Love in Their Hearts and Compassion for Animals with Marc Bekoff, PhD

Dr. Marc Bekoff, a distinguished professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, recently joined Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson on "The Pawsitive Post in Conversation" podcast to discuss his latest book, Love in Their Hearts: A Celebration of Animal Emotions and A Guide to Compassionate Action. The engaging discussion also delved into his extensive collaboration with renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and his groundbreaking studies of canids, including dogs, wolves, and coyotes, highlighting his enduring impact on the fields of animal behavior and compassionate conservation.

A New Narrative for Animal Emotions

Bekoff’s new book, co-authored with Jeff Campbell, marks a significant contribution to accessible science literature, specifically targeting teenage readers while resonating with adults. As Zazie Todd noted, Bekoff’s work is celebrated for its compelling blend of scientific rigor and powerful storytelling—a method Kristi Benson lauded as an effective means of teaching and learning. Love in Their Hearts is not merely a simplified version of Bekoff’s earlier seminal work, The Emotional Lives of Animals (2007, 2nd edition 2019), but a distinct volume crafted with more narratives, interactive activities for younger audiences, and personal anecdotes from Bekoff’s own "nonlinear" journey into science. The book’s genesis stemmed from the revision process of The Emotional Lives of Animals, with Bekoff recognizing the need for a similar, yet distinct, offering for a younger demographic. Jeff Campbell, Bekoff’s long-time copy editor and an experienced writer for audiences like Lonely Planet, readily embraced the co-authorship, bringing a fresh perspective suitable for the target age group. Despite its teen focus, the book has garnered widespread acclaim from parents, teachers, and other adults, affirming its universal appeal.

The decision to specifically address teens is a deliberate one, reflecting an understanding of this unique developmental stage. Bekoff explained that writing for teens requires a different approach—one that is "not watered down" but rather more explanatory and expository. The book incorporates sidebars defining complex terms like "ethology" and "anthropomorphism," and features insightful mini-essays from individuals whose early encounters with animals, often during their teen years, inspired careers in animal behavior or conservation. This detailed yet approachable style ensures that profound concepts like anthropocentrism are explained with clear, relatable examples. Complementing the book, an extensive online educator’s kit, developed with the input of Campbell’s daughter Melinda, further extends its educational reach, providing resources for teachers and students to delve deeper into the topics and engage in compassionate action.

Stories of Empathy: Jethro and Grizzly 399

Central to Bekoff’s approach are vivid stories that illustrate complex animal emotions and behaviors. One poignant narrative shared during the interview involved Jethro, a Doberman-shepherd-hound hybrid weighing 90 pounds, whom Bekoff rescued from the Humane Society of the Boulder Valley. Jethro, known for his mellow disposition, once presented Bekoff with a baby bunny, which he had gently carried to his owner, signaling for help rather than acting on predatory instinct. Jethro then vigilantly guarded the recuperating bunny for weeks, foregoing his usual sleeping spot upstairs to remain by the box, demonstrating profound cross-species empathy and paternal care. This incident, later replicated with a baby bird, profoundly underscored Bekoff’s observations of animals’ capacity for compassion and altruism.

Another compelling story featured Grizzly Bear 399, a global icon from Grand Teton National Park, extensively photographed and studied by world-renowned wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen. Mangelsen, a close friend of Bekoff, contributed an autobiographical account of 399 and her four cubs to Love in Their Hearts, with one of his images gracing the book’s back cover. The narrative of 399 highlights the beauty of human-wildlife connection—thousands of people traveled to witness her and her offspring—but also the inherent challenges. Her story, though tragically ending with a fatal car collision, symbolizes the complex interplay between wildlife conservation, human admiration, and the pressures of increasing human presence in natural habitats, illustrating the need for both appreciation and responsible coexistence.

A Nonlinear Path to Pioneering Ethology

Bekoff’s personal journey into the scientific study of animals is as rich and unconventional as his findings. He openly described his early years as "a disaster" in the traditional academic sense, preferring the outdoors to classrooms. Born in Brooklyn, New York, his childhood was marked by an innate fascination with animals—dogs, cats, squirrels, mice, ants—and an intuitive belief in their emotional lives. His parents’ support for his unconventional interests, despite some neighbors’ skepticism, proved crucial. This early conviction formed the bedrock of his later work, particularly his 2002 book, Minding Animals, which explored the dual meaning of "minding" as both caring for animals and attributing minds to them.

His academic trajectory took a sharp turn after a brief, unfulfilling stint in a Ph.D. medical program. A pivotal moment arrived when he sought out Dr. Michael Fox, a distinguished ethologist renowned for his work on canids. Bekoff became Fox’s graduate student, a connection that proved fortuitous. Coincidentally, Fox’s wife, National Geographic photographer Hugo van Lawick (then married to Jane Goodall), would stay with them, offering Bekoff vicarious insights into Goodall’s groundbreaking chimpanzee research. Goodall’s then-radical practices of naming individual animals and discussing their distinct personalities, initially met with academic resistance at Cambridge, deeply influenced Bekoff and Fox. This reinforced Bekoff’s own early conviction that animals possess emotions, intelligence, and sentience, and that individual recognition is paramount in their study.

