You’re Gonna Die Out There

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 

An Ultramarathon Support Emu

Hey hey Nature Nerds! This week we're still long-distancing while Jen is on the mainland. But no worries, Jen shares some science news about the largest bat colony in the world and then Megan talks about Kununurra and the tragic, yet inspiring story of Turia Pitt.
Organization to Support: Miriwong Language Nest
http://mirima.org.au/
The Miriwoong Language Nest began as a pilot program in 2013, before being rolled out formally in 2014. The program creates an immersive environment and uses immersion techniques to enable young children to learn Miriwoong and exposes them to new language experiences. It is based on a model developed by the Maori in New Zealand and the Language Nest at MDWg is one of the first to operate for Indigenous languages in Australia.

A Rotating Hide-A-Wall for the Skulls of Your Enemies (or Artifacts)

Hey Nature Nerds! This week, Jen is off island, but we figured it out (kind of) to bring this fun episode where Megan gives you the deets on the Praying Mantis pet Market. Then Jen tells us the tragic story of Michael Rockefeller and the head hunting of Papua New Guinea. Hold on to your heads and enjoy!
Organization to Support:
Wildlife Conservation Society of Papua New Guinea: png.wcs.org
WCS is the longest established international conservation organization operating in Papua New Guinea and has been undertaking conservation work in the country since the 1970s. Today, WCS Papua New Guinea program (WCS PNG) employs more than 60 staff based at four offices around the country. WCS works with local communities on a wide range of conservation issues in a variety of locations spanning coral reefs to mountain rainforests.
WCS PNG’s vision is: “Gutpela sindaun, gutpela solwara, gutpela bus”, which translates to, “Empowered people with healthy forests and seas”. This vision fits within WCS’s global vision which “envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth”.