Stories from the Field

It’s impossible to live in this world without noticing the destruction to the natural world that is happening all around us. The statistics are frightening. In the last 50 years, wildlife populations on average have declined by 60%, We cut down over 15 billion trees each year. Studies show that fewer children than ever know the names of plants and animals. We need your help to reverse the damage to our planet. Give today for Earth Day to make a difference.

Enjoy the first in our new e-guide series about the Caribbean region, EPIC’s “Top 10 Coolest Caribbean Creatures!” E-guides are a fun way to learn, appreciate, and share information about the region’s most interesting natural and cultural heritage. We hope it will inspire YOU to support and respect the unique Caribbean.

A recent expedition to Dominica, as part of EPIC’s ongoing efforts to find new Black-capped Petrel nesting locations, was aided by a sniffer dog named Africa and her handler. Sniffer dogs can be trained to find all sorts of things, including burrow-nesting birds like petrels. Yet, two hundred years ago in Dominica, pet dogs used by colonists led to the disappearance of petrels who were hunted for food. Will dogs that once hurt the petrel population on Dominica be the helpers that discover their elusive nesting grounds so that they can be protected in the future?