Rational Animal NEWS
Explore recent articles on what we’ve been up to regarding events and awareness campaigns promoting support for animals in need.
Naturalist, author, artist John Muir Laws and biologist Ramiro Aragon describe the Magnificence of The Great Gray Owl on December’s Episode of Critter Chat
December 1, 2024
Critter Chat hosts and producers Marney Blair and Susan Brandt are delighted to present this ninth episode featuring the Great Gray Owl - the largest owl in California and North America. But did you know a subspecies lives in the Sierra Nevada?
In conjunction with the launch of John Muir Laws' new book, the second edition of Laws Guide to Sierra Birds featuring his painting of the Great Gray Owl on its cover, Critter Chat listeners get to hear directly from this author - a dynamic speaker and educator - about his observations of, and stories about this fantastic bird.
In the second half of the show, biologist Ramiro Aragon of The Institute for Bird Populations (pictured right holding a Great Gray Owl as Katherine Gura of the Teton Raptor Center fits the owl with a transmitter to help understand its use of roadside habitat to prevent car collisions which kill alot of owls), speaks to his direct experience gathering information about the owl’s behavior in the wild - quite special as this elusive bird, known at the “Ghost of the Forest” is very hard to find and observe.
School teachers are encouraged to use Critter Chat for their students. Blair and Brandt are developing teaching notes that include vocabulary words such as “snag” and “subspecies” to bring concepts to students.
Critter Chat is written and produced by Marney Blair and Susan Brandt and edited with Claudio Mendonca at KVMR. Each episode features one species of the many species that live in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains.
Want to learn how to draw owls?
Check out this free, fun, and empowering 2-part owl drawing class taught by John Muir Laws! Free but registration required. $25 suggested donation to support the Wild Wonder Foundation, a nonprofit cofounded by John Muir Laws:
https://www.wildwonder.org/store/p/drawowls
To order a signed copy of the Laws Guide to Sierra Birds AND receive an exclusive bonus sticker of John Muir Laws’ beautiful Great Grey Owl illustration from the cover, visit
https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/the-laws-field-guide-to-sierra-birds/
BONUS: 25 lucky folks who order a signed copy of the book through John Muir Laws’ store (picked at random) will also receive a beautiful embroidered Critter Chat patch!
Image credit: The Institute for Bird Populations
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Featured on KVMR’s Critter Chat
August 21, 2024
Photo: “Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep at Lone Pine” one of six of The Migrating Mural series painted by artist Jane Kim, InkDwell
Grass Valley, CA — A survivor of three ice ages, the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep, with populations documented living 300,000 years ago, is now on the endangered species list. These majestic animals struggle on in small numbers, braving the highest peaks and harshest winters in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. What do we know about these herds of hidden mountaineers? What are the experts saying as to their populations and health?
On September 4 from 6:30 - 7:00pm listen to Critter Chat on KVMR with hosts Susan Brandt and Marney Blair as they learn from some deeply involved experts about this particular subspecies of Bighorn Sheep that live in the Sierras - the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep.
Guests on the show include:
Jane Kim, a visual artist, science illustrator and creator of The Migrating Mural series that memorializes the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep with a network of six public artworks that can be seen along a 120-mile stretch of California highway 395;
Tom Stephenson, a wildlife biologist and the leader of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; and
Dr. John Wehausen, founder of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Foundation.
School teachers are encouraged to use Critter Chat for their students. Blair and Brandt are developing teaching notes that include vocabulary words such as “predation” and conversations about the meaning of species and subspecies.
Critter Chat airs on KVMR the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30-7:00pm. The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep episode will broadcast on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30pm. See critterchat.org for podcast available the day of the show and more links to Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep resources.
Rational Animal Announces
2024 Animal Guardian Award Recipient:
HONK! A production of Sierra Stages
July 31, 2024
Grass Valley, CA — HONK! the musical tale of “The Ugly Duckling” ended it’s highly-acclaimed run this weekend at Sierra Stages with a surprise win - the 2024 Animal Guardian Award (AGA), an award that recognizes people, organizations and businesses who do good deeds for at-risk animals.
The 2024 AGA was presented by Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt to HONK! cast and crew that included lead actor and music director Christi Colombo, youngest cast member Nori Reed, actors Ken Miele and Anthony Andino, and Michele Nesbit, the show’s producer and Sierra Stages executive director.
