The Wild Life

Dinosaur feathers reveal traces of ancient proteins

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 - 1h 22min

195 - Feathers, Fossils, and Old Friends with Dr Tiffany Slater

17 years ago, I was a 14 year old attending Connor Middle School in Hebron, Kentucky. Small little town, just across the Ohio River. In 2018, I moved away, back down to Houston, TX. But in the few years I was there, I met and became friends with some of the most amazing people, most of which I lost contact with over the years

Then one day, sometime last year or so, a familiar name popped up on my feed—an old friend, and today’s guest.

On today's episode, Dr Tiffany Slater tells us all about her amazing discoveries and career as a taphonomist! Searching for molecular ghosts in the fossil record, ginger frogs, ancient proteins, learning there’s a difference between aging fossils and dating fossils, feathered connections, archaeopteryx, perspectives, particle accelerators, and of course, catching up…

Dr Tiffany Slater's University of College Cork Profile

Secrets of the Octopus | Book

Contact | hello@thewildlife.blog

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Wed, 03 Apr 2024 - 1h 13min

194 - Secrets of the Octopus with Sy Montgomery and Warren Carlyle

From their three hearts to their ability to transform and communicate, discover the extraordinary world of octopuses with host Devon Bowker and special guest Sy Montgomery, the "octopus whisperer" herself, and octopus expert Warren Carlyle, founder of OctoNation®. In a new adventure, Secrets of the Octopus, they dive deep into the secrets of the ocean's most enigmatic creatures, exploring the latest revelations in octopus research and conservation efforts. With captivating storytelling and stunning visuals, the pair uncover why these creatures are worthy of our admiration and protection.

TRAILER| Secrets of the Octopus on National Geographic and Disney+

OctoNation

Save the Ocean, Save the World Hoodie

Contact | hello@thewildlife.blog

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Sat, 30 Mar 2024 - 44min

193 - The Joy of Working with Wildlife with Lauren Jackson, Queen of the Wild

In this episode, Devon (@devonthenatureguy) sits down with Lauren Jackson (@lauren.queenofthewild on Instagram and HERp_trap_queen on TikTok) to chat about becoming a wildlife tech, woodpeckers, federal jobs, the friction of private land, scicomm and education, battles big and small, and above all else, love for the world around us.

Support the show at www.patreon.com/thewildlife for as little as $1 per month

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 - 1h 00min

192 - Cephalopods and SciComm with Octopus Biologist Meg Mindlin

Today’s episode, social media SciComm, all things cephalopod, their super cool brains, their mind-blowing camouflage, RNA editing, peculiar romances, underappreciated "living fossils", and why octopuses are most definitely not aliens. All with special guest Meg Mindlin, Octopus Biologist

Meg's Website

Meg's Sticker Club

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 - 1h 06min

191 - A World of Wasps with Eric Eaton

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Eaton, author of Insectpedia: a Brief Compendium of Insect Lore, Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect, and more!

Wasps are far more diverse than the familiar yellowjackets and hornets that harass picnickers and build nests under the eaves of our homes. These amazing, mostly solitary creatures thrive in nearly every habitat on Earth, and their influence on our lives is overwhelmingly beneficial. Wasps are agents of pest control in agriculture and gardens. They are subjects of study in medicine, engineering, and other important fields. Wasps pollinate flowers, engage in symbiotic relationships with other organisms, and create architectural masterpieces in the form of their nests. From minute fairyflies to gargantuan tarantula hawks, wasps exploit almost every niche on the planet. So successful are they at survival that other organisms emulate their appearance and behavior. The sting is the least reason to respect wasps and, as you will see, no reason to loathe them, either.

Find Eric on Twitter/X

Check out Eric's Blog

Learn more about Alexandra and her work

Find me on Instagram and TikTok @devonthenatureguy

Contact: hello@thewildlife.blog

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 1h 11min

190 - Revisited: Nature's Vampires with Dr Marie Lisandra Zepeda-Mendoza

This episode, which originally aired on March 24 2018, takes us all the way from Copenhagen to the rainforest of South America, from the belly of the beast to its excrement, as we explore nature’s Vampires.

Our guest is Dr Marie Lisandra Zepeda Mendoza, who had recently finished her postdoc in Copenhagen, Denmark and whose recently published research on vampire bats and how they survive on such a peculiar diet is at the center of this story.

If you'd like to support the creation of this show, the blog, and my science communication efforts on social media, you can do so for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 - 28min

189 - Shark Conservation with Dr Alexandra McInturf

Sharks are in the water. But is the ocean shark-infested, or shark-depleted? I sat down to talk with Dr Alexandra McInturf to find out.

Papers Referenced:

Half a Century of Global Decline in Sharks and Rays

Half a century of rising extinction risk of coral reef sharks and rays

Global catches, exploitation rates, and rebuilding options for sharks

Bycatch Solutions

NOAA Link

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 - 40min

188 - Revisited: Busting Bat Myths and Mistruths with Liz Dengate

Another stroll down memory lane as I revisit the second-ever guest episode of The Wild Life, Myth-Understood: Busting Bat Myths and Mistruths with Liz Dengate from March 6th of 2018.

If you'd like to support the creation of this show, the blog, and my science communication efforts on social media, you can do so for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

This week we focus on an animal that has been the victim of superstition and fear for thousands of years. Despite what many believe, these creatures are extremely important to our everyday lives.

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 - 32min

187 - Revisited: The Mystery of Zebra Stripes with Dr Tim Caro

This was the first ever episode of The Wild Life back in 2017, and it was never supposed to happen. That's right, The Wild Life, as a podcast, was an accident. The result of a series of unfortunate events. But that's life, isn't it? It happens in the most unexpected of ways. I never imagined that this is where I would be today, and I'm so incredibly grateful for the experience and all those who have been a part of it, as guests, as listeners, and as people who believed in the work I was doing and helped me to succeed.

