Fight Like a Girl: A Look at Climate Activist and Women’s Rights Advocate Dianne Dillon-Ridgley
More women need to be involved in making decisions about the use of natural resources and treatment of the environment if we are to ensure a livable planet into the future. Dianne Dillon-Ridley has spent decades providing an example of the work that can be done when a...
Citizen Science Projects You Can Join!
Have you ever wondered how scientists know so much about animal populations and distributions? How do they find and count the species and individuals they talk about in their research? Well, a lot of the knowledge in the scientific community doesn’t come directly from...
Sharks, Rays, and Eggs, Oh My!
I recently helped open a brand new aquarium in Branson, MO called Aquarium at the Boardwalk. Part of my new role includes being an animal “champion” to all the species of small elasmobranchs in the building. That means that I keep records, plan physicals/treatments,...
Bringing Back the Bison
When I moved to Minnesota 18 months ago, I set a lofty goal for myself. I said I would visit each of the state’s 75 state parks. On a typical Saturday morning during the spring and summer, I would pull up the Minnesota DNR list of state parks and pick one to cross...
The environmental concern of road salt
Road salt is not the most exciting topic for many, but for those who live where it snows and roads can become encased in ice, it has been a lifesaver. As a Mayor, I would drive through my city to check our roads during snowstorms to ensure they were safe for morning...
WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH CHRISTMAS TREES?
This past weekend my family and I went out to search for this year's Christmas tree, but it was a bit more difficult than past years. First, there are fairly few Christmas tree farms around where I live and with that, a couple of farms did not even open for the...
The Truth About Artificial Christmas Trees
As the holiday season approaches, many of us participate by decorating our homes. From inflatable reindeer in the yard, to stockings hung by the chimney with care, we all have our own style and tradition. Perhaps the staple of Christmas décor however is the Christmas...
Stuck in Costa Rica: How nature has helped one naturalist cope with COVID-19
Hugo Santa Cruz is a photographer contributing to a new Netflix documentary about nature and coping with COVID-19. A Bolivian currently stuck in Costa Rica due to the pandemic, he has turned his camera lens on the local landscape, which has helped him deal with his...
Biodiversity Hotspots Vs Wilderness Areas
It can be overwhelming to think of all of the various conservation efforts that are taking place or still need to take place around the globe. It can be easy to feel lost in thinking where to begin. However professional conservationists handle this much like you and I...
Snake venom: A possible breast cancer treatment
The southern copperhead – Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix. It’s one of the most recognizable venomous snakes in the United States, second only to the rattlesnake. A common snake with a range from New England to Texas, everyone in the South knows what it is and...
