Displaying items by tag: Wildlife
Talkin' Pets News - October 3, 2026
Host - Jon Patch / Co-Host - Jasmine the Dog Trainer, Tampa Bay, Florida / Producer - Devin Leech / CRN Producer - Sydney Hubbard
U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation Launch the First National Forests and Grasslands Passport
Free digital experience gives visitors a new way to celebrate their adventures while exploring America's national forests and grasslands
WASHINGTON, D.C. AUG 27, 2026 – The U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) announced the launch of the National Forests and Grasslands Passport, a free digital experience designed to inspire visitors to discover more of America’s national forests and grasslands while earning commemorative digital badges along the way.
Available through the OuterSpatial mobile app, the National Forests and Grasslands Passport transforms every visit into a rewarding experience, allowing visitors to check in and earn exclusive digital badges for each national forest and national grassland they explore. “As an avid fan of the National Park Service Passport Program, I am excited to announce the introduction of the digital U.S. Forest Service Passport Program. More than 164 million people visit our 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands each year bringing back with them stories, family memories and oftentimes plans to return or explore a new Forest Service destination,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Now, millions of people are able to track their visits on their mobile devices through the National Forests and Grasslands Passport, and we are so excited to welcome the next generation of adventurers through this engaging, digital experience.”
Each national forest and grassland has its own specially designed badge, inspired by the iconic Forest Service entrance signs that have welcomed visitors for generations. The artwork reflects the landscapes, wildlife, plants, and other features that define each forest and grassland, creating a collection as distinctive as the places themselves.
"We're proud to partner with the Forest Service on a program that inspires more people to experience our national forests and grasslands," said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President and CEO of the National Forest Foundation. "People care for the places they love, and every new connection helps build a stronger community of people committed to the future of these extraordinary public lands."
Additionally, users will be able to view their total visit number ranked in a leaderboard with other challengers. Visitors are encouraged to log in all their past visits to unlock digital badges to build their own personal collection; however, only check-ins within the geographic coordinates of the national forest or grassland will earn a certified green checkmark.
To learn more about the National Forests and Grasslands Passport and to download, visit: www.nationalforests.org/passport
About the National Forest Foundation
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) believes in a world where caring for forests is second nature, with a mission to transform America’s love of nature into action for our National Forests. As the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, NFF works to reduce wildfire risk, restore land and watersheds, and improve recreation access across America’s 193 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands. NFF’s work is national in scope, local in practice, and generational in impact.
About the U.S. Forest Service
The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
Talkin' Pets News
July 1, 2023
Host - Jon Patch
Co-Host - Jasmine the Dog Trainer
Producer - Kayla Cavanaugh
Network Producer - Jayla Green
Social Media - Bob Page
Talkin' Pets News
September 17, 2022
Host - Jon Patch
Co Host - Jillyn Sidlo - Celestial Custom Dog Services - TN
Producer - Devin Leech
Network Producer - Ben Boquist / Jayla Green
Social Media - Bob Page
Movie Review written by Jon Patch with 4 out of 4 Paws
Where the Crawdads Sing
Sony Pictures Entertainment, 3000 Pictures and Hello Sunshine present a 125-minute, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, directed by Olivia Newman, screenplay by Lucy Alibar and based on the book by Delia Owens with a theater release of July 15, 2022.
DOUG TO THE RESCUE
Season 2
A Curiosity Original Series
Season 2 of the Heartwarming Hit Docuseries Premieres 5 New Episodes
June 16th on Curiosity Stream
Aerial cinematographer, animal rescuer and environmental activist Doug Thron is back with his next-generation infrared drone technology, going from one disaster-torn corner of the world to another, rescuing wild animals, lost puppies, and everything in-between.