The mystery of zebra stripes has long been a subject of debate, at least since the days of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace. Now, thanks to Dr. Tim Caro, a professor of wildlife biology at the University of California-Davis, we finally have our answer.

Next week, we're exploring Shark Conservation with Alexandra McInturf!

If you'd like to support the creation of this show, the blog, and my science communication efforts on social media, you can do so for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Peace out, rainbow trouts!

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 - 08min

186 - Reintroducing The Wild Life + The Path Forward

It's been awhile. I think it's time for some reintroductions.

I've spent a lot of time over the past year, 6 years really, reflecting on the journey so far, the ups and downs, the struggles, the wins, the change (oh, so much change), and I think I've finally landed comfortably with where I am and what I want this to be. I look forward to sharing my work and the perspectives of scientists from around the world with you every Wednesday as we explore the natural world, the dizzying amount of connections we share to it and each other, and find the courage to protect this planet we call home.

If you managed to get through all 25-ish minutes, thank you so much for your time.

The release schedule for the remainder of the year is as follows:

REVISITED: The Mystery of Zebra StripesShark Conservation with Alexandra McInturfREVISITED: Bat Myths and MistruthsWasps with Eric EatonREVISITED: Nature's VampiresCephalopodcast with Meg MindlinREVISITED: Canary in the Coal MineConversation with Lauren Queen of the WildREVISITED: The Air We BreatheCarnivores with Aiden BranneyREVISITED: Metamorphosis MetaphorConversation with Dr Carly Anne YorkREVISITED: Is Anybody Out There?Animal Ethics with Mad About Animals MagsREVISITED: Ant Farm

If you are able and would like to help sustain and support The Wild Life, you can do so at www.patreon.com/thewildlife for as little as $1 per month

Follow me on social media @devonthenatureguy

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 - 23min

185 - SHORT | Do Ticks Fall From Trees?

Ticks, for as small as they are, strike a disproportionate amount of fear and disgust into our hearts and minds (no matter what good they might do!). Perhaps it’s their arachnid nature. Maybe it’s the fact that they burrow their creepy mouthparts into your body and feast off of your blood. Oh yeah, and there’s Lyme Disease and the ever-increasing red meat allergies. Whatever the reason, one thing’s for certain— nothing quite warps our conceptions of reality like fear.

For example, there’s a common misconception that ticks fall from trees and drop onto unsuspecting victims. Let’s explore the truth behind this myth and shed light on how ticks actually go about finding their hosts.

Have a question you want answered on the show? Send them over to hello@thewildlife.blog!

Have your voice featured on the show when you send a voice memo recorded directly on your phone!

Support the creation of The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 - 05min

184 - SHORT | Can Porcupines Shoot Their Quills?

While it's true you should keep your distance, is there any truth to the tale of a tenacious porcupine shooting their quills?

Have a question you want answered on the show? Send them over to hello@thewildlife.blog!

Have your voice featured on the show when you send a voice memo recorded directly on your phone!

Support the creation of The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 - 06min

183 - SHORT | Why Do Worms Come Out When It Rains?

Unfortunately, we can’t ask the worms directly, but it turns out that plenty of scientists have been asking this very question for, well, a very long time. Today, we explore the leading hypotheses for what drives worms to the surface for these rainy-day adventures.

Have a question you want answered on the show? Send them over to hello@thewildlife.blog!

Have your voice featured on the show when you send a voice memo recorded directly on your phone!

Support the creation of The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 - 06min

182 - SHORT | How a Puffin Problem Led to the Creation of a Star Wars Icon

Star Wars is as much a product of human ingenuity as it is a space odyssey. Just look at how they solved the Puffin Problem.

Have a question you'd like answered on The Wild Life? Email me at hello@thewildlife.blog.

You can even have your voice featured by sending a voice memo recorded directly on your phone!

You can support the creation of The Wild Life for as little as $1 per month at www.patreon.com/thewildlife AND get exclusive perks as a bonus :)

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 - 06min

181 - Wide-Eyed | Why Goats & Cuttlefish Have Weird Shaped Pupils

Who doesn’t love goats? Especially baby ones. Their gait, their bleat, their tiny horns. But there comes a time in any goat interaction I’ve had where we lock eyes and I’m struck with a mixture of curiosity and unease.

On today's episode, why goats have rectangular pupils, their auto-leveling eyes, and a surprising connection to cuttlefish!

Check out Avast! and Planthropology

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 - 09min

180 - Polar Bears and the Illusion of Color

Most would agree that Polar Bears are white, but there's more to the story than things may appear.

Support The Wild Life at https://www.patreon.com/thewildlife for as little as $1 per month

and check out Avast!, a pirate pod from my friend Paul Csomo

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 - 16min

179 - NEWS: New Study Suggests the Dugong is 'Functionally Extinct' in China

According to a paper published on August 24th, 2022 in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the Dugong is now “functionally extinct” in China. These gentle marine mammals, sometimes referred to as sea cows, are one of four species of the order Sirenia. They are the cousins of the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, West African manatee, and the now extinct Steller’s sea cow. These peaceful creatures invoked myths of mermaids and fantasy, existing in Chinese waters for thousands of years. Now, because of habitat loss, food loss, hunting, and collisions with watercraft, the Dugong is now one step closer to meeting the fate of their Steller cousin, and only other member of the Dugongidae family.

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 - 05min

178 - SHORT: Can Other Animals Get Sunburns?

Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a roseate rhinoceros, a bronzed bunting, or a peeling porcupine? Can other animals get sunburns?

