Sounds Wild

Every year the United States imports about 90 million live animals to sell as pets, everything from frogs and fish to spiders, birds, and lizards. And of those, about some 30% are taken directly out of the wild and shipped to the United States for sale. It goes the other way too: The United States is a major exporter of wildlife for the pet trade, especially wild turtles. In this episode cohost Mike Stark talks with Center scientist Dianne Dubois about her months-long investigation into how the wildlife pet trade is driving species declines around the world. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Southern Arizona's San Rafael Valley is one of the last remaining places where jaguars from northern Mexico can travel into their native range in United States. But that pathway is closing. The Trump administration is blasting through mountains and across grasslands to build a new border wall through this remote and wild landscape. In the newest episode of the Center for Biological Diversity's Sounds Wild podcast, cohost Vanessa Barchfield travels with Southwest Conservation Advocate Russ McSpadden to document the destruction and discuss what it means for the dream of restoring a breeding population of jaguars to their rightful home in southern Arizona. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Florida manatees have had a rough go of it these past few years. Leaking septic systems, fertilizer runoff, and other pollution have choked off seagrass supplies, leaving manatees with less food to eat. In some cases they’re starving to death. Meanwhile, boat strikes and a burgeoning tourism industry are pushing them closer to the brink. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, cohost Mike Stark travels to Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge to talk with the Center’s Elise Bennett about what the future holds for these gentle giants of the sea. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Joshua trees have stood watch over the Mojave Desert for millions of years. But now they face existential threats as climate change, wildfires, and development propel them toward an uncertain future. In this episode Vanessa Barchfield and Conservation Director Brendan Cummings head to Joshua Tree National Park to explore what's happening on ground and why some populations may not survive — at least not without help. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Florida panthers, once widespread throughout the Southeast, are now one of America’s most endangered big cats. Federal officials released a recovery plan nearly 20 years ago but panthers have since lost more than 30,000 acres of habitat, mostly due to development. Meanwhile vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of death. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, cohost Mike Stark travels into Florida panther country with Center senior Jason Totoui for an on-the-ground look at the challenges facing these iconic cats.

Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

A century ago, gray wolves roamed much of California, Oregon and Washington, playing a vital role in these wild landscapes. Urbanization, ranching and government extermination programs wiped them out. But wolves have been making an epic return on the West Coast. In the last 2025 episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with the Center’s Amaroq Weiss about how wolves made their comeback and what the future looks like for this iconic species. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

When it comes to wildlife trade, pangolins hold a dubious distinction: They’re the most trafficked mammal in the world, often sold for their meat or for medicinal purposes. But for these exceedingly cute animals — the only mammals with scales — the tide may finally be turning.

In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Sarah Uhlemann, director of the Center’s International program, about what makes pangolins so unique and how their fate became so entangled with wildlife trade around the world, including in the United States. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Cows don’t belong in rivers and streams, especially in the Southwest’s riparian areas that are home to endangered species like the Southwestern willow flycatcher and the northern Mexico garter snake. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield goes into the field with Chris Bugbee, one of the Center’s conservation advocates, to explore what happens when cows wander into places where they shouldn’t, and how hooves can change an ecosystem.

Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

There are 3 billion fewer birds in North American than there were in 1970 – and now a new report says one in three bird species needs our help. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Mike Stark talks with Jeff Walters of the American Ornithological Society about why things have gotten more difficult for our feathered friends, how we can help, and the deep, long-running connection between people and birds.

This episode features bird song recordings by the National Park Service, Sue Riffe and

Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.

Whales may be the biggest animals on the planet but they’re also some of the most vulnerable. Although whaling is no longer the threat it once was, these giants of the sea are forced to contend with offshore drilling, industrial noise and fast-moving ships traveling through their home waters. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, host Vanessa Barchfield talks with Kristen Monsell, litigation director of our Oceans program, about threats to whales and what it’ll take to secure them a future that’s truly safe. Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.