Anthrozoology with Dale Goodner

The study of human-animal interaction, it is a modern interdisciplinary field that overlaps with a number of other disciplines.  A major focus is “quantifying the positive effects of human-animal relationships on either party.’ The American Veterinary medical association calls it a, “mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by their […]

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The Existential Fox

The Existential Fox with Dale Goodner Existentialism, according to German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, is simply the ‘systematic study of existence.’  Giving an animal or plant a name tells us little.  What counts is what part it plays in the synergistic symphony of life. Dale Goodner was a Naturalist at the Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary before […]

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Happy 213th Birthday, Charles Darwin

Happy 213th Birthday, Charles Darwin with Dale Goodner About the Message: As the paleontologist and noted author, Dr. Neil Shubin points out… “If you think feathers arose to help animals fly, or lungs and legs to help ani-mals walk on land, you’d be in good company. You’d also be entirely wrong.” On this anniversary of […]

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The Secret Forest

Thanks to researchers such as Dr. Suzanne Simard and Dr. Steve Sillett, we are beginning to perceive a whole new world, allowing us a glimpse into the depth and complexities of these ancient communities we call forests. In high school, I was involved in a summer conservation program of work and learning. We touched on […]

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Think Globally Explore Locally

In this age of internet, relentless communication, and what Richard Louv calls “Nature Deficit Disorder,” we all need to reconnect with our world; to bridge the growing gap between the web of life, and with the world wide web that occupies cyberspace (and could preoccupy our lives). There are countless ways to connect with the […]

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Hope is the thing with feathers

This line from Emily Dickinson, reflects the motivation behind restoration ecology. We are in the midst of what some call Earth’s sixth mass extinction. On the one hand Homo sapiens is the problem. On the other… we are also the solution. This is a huge opportunity for positive change. Just as depleted prairies and forests […]

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