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 - 04min

177 - SHORT: Crocodiles Would Bankrupt the Tooth Fairy

Crocodiles are known to be notoriously cantankerous creatures, but what’s less known is this crazy fact about Crocodile teeth–they can go through up to 4,000 teeth in their lifetime!

Support The Wild Life

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 - 04min

176 - SHORT: Why do Hedgehogs have Spikes?

Hedgehogs are easily one of the most unmistakable little critters out there, but how much do you know about them? Sonic is (somehow) a hedgehog, but they’re not really known for being quick on their feet. They’re irrefutably adorable, sometimes pets, and prickly little fellas that roll themselves up like a pill bug, but what else? Where are they native to? What do they eat? Why do hedgehogs have spikes?

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 - 03min

175 - SHORT: Sea Otters Have Secret Skin Pockets in Their Armpits

Yes, you read that right. Move over marsupials, you’re not the only mammals with skin pockets.

Transcript and memes

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 - 02min

174 - Class: The Demo Model (DEMOSPONGIAE)

The basic idea behind the theory of evolution behind natural selection is this: if you get eaten or otherwise die before you’ve had the chance to reproduce then your genes, or traits, don’t get passed on. It’s a dead end. But if you survive… some of your traits get passed down to a new generation. Maybe you were just a bit faster than the other wildebeest. Maybe your coloration gave you better camouflage than some of the rest. Who knows? It could be a ton of things. The point is, over time, these little changes in the proportion of traits will add up to big changes, maybe even entirely new species!

There’s a misconception out there though related to this idea called Survival of the Fittest. That evolution works through the survival of the strongest, fastest, toughest, meanest of the bunch and that things get stronger, faster, tougher, and meaner over time. Thing is, that’s just not true. Problematic associations aside, that idea doesn’t explain the persistence of seemingly useless traits, or the loss of seemingly useful traits, or traits that simply don’t change for millions of years at a time. Sometimes, things persist simply because there’s no pressure for them not to. Sometimes, things just work.

In the case of sponges, there’s the Demo Model

Support the Show at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 - 05min

173 - Class: The Art of Glass (Hexactinellida)

In October 2020, Ocean Exploration Trust’s E/V Nautilus crew discovered something extraordinary—vast clusters of glass sponges

Glass sponges in general are a rare sight, but what made this discovery even more surprising is where they were found.

Beginning just 25 miles off the coast of California, The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is a 1,470 square mile refuge for wildlife as well as a human heritage site.

Regions where the ocean floor can be found just 1,000 feet or so below, like Footprint Ridge and the Piggy Bank, have been pretty thoroughly explored.

But between those two sites lies a valley, plunging another thousand feet below. This time, in late 2020, the scientific team famous for their live-streaming of footage captured by ROV’s, decided to give that valley a closer look.

That’s when the NOAA experts, on Nautilus Live, stumbled upon a vast underwater field of glass.

Finds like these are becoming increasingly important as potential habitats for diverse life and as indicators of ocean health in a changing world.

But, aside from the obviously fascinating fact that these creatures have skeletons made of glass, what exactly are these so-called glass sponges?

That’s what this episode of Class is all about, the art of glass.

Support the Show and this Series at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 - 13min

172 - Class: The Sponge Plunge

This season on Class, a deep dive into the amazing life history of sponges. starting with getting to the bottom of what exactly a sponge is!

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 - 16min

171 - New Series Preview: Class

The first episode is coming this week!

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 - 01min

170 - On Birding and Time

This, like many things lately, is a different type of content from The Wild Life. Who knew you could learn so much about authentic expression and finding yourself from producing a podcast? In this episode, I go out for a birding excursion with a major time constraint and ponder on my relationship with time itself.

If you're listening or reading this, I would really appreciate some feedback or a simple "hello" so that I can get an idea of, well, if anyone is really out there, and if anyone has any thoughts on the show.

You can email me at hello@thewildlife.blog

You can support the show at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Tue, 31 May 2022 - 18min

169 - How to Build an Animal: Body Cavities

So far in the How to Build an Animal series, we’ve been taking a look at the very things that make an animal, well, an animal. In Part One we explored types of symmetry and got oriented with the directions of cephalization. In Part Two we dove into the early development of animals, from fertilization to the gastrula. We also defined the early layers called the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm and hinted at their future by revealing what tissues they are responsible for developing into.

Each of these things has been a branching point on the tree of animal life. Now it’s time for another.

Mon, 23 May 2022 - 08min

168 - Change, Time, & Lessons from a Caterpillar

Time marches on, change is never ceasing, and yet in spite of it all, there are lessons to be learned from even the smallest of creatures, like the caterpillar.

Mon, 23 May 2022 - 15min

167 - The Law of Conservation of Energy, and You

The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, just transferred and transformed.

This means many things, not the least of which is that energy itself, across the entirety of the universe, is finite. There’s only so much that can exist. There’s only so much capacity.

Energy comes in many forms in this universe, just as it does in the universe of your mind and body. We live lives in denial of this inconvenient truth on virtually every scale of human existence. We burn through resources in all their iterations with little thought for what is lost.

But the truth is, it wasn’t lost at all.

It was given away.

Link to the amazingly spectacular video I mentioned

Mon, 16 May 2022 - 05min

166 - How to Build An Animal: Development

There really is no shortage of ways to build an animal, but there are rules to be followed. To truly understand, we have to go to the very beginning. Check out Part 3 of my pre-kick-off series to my new zoology series, Class, and get oriented with the development of animal life.

Support at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Tue, 10 May 2022 - 12min

165 - How to Build an Animal: Symmetry

There really is no shortage of ways to build an animal, but there are rules to be followed—rules with deep roots. Check out Part 2 of my pre-kick-off series to my new zoology series, Class, and get oriented with the basic body patterns of animal life.

Support at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 - 08min

164 - What are Animals?