Bekoff’s doctoral thesis focused on the behavioral development of young canids, including beagles, coyotes, wolves, and their hybrids, rescued animals that provided invaluable comparative data. He significantly expanded upon Fox’s detailed descriptions of canid ethology, particularly in his book The Behavior of Wolves, Dogs and Related Canids, which remains a foundational text. Bekoff’s work highlighted different developmental pathways in social versus less social canids, aligning with the ethological principles laid out by figures like Niko Tinbergen.

Innovations in Comparative Ethology and Dispersal Theory

Following his graduate studies, Bekoff secured a position at the University of Colorado, Boulder, which facilitated his return to field biology. He conducted extensive research on wild coyotes in the Lamar Valley of Grand Teton National Park, and also studied free-ranging dogs near his home in Nederland, Colorado. These field studies solidified his belief in the primary importance of naturalistic observation over laboratory experiments, though he acknowledged the latter’s limited utility.

One of Bekoff’s significant contributions to evolutionary biology and ethology was his "social cohesion theory of dispersal." This theory, which earned him a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 1977, challenged prevailing models of dominance and subordination as the sole drivers of animal dispersal from natal groups. Bekoff’s field observations of coyotes suggested that many individuals left their birth groups not because they were forcibly expelled, but because they struggled to form social bonds with other group members. They might be ignored during play solicitations or subjected to aggressive interactions, leading to a lack of social integration. This theory brought together phylogeny (evolutionary history) and ontogeny (individual development), illustrating how the developmental pathways for social bonding differed between species like wolves (more social) and coyotes or red foxes (less social). The theory continues to stimulate research decades later, with subsequent studies on various species, such as yellow-bellied marmots, offering partial support and furthering scientific inquiry into complex social behaviors.

Furthermore, Bekoff pioneered the application of behavioral profiles for taxonomic classification, particularly in canids. His meticulous film analyses of purebred dogs (like beagles), pure coyotes, pure wolves, and various hybrids (coyote-dog, wolf-dog) revealed distinct behavioral patterns that correlated with their genetic lineage. This groundbreaking work demonstrated that behavior itself could serve as a valuable tool for taxonomy, an approach previously underexplored in mammalian studies. His involvement in studying "New England canids," which were later identified as hybrids of dogs, wolves, and coyotes, further exemplified the power of behavioral taxonomy in unraveling complex species relationships.

Empowering Youth for Compassionate Action

A core message interwoven throughout Love in Their Hearts and Bekoff’s broader advocacy is the empowerment of youth to become agents of change. The book’s subtitle, "A Guide to Compassionate Action," underscores this objective. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program, which emphasizes that "everyone can make a difference," Bekoff and Campbell have developed an online educator’s kit. This comprehensive resource directs readers to pertinent scientific literature and provides practical guidance on how to take action to help animals.

The kit encourages "citizen science" initiatives, such as observing and filming dogs at dog parks to become "citizen ethologists." Bekoff highlighted a success story of a young boy from Kentucky who, after corresponding with Bekoff, built an outdoor enclosure to study mice, challenging the common perception of them as mere pests and revealing their empathy and intelligence. This example epitomizes the book’s goal: to inspire young people to engage directly with the natural world, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to animal welfare. The kit also advises on practical steps for advocacy, from reporting animal abuse to questioning practices at zoos, reinforcing the idea that even small actions can collectively create significant impact. Bekoff emphasized that working for non-human animals inherently benefits humans and their shared environment, a fundamental tenet of Goodall’s philosophy.

Enduring Legacy and Future Horizons

Bekoff’s work consistently champions hope and inspiration. He encourages young readers to never give up and to recognize the vital role they play in protecting the planet’s diverse animal inhabitants. His collaborative spirit with Jane Goodall extends to an upcoming children’s book, Every Elephant Has a Name, which he co-authored with Goodall before her passing. The book, adorned with a captivating illustration of an elephant’s trunk reaching toward the title, continues their shared legacy of fostering compassion and understanding for animals, building upon the themes of their 2002 work, The Ten Trusts.

During the podcast, Bekoff recommended Knowing Wonder, An Elephant Story by Merrill Sapp, praising it as a concise yet profoundly moving account of individual elephants’ lives, trials, and tribulations. This recommendation reflects his consistent focus on the individual experiences of animals, a perspective that has characterized his entire career.

Dr. Marc Bekoff’s ongoing contributions continue to reshape scientific and public understanding of animal emotions, intelligence, and welfare. Through his pioneering research, accessible books, and dedicated advocacy, he inspires a new generation of scientists and activists to engage with the natural world with curiosity, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to compassionate action. His interview on "The Pawsitive Post in Conversation" serves as a powerful reminder of the profound connections we share with animals and the imperative to foster a more compassionate coexistence.