In this episode, Ashley Sutherland and I talk about the project she's created to help protect Western toads around Shane Lake in Prince George, BC. We discuss how she's gotten to where she is now and what it takes to make the change you want to see in the world.

Read up on the Western Toad:

https://bcreptilesandamphibians.ca/western-toad/

Check out Ashley's iNaturalist project:

iNaturalist - Shane Lake Amphibian Migration Project

Want to become a guest on the show? Maybe you know somebody you think should be a guest, or want to share a conservation story of your own? Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or DM me @wilderinsightpod on Instagram.

Thanks for your support!

Message from Ashley Sutherland:

The Aleza Lake Research Forest staff would like to extend a massive “thank you” to all our major partners (so far) on the Shane Lake Amphibian Migration Project! These partners include:

• Society for Ecosystem Restoration in Northern BC (SERNbc)
• College of New Caledonia Research Forest
• Spruce City Wildlife Association
• University of Northern BC (UNBC)
• The Wildlife Society, UNBC
• Matt Robinson RPBio, Mark Thompson RPBio, Sara Sparks RPBio,
• And countless other individuals who have contributed to the project in small ways to help maintain the momentum.

Sounds Effects:

Frog Sound Effect

Western Toad Call

In this episode,Sean Simmons and I discuss Anglers Atlas and the role anglers play inconservation.

Check out theAnglers Atlas Website: https://www.anglersatlas.com/

Want to participatein citizen science while fishing? Upload your catches to the MyCatch app: https://mycatch.ca/

Want to become a guest on the show? Maybe you know somebody you think should be a guest, orwant to share a conservation story of your own? Emailwilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me @wilderinsightpod on Instagram.

Thanks for your support!

Welcome to Wilder Insights! Thanks for stopping by.

Song: Sea - Funeral Culture

Sometimes, saving a species doesn’t start in the forest, but with one bird, its connection to people, and the story it shares. In today's episode, I recount a story shared with us by Korinne Bengert of Regina, Saskatchewan. Through her experience at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Korinne shares the moving story of a great horned owl in recovery.

Do you want to be a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who should be a guest? Or do you want to share a conservation story of your own?

Emailwilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me @wilderinsightspod on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a rating and sharing it with your friends.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Mentioned:

Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Sources:

Great Horned Owl - All about birds

In this episode, I dive into the dramatic rise in black bear encounters in Prince George, BC, during the summer of 2023—a season that saw over 2,000 sightings and the destruction of dozens of bears. I speak with Kayla Wiens from the BC Conservation Foundation/WildSafeBC about staying safe in bear country, and with Nicole Botten, President of the Northern Bear Awareness Society, about what's attracting bears into our neighborhoods and what we can do to reduce conflicts. Together, we explore the science, the stories, and the steps we can all take to help people and bears coexist more peacefully.

The episode is part 1 of 2 in our urban bear series. Tune in next month to find out how you can get involved, and why you should get your hands on some bear poo.

Want to become a guest on the show? Know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me @wilderinsightspod on Instagram.

Northern Bear Awareness Society's Website: www.northernbearawareness.com⁠

Videos and Resources:

Staying Safe in Bear Country - video

WildSafeBC coursesand training

How to use bear spray

Black bear colourmorphs

Recycle BC

In this episode, I sit down with forester Hengda Liu and James Steidle of Stop The Spray BC to discuss the effects of glyphosate spraying in BC's forestry. We touch on its effects on wildlife, vegetation, and, more specifically, Aspen trees. Tune in to discover why we may benefit from letting Aspen grow, and the results of natural regrowth in cut blocks.

Want to become aguest on the show? Know somebody who you think should be a guest? Or want toshare a conservation story of your own?

Emailwilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me @wilderinsightspod onInstagram.

Read more about Stop The Spray BC:

Stop the Spray BC

UNBC ForestryPodcast Episodes Mentioned:

Ep 14 | Dennis Loxton - From Tree Planter to Shepherd & Sheep Vegetation Management in BC's Forestry

Ep 4 | Liam Parfitt from Freya Logging on Selective Logging and Biodiversity in British Columbia

Sources:

https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-glyphosate-forestry-map/

https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/14_2004

Intro/Outro Song:

Sea - Funeral Culture

In this episode, I sit down with anthropologist and UNBC professor, Dr. Lauren Harding. We discuss culture, its effects on perspective, and how that influences how people see the natural world. How does one's culture change how they feel about wildlife conservation? Tune in to find out.

Angry Inuk Film: https://www.nfb.ca/film/angry_inuk/

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠ on Instagram.

Welcome to part 2. In this episode, we learn what it means for a community to be bear smart. I continue my conversation with Nicole Botten, and we learn about ways you can volunteer with the Northern Bear Awareness Society if you're a local to the Prince George, BC area. I also sit down with Vanessa Uschenko, a researcher from the College of New Caledonia, to discuss a research project that analyzes poop to determine bear health. Find out how picking up both fruit and poop can assist in bear conservation.

