with Born Free USA and is currently the Program Director; here she is responsible for running the largest primate sanctuary. She is also leading the organization's campaign program to help stop illegal pet trade and roadside zoo operations.

Liz has worked as a freelance consultant for the organization's linked charity, Born Free Foundation in her native United Kingdom for some years prior to taking up her current role. She has been all over the world — UK, Ireland, Colombia, Spain, Middle East, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Peru —advocating for animals. Some of her work includes running sterilization programs for street dogs in the Middle East, and working with indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon to bring the end to hunting of wild primates.

In this episode, Liz shares the stories of the monkeys that come into the care of the primate sanctuary team. The sanctuary gives monkeys a second life after a traumatic first life. She shares the stories of rescued animals from terrible conditions at roadside zoos and how people think a monkey makes a great pet then abandons it after they realize it IS a wild animal. As these stories are sad to hear, people need to hear them to understand that wild animals as pets and these roadside zoos should not be happening.

But on the light side, we get to hear about the crotchety but lovable Mrs. Wilkin who walks with an uneven gait.

We will hear about one of Liz's favorites (even though he pays her no mind!), Gizmo, a long tailed macaque monkey with big ears and a crooked smile.

Here are ways you can learn more and help!

Visit their website: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/

Sign up for their newsletter (at the bottom to their webpage) to stay up to date on current legislation and news about theillegal pet trade and roadside zoos.

Adopt a monkey and learn more about them! https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/adopt-monkey/

Donate!

Fund a Need! https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/fund-a-need/

Enjoy the audio below and the gallery of photos of the monkeys at the sanctuary!

Joshua Hammer, the author of our topic today, The Falcon Thief, has traveled the globe as a foreign journalist for Newsweek and is now a freelance writer living in Berlin. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu . He has also written for many publications that include the New York Times, Smithsonian, Outside, GQ and the New Yorker to name just a few!!

The Falcon Thief uncovers the world of oology- egg collecting. He introduces us to an obsessed wild bird egg thief and smuggler, Jeffery Lendrum. The adventures of this thief are balanced with The Wildlife Crime Unit's detective, Andy McWilliams who is determined to stop Lendrum's egg thief activities.

I thought this a gripping adventure of these two men. It exposed me to a world I did not know existed and feel the world should know about this. Peregrine's and birds in general are facing great threats already at the hands of humans, they don't need the challenge of egg thieves stealing their eggs for collections that sit in storage areas. They certainly don't need their eggs or babies stolen for entertainment such as falcon races or songbird competitions.

I thought there was a nice balance of adventure and facts in this book. The facts are needed to understand this world better.

About The Guest:
Dr. Carl Safina is an ecologist and author known for his work on animal behavior. He has received numerous fellowships and has written for prestigious publications such as The New York Times, Time, the Guardian, and National Geographic. He is the author of many books, including "Alfie and Me: What Owls Know and What Humans Believe."

Summary
Dr. Carl Safina joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "Alfie and Me: What Owls Know and What Humans Believe." He shares his personal experience caring for a wild Eastern screech owl named Alfie and delves into the fascinating world of owls and their behavior. Dr. Safina also explores the historical and cultural perspectives on humanity's relationship with nature, highlighting the Western view of humans as separate from and superior to the natural world. He emphasizes the need for a shift in mindset and offers insights into how individuals can make a positive impact on the environment.

Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Safina's relationship with Alfie, a wild Eastern screech owl, led him to explore the deep connections between humans and nature.
- Owls, like screech owls, have complex behaviors and form deep emotional bonds with their mates and offspring.
- Many cultures throughout history have viewed humans as part of nature and emphasized the importance of maintaining the balance of the natural world.
- Western culture, influenced by Plato and religious ideologies, has perpetuated the idea that the world is not valuable and that humans should focus on an afterlife.
- Individuals can make a difference by making conscious choices in their daily lives, such as choosing sustainable food and transportation options and supporting leaders who prioritize environmental conservation.

Today's music was provided by soundstripe.com royalty free music. The song is Cabin In the Woods by Brent Wood. 