From the biggest elephant to the littlest fly. From every fish in the sea, to all the birds in the sky.

Animals are all around us.

Dolphins are animals. Just like owls, salamanders, and the anoles in the tree.

A salamander may not look like an owl, and an owl definitely doesn’t look like an elephant. Yet, even still, you can tell they are animals just by looking at them.

But why? What could all of these things possibly have in common? What makes an animal an animal?

What is an animal?

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 - 09min

163 - The Wild Life of the Largemouth Bass

The Largemouth Bass is a freshwater fish of the Black Bass genus named for—you guessed it—its large mouth. The Largemouth Bass is different than the equally common Smallmouth Bass in that it does in fact have a larger mouth. Who knew? Depending on your location, this fish is known by a variety of other names such as green bass, black bass, bucketmouth bass, big mouth bass, largies, or Steven Tyler—the last of which I just made up.

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 - 05min

162 - The Wild Life of the Gulf-Coast Pygmy Sunfish

The Gulf Coast Pygmy Sunfish is found in the coastal river drainages of the Sunshine State, Florida, over to southern Georgia. They can be found in areas of dense vegetation in the drainage portions of rivers along the coasts of where they live off of a diet of small invertebrates such as worms, insects, and tiny crustaceans.

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 - 03min

161 - What's the Fastest Fish?

How fast can fish really be? Faster than you’d probably expect.

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 - 02min

160 - Biohacking Starfish

The Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish may not look like much, but their impact is inarguable. They feed heavily on corals essential for building reefs, the marine equivalent of a metropolis. When these starfish have a boom in their population, the result is a significant loss of live coral. The damage has a higher impact on the reef’s health and resilience than bleaching and disease combined. The incredible diversity of other species dependent on that coral face sharp declines in turn. And it’s not just wild lives that are affected. These reefs act as natural barriers or shields protecting coastal cities. Without those barriers, coastal plants and beaches are at risk. Plus, reef-dependent industries face significant losses. Now, scientists think they may have found a solution---a Trojan Horse.

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 - 04min

159 - The Wild Life of the Splendid Toadfish

If you’ve ever been down to Cozumel, Mexico, you’ve been to one of two places (the other being Glover’s Reef in Belize) on earth where this species of fish can be found. I was there in 2011—on land, granted—but had I gone out snorkeling near any coral outcrops I may have had the opportunity to see the spectacular Splendid Toadfish.

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 - 03min

158 - Shooting a Lion

This episode was originally written in October 2015 as a reflection essay

I acknowledge there is nuance to these issues which are not fully expressed in this essay

In The New York Times article “Shooting a Lion”, University of Cambridge professor and acclaimed writer, Helen Macdonald, details her recent safari at Kruger National Park in South Africa. Her visit was just a few short months after the Minnesota dentist, Walter Palmer, killed Cecil the lion just outside the very same park. Cecil’s killing was met with international uproar and “a white-hot debate over the morality of big game hunting”.

But there’s another kind of exploitative shooting of lions happening, only this kind isn’t with a gun, but a camera.

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 - 04min

157 - Birding by Smartphone

In 1917, the American poet Wallace Stevens published a poem called 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. In truth, 13 is a major understatement, with just as much variation in “why” as their is in “how”. Whether you’re a life “lister”, a casual admirer, or anywhere in between, at some point each and every one of has had a moment where we saw a bird and thought to ourselves, “what is that?”

In the past, this has been the moment that separates the bird watchers from the bird seers. It takes a certain kind of intrigue and drive to tear into a field guide, piecing together evidence to find the right ID, the kind that the casual observer might have balked at. Now, with increasing developments in technology, answering that question has never been easier and more accessible. All you need is a smartphone!

Support at Patreon.com/devonbowker

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 - 06min

156 - More than a Long Neck: 16 Giraffe Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Who doesn’t love Giraffes? Yet, despite their international love and viral webcam footage with thousands tuning in to watch their birth, there is much about them that is unknown by the masses, which is a shame because they are truly fascinating animals with a multitude of fun facts about them. Here are 16 things you probably didn’t know about Giraffes.

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 - 08min

155 - Confronting Climate Change with Jeff Corwin

Jeff Corwin, American biologist and wildlife conservationist, joins Devon on The Wild Life today to talk about his new show on ABC, Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin, in partnership with Defenders of Wildlife, his career's core-wins, lessons learned, finding the right tone, focusing on what matters, finding hope, and confronting climate change.

Jeff is known for hosting Disney Channel's Going Wild with Jeff Corwin, The Jeff Corwin Experience on Animal Planet, ABC's Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin/Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin and Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin.

Support The Wild Life at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 - 47min

154 - The Wild Life of the Deep-Sea Dragonfish

The Deep-Sea Dragonfish, a scaleless eel-like fish about 6 inches in length that lives (you guessed it) in the deep sea, specifically the bathyal zone of the Atlantic Ocean beyond where any light can reach.

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 - 03min

153 - The Life and Impact of Barry Commoner

As one of America’s most influential environmentalists, Barry Commoner devoted his life and career to ecology, awareness, education, and enacting positive change.

Jumpin Boogie Woogie by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 - 05min

152 - The Wild Life of Muskellunge

The Muskellunge, or Muskie, is the largest member of the pike family, and just a large fish all around. Their common name comes from the Ojibwa word maashkinoozhe, which translates to “ugly pike”. But there's a lot more to the muskie.

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 - 03min

151 - The Wild Life of Butterflyfish

Butterflyfish are a group of around 120 species in the Family Chaetodontidae. They can be found in reefs around the world in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Butterflyfish are probably most recognizable for their disk-like body shape, pointed snout, and striking patterns and coloration seen across most species in stark contrast with the blue ocean background.

