After being side characters in two episodes (Rocky Mountain Adventures and White-tailed Deer), it's time for moose to step into the spotlight! Casey and Sara discuss what makes moose special, the tangled web of moose population control, conservation, and climate change, and why in the world the plural of moose isn't "meese."

The two articles referenced in the last portion of the show are:

How Should Colorado Handle Its Booming Moose Population? | Smithsonian

Do Moose “Belong” in Colorado?

Additional resources for this episode:

Moose Research in Rocky Mountain National Park

Species Spotlight - Moose (U.S. National Park Service)

‘No chain stores, but moose on every corner’: as Colorado herds thrive, clashes with people rise | Wildlife | The Guardian

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Moose Survey

Moose Research | Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

Winter tick

Winter Ticks: Moose: Mammals: Species Information: Wildlife: Fish & Wildlife: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

As New England Winters Warm, Ticks are Killing Moose at High Rates | Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)

Moose in New Hampshire

Unless you're living in Florida, you may have missed out on the fallout from a proposed development plan involving nine of Florida's state parks. Casey and Sara discuss the whole situation, from the problems with the proposals to the odd secrecy around the plan to the fallout--and share some lessons that we can all take from the situation to help make our voices heard to protect the planet.

Resources for this episode

DEP Announces 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative to Increase Public Access, Recreation and Lodging at Florida State Parks

Florida State Parks Threatened by Development

https://floridawildlifefederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Overview.jpg

Legislation Scrapped in 2011 Offers Clues to How Florida Might Fund ‘Great Outdoors’ Initiative)

State offers more details on plan to revamp parks including in South Florida

DeSantis' plan to develop state parks faces setback as golf course backer pulls out | AP News

Audubon Protects Florida State Parks from Development Proposals

Trees help give us clean air to breathe, keep us cool, and can even benefit our mental health. But not everyone has equal access to trees. In this week's episode, Casey and Sara discuss the benefits (and challenges) of urban trees and take a look at the factors involved in tree disparity across different neighborhoods. 

Resources for this episode:

The Inequitable Distribution of Urban Trees

Tree Equity Score National Explorer

Public Health Benefits of Urban Trees

Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review

Green gentrification in European and North American cities | Nature Communications

Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan: 2016 -2026

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Funding to Expand Access to Trees and Green Spaces in Disadvantaged Urban Communities | USDA.

50 years after being outlawed, redlining still drives neighborhood health inequities.

Urban and Community Forestry Grants - 2023 Grant Awards | US Forest Service

In April of 2018, a news story broke about the discovery of 10,000 tortoises being held in terrible conditions in a house in Madagascar. The tortoises, which were primarily radiated tortoises, a critically endangered species, had been collected for likely sale into the pet trade. Thanks to the hard work of conservationists, led by the Turtle Survival Alliance, the tortoises were able to be relocated and cared for with the hope of eventually returning them to the wild. This week, Casey and Sara welcome ALG's first guest: reptile animal care professional, Andrew Ahl. Andrew shares his firsthand account of what it was like to travel to Madagascar to help care for these tortoises. 

Have you ever heard about a technological solution to an environmental issue that just seemed too good to be true--and then it turns out it was (carbon sucking machines, anyone)? While new innovations in technology might not be enough to stop climate change and protect habitats alone, there are lots of ways that technology is helping us in our fight. This week, Sara and Casey take a look at some new advances, from a paint so white it can make surfaces cooler to 3-D printed calcium carbonate, and discuss the pros and cons of technology in conservation.

For many of us, cars are essential transportation. Personal vehicles give us the freedom to go where we want when we want. We might have our favorite makes, models, and colors. Our cars might also have lots of fond memories attached. However, cars are also a big source of individual carbon emissions. This week, Casey and Sara discuss the future of cars--and it is looking electric! They also give us a joint review of the Toyota Prius and share their experiences making the switch to a hybrid vehicle. 

From transportation to waste to the impact of tourist activities, there are lots of ways that our vacations impact the environment. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them! Start planning your next getaway as you listen to Casey and Sara discuss some of the things that we can do to make our trips just a little greener.

Assigning human traits to animals (anthropomorphism) can be a hotly debated subject in the scientific and conservation education communities. Casey and Sara discuss the risks and benefits of using anthropomorphism, and how this technique is utilized in nature documentaries like Netflix's recent release, Penguin Town.