Aerial cinematographer, animal rescuer and environmental activist Doug Thron is back for a second season of Doug To The Rescue, allowing cameras to follow along as he uses his cutting-edge infrared drone to locate and rescue animals in desperate situations around the globe. This season, he’s going further than ever, encountering animals in the wild like never before – from the East African Grasslands where the communities struggle to live in harmony with a growing hyena population… to the Dominican Republic… to tornado-ravaged Kentucky towns - working with scientists, experts, and conservationists to pioneer new paths for his cutting edge technology. Whether it’s a wild fox, a newborn puppy, or a pack of urban hyenas, Doug is on a mission to make sure no animal is left behind.
The Curiosity original series Doug To The Rescue is produced for Curiosity by Lone Wolf Media. Executive producers are Kirk Wolfinger and Ezra Wolfinger for Lone Wolf Media. Jorge Franzini, VP of Original Content Development & Programming for Curiosity, also serves as executive producer.
EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS:
Episode 1: Dominican Republic: In our season opener, Doug takes his drone to the Dominican Republic to rescue puppies that have been abandoned in the municipal town dump.
Episode 2: Malawi: At the request of a conservation research group, Doug heads to Malawi in East Africa to help track a pack of hyenas through the urban landscape.
Episode 3: In Malawi, Doug puts his infrared drone to the test, tracking huge fruit bats across the city and pioneering a new path for wildlife medical care.
Episode 4: Greenville, CA: After the Dixie Fire devastates the tiny CA town of Greenville, Doug heads in with his old friend Shannon to rescue the pet cats and wild animals that have been left behind in the burn zone.
Episode 5: Kentucky: In the season finale, Doug takes his drone to the tornado-ravaged towns of Kentucky to rescue the slew of cats and dogs that have been lost in the brutal December 2021 storm.
About Doug Thron:
As one of the most widely published aerial photographers in the country, Thron has been shooting professionally for 3 decades. After using his drones to film the devastation left in the wake of the 2018 “Camp Fires” in Paradise, CA, Doug joined efforts to rescue animals stranded in the burn zone. Driven by his commitment to the environment and his life-long love of animals, Doug now travels the globe, anywhere his unique talents and technology can help.
New Search for Lost Birds Aims to Find Some of the Rarest Birds on Earth
Worldwide effort will support expeditions to find 10 birds that haven’t had a confirmed sighting in a decade or more
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(Washington, D.C., December 17, 2021) A new global search effort is calling on researchers, conservationists, and the global birdwatching community to help find 10 rare bird species that have been lost to science. The Search for Lost Birds is a collaboration of Re:wild, American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and BirdLife International, with data support from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its eBird platform used by birders around the world. It’s an extension of Re:wild’s Search for Lost Species program, which launched in 2017 and has since rediscovered eight of its top 25 most wanted lost plant and animal species. As its name suggests, however, the Search for Lost Birds focuses exclusively on rediscovering enigmas in ornithology. “During the past five years, since we launched the Search for Lost Species, our list of species that could be considered lost has grown to more than 2,000,” said Barney Long, Director for Conservation Strategies for Re:wild. “We never planned to look for all of them alone, but to encourage others to search and develop partnerships to help. Through this new partnership we’ll be able to get more targeted expeditions in the field. If we can find these lost birds, conservationists can better protect them from the threats they face.” The Search for Lost Birds is hoping to harness the collective power of the global birdwatching community to help search for species on the top 10 most wanted lost birds list. Cornell’s eBird platform provides an example of what the global birding community can accomplish: eBird currently has more than 700,000 registered users who have collectively submitted more than 1 billion sightings of birds from around the world. However, none of those observations have included any of the top 10 most wanted lost birds. None of the top 10 most wanted birds have had a documented sighting in the wild in at least 10 years, but they are not classified as “extinct” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The reasons behind their disappearances range from habitat destruction to invasive species. In a few cases, species may have gone missing simply because scientists don’t know where or how to look for them, or don’t have access to their habitats, which may be remote or in places that currently have travel restrictions. Many of the lost birds are native to areas that are rich in biodiversity, but also urgently need conservation