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 - 02min

150 - Hiking with a Toddler

Your hikes that used to take an hour have just turned into three hours. At first, this is super stressful. Like, I just want to finish my hike. But, do you know what this allows you to do? It allows you yourself to be mindful and to stop and smell the roses. Hiking with a toddler is definitely a different experience, but it doesn't have to be stressful. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Originally written as a blog post by my wife

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 - 06min

149 - The Wild Life of the Little Brown Skink

Skinks are often overlooked, even unknown, (even as I write this, spell-check doesn’t even recognize “Skink” as a word) but there are over 1,500 species of them on the planet. That makes them the most diverse family of lizards.

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 - 05min

148 - The Wild Life of the Northern Crested Caracara

This is the answer to a question asked by a listener who submitted a photo saying “It landed on the road right in front of me and then was flying around and gliding in the wind. What is it? Is it like a vulture?”

Meet the Crested Caracara

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 - 04min

147 - Baby-Blue Bloods

See, horseshoe crabs are a biological oddity, a valuable one at that, especially to drug companies who look to them to ensure medicines and vaccines are safe for all of us.

And the key is in their blood.

Learn More about The Horseshoe Crab

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 - 09min

146 - Horseshoe Crabs with Dr Daniel Sasson

They look like some sort of illustration in a mid-90’s kids book about prehistoric animals, which, if you’re familiar, is a really specific aesthetic that deserves some sort of a revival.

Maybe you’re familiar with the Pokemon called Kabuto. I have to admit, my wife got me a classic Gameboy Color for Christmas, exactly like the one I had when I was a kid, and I’ve put close to 20 hours into Pokemon Gold over the past 4 weeks.

Anyway, the point is that they look like, like many things from the sea, otherworldly, ancient, relics of a bygone era, even straight made up for an animated children’s television and game series that somehow manages to rely on its characters training animals to fight each other as a universe building plot point which is, I mean, problematic, right? I don’t know.

They somehow manage to simultaneously embody the moniker of horseshoe while also looking nothing alike other than a U-ish similarity, just as much as their sight immediately calls to mind a crab while not being one in the slightest. I’m talking about, of course, the horseshoe crab. That’s today’s topic. Horseshoe crabs. Their history, their very nature, and their relationships…to each other, other species, us, and even our health.

Today’s special guest, Dr Daniel Sasson (@Daniel_A_Sasson)

He’s a behavioral ecologist primarily interested in studying the evolution of reproductive behaviors. He did his PhD at Florida working with Horseshoe crabs and now conducts research on them at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and as you’d expect, he’s pretty mch always loved science

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 - 43min

145 - News: Glowing COVID Ostrich Masks!

Yasuhiro Tsukamoto and his team of researchers at Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan have developed a mask that helps detect COVID-19 under blacklight using cells from the Ostrich.

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 - 02min

144 - The Wild Life of the Mola mola

The species is perhaps most well known for their impossible appearance and a hilarious (though not entirely correct) viral internet rant about the uselessness of the species. I personally think they look sort of like the Face of Bo from Doctor Who.

But there's more to them than their shocking appearance.

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 - 06min

143 - The Wild Life of Whale Sharks

Whale Sharks. Are they whale, or are they shark? What do they eat? Where do they live? Just how big are they. All of that and more in today’s short!

Read the transcript and check out helpful visuals

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 - 04min

142 - SHORT: Asian Lady Beetle Mania!

They came in droves but no one knows where from. You find them in your homes and cars, scuttling across your windows. They line the sidewalks and entryways of every building.

They’re Asian Lady Beetles, and they’re back.

Support the Show at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 - 05min

141 - SHORT: This Rare, Sapphire Tarantula is A Beauty From Gooty

MOVE OVER ‘SPIDER PAWS’! THE GOOTY SAPPHIRE TARANTULA’S GALACTIC COLORS ARE STUNNING.

This unexpected beauty from Gooty, a town in Central Southern India, certainly doesn’t have a shortage of names. It’s most commonly referred to as the Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider.

Check out pictures and a transcript of the episode here

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Wed, 12 Jan 2022 - 04min

140 - A New Series, Now in 8D

The Wild Life has a new series, and it's unlike anything you've heard from us before. 8D, immersive, soundscapes of nature and wildlife, coming to your ears DAILY. The best way is to listen with headphones, but as far as however else you listen...it's up to you! Meditation, relaxation, sleeping, studying, curing the winter-time blues, working out for some strange reason, whatever!

Check it out!

https://the-wild-life-8d-sound.captivate.fm/listen

Support the Show at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 - 05min

139 - SHORT: 3 Ways to Get to Mailbox Zero

A lot of people want to be an “inbox zero” kind of person, but what about “mailbox zero”? Ask yourself, how often do you check the mail and how much of it ends up in the bin? Ask my wife, I am obsessive about checking the mail because I never want to miss anything important, but the reality is that 9 times out of 10 the mailbox is packed to the gills with coupons, credit card offers, and a subscription to Seventeen magazine that I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR. Well, today is your lucky day because I’m here to tell you three ways that you can get to mailbox zero.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

https://www.dmachoice.org/

https://www.catalogchoice.org/

Support The Wild Life at www.patreon.com/devonbowker

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 - 05min

138 - Oh, Deer! with Rhiannon Kirton

Deer. They’re everywhere. And our relationship with them is, well, complicated.

Some of us love to look at them, take pictures of them, have them around.

Some people hunt them for sport or for food.

Some only see them as Bambi

Some hit them with their cars…accidentally of course.

Some want them as far away from their yards, crops, or gardens as possible.

Love them or hate them, they’re here to stay. But how much do we actually know about them?

That’s what today’s show is about. Deer. Everything from antler to tail. Starting with, what makes a deer a deer.