What if you could recycle your plastic, metal, and glass waste without ever leaving your home? One company is looking to make this a reality through an in-home recycling appliance. Casey and Sara discuss this, as well as some new Extended Producer Responsibility laws in the United States, in this week's episode.

With Sara on the road this week, this episode is a quick one. But, take a listen for a couple of updates and additional thoughts on combating food waste, as well as some introductory tips on staying green while on vacation.

Continuing on from last week's episode, hosts Casey and Sara discuss how we as consumers can help to reduce food waste. It isn't just about making sure you clean your plate at every meal. Learn how to prep better for shopping trips and avoid unnecessary food purchases, as well as what food expiration dates really mean, and why the way we dispose of our food has an impact on the environment.

Food waste is a complicated problem with lots of environmental impacts. In addition to the fact that food products in landfills produce methane, they also represent wasted water, resources, and land used in the production of the food. In the first of a two-part episode, Casey and Sara discuss food waste that occurs in the farm and retail portions of the food supply chain. Stay tuned next week for Part Two, focusing on consumer food waste!

With the Olympics in full swing, Sara and Casey take a look at some of the sustainability efforts made for the 2020(one) Tokyo Games. They also discuss a recent study on the sustainability of the Olympic games since 1992 and explore what steps might be taken to make this major global event a little greener moving forward. Resources used in this episode can be found here: tinyurl.com/algep119

With the total solar eclipse visible over parts of North America in just a few days, Casey and Sara discuss what we know about animal behavior during eclipse events. Listen to find out:

• What are Baily's Beads and why does Sara like them so much?
• How would Casey's pets respond to a total solar eclipse?
• Why should we care about how animals act during an eclipse? 

If you are in the path of the eclipse, whether total or partial, you can join North Carolina State University's Solar Eclipse Safari project or take a look at NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes project.

And if you are viewing the eclipse, remember to do so safely! Never look directly at the sun! Total Solar Eclipse Safety - NASA

Resources for this episode:

Researchers to observe how total solar eclipse affects animal behavior | PBS NewsHour

NASA Eclipse Science

2024 Total Solar Eclipse - NASA

Total Eclipse of the Zoo: Animal Behavior during a Total Solar Eclipse - PMC

Unlocking the mysteries of animal behavior during cosmic events: IU News

Surprising Ways Animals React to Solar Eclipses - National Geographic

How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse? | Scientific American

Animals act weirdly during an eclipse. Help NASA find out why | CNN

One way to make your lifestyle a little greener is to focus on one area at a time to see what changes make sense for you. This week, Casey and Sara zero in on the bathroom. From showers to shaving and toothpaste to toilet paper, they discuss ways to reduce water and electricity and suggest some sustainable swaps that might work for your routine. 

Has your week been as hectic as ours? This week, Casey and Sara take a break from full-length episodes to bring you some life updates and share some recent news related to past episodes. Take a few minutes to relax and enjoy our first "minisode" and don't forget to get some time in nature this week!

From plastic pollution to climate change to animal extinctions, environmental issues can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. This week, Sara and Casey discuss how we can hold on to hope and stay positive in spite of the challenges, as we all keep working to be a little greener. Casey also gives a review of Drilled, a true-crime podcast about climate change. Resources for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep116

Whether it's the "cute factor," their intelligence, or the mysterious nature of their lives under the sea, marine mammals capture our attention. Unfortunately, these amazing animals (this group includes everything from sea otters to manatees to whales) also face a wide variety of threats. But there's good news here! This week, Casey and Sara discuss the Marine Mammal Protection Act here in the United States, as well as other international regulations and agreements that are protecting marine mammals worldwide. Show notes for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep115

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past several years, you've likely heard a thing or two about plastic pollution. This week, Sara and Casey discuss why plastics receive so much attention from conservation and environmental groups and look ahead to what the future of plastic production might be like. Casey also gives us a review of the OXO .75 gallon compost bin, and your hosts discuss some of their favorite sustainable lifestyle changes. Show notes for the episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep114

