Episode 261: Conservation Scientist & Advocate Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

Fossa are Madagascar's top predator. Yet, they are slipping away and headed towards extinction. This week we are joined with Brittany Behler who is the Fossa Species Survival Plan Program Leader and Studbook Keeper. She works with the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa and joins us to chat about everything Fossa. These animals and many like them on Madagascar need our help and understanding. Well worth a listen. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Elo 20231h 18min

As Chris moves house, we wanted to release this wonderful episode on Fossa. Also look out for our interview with a Fossa expert next week. Not many are aware of this little well known predator from Madagascar, the Fossa. These cat-like animals are the dominant carnivore on the large island of Madagascar. They also are heading towards extinction as 90% of Madagascar’s forests have disappeared. We had so much fun researching and recording this episode. We know you will fall in love with this crazy critter. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Elo 20231h 12min

Making the rounds in social media are adorable videos of Marbled Polecats visiting soldiers in the trenches of Ukraine. It had us thinking, what is their story and where do they range. First, our heats go out to all those affected by the war, or any war for that matter. Not to mention to the untold devastation to all the animals in the area! Including the Marbled Polecat. These animals actually have a massive range from Mongolia and China, all the way to Eastern Europe. Yet, they are disappearing in much of their range. Like any mustelid, Marbled Polecats are full of personality, tenacity, and just plain toughness. Another great creature to learn about. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Elo 20231h 11min

Imagine trying to set the world record for spotting the most species of birds in one year? Of the ~10,000+ known species of birds, how many do you think you could spot? Well Arjan Dwarshuis saw nearly 7000 species in a single year. He set the world record and continues to spread awareness of birds and environmental conservation. From the Netherlands, Arjan has inspired many thousands, if not millions, with his incredible journey around the world. Starting from Europe, he tells his story and just how he did it. Such a fun and inspiring interview! You can learn more about Arjan and his book The Big Year That Flew By at his website HERE We also welcome a special cohost, Jessie Golden, who has inspired not only Chris, but so many others to take up the hobby of birding. He joins in and we hope you welcome him back. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Elo 20231h 14min

The largest invertebrates ever to live are squid. The two largest are the Giant Squid and Colossal Squid. This week we highlight what makes these giants of the deep so special. Squid as cephalopods are some of the craziest animals in the natural world. Their physiology often defies description and while we still have so much to learn, the Giant and Colossal squid are already teaching us much. You do not want to miss this episode and listen to learn more about these incredible animals. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Heinä 20231h 17min

To follow up on our interview with the Brevard Zoo, we are revisiting our Leatherback Sea Turtle Episode. This sea turtle dwarfs their distant relatives and can reach over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weigh nearly a ton (900 kg). They are enormous! Not to mention they are one of the deepest diving animals (outside of fish), among many other amazing facts. Sadly, sea turtle populations continue to decline and we discuss this more in depth in this episode. We also highlight conservation efforts to protect them around the globe. We learned quite a bit about these amazing animals and hope you do too.  Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 Heinä 20231h 7min

The Brevard Zoo has a Special Sea Turtle Healing Center that rescues and rehabilitates some of our oceans most endangered sea creatures. Namely, sea turtles. Taken directly from their website which can can access HERE, they state: Brevard Zoo, in partnership with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), opened its Sea Turtle Healing Center in April 2014. The facility includes two separate holding facilities with a total of 14 tanks ranging in size from six to 12 feet in diameter. This facility is not open to the public. Because the beaches of Brevard County are among the world’s most important nesting areas for sea turtles and the largest in the United States, a significant number of animals are found with injuries and illnesses each year. About 100 patients are seen at the Healing Center each year. Patients are brought to the Healing Center for a variety of reasons—they may be recovering from a boat strike, interaction with human debris such as fishing line or plastic, or debilitation. In addition to providing much-needed rest, experienced staff and dedicated volunteers use a combination of medication, surgeries and nutrition to nurse the turtles back to health and, ideally, return them to the water. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 Heinä 20231h 15min

Gray whales have an incredible story to tell. They also are a species that demonstrates clearly what is happening to our oceans with climate change. Once nearly hunted to extinction and knocked out of the Atlantic Ocean, Gray Whales were on the brink. They are a model species for conservation as they went from around 1000 whales to nearly 25,000 whales in 2016. However, with a rapidly changing climate and a diminishing food supply due to their incredibly unique ecologically niche, Gray Whales have suffered a setback. In 2019, thousands of Gray Whales perished and now their population is around 15,00 whales. Yet, there is hope and we do bring that up in this week's podcast. A special whale to help us promote our Plastic Free July. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Heinä 20231h 18min