Today's guest is Rhiannon Kirton (@Rhiannon_Kirton). She’s a Master's student studying deer, soon to be done and undoubtedly moving on to bigger and better things, and she’s worked in the US, Canada, and Australia. She’s also the co-founder of Black Mammologists Week!

Support The Wild Life atwww.patreon.com/DevonBowker

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 - 58min

137 - Turns Out There’s a Reason for Rudolph’s Red Nose

Not every reindeer has a red nose. After all, that’s part of what makes Rudolph so special—and he’s not alone.

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 - 02min

136 - Why do Elephants have Big Ears?

When you get hot, you sweat.

When Elephants get hot, well, they don’t sweat. So what’s a 13 foot tall and 13,000-pound animal to do? I mean, not only do they produce tons of body heat for their literal tons, but Elephants in general—African and Asian—tend to live in some pretty warm places.

That’s where their big ole ears come in.

Read the transcript and/or the original paper here

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 - 02min

135 - Giraffes Need Friends, Too

What do Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Gilmore Girls, and Giraffes have in common? The women are the stars of the show.

Despite being one of the most popular animals on Earth, giraffes are not studied as much as you might expect. You might think that is totally fine. After all, giraffes are not known for being super complicated creatures. Aside from being adorable, their unique geometric pattern, and having purple tongues, their biggest flex is that they stand as tall as 3 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson's and sometimes fight each other with their Kevin Hart-sized necks. But now, a pair of researchers at the University of Bristol in England, Zoe Muller and Stephen Harris, have discovered that longstanding beliefs about giraffe social lives just do not measure up, and their findings may have huge implications on saving these creatures.

Today on the show, Giraffe Social Circles and What They Mean for Conservation

Support the show here

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 - 06min

133 - Protecting Wolves with Dr John A. Vucetich

An effort to end protections for gray wolves that began with the Florida Man administration has come to fruition under the Biden administration. The species, native to much of the US and Canada, was only recently dropped from the endangered species list. In response, a team of scientists is calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to instead continue safeguarding the species. The primary signatory of this letter is John Vucetich.

For the past 25 years, John Vucetich has been the lead researcher of the Wolves & Moose of Isle Royale project. He is newly the author of Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us about Our Relationship with Nature, a book which meaningfully recounts all that John has learned from these incredible creatures. “A wolf,” John says, “is a living creature, with a perspective, memories of yesterday, an interest in how tomorrow turns out, joys and fears of its own, and a story to be told.”

Today on The Wild Life, why protections were ended, what’s happened since, why hunting wolves is viewed by many as unjustifiable, their social nature and disruptions, the why behind anti-wolf rhetoric, and how protections can be put in place once again.

Support the show at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 - 44min

132 - 2019 Revisit| A Tell Tale Beetle Romance Halloween Special

Happy Halloween! In this super special, unexpected, and therefore super last minute holiday treat (and trick), Devon reads a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's famous short story, A Tell Tale Heart, that you undoubtedly were coerced into reading in high school. In our somewhat modernized version, we get a different, more wildlife oriented ending that turns out to be the most opposite from horror as you can get.

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 - 19min

130 - Electric Fish with Kassandra Ford

In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Dr Kassandra Ford, aka @kassthefish, to dive into the shocking world of electric fishes. We cover the origins of electric fish, how a living creature generates electricity, the shocking (or not so shocking) truth about touching electric fish, the legendary electric eels, communication and interference, and stunning secrets!

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 - 45min

129 - Behind the SCiENcES with Dr Kassandra Ford

Now DR Kassandra Ford, aka @kassthefish on social media, is front and center on this weeks Behind the SCiENcES! Kassandra did her undergraduate research focused on neurobiology and development in zebrafishes under Dr. Mary Halloran. She then worked for a year at TAMU-Corpus Christi under Dr. Frank Pezold. He showed her lab management skills, curatorial skills, and the nuts and bolts of taxonomy and systematics.

Kassandra's path towards a doctorate in Biology, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology took her to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She completed her PhD work under Dr. James Albert, studying the evolution of electric fishes from South America and Africa, and successfully defended her dissertation in summer 2021: Mosaic evolution of craniofacial morphologies in apteronotid and mormyrid electric fishes.

Now Kassandra will be completing a short-term postdoctoral position with Dr. Ole Seehausen at the University of Bern from 2021-2022, prior to starting an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology at George Washington University with Dr. L. Patricia Hernandez!

Learn more about Kassandra at https://www.kassandraford.com/

Support our Show at https://www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 - 26min

128 - Inside the Brilliant Minds of Elephants

Memory, complex social lives, communication, expression, grief, and revenge.

In this episode, we pull from our interview with Lynn Von Hagen to explore the inner machinations of the elephant mind in all of its brilliance.

Support The Wild Life at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 - 10min

127 - African Elephants with Lynn Von Hagen

In this episode, we talk about everything elephants with expert, Lynn Von Hagen! Intelligence, communication, trophy hunting, general biology, staggering stats, sonic superpowers, and so much more!

Lynn is a Conservation Biologist and Presidential Research Fellow at Auburn University conducting collaborative research in the Tsavo Ecosystem of Kenya. She studies African elephant behavior, movement, and the development of community-based coexistence strategies reducing elephant and human conflicts among MANY other varied research interests.

Back when I spoke to her, she was stateside on account of COVID at her home in Nashville Tennesee where she lives with her husband and two cats but is now back in Kenya doing fieldwork.

Lynn is a proud advocate for women and diversity in STEM and non-traditional students.

And is expecting to complete her dissertation in 2022!

