The World’s Most Mis-named, Mis-Heard WhaleA reader of my new book the cultures of free-living animals, Becoming Wild, wrote to me to offer a slight realignment to something I’d…Jun 2, 20202Jun 2, 20202
Look between“Down along the shoreline where my dog has paused, a redwing blackbird calls, then listens, then calls again.May 29, 20201May 29, 20201
T“You can’t know what your dog is thinking — except when you can. You and your dog both know if you’re about to go for a walk or get into…May 7, 2020May 7, 2020
What is cultural?“What is cultural becomes obvious if not everyone does it. Everyone eats; eating isn’t culture. Not everyone eats with chopsticks…Apr 30, 2020Apr 30, 2020
Howling“The howling fills the valley, seeming to my human brain solemn and yearning as a sacred chant in a cathedral. It reaches right into me…Apr 30, 2020Apr 30, 2020
Improbably beautiful“Like flying flames of red and yellow and blue, they transited overhead. From unbroken forest they flew over the wide river, to vast…Apr 26, 2020Apr 26, 2020
Reason enough“Many creatures blow us away at sight, hearing, smell, response time, diving and flying capacities, sonar abilities, migratory and homing…Apr 26, 2020Apr 26, 2020
Environmental Education Could Not Wait Then, and Cannot Wait NowBy Patricia PaladinesApr 22, 2020Apr 22, 2020
Earth Day Then And, Sadly, NowThe first Earth Day, fifty years ago on April 22 hoisted a bright flag of newly awakening concern for the continued beauty of America and…Apr 22, 2020Apr 22, 2020
Understanding“Even Chula — smart as she is — cannot talk. Communicate, yes. But talk, no. ‘When we ask things of animals, they often understand us,’…Apr 16, 2020Apr 16, 2020