“We appreciate efforts to help animals, especially in ways that leave an impression and motivate kind actions, says Rational Animal founder, Susan Brandt. “We are so grateful to all the people behind HONK! because with their high-quality production over the past four weeks, they have reached hundreds of people with messages of kindness, like in the scene where actor Robert Rushin (Ugly) gingerly untangles his swan love interest reminding people about the dangers of leaving fishing wire that sadly entangles waterfowl leading to injuries and death.”
HONK! actor Heidi Grass (Cat), who also designed the HONK! program guide, sweetly added a graphic of a rubber duck with a note in the guide that says “Please don’t feed me bread! Bread makes ducks & geese ill, better choices are cut seedless grapes, cooked rice, birdseed, peas, corn, oats and chopped lettuce.”
Congratulations to HONK! for their wonderful and wonderfully kind production!
The coyote, America’s native dog, to be featured on KVMR’s Critter Chat
July 2, 2024
Grass Valley, CA — America’s native dog, the coyote, will be featured on Critter Chat, KVMR’s new, locally produced radio and podcast series featuring the wildlife of the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains. Link to The Union article
Speaking out for the animal kingdom: Critter Chat makes its way to KVMR's airwaves
Jennifer Nobles Staff Writer Apr 3, 2024 , The Union
Photo: Elias Funez
Susan Brandt and Marney Blair are in the business of animals. To clarify, they are passionate animal advocates who want the human species to be more aware of the vast animal kingdom that surrounds them...link to The Union article
Joni Mitchell, Debbie Harry, Audrey Hepburn Prints Help Rational Animal
Cats have reached a new high as Joni Mitchell snuggles her cat at home in a photograph by world-renowned photographer Norman Seeff; Debbie Harry might as well be meowing in this photograph by her bandmate Chris Stein, seen reflected in her sunglasses. Audrey Hepburn in Hollywood with her Yorkie in her bicycle basket. These are just three of the stunning fine art music photography pieces available as fundraisers for Rational Animal.
Each fine art photograph available was graciously donated by the photographer or their estate with the goal of raising funds for Rational Animal.
Inquire with Rational Animal at [email protected] or go to our webstore to browse prints and fine art print notecards.
Rational Animal Unveils Catio and Renovation at Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter
Music Icons STEVIE NICKS, BLONDIE, ROLLING STONE KEITH RICHARDS and
THE WHO'S PETE TOWNSHEND Help With Fundraising
February 23, 2022 - GRASS VALLEY, CA - Rational Animal, a media for at-risk animals charity, got a boost for its work at the Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter with a fundraiser that included the participation of music icons STEVIE NICKS, BLONDIE, ROLLING STONE KEITH RICHARDS and THE WHO'S PETE TOWNSEND who hand-signed fine art prints featuring their images that sold through Rational Animal's sponsor Morrison Hotel Gallery.
Rational Animal's latest project is an animal shelter renovation in the Sierra Foothills, a California community that's survived recent wildfire and snowstorm emergencies. The Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter has been a constant over the years, and with a small staff focused on helping local homeless animals and injured wildlife, it's been hard to take on additional work to make improvements to the shelter.
Rational Animal pitched ideas to the shelter leadership with the goal of increasing animal adoptions. The plan, that included a new outdoor sign, paint, landscaping and a "catio" - a secured, outdoor space for homeless cats, was given the green light. In fall of 2021, Rational Animal volunteers got to work and now the project is ready for a proper unveiling. The "cherry on top" is a mural featuring donors beloved pets painted by world-renowned Swazzle Puppet Studio.
"We are delighted about the renovations, especially the new catio as we can give homeless cats a chance to get accustomed to safely enjoying the outdoors," says Susan Brandt, Founder, Rational Animal. "Catios allow cats to be cats while preventing cats from being a meal for coyote, mountain lions or other hungry creatures that live in this area - and also protecting wildbirds - its a win-win for domestic and wild animals."
Rational Animal Creates, Donates Sign to Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter
by Susan Brandt
As part of their efforts to help promote the Grass Valley Animal Shelter and animal adoptions at the city shelter, Rational Animal produced and gifted a beautiful, locally-made sign now installed on Freeman Lane.
Songbird Rehabilitators of Nevada County Recognized for Saving Hundreds of Birds
by Susan Brandt
World Animal Day is October 4 and to celebrate six veteran songbird home-care rehabilitators, all who volunteer for Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release (WR&R) of Nevada County, will be recognized for their tremendous work in saving the lives of hundreds of songbirds with the Animal Guardian Award.