Follow her on Twitter @lynnvonhagen1

And check out her website lynnvonhagen.com

Support our show at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 - 49min

126 - Behind the SCiENcES with Lynn Von Hagen

Get to know Lynn before our full episode on elephants later this week

She is a Conservation Biologist and Presidential Research Fellow at Auburn University conducting collaborative research in the Tsavo Ecosystem of Kenya. She studies African elephant behavior, movement, and the development of community-based coexistence strategies reducing elephant and human conflicts among MANY other varied research interests.

Back when I spoke to her, she was stateside on account of COVID at her home in Nashville Tennesee where she lives with her husband and two cats but is now back in Kenya doing fieldwork.

Lynn is a proud advocate for women and diversity in STEM and non-traditional students.

And is expecting to complete her dissertation in 2022!

Follow her on Twitter @lynnvonhagen1

And check out her website lynnvonhagen.com

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 - 17min

125 - When an Elephant Dies

A year or so ago, we did an episode with Dr Diva Amon about the deep sea. One of the topics we covered were Whale Falls--what happens when a whale dies and the ecosystem that follows.

A recent listen back on this episode got us thinking. Whales are the largest animals in the ocean, does anything comparable happen when the largest animals on land die?

Today on The Wild Life, we ask the question, "what happens when an elephant dies?"

In this episode, we also reference a recent article by the Guardian which can be read here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/14/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-roadkill-placed-on-sky-tables-to-lure-rare-birds-of-prey

Support our show at patreon.com/thewildlife

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 - 20min

124 - Platypuses with Dr Gilad Bino

In this episode, we sit down to talk with Dr Gilad Bino all about platypuses!

We talk about their name (and some alternates), conservation efforts, absurd adaptations, forgeries and fakeries, what it's like to be stung by one, and so much more.

Support our show at patreon.com/TheWildLife

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 - 53min

123 - Behind the SCiENcES with Dr Gilad Bino

Before you sit down with us to learn all about platypuses, join us for a glimpse Behind the SCiENcES with Dr Gilad Bino.

Dr Bino is passionate about conservation and science. He seeks to address the ongoing biodiversity crisis by understanding the underlying processes that shape biodiversity at multiple spatial and temporal scales to inform and prioritize conservation management.

Research Activities

Platypus Conservation InitiativeGlobal Standard for Wetland Conservation

Support as at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 - 29min

121 - Dispatches from Somewhere #5| the American Alligator

This is one of my favorite shots I’ve ever managed to capture. I snapped this in 2015 at one of my all-time favorite parks, @brazosbendstatepark near Houston, TX. It sorta looks like she’s lunging forward, but in reality, she was sitting in a quickly flowing stream with her mouth open against the flow, presumably to catch fish or other critters that flowed by.

It’s estimated about 250 alligators over 6 feet long live within the over 1000 acres of water at Brazos Bend, and have been for the last 65 million years. They have practically continuously been there since the days of the dinosaurs. That’s pretty awesome if you ask me.

Want a bunch of random alligator factoids? Give this short a listen!

or read them here: https://thewildlife.blog/2021/08/07/dispatches-from-somewhere-5-american-alligator/

Support us at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 - 03min

119 - Dispatch from Somewhere #4| Antheraea polyphemus

Read the post and see the picture here: https://thewildlife.blog/2021/08/04/dispatches-from-somewhere-4-antheraea-polyphemus/

Support The Wild Life at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 - 01min

117 - Bears with Brogan Holcombe

In this episode, Devon and Richard sit down with Brogan Holcombe to talk all about bears!

Outline:

Bear encounter storiesAre all black bears black?Black bear range in North AmericaHow many species of bearHow large black bears getDiet (through life and year)BehaviorHibernation Cubs (how many? How long do they stay with mom? Etc)Interactions with people (becoming comfortable around people)Mitigating issues and fostering coexistence Growler BearsBrogans research

Brogan is a Master’s Student working in the Wildlife Habitat & Population Analysis Lab at Virginia Tech

She’s also the one behind #SundayScientistShoutout on Twitter which she does every week for scientists or STEM activists from underrepresented groups.

Follow Brogan @Brogan_Holcombe or look up her #bearseyeview for awesome bear videos!

https://broganholcombe.wixsite.com/home

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 - 45min

116 - Behind the SCiENcES with Brogan Holcombe

Brogan is a Master’s Student working in the Wildlife Habitat & Population Analysis Lab at Virginia Tech

She’s also the one behind #SundayScientistShoutout on Twitter which she does every week for scientists or STEM activists from underrepresented groups.

Follow Brogan @Brogan_Holcombe or look up her #bearseyeview for awesome bear videos!

https://broganholcombe.wixsite.com/home

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 - 12min

115 - Carnivore Ecology with Dr Mariela Gantchoff

In this episode, Devon sits down with Carnivore Ecologist Dr Mariela Gantchoff to talk about

What defines carnivoresHow their population sizes compare with those of their preyHow carnivores impact their ecosystem and what would their ecosystems look like without their presence, specifically bears and cougarsBasic biology, diet, and behavior Impacts on populationsHow there behavior in biology influence by humansSources of conflictHow people can be more tolerant so that the species can persistHow we need to change our behaviorHow to recolonize do you species with human wildlife conflicts in mind

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 - 42min

114 - Behind the 𝗦𝗖i𝗘𝗡c𝗘𝗦 with Dr Mariela Gantchoff

Meet this week’s guest before the episode airs!

She is an ecologist at the intersection of theoretical and applied ecology, currently working on landscape and quantitative ecology in relation to the conservation and management of terrestrial wildlife. A lot of her current research involves working to understand wildlife use of natural and developed landscapes, range expansion of recolonizing species, how sex-specific differences can influence conservation and management, and the interactions between humans and wildlife. Specifically, she often works on species distributions, landscape connectivity, population, and metapopulation dynamics, carnivore ecology and behavior, applied conservation science, community ecology, and citizen/community science.