efforts to protect their biodiversity. “By working with partners and collaborators from around the world, the Search for Lost Birds hopes to engage the knowledge and expertise of the global birdwatching community to solve these conservation challenges,” said John C. Mittermeier, Director of Threatened Species Outreach at ABC. “By directly reporting sightings and information through eBird, birdwatchers and citizen scientists from anywhere in the world can help us find and learn more about these lost species.” The 10 birds span five continents and a variety of groups of species, from hummingbirds to raptors. Some have recently been lost to science, while others have been lost for more than a century. Two species, the Siau Scops-Owl and the Negros Fruit-Dove, have only ever been documented once, when they were originally described in the mid-1800s and in 1953, respectively. The top 10 most wanted lost birds are:
Two expeditions, led by local and national partners and funded under the Search for Lost Birds partnership, are preparing to head into the field during the next year. The expeditions will focus on the Siau Scops-Owl in Indonesia and the Dusky Tetraka in Madagascar. Expeditions for other species are expected to be underway in the coming year as well. The Siau Scops-Owl was last seen 155 years ago, when it was first described by science, but there have been unconfirmed reported sightings and calls of a bird that potentially matches the description of the owl during the past 20 years. Much of the forest where it was originally discovered has been destroyed, but given how challenging it can be to detect small forest owls, conservationists believe that there is a chance that a small and as-yet-overlooked population may still survive. The Dusky Tetraka was last definitely seen in Madagascar 22 years ago; before that, there had been very few confirmed sightings of the species in the humid understory of the forests of eastern Madagascar. One species on the list, the South Island Kōkako, has already been the focus of an on-going search. The South Island Kōkako Charitable Trust has been leading a community-driven search for the bird for the past 11 years, following up on possible sightings and reports of people hearing what sounds like the bird’s haunting call. They launched a public search campaign in 2017 that has drawn nearly 300 reports of possible encounters with a South Island Kōkako, which, in addition to historic reports, they have rated and mapped. “We are optimistic that the Search for Lost Birds will lead to exciting rediscoveries, but ultimately it’s about conservation,” said Roger Safford, Senior Program Manager for Preventing Extinctions at BirdLife International. “We know that with good conservation efforts, species can be rescued from the brink of extinction, but only if we know where the last populations are. We hope these expeditions will capture people’s imaginations and catalyze conservation.” ABC supports field expeditions to search for these species and works with partners to conserve rediscovered birds. For example, ABC is supporting Brazilian partners’ efforts to recover the population of the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove, rediscovered in Brazil in 2015. Other recent rediscoveries of bird species have fueled hope that expeditions for the top 10 most wanted lost birds will be successful. An expedition in Colombia in March 2021 seeking the Sinú Parakeet, one of Re:wild’s top 25 most wanted lost species, didn’t find the parakeet, but did document dozens of species that had never before been recorded in Cordóba Department. In Indonesia, the Black-browed Babbler, a bird that had only had one documented sighting, was rediscovered after 170 years in February 2021. The data that expeditions for the Search for Lost Birds collect will be shared with eBird. The Search for Lost Birds may also help bring to light previously overlooked records of some of the birds on the top 10 most wanted list that have not been fully documented or confirmed. The Search for Lost Birds will work to follow up on records that may have remained in biologists’ field notebooks and memories, and attempt to collect photographic confirmation that the species still exist. If those sightings can be confirmed, it could help conservation efforts for those species. The rediscoveries of other lost birds have also led to conservation efforts that helped them recover from threats to their survival. The Madagascar Pochard in Madagascar is another example of a lost species that was once lost, but is now increasing in population thanks to conservation efforts following its rediscovery. |
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Photo: Illustrations of the top 10 most wanted lost birds. Top row (left to right): Himalayan Quail, Negros Fruit-Dove, Itwombwe Nightjar, Santa Marta Sabrewing. Middle row (left to right): Vilacamba Brushfinch, Siau Scops-Owl. Bottom row (left to right): Jerdon’s Courser, Cuban Kite, Dusky Tetraka, South Island Kōkako. (Illustrations © Lynx Edicions)
American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. Find us on abcbirds.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ABCbirds).
BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation Partnership: a global family of over 115 national NGOs covering all continents, landscapes and seascapes. BirdLife is driven by its belief that local people, working for nature in their own places but connected nationally and internationally through the global Partnership, are the key to sustaining all life on this planet. This unique local-to-global approach delivers high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.
Re:wild protects and restores the wild. We have a singular and powerful focus: the wild as the most effective solution to the interconnected climate, biodiversity and pandemic crises. Founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. Re:wild launched in 2021 combining more than three decades of conservation impact by Leonardo DiCaprio and Global Wildlife Conservation, leveraging expertise, partnerships and platforms to bring new attention, energy and voices together. Our vital work has protected and conserved over 12 million acres benefitting more than 16,000 species in the world’s most irreplaceable places for biodiversity. We don’t need to reinvent the planet. We just need to rewild it—for all wildkind. Learn more at rewild.org.
EXPLORING AWE-INSPIRING FACTS ABOUT ANIMALS’ EMOTIONAL LIVES AND REVOLUTIONARY NEW WAYS TO SHOW COMPASSION
PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk discusses her latest book ‘Animalkind’ and what lies ahead in our relationship with animals as humanity emerges from the pandemic
INGRID NEWKIRK, Author and PETA Founder
BACKGROUND:
As humanity emerges from the pandemic and returns to offices, in-person attendance at sports events, and evenings out at restaurants, many new questions arise about our relationship with animals. Since Ingrid Newkirk founded PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in 1980, it has become an unstoppable force and the largest animal rights organization in the world. Her latest book Animalkind explores the richness of animals’ lives, their talents, emotions, and intelligence, and how we humans can act to prevent harming them. The book delves into the many ways our modern world is leaving animal exploitation in the dust, from cutting-edge technology that is replacing experiments on animals to the apple, grape and tea leaf leathers and synthetic fibers that are already shaking up the clothing industry and the arrival of animal-free foods from plant milks to veggie “chicken” nuggets made of soy.
Ingrid Newkirk will be available to discuss her latest book, share fascinating animal facts, and explore a vision of the future that will allow humans to create a better world—such as choosing new materials over animal hide, fur, and feathers; giving teachers and students dissection models that can be re-used and do not reduce wild frog populations; healthier and environmentally protective vegan foods that remove the need for slaughterhouses and factory farms; and virtual reality experiences that allow close encounters with animals never possible in the circus.
DID YOU KNOW THESE FUN ANIMAL FACTS?
· While the divorce rate in the U.S. is around 40 to 45 percent, swans, like many birds, are so devoted to their romantic partners that they have a 95 percent rate of staying together for a lifetime.
· Oinks, grunts, and squeals aren’t just arbitrary noises made by pigs More than twenty of these sounds have been identified with specific circumstances, from wooing mates to expressing distress and joy.
· Cows communicate with each other using subtle changes in facial expression; rhinos use a breath language; and frogs have learned to combat street noise by using drainpipes to amplify their calls.
· Chickens form complex pecking orders in which each bird not only understands her ranking but can recall the faces and ranks of more than one hundred other birds.
For more information please visit: www.PETA.org
More About Ingrid Newkirk:
Ingrid Newkirk is the founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the acclaimed author of Save the Animals! 101 Things You Can Do, Kids Can Save the Animals, and The Compassionate Cook. She currently resides in Washington, DC.
26% of all mammals are at risk of extinction
41% of all amphibians are at risk
30% of sharks and manta rays are at risk
13% of all birds species are at risk
WILD VET ADVENTURES:
SAVING ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD
WITH DR. GABBY WILD
The recent UN World Wildlife Day (celebrated on March 3rd) remind us of the urgent need to protect wildlife and raise awareness of challenges facing the world’s wild fauna and flora. Inspire your little nature lover with National Geographic Kids’ WILD VET ADVENTURES: SAVING ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD WITH DR. GABBY WILD where you will travel the planet to meet some of Earth’s most incredible critters through the eyes of adventurous wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Gabby Wild.
