You’re Gonna Die Out There

A Sturdy Love Canal Swan Boat

Hey hey Nature Nerds!! This week Megan shares a fun science news about the oldest evidence of fire being used to cook food. Then Jen talks all things Paddlesports! So shimmy up to your campfire or grab your life jacket and enjoy!
Organization to Support: Heroes on the Water
heroesonthewater.org
Based in Allen, Texas
PADDLE. FISH. HEAL.
It’s more than just a tagline, it’s what we do.
Heroes on the Water successfully applies a simple solution to a complex issue surrounding the wellness of physical and mental health of our veterans and first responders. We have countless testimonies from participants who have experienced and continue to experience the restorative power of our events.
Links:
https://wetplanetwhitewater.com/rafting/class-system/
https://boatingindustry.com/news/2022/04/14/wsf-reports-record-number-of-paddlesports-accidents/
https://paddlingmag.com/paddling-business/paddlesports-deaths-2021/
https://www.explore.com/1085086/the-most-dangerous-rapids-in-the-world/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/whitewater-rafting-death-statistics-3969676
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/history-through-our-eyes/history-through-our-eyes-june-13-1978-canoe-trip-tragedy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_Bay_canoeing_disaster
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/22/americas/costa-rica-raft-deaths/index.html
https://abcnews.go.com/International/survivors-deadly-costa-rica-rafting-accident-families-warn/story?id=59366643
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kayakers-recount-deadly-congo-crocodile-attack/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kayaker-drowns-swan-attack-anthony-hensley-illinois_n_1428331
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-kayaker-drowns-after-being-attacked-by-swan
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17736292
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/overview

A Meditative Music Playlist to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Hey there Nature Nerds! This week Jen shares a morbid, but really interesting science news about research on why Bat viruses keep infecting people. Then Megan shares a story about
Organization to Support: Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/serbia/
In Serbia: There was negligible progress in bringing to justice those suspected of criminal responsibility for past crimes under international law. Police enjoyed impunity for ill-treatment. Media workers and NGOs were attacked by the government and pro-government media. Discrimination against women, Roma and other ethnic minorities, LGBTI people and the socially vulnerable was widespread.
Through our detailed research and determined campaigning, we help fight abuses of human rights worldwide. We bring torturers to justice. Change oppressive laws. And free people jailed just for voicing their opinion.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesna_Vulovi%C4%87
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srbsk%C3%A1_Kamenice
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/4/how-vesna-vulovic-survived-the-highest-fall-ever-with-no-parachute-697786
https://www.avsec.com/2002/04/01/interview-vesna-vulovic-how-to-survive-a-bombing-at-33000-feet/
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/vesna-vulovic-flight-attendant-fell-33333-feet-without-parachute-survived-guinness-world-record-8254665/
https://www.thestatesman.com/features/vesna-vulovic-survived-33333-feet-fall-1503079074.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/world/europe/vesna-vulovic-died-flight-attendant-in-plunge.html
https://www.damninteresting.com/vesnas-fall/
https://thewanderingwanderluster.com/bohemian-switzerland-national-park/
https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/jat-flight-367-crash-site/view/google/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/serbia/report-serbia/
https://www.statista.com/chart/19708/known-occasions-where-people-survived-falls/
https://www.rbth.com/history/334627-larisa-savitskaya-survivor-plane-crash
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Chisov
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Alkemade
https://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-fell-and-survived/nathan-gibson
https://shareably.net/flight-attendant-survived-33000-foot-plane-crash/

