Mountain lions are slipping through our neighborhoods under the cover of darkness, radically altering their behavior just to avoid us. In this episode, Chris Wilmers, UC Santa Cruz professor of wildlife ecology, pulls back the curtain on the cryptic world of our region's apex predators. From a toothless "old man" puma targeting local livestock to the hidden ways backyard rat poison disrupts local food webs, Wilmers breaks down the true cost of human coexistence. As concrete barriers slice ancient habitats into fragments, local conservationists are fighting back with innovative wildlife crossings. Can these modern solutions truly mend a fractured landscape, or will a dominant male's desperate attempt to cross Highway 17 end in disaster?

Santa Cruz Puma Project👉 https://www.santacruzpumas.org/ 

01:04 - Meet Chris Wilmers: The Puma Guy

03:07 - Impact of Wolves on Scavengers

04:07 - Studying Mountain Lions in Human Landscapes

07:11 - Nocturnal Habits and Human Avoidance

10:10 - How Mountain Lions Choose Their Homes

13:19 - Scavenging and Hunting Near Humans

20:28 - Habitat Fragmentation and Its Effects

36:58 - Mountain Lions During the Pandemic

How does science actually become law? In this episode current Santa Cruz Mayor, Fred Keeley, reflects on his legendary career rewriting California’s ocean protection rules. From body surfing through literal oil slicks as a nine-year-old to passing the historic Marine Life Management Act at the final midnight hour of a governor's term, Keeley shares what it really takes to build a "Blue Wall" for the coast. But with old political battles over offshore drilling and seabed mining rearing their heads once again right here in the Monterey Bay, the stakes have never been higher. As one of our region’s most iconic policymakers prepares for retirement, he passes the baton to a new wave of local coastal leaders who must now defend these waters.

California Ocean Science Trust👉 https://www.oceansciencetrust.org/ 

The Marine Life Management Act👉https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MLMA 

01:16 - Get to Know Mayor Fred Keeley

03:47 - Early Influences and Environmental Awareness

10:14 - Legislative Wins in Ocean Protection

19:19 - Building Coalitions for Marine Life Management

35:15 - Reflections on Monterey Bay's Progress

44:29 - Optimism for Future Ocean Policies

55:15 - Challenges in Environmental Legislation

63:28 - Transitioning Leadership and Future Plans

The California coast is witnessing a silent crash in peregrine falcons that threatens to outpace the devastating legacy of DDT. In this guest-hosted episode, Zeka Glucs, Director of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group leads us into the field to track the invisible killer: bird flu. From the studio to the windswept bluffs of Devil's Slide, we witness the frontlines of an ecological battle against a virus these apex predators simply can't outfly. As Zeka's team monitors this unfolding crisis, we’re forced to confront the fragility of a recovery we once thought was permanent. We’re left to wonder: can these icons survive a second near-extinction, or are we witnessing the final flight of the peregrine on the Santa Cruz coast?

Predatory Bird Research Group & Nest Cams👉 https://predatorybirdresearch.sites.ucsc.edu/nest-cams/ 

Volunteer Opportunities👉 www.californiaperegrines.org/ 

02:04 - Zeka Glucs' Journey into Bird Research

03:33 - Impact of DDT on Raptors

10:14 - Recovery Success Story

16:26 - Captive Breeding Strategies

26:34 - Threat of Bird Flu

35:24 - In the Field: Research Expedition

50:00 - Conservation and Community Involvement

52:05 - Finding Optimism Amidst Challenges

The morning of April 2nd gave Santa Cruz a sharp reminder that the ground beneath our feet is never truly still. In this episode, we use that recent shake to uncover the seismic secrets lurking under our feet with Emily Brodsky, an earthquake scientist and UC Santa Cruz professor. From the legacy of the 1906 disaster to modern earthquakes triggered by geothermal energy and fracking, we explore the chain reactions that link tremors across the globe. As human activity shifts the stress on these deep-seated faults, we investigate if we are unknowingly triggering a cycle we can't stop. Is it possible to predict the next big shake, or will the next shift in the California coast, like the one on April 2nd, catch us all by surprise?

The Brodsky Lab at UC Santa Cruz👉https://seismo.sites.ucsc.edu/emily-brodsky/ 

USGS Earthquake Map👉

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?extent=30.20211,-134.84619&extent=43.53262,-103.20557&magnitude=all&listOnlyShown=true&showUSFaults=true&baseLayer=terrain&list=false 

01:48 - First Impressions of the April 2nd Earthquake

02:44 - Understanding the San Andreas Cycle and History

04:58 - The Mechanics of Faults and Plate Motion

09:20 - How Scientists Measure Friction and Take an Earthquake's Temperature

14:06 - Human-Induced Seismicity: Fracking and Geothermal Energy

23:33 - Global Chain Reactions and Triggering Patterns

36:28 - Comparing Local History: Loma Prieta vs. 1906 and Today

42:12 - Behind the Research: Living and Breathing Earthquakes

Santa Cruz is squeezed between the mountains and the sea, there is simply no more land to expand roads for more cars. Matt Miller, Director of Mobility Transformation at Ecology Action, is navigating this bottleneck through the Complete Streets Initiative: a plan to prioritize people over pavement. From the total makeover of Bay Street to new designs in Capitola, this conversation examines a future where streets function less like speedways and more like shared community spaces. But as the city begins to prioritize safety over speed, will these changes be enough to redefine the local relationship with the road, or will the friction of change prove too much for Santa Cruz to handle?