WR&R wrapped up the 2020 season with well over 400 intakes and over half released back to the wild. Since WR&R’s founding in 1985, the nonprofit organization has taken in and released thousands of local and migrating birds in Nevada County, nurturing their success and thus the success of their offspring that we enjoy in our forests and towns.
Despite an unprecedented challenging season, the Songbird Team volunteers of WR&R received hundreds of injured or orphaned birds beginning in April. Top reasons for intakes were cats and window and car strikes.
Six veteran songbird home-care rehabilitators at Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release are being recognized for taking in more than 400 injured birds, with more than half being released back into the wild.
Our Artists with Animals Fundraiser was a great success at Ron Robinson, Santa Monica!!!
The Kills and Chris Isaak with Rodney Cheered Us On at the Opening this November.
A Big Thanks to the many people who helped with this event, pictured L-R Karen Meena, Peter Blachley, Neal Preston, Ron Robinson, Susan Brandt, Jamie Hince, Alison Mosshart, Timothy White, and Jamie Bucherer
Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart
Chris Isaak and Rodney
WHO?
Yes!! Pete Townshend Signed A Print For This Fundraiser! If you missed it and are interested in this print please contact us.
As a part of this amazing Artists with Animals photography fundraiser, The Who's Pete Townshend stopped by Morrison Hotel Gallery to sign this print of him with his dog Towser and his daughter's toys, a photo generously donated by Barrie Wentzell for inclusion in our fundraiser!
Buy this rare print and help the animals!
In Print at Four and Sons
Rational Animal and Morrison Hotel Gallery Featured in Four & Sons Magazine Where Dogs and Culture Collide Rational Animal has long had the support of the Morrison Hotel Gallery, famous for bringing music photography to fans through its Soho and LA galleries. In this interview, Four&Sons talks to Susan Brandt, founder of Rational Animal and Peter Blachley, co-owner of the Morrison Hotel Gallery, about how these two entities are birds of a feather. Order a copy of Four & Sons at fourandsons.com
Morrison Hotel Gallery & Bookmarc Present Echo Home The Photography of Jamie Hince to benefit Rational Animal
Jamie Hince Show
On Saturday, November 1st, Morrison Hotel Gallery and Bookmarc present ECHO HOME, bringing the photography of indie icon JAMIE HINCE of THE KILLS to their galleries in Los Angeles. Opening events will be held on November 1 at Bookmarc, 8407 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, from 4–6pm. Proceeds from this event benefit Rational Animal—a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness to help at-risk animals. One of their signature community service projects, Mother’s Comfort Project, sews and delivers thousands of beds to animals in shelters. Morrison Hotel Gallery and Bookmarc share a spirit of sophistication, swagger, and authenticity. Both brands have a flair for making trendsetting decisions. Jamie Hince is a like-minded soul with his distinct mix of iconography and intellect. The English guitarist, singer, and songwriter is a genre-defining musician with a signature sensibility that encompasses grit, humor, and sultry expressiveness. As a musician, he’s worked with cult acts such as Fiji, Scarfo, and Blyth Power, but he’s best known for his mesmerizing and sensual indie rock with The Kills, which he co-founded with singer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and fashion icon Alison Mosshart in 2000. To date, The Kills have released three critically acclaimed albums. Hince is one of the rare breeds of artistically fluid musicians that can authoritatively work in other mediums. Prior to the ECHO HOME exhibit, Jamie Hince will be in Los Angeles to play with The Kills Halloween night at the Forum with tour-mates Queens Of The Stone Age. The idea of making this a charity focused exhibition began when Rational Animal charity reached out to The Kills with an opportunity to embrace their inner animal by creating a photo for their latest campaign in support of their signature Mother’s Comfort Project, which sews and delivers beds to homeless animals in shelters in the greater New York City area. Alison and Jamie jumped on board without hesitation creating a beautiful black and white portrait of Alison with his dog Archie curling up in bed, with an homage to Terry O’Neill’s photograph of Bridget Bardot sharing her bed with her dog. This image was used this year to promote fundraising for Mother’s Comfort Project. With the ECHO HOME event, Rational Animal will also debut its original series of notecards Artists with Animals at Bookmarc. This set of 10 cards includes the O’Neill’s Bridget Bardot photo and features legendary artists with animals taken by the A-list of music photographers represented by the Morrison Hotel Gallery. Other celebrities have come together working with Rational Animal to support at-risk animals through our Gimme Shelter events.