City Nature Challenge and Urban Biodiversity in Southern Ecuador

Urban Wildlife Podcast

#Guest Host #Biology #Science #Natural Sciences #Urban Wildlife

39:33

"The basic premise of the event is that hunters hunt rattlesnakes from the surrounding environment all across West Texas, and bring them into the roundup for the weekend. And during the roundup, these snakes are kept in a pit and then, one by one, beheaded and skinned in front of in front of audiences." - Elizabeth MeLampy Elizabeth MeLampy is a lawyer dedicated to animal rights and protection, and her passion for this work shines through in her latest book, Forget the Camel, the Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say About Being Human . To research the book, Elizabeth traveled across the country, immersing herself in a wide range of animal festivals — from the Iditarod dog sled race to the rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. Elizabeth examines these festivals as revealing microcosms of our broader relationship with animals. Whether it's rattlesnake hunts, frog-jumping contests, ostrich races, or groundhog celebrations, these events reflect the ways humans use animals to express cultural identity, community pride, and historical traditions. Yet beneath the pageantry and excitement lies a deeper question: Is our fascination with these spectacles worth the toll it takes on the animals involved? With compassion and insight, Elizabeth invites readers to consider whether there’s a more ethical and empathetic way to honor our stories — one that respects both animals and the traditions they inspire. Please listen, share and read, Forget the Camel. It will be released on April 8th, 2025. https://apollopublishers.com/index.php/forget-the-camel/…

há 3 anos 53:54

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(English/Español) The City Nature Challenge starts on Friday, April 29, and in this episode Billy talks with Angel Mario Hualpa Erazo of Ecuador’s Green Jewel, based in Loja in southern Ecuador. We get to know Loja, hear about Green Jewel’s … Continue reading →

120 episódios

Urban Wildlife Podcast

City Nature Challenge and Urban Biodiversity in Southern Ecuador

Urban Wildlife Podcast

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published há 3 anos

MP3•Home de episódios

120 episódios

#Guest Host #Biology #Science #Natural Sciences #Urban Wildlife

Todos os episódios

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Hawk Watching and Bird Feeding 1:54:22

há 25 weeks1:54:22

1:54:22

Billy and Tony sit down with Rich Conroy of the Militia Hill Hawk Watch and of the Dresher, PA Wild Birds Unlimited to chat about the joys of hawk watching and lots of other birding topics in the conversation. Topics covered include bird feeding, how raptors migrate using updrafts, raptor kettles, the hawk watching spectacle of Veracruz in Mexico, the year Tony was a sandpiper, Kirtland’s snakes and Billy striking out at finding urban Kirtland’s snakes, and how you can be pretty old and still be considered young at a birding club.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Urban Life Rafts for Migrating Birds 35:08

há 45 weeks35:08

35:08

Billy talked with author Scott Weidensaul about the wonders of bird migration and how urbanite humans can make their city habitats better for avian visitors. Topics include shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, outdoor cats, dogs, urban parks, window collisions, artificial light at night, and why bald eagles aren’t trash birds.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Urban Coyotes with Stan Gehrt 1:28:32

há 1 year1:28:32

1:28:32

Tony and Billy talk with one of their urban wildlife heroes, Stan Gehrt, who has been studying Chicago’s coyotes for more than 20 years. Dr. Gehrt has just authored a new book Coyotes Among Us: Secrets of the City’s top Predator . We talk coyotes, mange, how to pronounce “coyote,” coyote predation on deer and woodchucks, which is cuter: fawns or coyote pups, coyote monogamy, how foxes and woodchucks will tell you whether there are coyotes around, urban coyote diets, why coyote attacks (rarely) happen, why coyotes can’t keep away from airports and why they should, why Philadelphia doesn’t have coyotes like Chicago does, the coywolf silliness, and much more.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
It’s Always Groundhog Day 1:05:38