Dr Gantchoff is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Global Wildlife Conservation Center (formerly Camp Fire Program in Wildlife Conservation), at the State University of New York where she investigates aspects of population and the spatial ecology of recolonizing black bears in human-modified landscapes, in collaboration with theMissouri Black Bear Project and Missouri Department of Conservation. In addition, she also researches cougar range expansion in the eastern USA, and supports researchers investigating wolf potential distribution and mortality sources in North America, among other topics. Dr Gantchoff is also a part ofthe Jaguar Network, an NGO focused on the conservation and restoration of the jaguar, as well as its habitats, in northern Argentina.

Her past research and projects involve a variety of topics such as land use impact on mammal communities, invasive herbivores' effect on native carnivores occurrence and activity, quantifying exotic species richness (plants, birds, and mammals) in protected areas, small carnivore introductions around the world, and avian reproductive ecology and behavior.

https://sites.google.com/site/mgantchoff/

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 - 14min

113 - Birds of Paradise with Dr Bruce Beehler

Blog Post on Dragonhunters

If you've ever seen a documentary series narrated by David Attenborough, you've almost surely seen the Birds of Paradise. They are a favorite of his, and many others around the world for their otherworldly, almost ethereal appearance, sounds, and behaviors. In this episode, we explore their fascinating world and biology with Dr Bruce Beehler, ornithologist and research associate of the Bird Division of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and expert on the Birds of Paradise. Follow him on Twitter @BruceMBeehler

Episode Outline/Questions Answered:

How many species are there of Birds of Paradise and where do they live?What exactly is a Bird of Paradise?Where did they come from? (evolutionarily speaking)Why here? And how?Variations between species in nesting, diet, and courtship behaviorSexual DimorphismHow do they make such vivid colorations?How has natural selection led to the males engaging in such intricate courtship displays and having such bizarre colorations?Role of beautyGreat unknownsNotes on Conservation

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 - 49min

112 - Behind the 𝗦𝗖i𝗘𝗡c𝗘𝗦 with Dr Bruce Beehler

Meet this week’s guest before the episode airs! Dr Bruce M. Beehler (born October 11, 1951 in Baltimore) is an ornithologist and research associate of the Bird Division of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Prior to this appointment, Beehler worked for Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Counterpart International, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Bruce Beehler graduated from Williams College and received his Masters and PhD studying the behavioral ecology of the birds-of-paradise at Princeton University.[1]

He has been an authority on New Guinea birds for several decades, having authored or co-authored several major works on the biodiversity this, the largest tropical island, including The Birds of Paradise (1998), The Birds of New Guinea (1986, 2015) and the two-volume Ecology of Papua (2007).

To the general public, Beehler is best known for having co-led a widely published rapid assessment survey on biological diversity in 2005 to the Foja Mountains, Papua, where he, together with an international team of 11 scientists, the majority from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), made a number of scientific discoveries.

The findings on this survey expanded on previous research conducted in the region by Dr. Jared Diamond in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Beehler and colleagues, however, returned with the first ever photographs of two species of birds, the bronze parotia (Parotia berlepschi) and the golden-fronted bowerbird (Amblyornis flavifrons), that previously were known only from a few specimens. Additionally, a previously unknown species of honeyeater was discovered, it being scientifically described in 2007 as the wattled smoky honeyeater (Melipotes carolae). The specific epithet, carolae, commemorates Carol Beehler, the wife of Bruce Beehler. Together with a team from 60 Minutes, Beehler returned to the Foja Mountains in 2007, resulting in the first ever filming of several of the species discovered in 2005, as well as encounters with an undescribed giant rat (Mallomys sp.) and a tiny pygmy possum (Cercartetus sp.)

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Wed, 23 Jun 2021 - 16min

111 - Dragonflies and Damselflies with Dr Jessica L Ware

Dragonflies and Damselflies have been on our planet for millions of years. They're embedded in our art, culture, stories, and even our skin as a popular tattoo subject.

They also live amazing lives.

Join us for a deep dive on dragonfly lives with Dr Jessica L Ware

Check out our Dragonfly themed t-shirt!

Dr Ware's Must-Read Book Picks:

Chasing Dragonflies

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East

Utterly Bugged

Fri, 14 May 2021 - 50min

110 - Behind the 𝗦𝗖i𝗘𝗡c𝗘𝗦 with Dr Jessica L Ware

Meet this week's guest before the episode airs, Dr Jessica L Ware, assistant curator in invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History.

Dr. Ware’s research focuses on the evolution of behavioral and physiological adaptations in insects, with an emphasis on how these occur in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and Dictyoptera (termites, cockroaches and mantises). Her research group focuses on phylogenetics/phylogenomics and uses these tools to inform their work on reproductive, social and flight behaviors in insects. Jessica holds a BSc from the University of British Columbia in Canada, and a PhD from Rutgers, New Brunswick. She was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the AMNH 2008-2010, before being hired at Rutgers Newark where she was an associate professor of evolutionary biology. She is the current president of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association, and serves as an elected board member on the executive committee of the Entomological Society of America Governing Board. She was recently awarded a PECASE medal from the US government for her work on insect evolution.

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East

Dr Ware's Must-Read Book Picks:

Chasing Dragonflies

Utterly Bugged

Wed, 12 May 2021 - 28min

109 - Nature's Pooper Scooper (Dung Beetles!) with Professor Marcus Byrne

Before you read what this episode is about, we have an ask. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whichever platform you are using to listen, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Aside from the feedback being helpful to shape our work, it also increases our visibility and helps to grow our community and organization. Plus you'll forever be our favorite listener!

Professor Marcus Byrne teaches us about the fantastical and unexpected world of dung beetles, their ecological importance, their connections to human culture and history, and how this lowly creature finds its way home by looking to the stars.