Ban trophy hunting?

A debate over the future of trophy hunting recently raged in the pages of Science Magazine. Many writers pointed out that effective alternatives to funding and supporting conservation have started to emerge and others made ethical arguments against the practice. Read my piece for The Revelator here.

Responsible Tourism

How divers and other travelers can get responsible tourism right in sensitive locations like The Galapagos Islands. In Alert Diver magazine.

Bringing Wolves Back to Isle Royale NP

The National Park Service began reintroducing wolves to Isle Royale National Park last fall. The island ecosystem needs these top predators. Find out why, and how the reintro is going, in this post for the PBS Nature Blog.

More on Sargassum

Spring and summer 2018 saw yet another Sargassum bloom to the Caribbean, with piles of the stuff floating nearshore and ­covering beaches in Little Cayman, ­Barbados, ­Antigua, and other destinations. Read about why that happened and how divers can work around it.

Coral reef ecosystems in trouble

Coral reefs cover less than 1 percent of the Earth’s surface yet feed and shelter a significant amount of marine life and provide food, coastal protection, and livelihoods for millions of people. Read about the state of the world's coral reefs in this PBS Nature Blog post. Spoiler alert: it isn't pretty. 

When Light Becomes Pollution

Artificial light at night affects wildlife in many ways, including, according to some recent studies, by increasing predation on insects, decreasing amphibian reproduction, and interfering with nocturnal pollinators. Read more about the problem and easy solutions in this PBS Nature Blog post.

Image: NASA Earth Observatory

Blazing trails in Franklin Mountains State Park

Robert Newman designed and built more than 10 miles of trails through the rugged landscape of Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. Read about this extraordinary volunteer in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

The Evolution of Spring Lake

The former Aquarena Springs in San Marcos became The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and now helps educate future stewards. Read about it here. 

Amazon basin's freshwater dolphins in trouble

The Amazon river basin is home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life, including the boto and another freshwater dolphin, the grey or tucuxi. Both species are in serious decline. Read more on the PBS Nature Blog.

Wild and Wonderful Amazon Rainforest Trees

The Amazon basin, almost the size of the continental United States, represents half of the world’s tropical rainforest and 12 percent of its total forest cover. Read about some of its amazing trees in this post for the PBS Nature Blog. 

Tagging Sharks

Scientists use tags to study the abundance and movements of sharks, which helps determine where they most need protection. Divers who see tagged sharks can help support this research. Read more in this piece for Alert Diver.

Get into Citizen Science

Citizen science programs mobilize people from all walks of life to contribute to scientific research. Read how scientists tap the power of the public and ways you can contribute to research and conservation.

Tracking and Tagging Wildlife

Tags, collars, and other tracking methods are essential to wildlife research and conservation efforts. Read more about why, and how scientists take great care with the animals, in this PBS Nature Blog post.

Let your next trip really move you.

Travel can be about the experience, not just the destination. In this piece, find options for custom bike tours, urban kayaking, riding the range, and soaring above the coast.

Better fishing through technology

"You cannot manage what you cannot measure." Electronic monitoring, essentially video cameras on boats, may provide more accurate, cost-effective and timely fish counts on commercial fishing boats. This makes it possible to hook catch limits more closely to actual populations and improve the effectiveness of conservation restrictions. Read more in this piece for Nature Conservancy Magazine. 

Watching wildlife from space

Scientists are using photographs taken from space and a tracking antenna installed on the International Space Station to learn more about the lives and travels of wild animals such as whales, sea turtles and birds. Read more in my Alert Diver article.

Photo courtesy Kate Mansfield, University of Central Florida

The Creosote bush cure

Creosote Bush Salve, made by hand in Alpine, Texas, provides relief from scrapes, scratches and bug bites. Bonus: it smells like rain in the desert. Read about it here.

Florida panthers versus roads

Florida panthers need space and in a state of busy roads and sprawling development, finding that space grows harder every day. In 2018, vehicles killed at least 25 Florida panthers and in 2017, at least 24. Read what Florida agencies and conservation groups are doing to help.

Migratory birds and climate change

Several recent studies show that migrating is about to get a lot tougher for birds. Read why in this piece for Texas Climate News.

Wolves and Willows

The absence of apex predators –those animals at the top of the food chain, including wolves – causes changes that cascade throughout an ecosystem. In the case of Yellowstone, right down to its plants and rivers. Read more on the PBS Nature blog.