Humans and bears have long co-existed, especially in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. Although the relationship and the bear population have deteriorated thanks to human activities, some bears wander into human settlements for food, shelter, and safety. Mother bears bring their young with them near First Nation villages to escape predatory males who won’t hesitate to eat their cubs; males are warier of humans and the mother bears know they’ll stay safe as long as they don’t mess with their human neighbours. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
