Shannon Brennan

3 days ago | newsadvance.com | Shannon Brennan

More than 5 million people took to the streets on June 14 to protest the policies of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Dubbed “No Kings!,” the protest was the largest against any president in the history of our nation.

1 week ago | newsadvance.com | Shannon Brennan

While Michael and I waited at Ivy Creek Park at 6 a.m., Bob Epperson called to say he was late for good reason: he had spotted a greater white-fronted goose off Hawkins Mill Road. These birds are uncommon, especially in early June. The goose was the first of three rare finds for the day — all birds that don’t breed here, but nonetheless were auspiciously in our sights for the 52nd annual Lynchburg Breeding Bird Count, held between June 4 and 10 this year.

2 weeks ago | newsadvance.com | Shannon Brennan

As species around the globe disappear, it’s shocking that humans still kill and take animals for trophies, exotic pets, delicacy foods, luxury goods and traditional medicine. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the world’s biggest and most profitable crime sectors, estimated to be worth up to $20 billion per year. Some 4,000 species of plants and animals are victims of illegal wildlife trade globally, according to the latest World Wildlife Crime Report.

3 weeks ago | newsadvance.com | Shannon Brennan

Last week I saw my first newborn twin fawns, dappled in white on wobby legs. One was with its mother in a field, the other was on the opposite side of the road. I trusted it would figure out how to get back to its mother. It’s the time of year when many animals are launching into the world. Young fawns are among the babies that humans should largely leave alone. Folks freak out when they see a fawn “abandoned” by its mother. Hold up.

1 month ago | newsadvance.com | Shannon Brennan

Like the planet, I’m suffering from burnout. I can barely stand to consume any more bad news about the state of nature and human nature. We are, as far as we know, the only planet that supports the diversity of life we have on this tiny dot in the universe. And yet, we continue to wipe out one magnificent life form after another, including our fellow humans. For my sanity, I have to get outdoors. We all need to get outdoors — our ancestral home.