Dr safina was generous to provide some photos of Alfie and they are posted in our show notes at www.beprovided.com or you can just purchase a copy of Alfie and Me and see some of the photos in the book. Alfie and Me was published by Norton and is available at your local bookstore or by visiting https://www.carlsafina.org

My guest today is award winning journalist with master's degrees in both journalism and biology. Peter Christie, we are going to be talking about his new book, Unnatural Companions, Rethinking Our Love of Pets in an Age of Wildlife Extinction, we will discuss the pets versus conservation dilemma, such as domestic animals, preying on backyard wildlife, invasive species being released into the wild and how the food we feed our pets is impacting the environment.

Are we loving nature literally to death through our pets we bring into our home. Don't worry, this isn't all doom and gloom. We're going to be discussing small changes we can make with, that can make a difference. And, Peter doesn't think that pets are really the problem, but we do need to change how we love and care for them by becoming more educated on how our pet choices affect the wildlife we are trying to protect.

Lori Marino is a neuroscientist and expert in animal behavior and intelligence. She coauthored a ground breaking study that showed that bottlenose dolphins can recognize themselves in the mirror. This altered Lori's career path, she stopped working with captive animals after this, it was too difficult to know about their intelligence an see them confined to small concrete enclosures.

Lori moved on to become Director and Founder of the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. She also appears on the documentary Blackfish and its's sequel Long Gone Wild. Both about killer whales and captivity. Her current project, The Whale Sanctuary Project begins where Long Gone Wild left off.

The Whale Sanctuary is the first of its kind. It will be located off the coast of Nova Scotia and offer previously captive whales and dolphins a natural place, with no concrete walls, to live out the rest of their lives. It is an amazing project and a major undertaking. Listen to this week's episode to hear more about this project. 

Good day everyone this is Marcia Sivek the host of BeProvided Conservation Radio. I hope this finds everyone and their loved ones safe in these crazy times. I have been fortunate enough to be healthy and have a healthy family. I know there is a lot of news about COVID 19. There is a lot of anger toward China and the live wet markets. There is a lot of crazy finger pointing, blaming and bad planning tactics from government and others we should trust in such crazy times. But with all this I do see the majority of us coming together globally, a positive light in the chaos.

My guest today is Dr. Hayley Adams. She is veterinarian who has a PhD in epidemiology and virology. She has many years of experience working with One Health in Africa, wildlife and domestic animals. She is also an author of the book Conscious Conservation which is a worthwhile read during these times and any time. She is certified in meditation and compassion fatigue therapy. On top of all of this she is a mother, who is currently home schooling and a wife! She is much more than all of this and she will give you a better summary of her background in this episode.

Hayley and I were supposed to chat via Skype for this interview, but with Shelter in place, home schoolings and spouses working from home, finding time and quiet space is difficult. So we opted to have Hayley answer questions from listeners and some from me! in a pre recorded session she could do when she could find quiet and time. So Hayley is both interviewer and interviewee! Our original goal was to discuss her book and her work in forensic wildlife studies and other topics not COVID 19. But during this time I wanted Hayley to share her thoughts on this current pandemic and introduce my listeners to her. She has vast knowledge on emerging diseases from wildlife to humans. She also has a podcast, Conservation without Borders where she offers more scientific details to our current situation in 7 episodes including this one which is less detailed but very informative. You can find this series on drhayleyadams.com and hayley is spelled HAYLEY.

In this episode Hayley touches on such topics that include:

• How the coronaviruses can affect our pets and should we worry? (note this was recorded before the tiger and other big cats were diagnosed with COVID 19 in the Bronx Zoo).
• How finger pointing and blaming may do more harm than good in resolving this pandemic and other pandemics.
• Will banning wet markets and trade of bush meat from wildlife do any good?
• What can we do to help prevent the next disease when it emerges? because, Yes it will
• What is herd immunity and is it good or is it bad?
• What can we do to help ourselves and others get through these times?
• What positive outcomes will come from all of this?
• Hayley also answers some listener questions which touch on all of these topics.