When you put together an outfit, you're probably thinking about things like the fit, the feel, and the functionality, and not so much the environmental impact. But, the production and disposal of our clothing contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and human rights issues, among other things. This week, Casey and Sara talk about the impacts of "fast fashion" and how to reduce, reuse, rethink, and recycle our way to a more sustainable (but still fashionable) wardrobe. Sara also shares a review of the Seek app. Some of the resources used for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep113

While insects might not be high on the list of favorite animals for many people, these small but mighty creatures are vital pollinators and decomposers, not to mention an essential part of the food web as both predators and prey. However, you may have seen recent articles warning of a looming “insect apocalypse.” No, we’re not talking about swarms of insects rising up to destroy humanity. In fact, just the opposite. The articles suggest we are seeing drastic declines in insect populations that could have catastrophic results for our planet. But, is this what the data is truly showing? This week, Sara and Casey discuss what we know about insect populations, the inherent challenges of insect conservation, and what we can all do to help our six-legged friends.  They also share their favorite and least favorite animals, and Casey gives us an overview of the Bird Names for Birds movement. Show notes can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep112

Why did the turtle cross the road? Well, probably to find a mate, nesting site, or to get back home. Unfortunately, crossing roads is no joke for wildlife and can have a big impact on a wide variety of species. This week, Casey and Sara discuss how roads affect wildlife and some ways that we can try to reduce the impact. Sara also shares a review of the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral.

On the 10th episode of ALG, Sara and Casey discuss why they love bats--and why you should, too! Learn about some of the unique traits of bats, discover how these furry fliers benefit the environment, and get introduced to "the happy bat." Casey also gives a review of the book Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. You can find some of the resources for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/algep110 

At some point in the past few years, you've probably heard something on the news about the impact of beef on the environment. Why is that? Why do we hear so much about beef compared to other types of meat? How does beef production tie into climate change? Casey and Sara break some of this down in this week's episode, as well as what we can do to lessen our impact (and no, you don't have to give up your holiday weekend barbecue). Casey and Sara also share some of their nature adventures from the week, and Sara gives us a review of the television show Wild Kratts. Resources for this episode can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep109

Join Casey and Sara for a discussion on the North Atlantic right whale. Learn where you can find these amazing animals, why they're called "right" whales, and what we can do to help save this incredibly endangered species.

Resources for this episode:

Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries

North Atlantic Right Whale | NOAA Fisheries

We know how to save the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Why aren’t we? - Vox

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Female North Atlantic right whales growing smaller, leading to fewer births

Scientists release annual population estimate for critically endangered North Atlantic right whale amid ongoing threats - New England Aquarium

North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2024 | NOAA Fisheries

Maine fishing rope found in dead North Atlantic right whale | National Fisherman

From stressed-out birds to angry clownfish to whales with the bends, noise pollution can have a variety of impacts across a range of species. Casey and Sara discuss the effects of the noise we make and what we can do about it on this week's episode. Plus, Casey shares her review of the book Visions of Caliban: On Chimpanzees and People by Dale Peterson and Jane Goodall. See the show notes for this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/algep108 

Casey and Sara talk about how the photos and videos that we post, like, and share on social media can impact primate welfare and conservation. They also discuss their favorite primates, how much they love the Kratt brothers, and Sara gives a review of Vacation Races. Resources for this website can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/algep107

Where does our drinking water come from? Where does it go? Can water really be wasted? How can we protect the water supply for us and for nature? Casey and Sara discuss all this, and more, on this week's episode. 

Learn about the importance of forests and how forests are managed in this week's episode. Casey and Sara discuss sustainable forestry certification systems, the idea of greenwashing, and how we can make more sustainable choices with our paper products. 

This week, Casey and Sara chat about the history and importance of Earth Day, and discuss a few ways to live a little greener while saving yourself some work at the same time! Plus, Casey shares her thoughts on the documentary Seaspiracy.

Pulling weeds around the yard isn't most people's idea of a good time. Busting out a spray bottle of herbicide might be the easy way out, but what's the price we pay for that? Casey and Sara discuss the use of herbicides in agriculture and urban areas, including the recent news surrounding the use of dicamba. 

