Brian Payton
Author bio
Brian Payton’s Contributions:
When a She-Bear Swims Ashore
One pioneering grizzly—and her two cubs—appear on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Sep 19, 2024 | 1,500 words, about 7 minutes
Neighborhood Digs
On the Pacific Northwest coast—and around the world—community archaeology is helping people reconcile with each other and their history.
Sep 17, 2024 | 3,200 words, about 16 minutes
The Butterfly Redemption
How scientists, volunteers, and incarcerated women are finding hope and metamorphosis through supporting a struggling butterfly.
Feb 27, 2024 | 4,000 words, about 20 minutes
The Naturalist and the Wonderful, Lovable, So Good, Very Bold Jay
Canada jays thrive in the cold. The life’s work of one biologist gives us clues as to how they’ll fare in a hotter world.
Nov 14, 2023 | 3,700 words, about 18 minutes
Giving Bambi the Boot
Our love of deer runs deep. But as their numbers surge and damage mounts, it may be time for a reckoning.
Feb 7, 2023 | 3,300 words, about 16 minutes
The Ingenious Ancient Technology Concealed in the Shallows
Fish traps have a long history around the world, and a vast network in a Vancouver Island estuary reveals generations of ecological wisdom.
Aug 3, 2021 | 3,500 words, about 18 minutes
Where Now Grizzly Bear?
After centuries of persecution, brown bears are showing up in some unexpected places.
Jan 26, 2021 | 3,000 words, about 15 minutes
Taking the Fish Out of Fish Feed
Feeding wild fish to farmed fish is threatening marine ecosystems. Researchers and entrepreneurs believe they’ve found solutions.
Aug 24, 2020 | 4,000 words, about 20 minutes
The Faux Fish Coming to a Restaurant Near You
Alternative fish has arrived on the market. Can it help save marine life and feed a hungry world?
Jun 23, 2020 | 3,500 words, about 18 minutes
Marine Protected Areas: May or May Not Include Actual Protection
Awesome in theory, often messy in practice.
Jan 7, 2020 | 3,200 words, about 16 minutes
Leviathans in the Harbor
More and bigger cruise ships are crowding coastal destinations. When is enough, enough? Who gets to decide?
Aug 27, 2019 | 5,500 words, about 27 minutes
The Oracle of Oyster River
On Vancouver Island, a hermit-priest has spent a lifetime contemplating the natural world. At 95, he has come to believe there is a way we can save it.
Sep 11, 2018 | 2,800 words, about 14 minutes
The Trees That Sail to Sea
In one of nature’s remarkable second acts, dead trees become driftwood and embark on transformative journeys.
Feb 6, 2018 | 3,500 words, about 18 minutes