Varmints!

Learn about spiders in little bits each day with Paul and Donna. Today's special guest is Tea, from ScienTEAfic with tips on how to figure out if a web is still occupied. 

Learn about spiders in little bits each day with Paul and Donna. Today's special guest is Tea, from ScienTEAfic, letting us know why spiders sometimes land on us. Whoops!

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo. "Goldenrod crab spider" by hedera.baltica is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.   Crazy Good Article about Spider Myths from the Burke Museum

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.   Super smarty scientific cartwheel spider paper   Could not find a shareable image to put in these notes, so give it a Google and you'll see it. :)

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohosts Donna Hume and Paul Csomo.    

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume. 

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume. 

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.    https://www.treehugger.com/facts-about-misunderstood-house-spider-4868827  

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  "A fishing spider, near tadpoles" by Benimoto is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.    "Zebra Jumping Spider" by Wild Lens is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  "A beautiful spider. (Araneus Diadematus ♀/ European Garden Spider)" by fotopamas is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  Today: Donna sent Paul on a mission to find out what kind of spiders he had in and around his home, and report! These are the results.

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.    "Ogre-faced net-casting spider" by zleng is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  Today Spider Q&A! Myth: Spiders only "suck juices" of prey

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  "File:Argyroneta aquatica Paar.jpg" by Norbert Schuller Baupi is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Learn all about spiders in little tidbits each day from Varmints! Podcast cohost Donna Hume.  Today: The Black Widow Spider

Hey everyone! It's your buddy Paul. You may have noticed that there has been no episodes lately and if you don't follow us on Twitter or Facebook you might not know why so here I am to tell you. Back on September 3rd I found out that my someone at my day job tested positive for COVID-19. The next day I also tested positive for COVID-19. I had a breakthrough infection which means that I was fully vaccinated at the end of April and got sick anyway. Which is fine. I knew that was a possibility. There are nine employees at my job and seven of us tested positive and one employee's wife tested positive as well and we are all dealing with varying degrees of symptoms. I am happy to tell you that as of this morning, September 16th, I am about 85% healthy, I tested negative for COVID-19 and even though I had some pretty rough days and nights I think the vaccine did its job and kept my symptoms mild enough that I could stay here at home in almost total isolation for 10 days. I think in ten days I left my room for six hours maybe? For walks outside and going to the pharmacy to get tested. Lots of cotton swabs in my nose there for a while. Anyway I have no doubt that if I hadn't been vaccinated that this would have been much, much worse. So if you haven't been vaccinated already please go do that. I told people that I'm glad that instead of Original Recipe Covid that I had Diet Covid instead. It's no fun. It's not like any cold or flu you've ever had. Losing your senses of taste and smell is one of the most bizarre things I've ever experienced. 0/5 stars on Travel Advisor. Do not recommend. I decided shortly after I tested positive that I would take the month of September off as far as podcasting and even though I'm feeling much better I still have a lot of fatigue and I can't talk that much which is pretty important if the content you create involves talking into a microphone for an hour or more at a time. My voice gives out. My hope is that we can publish the second part of our episode about pigeons and doves sometime in October. I don't know when because we haven't recorded it yet. And we have other episodes planned after that but I just need to get a little more healthy. We are going to do our second annual Fat Bear Week tournament in the Varmints Discussion Group on Facebook. The Katmai National Park does a Fat Bear Week tournament and in the group we play along and we give the winners of the tournament prizes and it's a lot of fun. You'll hear trailers for that in the next couple of weeks but if you're on Facebook look us up. It's the Varmints Discussion Group. We ask you a couple of questions about the show. And it's just a nice, positive group where we share funny animal memes and news stories and I hope you check it out. The Fat Bear Week Tournament starts on September 29th and we'll remind you about it next week. It's also time for the Discover Pods awards! We won the award for Best Kids and Family podcast a couple of years ago and it would be cool to do that again. You can go to awards.discoverpods.com and nominate us for Best Kids and Family. It's super easy and that would be amazing. If you are a Patreon supporter first of all thanks for your support. We're not going to bill you on October 1st. You're getting a free month which means that if you join our Patreon now you'll get all of the bonus content and you won't be billed until November 1st. If you've been kicking the idea around of helping the show through Patreon it's a great time to do that. I'll put the links to everything I've talked about here in the show notes. And that's it. I'm really looking forward to giving you a proper show in the next month or so but I'm not 100% and I'm probably going to go lay down after I publish this so thanks for listening. Thanks for all of your support. Thanks for your patience. Just thanks. Until we talk again, be nice to animals. Take care. Links:

Flap on over and join Paul and Donna for a coo episode about those head-bobbin', saucy-walkin', statue-poopin' pigeons and doves! Did Thousands of Pigeons Poop on Spectators at 1936 Olympic Games? Quiz for Paul: Pigeon or Dove? https://birdfeederexpert.com/pigeon-diet-list/ https://www.amesgroup.uk.com/blog/what-do-pigeons-eat/ https://pigeonpedia.com/why-do-pigeons-poop-so-much/ A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching Mighty Bird Brains How Two Pigeons Helped Scientists Confirm the Big Bang Theory   Featured image is: "Pigeon" by RG in TLV is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was by Kari McGinnis, Jennifer Csomo, and Stacey and Frosty.

Wanna hear one person talk about a krillion of something? Paul goes solo this week to talk about the planet's biggest, coolest swarm: krill! Our sources: https://www.theonion.com/red-lobster-celebrates-return-of-annual-all-you-can-eat-1819576667 https://www.superbakrill.com/blog/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-krill https://happyfeet.fandom.com/wiki/Will https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/jan/29/aussie-scientists-embark-on-voyage-with-new-technology-to-count-antarctic-krill-17748.html https://www.ccamlr.org/en/fisheries/krill-%E2%80%93-biology-ecology-and-fishing With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. Featured Image: "Antarktický krill" by Norkrill is licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)  

Join Paul and Donna this week to learn about the many and varied species of audacious, adventurous, and adorable armadillo! San Antonio man's backyard invaded by pack of adorable armadillos Nine-Banded Armadillo — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department LiveScience - Armadillo Facts Armadillomon | Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki | Fandom Armadillo (comics) Armadillos Carrying Leprosy Bacteria Spreading in Southern US 21 Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts Featured Image: "Nine-banded Armadillo" by LandBetweentheLakesKYTN is marked with CC PDM 1.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

All right everybody, let's not butt heads; it's time to stand in a circle and learn about musk ox!  Ice Age Musk Ox? Nevada Man Finds Bones in Backyard | Nevada News | US News https://www.nps.gov/gaar/learn/naMusk Ox: Circle Defense by the National Park Serviceture/muskox-circle-defense.htm Inside the Mind of a Musk Ox How Musk Oxen Make It Through Arctic Nights and Never-Ending Days Featured Image: Image from Public domain images website, http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/fauna-animals-public-domain-images-pictures/musk-ox-pictures/adult-musk-ox-bulls-animals.jpg.html Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Take a dip into the sea with Donna and special guest Megan "Danger" Hesse to talk about the weird and wonderful sponge! Sea Sponges: Nature's Disinfectants Unusual Sea Sponge Movement in the Arctic Ocean is Remarkable But Comes at a Horrific Price “Sleezy” sponge sexuality Spongebob Squarepants Theme Song Sea Sponges Facts   Featured Image: Sponges in Caribbean Sea, Cayman Islands ,Twilight Zone Expedition Team 2007, NOAA-OE, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Paul's segment on the Livestream for the Cure telethon for cancer research recorded on May 21, 2012. Edited for time and content.  Please be advised that this episode has mild and bleeped swearing and a little bit of adult subject matter and may not be suitable for very young children.