Resources for this episode:

Protecting Pollinators from Herbicides: Rethinking Weed Management at Home

Benefits and risks of the use of herbicide-resistant crops - Kathrine Hauge Madsen & Jens Carl Streibig

How to use herbicides to safely control weeds on farms | OSU Extension Service

Different pesticides dominate in different land-use areas

Video: Herbicides: A Double-Edged Sword? What We Know about Herbicide Impacts on Pollinators

History of Weed Control in the United States and Canada

Herbicide Use in the Era of Farm to Fork: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Future Implications - PMC

New Study: Agricultural Pesticides Cause Widespread Harm to Soil Health, Threaten Biodiversity

Glyphosate-based herbicides and cancer risk: a post-IARC decision review of potential mechanisms, policy and avenues of research - PMC

Weed Management in Lawns Guidelines--UC IPMBee Precaution Pesticide Ratings

Last spring, Casey and Sara discussed some of the ways parents might be able to make eco-friendly choices while expecting and raising a baby. Now that Casey is a mom, she's taking a look back at how things went for her and sharing some additional tips and resources based on her experiences.

Resources for this episode:

Climate change is making people think twice about having children

Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC

Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC

Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR

A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post

Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK

In this reunion episode, Casey returns to the podcast, joining Kristen and Sara in a discussion about the impact of various art forms on the environment, as well as the other ways that art and nature intersect. Nature often inspires art (and might be considered art in and of itself), art often depicts nature, and art can also be used to benefit nature and conservation! 

Resources for this episode:

Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments - PMC

Understanding the Hazardous Environmental Impact of Paint

Painting Safety In The Arts

Sustainability of Art Supplies. Art is a powerful means of conveying… | by Libby McClough | Environmental Justice Coalition | Medium

Mindful of Its Impact on the Planet, the Art World Aims for Sustainability

Meet Abhi; The Charcoal Artist raising Climate Change Awareness | by Abhijeet Shrivastava | Medium

Quick Guide: Detox Your Art Studio | Artwork Archive

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Art Studio | Artwork Archive

Resin Art and Sustainability Backlash

How to Make Plant Paints: Zero Waste Art - Greenify Me

KaiNav Conservation Fund

Painted Dog Conservation

Washed Ashore

Kristen and Sara discuss the threats facing coral reefs around the world, what conservationists are doing to help, and how we can all get involved!

Resources for this episode:

Visual Feature | Status of Coral Reefs of the World

What Florida’s coral bleaching means as high ocean temperatures continue - The Washington Post

Warming, acidic oceans may nearly eliminate coral reef habitats by 2100 - AGU Newsroom

Extreme Ocean Temperatures Are Affecting Florida’s Coral Reef | NESDIS

Coral on the Red List of Endangered Species | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Natural Threats to Coral Reefs

Crown-of-thorns Starfish - Oceana

Five fascinating facts about crown-of-thorns starfish - Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Coral Diseases – South Florida Aquatic Environments

Threats to Coral Reefs | US EPA

Coral Nurseries | Reef Resilience

Coral bleaching 101 | gbrmpa

The Truth About Corals and Sunscreen | Smithsonian Ocean

The Great Reef Census

Deepest Fish Discovered

Hydropower Map

When we think of coral most of us probably think of giant, colorful reef structures. But there's so much more to coral! We take a deeper look at the tiny animals that make up those reefs--and that can be found beyond those reefs, as well.

Video for Weekly Challenge:

Lens of Time: Corals in Motion

Resources for this episode: 

What are corals? | ICRI

NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs

All About Soft Corals - Ocean Conservancy

Coral tentacle elasticity promotes an out-of-phase motion that improves mass transfer | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Coral Polyp Anatomy - Coral Disease & Health Consortium

Did you know: How do corals form colonies?

Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Deep Sea

Red Sea Expedition: Acrobatic mushroom corals are fun-guys

IUCN: Eastern Water Dragon

National Zoo: Asian Water Dragon

Kristen and Sara discuss the pros and cons of using water to produce electricity. Listen in to learn the three main ways we currently produce hydropower, the environmental impacts, and how hydropower might fit in to the future of energy production. 