Whether it’s pioneering elephant acupuncture, or treating Jane Goodall’s chimps, Dr. Wild’s vibrant conservation mission has taken her around the globe to work with zoos, museums, top conservation organizations, and universities. Her non-profit foundation is dedicated to the protection of the world’s most endangered creatures.
Join Dr. Gabby Wild on Tuesday, March 9th as she discusses:
· Her most unusual patients and scariest vet experience
· Interesting veterinarian care from jaguar dentistry to darting wild monkeys for care
· Her non-profit foundation dedicated to the protection of the world’s most endangered creatures
· Exotic animal behavior from their quirky natural traits to curious facts galore
· How the book covers over 80 animals from regal lions to playful pandas, fearsome Gilamonsters to creepy tarantulas, and more.
Dr. Gabby Wild has traveled the world to save animals. From pioneering elephant acupuncture to treating Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees in Uganda. Kids often recognize Dr. Wild as the veterinarian from Animal Jam Classic (over 130 million registered users) where she has answered questions from children about wild animals. Some of her noted recent collaborations: World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic Society, Jane Goodall Institute, Harvard University, Oxford University, The American Museum of Natural History, The Bronx Zoo, Zoological Society of London, Natural History Museum ( London) , and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris). American-born and raised shortly there after in France and later in Boca Raton, FL, when Dr. Wild is not traveling to save animals, she is an emergency room doctor and veterinary surgeon at The Animal Surgical Center on Long Island. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University, Master’s of Public Heath from the University of Minnesota, and is also a published genetics researche
Lawsuit Filed to Restore Bird Protections
(Washington, D.C., January 19, 2021) A coalition of national environmental groups filed litigation (Case Number: 1:21-cv-00448) today challenging the current Administration's move to eliminate longstanding protections for waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The litigants include American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The move challenges a new rule by the outgoing Administration that greatly weakens essential protections provided by the MBTA. This rule comes at a time when scientists have raised alarm over the loss of 3 billion North American birds during the past 50 years. It would end enforcement against “incidental take” of birds ― the predictable and preventable killing of birds by industrial practices. The Administration seeks to codify this in spite of the fact that last August, a federal judge struck down this opinion. “We urge President-elect Biden to quickly eliminate this threat to migratory birds and act to establish a permitting system to reduce preventable mortality,” said Steve Holmer, Vice President of Government Relations for American Bird Conservancy (ABC). “Congress can support this effort by passing the Migratory Bird Protection Act. “Last fall, a federal court overturned the Administration’s reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that ended decades of enforcement and let industry off the hook for killing birds,” said Holmer. “Today’s lawsuit challenges a federal rule based on the same bad reasoning.” The outgoing Administration continues to argue that the law applies only to the intentional killing of birds and not “incidental” killing from industrial activities — activities that kill millions of birds every year, such as oil spills and electrocutions on power lines. This reinterpretation was first put in place in December 2017 through a legal opinion from the Interior Department. Citing To Kill a Mockingbird, U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni wrote that “if the Department of the Interior has its way, many Mockingbirds and other migratory birds that delight people and support ecosystems throughout the country will be killed without legal consequence.” In rejecting the Administration’s opinion, the court noted that the MBTA makes it unlawful to kill birds “by any means whatever or in any manner” — thus the Administration's interpretation violates the plain language of the statute. “Implementation of this rule will result in the needless killing of birds at a time when many bird species desperately need our help,” said ABC President Mike Parr. “It’s always our preference to solve problems without lawsuits, but the egregious nature of this rule requires nothing less.” |
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### American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. Find us on abcbirds.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ABCbirds). |