Hop on down to Robin Town with Paul and Donna and hang out with us while we talk about Robins!  Why do Robins have Red Breasts? The Beauty and Biology of Egg Color | All About Birds All About Birds How Birds Get Berry, Berry Drunk | HowStuffWorks  Weatherwatch: how robins became a symbol of Christmas   With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris Braaten, Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Jennifer Csomo, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. Featured Image: "American robin (Turdus migratorius)" by Lip Kee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 "European robin (Erithacus rubecula), Parc du Rouge-Cloître, Bruxelles" by Frank.Vassen is licensed under CC BY 2.0     Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

It's Brood X emergence time, everyone! Join Paul and Donna to chat about cicadas and their buggy, buggy ways.  US researchers seek citizen scientists as billions of Brood X cicadas set to emerge https://cicadasafari.org/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-cicadas-180977361/ https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/category/pop-culture/ https://youtu.be/0ThPKyYG4hQ How to eat cicadas: Just in time for the swarm, tips on cooking the bug-eyed bugs     Featured Image: "Periodical Cicada" by treegrow is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Sources for this show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk886pOS4Mo&t=4074s https://loudwire.com/lemmy-kilmister-facial-masks/ https://shop.imotorhead.com/products/faces-of-lemmy-mask-3-packhttps://shop.imotorhead.com/products/faces-of-lemmy-mask-3-pack https://youtu.be/skGEBgePHtk https://youtu.be/RTvyZZsHOYI https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/12/lemmy-favourite-foods-interview#:~:text=I%20don't%20eat%20vegetables,brussels%20sprouts%2C%20foul https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/08/11/542647145/motorheads-lemmy-gets-a-giant-prehistoric-crocodile-as-a-namesake http://www.10tons.dk/kalloprion-kilmisteri https://henryandheidi.libsyn.com/henry-heidi-lemmy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk886pOS4Mo&t=4074s Featured image "Motörhead’s front-man Lemmy – Live at Red’s, Edmonton (Canada), 2005" by Mark Marek Photography (THIS LINK IS NSFW) and is shared with a CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Thanks, Mark!      

Join us for a special episode with Roswell, New Mexico rancher, Cotton Shorts, as we take advantage of the short window of internet availability to chat about Hippogryphs! Featured Image: "Hippogriff" by Benimoto is licensed under CC BY 2.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.  

Swim on down to Cuttlefish Town with Paul and Donna as they find out all sorts of interesting things about these adorable cephalopods! But first, the news! Cuttlefish show self-control, pass 'marshmallow test' Tricky Cuttlefish Put on Gender-Bending Disguise NOVA: Kings of Camouflage, Anatomy of a Cuttlefish Animal Guide: Cuttlefish Filipino Tales: Cuttlefish and Squid ZeFrank: True Facts about the Cuttlefish Cuttlefish learn from watching potential prey even before they are born Yes, this Cuttlefish is Wearing 3-D Glasses   With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris Braaten, Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Jennifer Csomo, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago.    Featured Image: "A winsome cuttlefish. P4181345" by wbaiv is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.    

Hop on over and join Paul and Donna for the bounciest, chirpiest conversation about the tiny insect musicians, crickets!   But first, the news! RHOD Recap: Dr. Tiffany's Party Ends in Disaster as Brandi Falls Ill After Eating Tiffany's Crickets Pizza   How Do Crickets Talk?   Cricket acoustic communication   IUCN Crickets   The Crickets   Sonorous Science: Have a Cricket Tell You the Temperature!   Crickets are invading Texas with a fury, as weather conditions are ‘perfect,’ experts say   Technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Josh Hallmark, Stacey and Frosty   Featured Image:   "File:Gryllus pennsylvanicus female 01.jpg" by Kevinjudge is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.    