Resources for this episode:

Planning a Microhydropower System | Department of Energy

Dam that threatens orangutan habitat faces three-year delay

BATANG TORU HYDROPOWER PROJECT Factcheck and References on Key Issues

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre: Dam Displacement

Why hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean energy

UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050 | Flooding | The Guardian

What Is Green Power? | US EPA

Hydropower Basics | Department of Energy

Hydropower explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Hydropower: US Department of Energy

Why aren't we looking at more hydropower? | MIT Climate Portal

Hydropower - IEA

Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity - Energy Education

Where hydropower is generated - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Hydro power by state in 2022 (United States)

With all the hype around Barbie these past few weeks, Sara and Kristen decided to take a look at the environmental impact of the iconic doll--and some of our other toys, as well. Listen in as they chat about their favorite Barbies, the challenges of plastic, and how to balance our desire to give the kids in our lives the things that they want and still be a little greener. 

Resources for this episode:

(From intro) Nuclear fusion breakthrough repeated by lab | Fortune

(From intro) Tour de Turtles

Barbie Sustainability | Mattel

Barbie and the Problem With Plastic - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Plastic Pollution Facts and Issues | The Problems With Plastic

In Our Real World, Barbie’s Plastic Is Not So Fantastic

Most materials are recyclable, so why can’t children’s toys be sustainable? | Yale Environment Review

Life in Plastic, It's Not Fantastic - Earth Day

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Mattel launches sustainable new Barbie Loves the Ocean range

My Kids Want Plastic Toys. I Want to Go Green. Here's the Middle Ground

Hasbro: Environmental Responsibility

The Chicago Marathon is one of six World Major Marathons, and this year will host around 50,000 runners from around the world, not to mention the spectators, vendors, and volunteers. So, is it possible for an event of this magnitude to be sustainable? On this episode, Casey and Sara chat with Cat Morris, the Sustainability Manager at Chicago Event Management, overseeing the Chicago Marathon. Hear about how the Chicago Marathon became certified as an Evergreen Inspire event through the Council for Responsible Sport, how waste, from water cups to gel packets, is being diverted from landfills, and how runners and spectators can get involved!

Sara will be running the 2024 Chicago Marathon as part of Team Fox, raising funds for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. If you'd like to donate to support the Foundation's work to find a cure for Parkinson's, you can donate through Sara's fundraising page here: https://give.michaeljfox.org/fundraiser/5270913

Resources for this episode: 

Chicago Marathon Sustainability

Community Impact through Compost: Chicago Distance Series

Instagram: Tina Muir, Chicago Marathon Sustainability Ambassador

Instagram: Chicago Marathon Know Before You Go: Sustainability

Kristen and Sara chat about one of Kristen's favorite animals, the aardvark! Learn about the behavior and adaptations of this unique African mammal, the conservation issues they face, and what on Earth aardvarks have to do with  cucumbers. 

Resources for this episode:

National Geographic: Aardvark

Carnegie Museum of Natural History: A is for Aardvark

ScienceDirect: Aardvark

Cincinnati Zoo: Adventures with Aardvarks

San Diego Zoo: A is for Aardvark

With increased awareness of bee pollinators and the value of their conservation over recent years, there has been growing discussion (and controversy!) over the nature of the relationships between managed western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and wild bees. In this episode, Kristen and Sara chat with entomologist Jon Elmquist, who shares the current evidence for conflict between managed honey bees and wild bees and the implications this may have for bee conservation efforts. Along the way you'll learn how Jon got interested in pollinators and conservation, some of the differences between honey bees and wild bees, and hear about some of the amazing native bee species in North America.

Resources for this episode:

Scientific American: The Problem with Honey Bees

Floral Resource Competition Between Honey Bees and Wild Bees: Is There Clear Evidence and Can We Guide Management and Conservation?

An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, and Ecosystems in Wild Landscapes

What are the 4Rs?

We often think about conservation on either the global scale (climate change!) or on a personal level (sustainable swaps!), but community-based, local conservation is an extremely important piece of the puzzle. This week, our guest co-host, and Soil and Water Conservation District professional, Kristen, talks us through the history and roles of SWCDs and touches on some other local conservation resources you might not have known that you have!

Resources for this episode:

Non-farmers bumped from Florida's soil and water conservation district boards

Contact Your Local SWCD – IASWCD

Conservation Districts | State Conservation Committee | NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.

