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Yup, you read that right!  Through the Canines Assisting Conservation series, we have discussed how trained dogs assist in the conservation of multiple terrestrial mammals, and now we can add marine mammals to that list as well!  Just as on land, scent-seeking dogs...

There are remarkable examples of how wild canids can also assist us with understanding and preserving our environment.  Being the most widely distributed canine on Earth, foxes provide us a unique perspective on ecosystem health in differing habitats around the world.

Learn how foxes are helping humans monitor ecosystem health.

Conservation is incredibly important to maintaining our environment’s biodiversity and keeping our wildlife at steady population sizes. This is true for both our wildlife on land and in our oceans. After all, our oceans are our planet’s largest ecosystem. We once thought that the ocean was too big to be impacted by our actions, but in recent years we’ve found out that that is just not true.

Why Do We Need to Conserve Marine Life?

Polar bears are at the top of their food chain. They are also considered marine mammals. These bears weigh hundreds of pounds: females can get up to about 1,000 pounds, while males can weigh significantly more than that.

How does climate change impact their survival?

If you’re thinking of adding a new pet to your family, but already have a pet or two in the house, you’re going to need to prepare for the process of introducing your new pet to your old ones. This process can’t be rushed and it’s important to establish safe and...

When it comes to keeping track of the well-being of species, there are two resources you can look at. You check to see how they’re listed under the Endangered Species Act or look at the IUCN Red List.

You’re already familiar with the ESA, but what about the IUCN?

They stand about 24 inches tall and measure 32-47 inches in length from head to tail. They have long, dense fur that keeps them warm in the winter. Their paws, too, have fur on them which helps them move over snow more easily. The long tufts on their ears help them with their hearing. They also have great eyesight.

They are the Lynx of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Mixed breed dogs are dogs whose genetics are a combination of more than a single breed.1 Purebred is a single breed. For example, a purebred labrador retriever will have a family tree of only labrador retrievers. Meanwhile, a mixed breed dog might have a whole combination of different breeds that make up its genetics. 

Is one better than the other?

When we talk about action to help the environment, the words conservation and preservation come to mind. Is there a difference between the two? Nowadays, not really. Conservation and preservation go hand in hand with the goals of environmental organizations. However, when you get down to the specific definitions of these two words, there is an important difference. 

Grizzly bears used to have a wide range throughout the United States and much higher numbers. However, these animals require a lot of space to live – they usually occupy about 600 square miles in their territories. Ultimately as humans spread out and built communities throughout the United States, we encroached on their habitats. That, matched with fear, led to a population number of under 1,000 bears (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) by 1975. That’s when the grizzly bear received protection under the Endangered Species Act.