Weird. Misunderstood. Funny looking. This is not an episode about Paul. This is a solo episode about aye-ayes. Sources: https://theconversation.com/new-discovery-madagascars-bizarre-aye-aye-has-six-fingers-on-each-hand-126520 https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ayeaye/taxonomy https://youtu.be/3k2m2xIvSik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSWIHyVeoig https://www.madamagazine.com/en/das-tier-das-den-tod-bringt/ With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was Stacey and Frosty and Justine and Santiago. Featured images: "Aye-Aye 1" by Mark Dumont is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Join Paul and Donna for this pokey, thrilling and quilling episode where we talk about the many and varied porcupines of the world!   https://www.wibw.com/2020/12/23/topeka-zoo-responds-to-fake-news-their-porcupine-has-been-kidnapped/   https://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Prehensile-Tailed-Porcupine-complete1.pdf   https://www.livescience.com/47169-animal-sex-porcupines.html   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znhf46fjQ00   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wShTzKRNC-M   https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/1/150130-porcupine-animal-behavior-mating-biology-plants/#:~:text=The%20quills%20of%20the%20North,%2Dquilling%2C%22%20Roze%20says. With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris Braaten, Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Jennifer Csomo, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago.   Featured images: "Porcupine" by GrandTetonNPS is marked with CC PDM 1.0   "File:Prehensile Tail Porcupine Curled and Relaxed (18144690005).jpg" by Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 "North American tree porcupines" by Marie Hale is licensed under CC BY 2.0   "Porcupine" by USFWS Mountain Prairie is licensed under CC BY 2.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Seems like a good day to put 15 minutes of complete nonsense out there. The funny kind of nonsense. Not the scary kind of nonsense. This is for you, April.  

Join Paul and Donna for the Tiny Wild Cats Variety Extravaganza on today's episode of Varmints! We'll be discussing four little wild kitties, and their adorable, but deadly ways.    https://www.tunisiesoir.com/science/biology-rare-species-of-small-cats-inadequately-protected-25828-2020/ https://people.com/pets/uk-wildlife-park-two-rusty-spotted-cats-born/ http://www.porfell.co.uk/2020/two-of-the-smallest-babies-born-just-before-lockdown/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-porfell-wildlife-park-and-sanctuary?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet   https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Prionailurus_rubiginosus/ https://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/cat_sand.html https://allyouneedisbiology.wordpress.com/2015/11/01/felines/ https://bigcatrescue.org/margay-facts/ https://wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/south-america/margay/ https://bigcatrescue.org/jaguarundi-facts/ https://wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/south-america/jaguarundi/   https://mashable.com/2014/10/25/living-with-an-ocelot-in-a-manhattan-apartment/ https://pethelpful.com/exotic-pets/small-exotic-cats https://www.sanpedrosun.com/pets-animals/2017/06/08/wild-animals-not-pets-captive-margay-rescued-turned-saga/#:~:text=Keeping%20a%20Margay%20in%20captivity,to%20humans%20and%20vice%20versa. https://youtu.be/W86cTIoMv2U https://youtu.be/0Sh4tu5Xfhw https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2010/04/02/margays-mimick-monkey-calls-to-lure-their-prey/ Our voice actors for this show were Kari McGinnis, Stacey and Frosty and Chris Green Featured image "File:Rusty spotted cat 2, crop.jpg" by Davidvraju is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.  Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Join Paul on a solo episode this week to talk dingoes!  Sources: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/wacky-tube-men-could-keep-dingoes-away-livestock-australia https://www.dingoden.net/facts.html https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/dingo/ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190305100635.htm#:~:text=Since%20the%20arrival%20of%20British,species%20in%20its%20own%20right https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dingo-fence https://daily.jstor.org/the-unexpected-result-of-australias-dingo-fence/ Featured image, "Dingo - Moonlit Sanctuary Park 3-20-2019 (2)" by Larry Koester is licensed under (CC BY 2.0) Public Domain Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago, and Chris “The Toph” Green.

Today's show is not about an animal, but we've had a number of requests over the years to talk about it, so we're going to give it a go! Donna had a chat with two scientists about this topic and gave them a few of the questions from our discussion group, and it ended up being a great conversation. Joining Donna were Dr. Seth Magle, is the Director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and Dr. Tobin Magle, who is the Research Data Lifecycle Manager in the Division of Information Technology at UW-Madison.  The image attached to this episode is available in the Public Domain, can be found at the CDC's website, and was generated by Hannah A Bullock; Azaibi Tamin. We hope you enjoy the episode. This episode was brought to you with technical support by Matthew Csomo. Our bed music is by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed and our vocal talent was Justine and Santiago and Curtis Craddock.

