Jeff Corwin joined Defenders of Wildlife in Boston to aid peregrine falcon recovery. At Deer Island's wastewater treatment plant, falcons nest on a 130-foot filtration tank. This initiative, a

Jeff Corwin joined Defenders of Wildlife in Boston to aid peregrine falcon recovery. At Deer Island's wastewater treatment plant, falcons nest on a 130-foot filtration tank. This initiative, a collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, provides crucial urban nesting sites.

Once near extinction, peregrine falcons have made a remarkable comeback, with 50 known pairs now thriving in Massachusetts. Corwin and Jacob Malcolm assisted biologists in banding chicks, a vital step in tracking their recovery. This project exemplifies successful conservation, showing how ingenuity and stewardship allow wildlife to flourish in urban environments. Learn more at www.defenders.org/wildlifenation.

Join host Jeff Corwin to explore the remarkable comeback of the American crocodile. Once near extinction with only 100 adults, their population now exceeds 2,000 in South Florida, largely thanks

Join host Jeff Corwin to explore the remarkable comeback of the American crocodile. Once near extinction with only 100 adults, their population now exceeds 2,000 in South Florida, largely thanks to an unexpected sanctuary: the Turkey Point nuclear power plant. Its secure 6,000-acre network of cooling canals provides an ideal nesting habitat, a "nuclear headstart program" supported by Florida Power & Light and Defenders of Wildlife.

Conservationists monitor and tag hatchlings before releasing them, ensuring the health of these apex predators. Protecting crocodiles is vital, as their thriving population signifies a healthy broader ecosystem. Learn more about wildlife conservation at www.defenders.org/wildlifenation.

Host Jeff Corwin travels to Alaska's Cook Inlet to assist conservationists Nicole Whittington-Evans and Suzanne Steinert in monitoring the critically endangered beluga whale population. These

Host Jeff Corwin travels to Alaska's Cook Inlet to assist conservationists Nicole Whittington-Evans and Suzanne Steinert in monitoring the critically endangered beluga whale population. These "great white canaries of the sea" are uniquely adapted to Arctic life, using echolocation and feeding on salmon, but their numbers have drastically declined.

The Cook Inlet beluga population has plummeted by nearly 80% since the late 1980s due to habitat degradation, climate change, and other cumulative human impacts. Conservation efforts focus on reducing these threats and balancing human and wildlife needs to ensure these iconic whales survive for future generations. Learn more about wildlife conservation at www.defenders.org/wildlifenation.

Astrophysicist Jill Tarter, who inspired Jodie Foster's character in *Contact*, dedicated her career to the search for extraterrestrial life. She now directs the Center for SETI Research at the

Astrophysicist Jill Tarter, who inspired Jodie Foster's character in *Contact*, dedicated her career to the search for extraterrestrial life. She now directs the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California.

Her path wasn't easy. After losing a scholarship despite excellent grades, Tarter appealed to Dean Corson. He agreed it was unfair and, after contacting Procter & Gamble, reinstated her funding.

Two decades later, Tarter, serving on President Corson's advisory committee at Cornell, personally thanked him for his belief and support.