A Vaudevillian Cane and a lot of Xanax

Hey hey Nature Nerds! This week Megan shares a positive science news for those folks allergic to cats and then Jen talks all things Niagara Falls! Hold on to your hats and cats and stay afloat! Thanks to listener, Jennifer K for this suggestion!!
Organization to support: Land Care Niagara
www.landcareniagara.com
Land Care Niagara (LCN) is committed to creating a healthy and sustainable rural and urban environment, consisting of citizens who are knowledgeable and active in land resource management.
They Rural and Urban tree planting programs: they have been involved in the planting of over 1.2 million trees in the Region of Niagara. This represents about 575 hectares of forest restored to trees. They do woodworking for nature (with kids) and have programs for Species at Risk. You can support by donating, volunteering (if you live in the areas), or order some stuff like pollinator seed balls, wildlife structures, and shirts!
Links:
http://ourniagarariver.ca/niagara-river-ecology/
https://www.newsweek.com/niagara-falls-americas-most-unnatural-wonder-89659
https://www.geneseo.edu/history/love_canal_history
https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/plan-your-visit/niagara-falls-geology-facts-figures/
https://niagarafalls.ca/living/about-niagara-falls/facts.aspx
https://www.niagarafallshotels.com/blog/10-interesting-facts-about-niagara-falls/
https://www.niagarafallslive.com/facts_about_niagara_falls.htm
http://www.infoniagara.com/history/rogerwoodward_miracle.aspx
https://my.nflibrary.ca/HistoricNiagara/DigitalExhibits/TightropeWalkers
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/04/03/niagara-falls-animals-boat/?chrome=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Edson_Taylor
https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/annie-edson-taylor-niagara-falls/3441486-10
http://www.infoniagara.com/niagaradaredevils/bobbyleach.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_gone_over_Niagara_Falls#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20between%2020%20and,over%20the%20falls%20each%20year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Leach
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/7-unfortunate-deaths-at-niagara-falls.html
https://www.history.com/news/a-daredevil-history-of-niagara-falls#:~:text=Twenty%20years%20after%20the%20last,attempt%20at%20a%20nighttime%20crossing.

Bison Detection Alarm for the Elderly

This week Megan and Jen talk landlines before Jen shares her Science News about a Ugandan Ivory Trader being sentenced to life in prison for poaching endangered species. Then Megan talks the American Bison! Thanks to listener Lacy Smith for the suggestion!
1st Organization to Support: Heifer International
https://www.heifer.org/
Ending poverty begins with agriculture
We’re on a mission to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities.
2nd Organization to Support: National Wildlife Federation
https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Bison/Tribal-Lands
Tribal people have a deep historical, cultural, traditional, and spiritual connection to bison that stretches back thousands of years. The National Wildlife Federation and the tribes share a common vision of establishing herds of genetically pure wild bison across the West and restoring Native Americans' cultural connection to bison.
Protecting Wild Bison and Tribal Culture
In 1997 the National Wildlife Federation signed a memorandum of understanding with the Intertribal Bison Cooperative, the first-ever conservation agreement between an environmental organization and an inter-tribal group, to advocate for the return of wild bison to tribal lands.
The political opposition to the return of the bison seemed insurmountable, as bison were seen as a threat to domestic livestock. Overcoming these challenges is a significant conservation milestone and opens the door to moving wild bison onto other large landscapes.
During the last six years, the National Wildlife Federation has partnered with tribal governments and other partners to return more than 250 bison to tribal lands, ensuring tribal connections to bison for generations to come. By bringing bison back to reservations, we are revitalizing a landscape, habitat, and a diversity of wildlife, while also re-establishing Native Americans’ cultural and historic connections to wildlife and the land.
The National Wildlife Federation and tribes share a common vision of returning wild bison to historical habitat and restoring Native Americans' cultural connections to bison. For more than two decades, the National Wildlife Federation’s Tribal Program has worked with tribes to bring wild bison back to their lands and cultures and restore this iconic American species to its rightful home on the prairies.
References:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/woman-gored-by-a-bison-in-yellowstone-national-park-180980195/
https://www.livescience.com/bison-attacks-yellowstone-2022
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/yellowstone-visitor-gored-by-bison-tossed-10-feet-rcna31371
https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S0953-9859(94)71137-2/pdf
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10874911/Woman-25-killed-gored-bison-thrown-10-feet-air-Yellowstone.html
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/american-bison#:~:text=They%20are%20massive%2C%20shaggy%20beasts,land%20animals%20in%20North%20America.&text=Despite%20their%20hefty%20size%2C%20bison,feet%20(61%20centimeters)%20long.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/bison-management.htm
https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-buffalo-and-bison
https://www.nps.gov/articles/bison_badl.htm#:~:text=The%20word%20buffalo%20is%20derived,living%20in%20Africa%20and%20Asia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JExj6O3FWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWABmr48vyY
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/brucellosis.htm
https://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/buffalo-and-native-americans
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/12/how-native-american-tribes-are-bringing-back-the-bison-from-brink-of-extinction
https://www.insidescience.org/news/bison-slaughter%E2%80%99s-destructive-legacy-native-americans