In order to protect the planet, we have to care about it. And pop culture can sometimes help make nature more relatable and accessible. With that in mind, Sara and our amazing new guest co-host, Kristen, have some fun discussing the real-world counterparts to the sidekicks in the new live action version of The Little Mermaid. 

Resources for this episode:

Snopes: Myths, Manatees, and Mermaids

Northern Gannet Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Northern Gannet - American Bird Conservancy

NatGeo: Flounders' Eyes Face Skyward, How Do They See the Ocean Floor?

Video: Flatfish Metamorphosis

Fast Facts About Flounder - Ocean Conservancy

Abudefduf saxatilis – Discover Fishes

Blue Crab FAQ | FWC

Galapagos Conservation Trust: Ghost Crab

Parental care in the animal kingdom takes a variety of forms. Who are the gold star parents and who never even sees their kids? Do animals babysit? And do quakkas really throw their babies? 

Resources for this episode:

Parental Care - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Patterns of parental care in vertebrates

Humans aren’t the only ones that help out their adult kids — here’s why animals do it too |

One Thing They Aren't: Maternal - The New York Times

Why Some Animals Forgo Reproduction in Complex Societies | American Scientist

Fact or Fiction?: Birds (and Other Critters) Abandon Their Young at the Slightest Human Touch - Scientific American

Seven Super Mums of the animal kingdom | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne

Professor Allen J. Moore - Uncovering The Evolutionary Origins Of Parental Care • scientia.global

Meet the Alloparents | Natural History Magazine

Parenting in Animals - PMC

The state of rhinos around the world is precarious. At worst, rhino species are critically endangered, and even the species with the largest population, the white rhino is still classified as near threatened by IUCN, and their population is declining. Despite protection and education efforts, the threat of poaching for their horn looms large over all species of rhinos. So, where do we go from here? Casey and Sara look at what drives the rhino horn trade and discuss the pros and cons of an outside the box solution--rhino farming. 

Resources for this episode:

World's Largest Rhino Farm in South Africa for Sale--Business Insider

The horns of a dilemma: Ethical questions about legalising rhino horn trade

RHINO HORN CONSUMERS, WHO ARE THEY? | Traffic.org

World Rhino Day 2022: TM Practitioners warned prescribing endangered species is a crime - Wildlife Trade News from TRAFFIC

Former billionaire to auction world's biggest rhino farm after spending his fortune to save the animals - CBS News

Is the rhino horn trade a cartel? Economic analysis suggests it works like one

State of the Rhino

China's Legalization of Domestic Rhino Horn Trade: Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Perspectives and the Likelihood of Prescription

2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR

Did a Legal Ivory Sale Increase Smuggling and Poaching? | NBER

Legalizing ivory trade won't save elephants, study concludes | Science | AAAS

After legal-ivory experiment, black markets thrive from greater demand, less risk

iucncsg.org - Farming and the Crocodile Industry

Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking: Combating a Source of Terrorist Funding | United States Institute of Peace

Combating rhino horn demand in Vietnam | African Wildlife Foundation

Powers of Persuasion: Conservation Communications, Behavioural Change and Reducing Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products

Rhinos are iconic animals that most of us can recognize from the time that we're little. However, there's more to rhinos that most people realize! For example, did you know that there are more species of rhinos outside of Africa than inside? Have you ever heard of the hairy rhinoceros? If not, this episode's for you. Sara and Casey discuss the five species of rhinos and what's being done to keep them safe.

Resources:

International Rhino Foundation: Rhino Species

IUCN Red List

Development of third Sumatran rhino sanctuary advances to save species

Save the Rhino: Dehorning

Rhino Resource Center: Why the Name of the White Rhinoceros is not Appropriate

Rhino poaching and illegal trade decline but remain critical threats – new report - Press release | IUCN

Will Fake Rhino Horns Curb Poaching? | Live Science

Rhino Rescue Project: Devaluing Rhino Horn

The Willow Project is an oil drilling project set to begin in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska--albeit in a scaled down version of the original plan. Casey and Sara explore the history of the project, look at the environmental impacts, and discuss the challenges of breaking free from fossil fuels.

