Alice is currently a student in the pilot class of 2023 for Wild Virginia’s Water Advocates Program. She joins the podcast to discuss her passion for the environment, what issues she hopes to tackle after graduating the program, and why water is essential to life. Alice Frei is a retired veterinarian. During her veterinary career she… Read more
Virginia boasts a rich and diverse natural landscape, home to a wide array of wildlife. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the Commonwealth of Virginia is a haven for nature enthusiasts and animal lovers alike. However, as our state continues to grow and evolve, the delicate balance between human… Read more
You’re driving, and you spot a turtle crossing the road. What should you do? Hey there turtle friend! What brings you to this busy road? As Virginia’s natural habitats become increasingly fragmented, many of our wildlife species are left with no choice but to venture onto roads, putting them at great risk of being injured… Read more
Known as America’s ‘founding river,’ the James River is the lifeblood for much of Virginia’s biodiversity, the provider of water to 2.7 million residents, and acts as an abundant source of recreation for many. Though the James has a tumultuous history of pollution, significant progress has been made over the last several decades to restore… Read more
Wild Virginia is excited to welcome Jessica Roberts, the new face of habitat connectivity in our state! She has a background in endangered species population restoration and has many years of experience working in animal husbandry, community-based conservation initiatives, and environmental education program development. Her research with behavior-based management and conservation translocations has been developed… Read more
About a year ago, on August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed by Congress and signed into law. This landmark legislation intended to tackle inflation, lower costs for Americans, accelerate the deployment of clean-energy technology, combat climate change, and advance environmental justice. As we mark the first anniversary of the IRA, let’s… Read more
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – “forever chemicals” – threatens our health and our environment. Initial studies conducted by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have confirmed PFAS contamination in surface waters, groundwater, and drinking water throughout the state. To address this pollution and public health problem,… Read more
Wildlife must be able to move through our landscapes to acquire resources, find genetically diverse mates, and adapt to a changing climate. Roads, development, and other infrastructure can impede wildlife movement and create dangerous scenarios on our roadways for both wildlife and people. Virginia continues to build a network of connected landscapes and reduce human-wildlife… Read more
This is the second in a series of four blogs including policy papers from the annual publication called “Our Common Agenda,” which is organized by the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) to bring together the many conservation partners from across the state, address pressing environmental concerns, and offer solutions. Wild Virginia led the development of the policy… Read more
This blog is the first of a four-part series reprinting policy papers from “Our Common Agenda,” an annual publication from the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN). This first installment, entitled “Preventing Pipeline Harms,” builds on the hard lessons learned from the fight against the destructive Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) but is designed to look forward, to… Read more