An Anatomically Correct Inflatable Rat Costume

This week, Megan talks Thanksgiving science for a science news to start off November. Then Jen sticks around Halloween a little longer to talk about Rats!Organization to Support: Apopo.orgAPOPO is a non-profit organization with Belgian roots. For 25 years they have tackled landmines or tuberculosis around the world. APOPO provides a low-tech, cost-efficient solution to pressing humanitarian challenges.You can make a monthly or yearly donation, purchase a Hero gift for the animals like PPE, food, supplies – or you can adopt a Hero Rat! Right now you can find out more about Baraka who is a little guys in training. Aw!References:https://www.history.com/news/rats-didnt-spread-the-black-death-it-was-humanshttps://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/rat/https://allthatsinteresting.com/rat-torture-methodhttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42708127https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/04/23/178604711/ratting-out-tb-scientists-train-rodents-to-diagnose-diseasehttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/rats-plague-black-death-humans-lice-health-science#:~:text=In%20cases%20of%20plague%20since,go%20on%20to%20bite%20humans.https://www.mpg.de/18595905/0503-evan-spread-of-black-rats-was-linked-to-human-historical-events-150495-xhttps://www.cam.ac.uk/research/research-at-cambridge/animal-research/what-types-of-animal-do-we-use/rats#:~:text=Why%20do%20we%20use%20rats,test%20drug%20efficacy%20and%20safety.https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/rathttps://www.thesprucepets.com/how-smart-are-rats-3975140#:~:text=Like%20a%20pet%20dog%2C%20a,through%20mazes%2C%20and%20perform%20tricks.https://www.mpg.de/18595905/0503-evan-spread-of-black-rats-was-linked-to-human-historical-events-150495-xhttps://www.victorpest.com/articles/seven-rat-facts-cringehttps://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/facts-about-rats/#:~:text=A%20group%20of%20rats%20is%20called%20a%20'mischief'!https://www.britannica.com/list/abundant-animals-the-most-numerous-organisms-in-the-worldhttps://www.telegram.com/story/sports/outdoors/2020/06/15/exploring-long-history-of-rats/113733132/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rats_in_New_York_Cityhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54747625https://www.scgniagara.com/2018/04/fascinating-rat-facts.htmlhttps://www.mamamia.com.au/cynosure-picosecond-laser/https://www.ranker.com/list/rat-kings-what-are-they/jacob-sheltonhttps://onekindplanet.org/animal/rat/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-doomed-mouse-utopia-that-inspired-the-rats-of-nimhhttps://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094766076/throughline-how-rats-became-one-of-earths-most-successful-mammalian-colonizers

Festivus for the Rest of Us

Happy Halloween Nature Nerds! This week Jen shares some news about how people react to Haunted Houses and then Megan talks folks getting stuck in Chimneys, the plight of Chimney Sweeps, and bats! We hope you enjoy!
Organization to Support: Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation (MTBC)
https://www.merlintuttle.org/
No group of mammals has been more misunderstood, needlessly feared, or intensely persecuted than bats. Relying on a powerful combination of science, field knowledge, and photography, MTBC is helping save millions of bats, protecting public health, economies and worldwide ecosystems by teaching people to live harmoniously with bats through Merlin’s one-of-a-kind experience.
Our mission: inspiring bat conservation worldwide.