Ecology Action’s Complete Streets Inititiative👉 https://ecoact.org/our-work/sustainable-transportation/complete-streets

00:00 - Introduction to Mobility Transformation

01:04 - Matt Miller's Role and Background

03:11 - Lessons from the Netherlands

06:29 - The Complete Streets Initiative

14:06 - Infrastructure and Safety Measures

17:10 - Economic and Environmental Impacts

22:08 - Community Engagement and Policy

43:21 - Future Vision for Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz city planners are moving fast, but the Pacific Ocean is moving faster. This week, Tiffany Wise-West, the Sustainability and Resiliency Officer for the City of Santa Cruz, dives deep into the ambitious 30-year roadmap to preserve our iconic coastline. She explains how different combinations of coastal adaptations from nature-inspired tech like “living” sand dunes, harder armoring and maybe even offshore artificial reefs might be utilized to combat rising sea levels as they bring in massive wave energy and swallow our shores. We also explore the possible future of "managed retreat"—the difficult conversation about relocating infrastructure before it falls into the sea. Even with the city attempting to proactively manage our coastline, is a 30-year plan enough to save West Cliff, or is time slipping away too quickly?

City of Santa Cruz Shoreline Adaptation Blueprints👉 https://www.santacruzca.gov/Government/Climate-Initiatives/Resiliency/Resilient-Coast-Santa-Cruz/Shoreline-Adaptation-Blueprints 

00:00 - Introduction to Coastal Resilience Planning

01:04 - The Role of Tiffany Wise-West as a Sustainability and Resiliency Officer

03:11 - Understanding the 30-Year Plan

06:29 - Community Engagement and Policy Development

14:06 - Nature-Based Solutions and Infrastructure

17:10 - Challenges in Coastal Management

22:08 - The Importance of Triggers and Thresholds

43:21 - Future Vision and Community Support

Ever wonder who’s behind the new trails you hike or the wildlife crossings you drive over? Eric Lombardo, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County's Director of External Affairs, joins us to pull back the curtain on how conservation actually works in our backyard. From public farms to wildfire-resilient forests, we discuss how protecting the 831 isn’t just about 'keeping people out,' it’s about inviting the community in. Tune in for a blueprint on how we can save our ecosystems, promote community, and still have a place to play.

00:00 - Introduction to Coastal Land Conservation

01:04 - Understanding Land Trusts

03:11 - Eric's Journey to the Land Trust

06:29 - The Importance of Public Access

14:06 - Challenges and Solutions in Land Management

17:10 - Balancing Biodiversity and Agriculture

22:08 - Sustainable Timber and Forest Management

43:21 - Community Support and Future Vision

Marine ecologist and UC Santa Cruz professor Kristy Kroeker unravels the dramatic chain reactions triggered when the sea gets too hot. From the collapse of California’s iconic kelp forests to the surprising takeover by zombie sea urchins, she reveals how the loss of key predators like the sunflower star can flip entire ecosystems on their head. But this isn’t just a story of loss; it’s also one of action and hope. Kristy spotlights bold, hands-on efforts to bring kelp forests back to life, showing how scientists and local communities are teaming up in creative ways to restore balance beneath the waves. With a deep belief in nature’s resilience, she reminds us that when people come together, real change is possible for our oceans.

00:00 - Threats to Kelp Forests from Climate Shocks

03:17 - Kristy Kroeker’s Research and Career Journey

04:14 - The Blob: 2014-2016 Marine Heat Wave

09:11 - Marine Heat Waves Affecting Kelp Recovery

12:53 - Sea Urchins' Zombie Behavior and Their Role in Kelp Decline

17:23 - Conservation Strategies and Community Involvement

26:26 - Predator Restoration and Ecological Leverage

39:55 - Science and Policy in Ocean Conservation

Jess Morten, Director of Marine Resource Protection with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, dives into how California's Blue Whales Blue Skies program is hoping to transform voluntary vessel speed reductions into a global movement. She shares how recognition drives change, achieving 70% cooperation on the California coast. Learn about how collective action reshapes ocean conservation leading to fewer whale strikes, cleaner air, a quieter ocean, and good business outcomes for large shipping companies.

bluewhalesblueskies.org

00:00 - Introduction to Program and Impact

05:03 - Origins and Initial Program Goals

07:51 - Evolution from Financial to Recognition Incentives

10:22 - Environmental Benefits of Speed Reduction

17:07 - Data-Driven Compliance Strategies

23:07 - Program Growth and Industry Collaboration

32:22 - Multifaceted Benefits for All Stakeholders

42:33 - Future Plans for Global Expansion

In this extra geeky DEEP DIVE episode, Guest Host Eric Palkovacs, Director of Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, sits down with Malin Pinsky, UC Santa Cruz Professor, to explore how human activities drive real-time evolutionary changes in fish populations.

Malin reveals genetic evidence showing rapid alterations in species like Atlantic cod due to fishing. Discover how ancient DNA helps unravel fisheries-induced evolution and the surprising findings that challenge traditional models. Learn about innovative genomic techniques and solutions for sustainable fisheries, crucial for marine conservation and understanding human impact on evolution.

00:00 The influence of fishing and climate change on fish evolution

04:14 How fishing causes evolutionary changes, favoring early maturation

06:54 Evidence of size and age shifts in wild fish populations

10:23 The collapse of Atlantic cod and its evolutionary implications

14:11 Discovering no large genomic changes in cod despite phenotypic shifts

19:13 Implications of evolution for fishery recovery strategies

29:00 Strategies for managing fisheries within a changing climate landscape

35:03 Local research efforts in Santa Cruz focusing on kelp forest adaptation