What's the first thing you think of when you hear “bat”? Some people might be scared of these flying mammals. But bats do so much for our ecosystems and our economies – and they need our help to overcome declining populations. In this episode of Come Rain or Shine, we interviewed Dr. Kristen Lear, director of the Agave Restoration Initiative with Bat Conservation International (BCI).

BCI works to conduct bat research, protect and restore their habitat, and educate the public on why bats are so important. Kristen talks to us about the biggest threats bats are experiencing, how BCI is restoring agave landscapes across binational migratory corridors, and what people can do in their own communities to help care for these animals – like building bat houses and bat-friendly gardens! She also highlights how bats play a role in ecosystems, economies, and culture; bats feed on agave nectar as they travel, which pollinates these plants that produce tequila, mezcal, and more.

Kristen says she’s always rooted for the “underdog” animals, and she might just get you to root for bats too. So grab a blanket and a cozy drink, and listen to this perfect October episode on bats.

Learn more about Bat Conservation International, the Agave Restoration Initiative Forest Stewards Guild, and gardening for bats.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/gov/hubs/southwest

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? In this episode of Come Rain or Shine, we interviewed Zander Evans and Cody Dems, respectively the executive director and Southwest program manager, of the Forest Stewards Guild. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Guild supports ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry through active stewardship, outreach, and education.

Evans and Dems talk about how they got interested in forestry, the collaborative nature of their work, and the importance of working in and across communities to create change on the ground. They highlight various efforts in forest resilience, fire management, and climate adaptation and discuss the Guild’s collaborative projects with the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC), the Joint Fire Science Program, the 2-3-2 Partnership, and more.

Learn more about the Forest Stewards Guild, the related SW CASC project, and the 2-3-2 Partnership.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/gov/hubs/southwest

Water is one of the most important resources in the Southwest. What can we learn from a climate adaptation professional who has spent decades in this line of work? In this episode of Come Rain or Shine, we interviewed Kathy Jacobs, Professor Emeritus in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. Jacobs was also the founder and director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions at the University, under the Arizona Institute for Resilience.

Jacobs recently retired from her multi-decade career focused on water resources and climate adaptation and assessment. She reflects on highlights and insights from her roles at the local, state, and national levels. Jacobs also teases some upcoming efforts and ongoing projects, proving that this work is never truly over for those passionate about finding practical solutions in a changing climate.

Learn more about Jacobs’ work with the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS) and the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/gov/hubs/southwest

Rock glaciers, ice worms and wolverines, oh my! In this episode of Come Rain or Shine, we interviewed Dr. Scott Hotaling, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences and the Extension Climate Resiliency Specialist at Utah State University (USU). Hotaling leads the USU Climate Change in Mountains Lab, where he explores how mountain ecosystems in the western U.S. and elsewhere are impacted by a shifting climate. Hotaling studies mountain water resources and biodiversity, with an emphasis on rock glaciers – large masses of debris-covered ice that flow downhill.

Dr. Hotaling discussed his diverse work, which includes mentoring students through unique climate adaptation intern and fellowship programs, and translating complex science for the public through creative communication tools. He runs the Mountain Futures YouTube Channel with his team at USU. The channel explores mountain research topics in the western United States and provides a behind-the-scenes perspective into day-to-day life as a mountain scientist.

Learn more about Dr. Hotaling and his research on the USU Climate Change in Mountains Lab website.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/

What are "May Gray" and "June Gloom"? How does the southwestern U.S. monsoon season impact low-level clouds on the California coastline? In this episode, we talked with Dr. Rachel Clemesha, a Project Scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California - San Diego, to help answer those questions. Dr. Clemesha's research focuses on the climate of coastal California and western North America. She examines climate extremes, marine layer clouds and fog, relationships between regional weather phenomena and large-scale climate variability, and explores the consequent impacts on public and ecosystem health.

Dr. Clemesha spoke with us about atmospheric rivers and how they influence wildfire risk, climate modeling for the North American monsoon, and her collaborative projects with a range of land managers and partners.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/

In this episode, we spoke with Roy Petrakis, a Geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Western Geographic Science Center. Roy’s expertise includes using remote sensing and GIS to understand how landscapes in the southwest are changing over time, including shifts in wildfire behavior, vegetation dynamics, and water availability. His research addresses wildfire and fuel treatments, climate variability, watershed management, and more.

He talked with us about the long-standing partnership between the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the USGS, where collaborative research supports land management decisions and riparian restoration efforts. From tracking invasive species like tamarisk to studying wildfire impacts and drought stress, Roy highlights how science and Indigenous knowledge come together to build more resilient ecosystems and support communities.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann, interim director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University and associate professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. Dr. Stevens-Rumann’s research focuses broadly on disturbance ecology, including post-fire forest recovery. She examines how ecosystems respond to disturbances like wildfire, to help improve restoration and management strategies. She shares how fire regimes in the western U.S. are changing, what drives extreme wildfire events, and how the presence of a specific type of tree can help mitigate fire risk.

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/

A snow drought happening across the western U.S. is creating dramatic shifts. In this episode, we spoke with Dr. McKenzie Skiles, Director of the Snow Hydrology Resarch-to-Operations Laboratory (Snow HydRO Lab) and associate professor at the School of Environment, Society & Sustainability at the University of Utah. Dr. Skiles specializes in snow monitoring, modeling and remote sensing, and investigates the impacts of mineral dust and other light-absorbing particles on snow. She explained why changing snowfall and snowmelt patterns have implications for recreation and water security in the west.

To learn more about Dr. Skiles and her research, visit the Snow HydRO Lab webpage here.

If you’re enjoying this podcast, please consider rating us and/or leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, or Podchaser. Thanks!

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USGS Southwest CASC: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/