A Senior Tiger Retirement Community and a Good set of Dentures

Hey all you Nature Nerds! We're catching you up with another episode this week where Megan starts us off with a science news about uncombable hair syndrome. Then Jen continues the Tiger theme with some wild stories about Tigers in the wild, including some man eaters. Enjoy!
Organization to Support:
World Wildlife Fund India (WWF-India) www.wwfindia.org/
WWF India has been working toward tiger conservation for 50 years.
WWF India’s work for tiger conservation aims to maintain and restore tiger habitats and critical corridors while conserving the tiger and its prey, eventually increasing and stabilizing tiger populations.
Our work involves camera-trapping exercises and line-transect monitoring in all its tiger landscapes to monitor tigers, co-predators and prey base. We also work closely with local communities around tiger habitats to mitigate human-tiger conflict issues.
On July 29th, 2010, all the 13 tiger range countries of the world adopted the declaration to ensure a sustainable tiger population and double within 12 years. Since then, the day has been marked as Global Tiger Day.
LINKS:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger
https://wildlifeday.org/content/factsheets/tiger
https://storyteller.travel/types-of-tigers/
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-world-tiger-day-big-cats-prosper-in-india-worlds-largest-tiger-range-country/389775
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_attack
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-saw-highest-number-of-tiger-deaths-in-2021-1080697.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63193114
https://www.corbettnationalpark.in/corbett-heritage.htm
https://nypost.com/2019/02/02/how-a-lone-irishman-killed-a-terrifying-people-eating-tiger/
https://darktales.blog/2019/05/17/the-champawat-tiger/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Corbett
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/the-story-of-champawat-maneater-an-injured-tigress-that-killed-at-least-436-humans-575671.html
https://curioushistorian.com/jim-corbett-and-the-champawat-tiger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Corbett_National_Park
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/india-tiger-attack
https://ntca.gov.in/monitoring/#monitoring
https://www.hauntjaunts.net/9-times-real-life-beasts-stalked-and-ate-humans/

A Sweet Pair of Shades and a Box of Shiny Rocks

This week Jen and Megan share a heartfelt thanks to Jo Moore for sharing her book, CATNIP - A cat in the family. Then Jen gives us an update on Proudfoot, our Orangutan foster from Orangutan Foundation International. Jen goes on to tell us some cool facts about hummingbirds shared with us by @kelly.inthewoods (thanks Dr. Kelly!). September 3rd was World Hummingbird Day! Then Megan talks all things Otters- another depraved marine mammal that Megan loves to hate. j/k <3
Organization to Support: International Otter Survival Fund
https://www.otter.org/Public/
Check out Jo's webpage: https://www.jomoorephotographer.co.nz/
You can get your own copy of CATNIP - A cat in the family at: https://shophuha.co.nz/collections/books-gifts/products/catnip-acatinthefamilybyjomoore

A Field Guide to ID Sleazy Exotic Animal Abusers

The long awaited episode 77 is here!
This week, Megan shares some good science news about the apparent decline in the world's serial killers. Jen then talks all the ins and outs of Tiger King and the problematic lack of focus on big cats, issues with cub petting, and the exotic pet trade.
Organization to Support: The Wild Animal Sanctuary
wildanimalsanctuary.org
Our Mission -The Sanctuary travels across America and into foreign countries around the world to rescue animals that are suffering. Each rescued animal is rehabilitated and released into large natural habitats with others of their own kind. Their remarkable recoveries lead to a life filled with friendship, love, freedom and joy!
Currently, there are more than 20,000 Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves and other large carnivores living outside of our zoo system in America.

Patreon Episode: Perish-Chute for when you go Para-Lioning

Enjoy this release of our Patreon July 2021 episode- Megan shares the crazy story about the "Man-Eating" Tsavo Lions of Kenya. 
Jen also shares some timely science news about the loudest animals in the world! 
We hope you enjoy this episode! If you are interested in more bonus content like this, check out our Patreon link on the website!
Organization to Support: 
www.TsavoTrust.org