Resources for this episode:

Q&A: Willow oil project and Arctic drilling limits

Alaska's Willow oil project is controversial. Here's why. | AP News

What is the Willow project? The Alaska oil drilling debate, explained. - The Washington Post

The Willow Project and the Race to Pump the “Last Barrel” of Oil - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Biden Administration Sued Over Willow Oil Project in Alaska’s Western Arctic - Center for Biological Diversity

Interior Department Substantially Reduces Scope of Willow Project

Willow drilling: How will it affect polar bears?

Chances are you've heard about the environmental impacts of plastics and how air travel contributes to climate change, but did you know that there's a man-made substance that contributes more than double the emissions of the aviation industry? It's estimated that up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions is from the concrete industry--and this is mainly due to the production of cement, an essential ingredient in concrete. Sara and Casey discuss what needs to be done to clean up concrete on this 100th episode of A Little Greener!

Resources for this episode:

The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save Our Planet by Hal Harvey and Justin Gillis

Cement vs. Concrete: A Case of Mistaken Identities

Explained: Cement vs. concrete — their differences, and opportunities for sustainability | MIT News

Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth | Cities | The Guardian

MIT Researchers Develop New Additives For "Green" Concrete - CleanTechnica

PPE Waste Makes Stronger, More Flexible, Green Concrete

Heat Island Compendium | US EPA

Want To Build A Carbon Neutral Skyscraper? Easy: Just Don't Use Cement. Good Luck With That | Digg

Materials scientist working to revolutionize concrete and radically reduce CO2 emissions

Countering climate change with cool pavements | MIT News

Effects of pavement texture and colour on Urban Heat Islands: An experimental study in tropical climate - ScienceDirect

Expecting your first child can be an overwhelming time, with so much to acquire, learn, and do before baby arrives. The thought of trying to do all that and be environmentally friendly at the same time might feel like too much, but never fear! Casey and Sara are here to discuss being a little greener with a few aspects of baby care: how to prepare for your baby, how to feed your baby, and, oh yes, how to diaper your baby. Listen for the do's and don'ts of getting secondhand items, how to cut down on microplastics, and whether or not cloth diapers are as eco-friendly (or as scary) as you might think. 

Resources for this episode:

Climate change is making people think twice about having children

Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC

Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC

Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR

A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post

Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK

This week, Casey and Sara recap Sara's first trip to the Rocky Mountains, covering everything from road trip musings on land use to wildfires to amazing wildlife encounters!

Resources for this episode:

Natural Features & Ecosystems - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Moose Research in Rocky Mountain National Park

Tribal Partners - Rocky Mountain

The Dolphin Company, owner of the Miami Seaquarium, recently announce plans to release an orca from the Sequarium back into the wild. Many headlines suggest this is a positive story, and indeed, a whale returning to the wild and rejoining their family would be amazing to see. But, is it reality? Sara and Casey discuss the issues surrounding this particular whale, Tokitae, often called Toki, as well as some of the issues surrounding keeping orcas in human care. 

Resources for this episode:

Scientists: End of orca program a loss

The Debate - The Ethics Of Keeping Whales And Dolphins Captive | A Whale Of A Business | FRONTLINE | PBS

Orcas Don't Do Well in Captivity. Here's Why - National Geographic

Here's why SeaWorld probably won't release its whales into the wild - Los Angeles Times

Tooth damage in captive orcas (Orcinus orca) - ScienceDirect

Bias and Misrepresentation of Science Undermines Productive Discourse on Animal Welfare Policy: A Case Study

Public Display of Marine Mammals | NOAA Fisheries

Cetaceans in Captivity: A Discussion of Welfare - 1999 AVMA Animal Welfare Forum

Killer Whale | NOAA Fisheries

National Aquarium - Dolphin Sanctuary

At Baltimore's National Aquarium, Climate Change Presents Challenges Inside And Out : NPR

Health and Welfare Assessment of Tokitae (also known as Lolita), killer whale housed at Miami Seaquarium

Bottlenose dolphin habitat and management factors related to activity and distance traveled in zoos and aquariums | PLOS ONE

Release of whales from notorious Russia ‘whale jail’ complete - National Geographic

miami-seaquarium-inspection-report - DocumentCloud

Something Rotten at the Miami Seaquarium - International Marine Mammal Project

PolitiFact | SeaWorld says their whales live as long as wild whales do

Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in accredited zoos and aquariums - PMC

Take Action for Southern Resident Killer Whales | NOAA Fisheries