Want to become a guest on the show? Know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠ on Instagram.

NorthernBear Awareness Society's Website: ⁠www.northernbearawareness.com⁠⁠

Poop Hotline: (778) 349-4813

Volunteer:

Tourism PG Fall FruitFest

CNCUrban Bear Poop Project

Lets Eat Local PG

Sources:

Bearwise -Fall is Power Eating Time for Bears

SevenGrandfather Teachings

In this episode, I sit down with Biologist Doug Heard, to discuss a population of Woodland Caribou found in North-Central BC. We touch on supplemental feeding, predation by wolves, and how it's possible to track the growth of the Kennedy Siding Caribou herd. With all this covered, there is only one question left to ask. Does he give them silly names? Tune in to find out.

Kennedy Siding Supplimental Feeding Station Live Cam (most active from October - January): https://mlibwildlife.ca/live-cam/

More information on the McLeod Lake Indian Band: https://mlibwildlife.ca/

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and Facebook.

This marks the end of season 01 of Wilder Insights with me, Mike Bryden. Stay tuned for season 02! Coming soon to a podcast platform near you.

Want to be a guest in season 2? Do you know somebody you think SHOULD be a guest in season 2? Or do you have a conservation story of your own you'd like to share? DM me @wilderinsightspod on Instagram or shoot me an email at wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com.

Welcome to the Environmental Encyclopedia. This series aims to bridge the gap between scientific jargon and everyday language, so that we can all be part of the conservation conversation.

In this episode, we cover Biodiversity

In this episode, I sit down with author Katie Stacey to talk about her new book, No Paradise with Wolves. We touch on the public's opinion of Iberian wolves in Northern Spain, letting nature manage itself, and the rewilding of their little farmland known as Wild Finca. What challenges come with letting the land take the reins? Tune in to find out.

Book Bio:
In 2018, Katie and Luke, moved to Asturias, Northern Spain, in search of a home. As conservation storytellers, they were drawn to the story of the Iberian wolf - a much-maligned creature facing relentless persecution right on their doorstep. But as they delved deeper, they discovered that the story was far more complex than they had imagined. While searching, they found a dilapidated old dairy farm, which they purchased with a vision to rewild its surrounding land.

They named their new home Wild Finca and soon realized that promoting coexistence with wolves - and all wildlife - wasn’t about exposing the darker aspects of the relationship but about proving that living alongside wildlife was truly possible by doing it themselves.

Links: 

Get No Paradise with Wolves here: https://www.wildfinca.com/no-paradise-with-wolves 

Learn more about The Wild Shift here: https://thewildshift.com/homepage

Learn more about Wild Finca here: https://www.wildfinca.com/ 

Follow Wild Finca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildfinca

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and Facebook.

Welcome to the Environmental Encyclopedia. This series aims to bridge the gap between scientific jargon and everyday language, so that we can all be part of the conservation conversation.

In this episode, we cover Symbiosis

In this episode, I sit down with FLAP Co-founder and Executive Director Michael Mesure. We discuss bird collisions caused by invisible windows and light in the night, the value of birds in our economy, and why you should care about birds dying. The vast number of bird deaths caused by human architecture will shock you. What can we do to change this? Tune in to find out.

FLAP Canada website: https://flap.org/

Report a collision - Global Bird Collision Mapper: https://www.birdmapper.org/

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and Facebook.

Welcome to the first episode of my new mini-series, Environmental Encyclopedia. This series aims to bridge the gap between scientific jargon and everyday language, so that we can all be part of the conservation conversation.

In this episode, we cover Animal Activity Patterns

In this episode, I sit down with Skye Irwin, an undergraduate student at the University of Northern British Columbia, partnered with the Ruffed Grouse Society. We talk about her undergraduate thesis, how she got started with this project, what grouse are eating in Northern BC, and what her data means for habitat management. We touch on hunting, conservation, a love for nature, and the overlap between all three.

Links: 

Ruffed Grouse Society Website: https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/

Ruffed Grouse Society Canada Website: https://www.rgs.ca/

Grouse Hunters BC Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587189544069#

Grouse Hunters BC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grousehuntersbc?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make a great guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and Facebook.

In this episode, I sit down with North West Invasive Plant Council board members Michelle Miller and Katie Cunningham to talk about invasive species in the North West. We touch on what defines a species as invasive, the impacts of these invaders, and what it means in terms of biodiversity loss. Are some of your favorite wild species actually invasive? Tune in to find out.

Links: 

NWIPC Website: https://www.nwipc.org/

How to identify invasive plants in Canada: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/plant-health/invasive-pests-and-plants/invasive-plants

Want to become a guest on the show? Do you know somebody who you think would make agreat guest? Or want to share a conservation story of your own?

Email wilderinsightspodcast@gmail.com or dm me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wilderinsightspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram and Facebook.