há 1 year1:05:38

1:05:38

Tony and Billy talk about one of their favorite critters, the (urban) woodchuck (a.k.a. groundhog, monax, whistle pig, etc.) and its marmot relatives around the globe. Other topics include yellow-bellied and hoary marmots; when iNaturalist makes it look like a critter has an urban distribution, but it’s really just a park next to a city; WTSHTF hobbyists who kill ratsnakes for no good reasons; groundhog day, eating woodchucks, and coyotes and woodchucks.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Tony and Billy Catch up and Opine on Beavers, Hunting & Conservation, and Land. 1:36:46

há 2 years1:36:46

1:36:46

Tony and Billy got together ostensibly to talk about urban beavers ( Castor canadensis ), but the conversation wandered far and wide, touching on such subjects as hunting and conservation, rowhouse rednecks, groom cakes, Coleman coolers, the absurdity of private land ownership, and how Tony introduced “your mom” jokes to Brazil.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Charismatic Mega Fish Fauna 1:04:58

há 2 years1:04:58

1:04:58

The biggest animal in Philadelphia (and other port cities) isn’t a deer or a coyote, it’s a fish. We talk with biologist Shannon White about Atlantic sturgeon and her research into their depressingly reduced populations . We talk about how the caviar boom of the late 1800s devastated sturgeon populations, and about how their slow life history, channelization, boat traffic, anchor dragging, and exotic species (like blue and channel catfish) work against their recovery. We talk about how people might accidentally or intentionally introduce captive stock of sturgeon into the wild and why that is a terrible idea. Tony blames America’s dysfunctional health insurance system on shad (and how they fed George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge). We also talk about snorkeling in rivers (are smallmouth bass really cuddly?), how fish ladders work, and Billy’s dreams of spear fishing flathead catfish to examine their stomach contents, even though they are too toxic to eat.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Chasing the Urban Exotic Episode Repost (In Memory of Scott McWilliams) 54:09

há 2 years54:09

54:09

In memory of Scott McWilliams , who passed away from brain cancer recently, we are reposting this episode from 2015 . Scott was a great Philadelphian, physician, Billy’s herping buddy and close friend, and an endlessly inquisitive naturalist.

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Harbor Seals to Whales, Everything in Between 42:31

há 2 years42:31

42:31

Andrew Budziak traveled from Vancouver to St. John’s and four cities in between to photograph Canadian urban wildlife for his video series Edge of Frame . Billy and Andrew talk about the wildlife he saw and the humans too. You can watch the videos at his site or on Narcity’s YouTube channel .

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
The Most Beautiful Snake in the Country 36:20

há 2 years36:20

36:20

The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is shockingly beautiful and sadly endangered. It’s small range lies within the San Francisco Bay Area (no surprise there), one of the most densely populated regions of the United States. Billy is joined by Dr. Brian Halstead of the US Geological Survey to talk about the snake and the efforts to keep it from going extinct.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
The Tyranny of Roads (and what to do about it) 35:14

há 2 years35:14

35:14

You might only think of them as paths from here to there, but roads are vast structures whose density largely defines urban areas and determine what can survive in them. Darryl Jones, author of A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road , joins Billy and Tony to talk about the environmental impacts of roads and solutions to them.…

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Post Office Fossils and Mountain Beavers 32:39

há 2 years32:39

32:39

Seattle naturalist and author David B. Williams talks with Billy about the urban nature world of Seattle, including the geology of building stone, backyard eagles, and mountain beavers. (and if anyone out there wants to do a full episode about … Continue reading →

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
What do to about deer? 53:59

há 2 years53:59

53:59

There are too many white-tailed deer for forests in much of eastern North America to regenerate. Should we put them on birth control? Should we let hunters take care of the problem? Is more-intensive culling the solution? Can wolves and … Continue reading →

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Book Talk: Exploring Philly Nature and BEYOND! 35:01

há 3 years35:01

35:01

Billy’s book, Exploring Philly Nature: A Guide for All Four Seasons is out! Buy your copy ASAP! (go ahead, this podcast episode will still be here when you’re done). Tony’s got some book ideas too (and a R.A.M.B.O. album due … Continue reading →

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
City Nature Challenge and Urban Biodiversity in Southern Ecuador 53:54

há 3 years53:54

53:54

Urban Wildlife Podcast

1
Save the Rats 37:13

há 3 years37:13