Join Paul and Donna to flounce around and learn about peacocks! https://www.livescience.com/tasmanian-devils-return-australia.html https://sciencing.com/peacocks-mate-4565678.html https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/peacock-crests-are-vibration-sensors/578656/ https://animals.mom.com/colors-male-peacock-reproduce-11329.html https://www.peacocksuk.com/peacock-information/are-peacocks-endangered-2/ https://www.advertisingweek360.com/the-history-of-the-nbc-peacock/ https://lazyevaluationranch.tumblr.com/post/101718684710/11-2-today-goofus-the-peacock-killed-a-mouse-and https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2020/09/23/why-do-peacocks-roam-tampa-bay/ https://www.9news.com/article/life/animals/denver-zoo-removes-free-roaming-peacocks/73-ffd31d78-59f4-4b7e-bb81-95d1ef1c7713     Featured image, "Peacock" by Mathias Appel is licensed under CC0 1.0 Public Domain Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Kari McGinnis, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago, and Chris “The Toph” Green.  

This week Paul takes a solo look at a very misunderstood little Arctic varmint - the lemming! Sources: https://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/schoolgirl-finds-the-worlds-oldest-lemming-preserved-in-permafrost-and-dating-back-41000-years/ https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/education/wns/lemmings.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv06KicxKdc https://readonlymemory.vg/the-making-of-lemmings/ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/lemmings/9wzdncrfjcdm?activetab=pivot:overviewtab https://www.britannica.com/story/do-lemmings-really-commit-mass-suicide#:~:text=But%20there%20is%20one%20myth,Lemmings%20do%20not%20commit%20suicide https://hyperallergic.com/545742/white-wilderness-disney-nature-documentary/ This is the footage from the 1958 Disney film "White Wilderness" that I discussed. Before you click on this link please be warned that this is a very upsetting video to watch: https://youtu.be/xMZlr5Gf9yY Featured image, "Lemming" by Sander van der Wel is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. 

This week Kate Shaw from the Strange Animals Podcast joins Paul to get really squicked out about ticks. Bleh. Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/health/tick-mosquito-repellant-nootkatone.html https://entomologytoday.org/2018/01/16/up-close-look-tiny-sensory-pits-ticks-use-smell/ https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/03/20/594922001/watch-how-a-tick-digs-its-hooks-into-you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_lz8hvkYVA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbk9Vn5eCU https://youtu.be/mTgcKPspE9s https://www.newyorkupstate.com/news/2020/08/what-part-of-your-body-is-a-tick-mostly-likely-to-bite-upstate-study-has-the-answer.html https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/tick5.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170316112208.htm Featured image, "Soft tick" by dr relling is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. 

They're the happiest animal in the world! Paul is talking about quokkas this week! Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJ7NnpmGus https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8669563/New-special-edition-Quokka-coin-released-Perth-mint-month-30-000-sale.html https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57159/6-things-know-about-super-cute-quokka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quokka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTlgCk_IJDs https://youtu.be/59hHHvF9BNE https://youtu.be/aUaZtLdNT0E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eK0RR2ns58 https://nedhardy.com/2020/01/28/do-quokkas-throw-their-babies/#:~:text=No%2C%20quokkas%20do%20not%20physically,their%20young%20to%20escape%20danger. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/05/bad-moms-nature-animals-mothers-day/ Featured image, "The Happiest Animal on the Planet" by UI International Programs is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: The wonderful and supportive Kari McGinnis. Chris “Toph” Green is the host of the GravityBeard podcast. Curtis Craddock is the author of the novel An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors (The Risen Kingdoms, #1) Josh Hallmark runs the Our Americana network and hosts the podcasts Our Americana, The Karen and Ellen Letters, Playlist and True Crime Bullshit. Justine and Santiago are the hosts of the very funny Weird With You podcast. Frosty is the co-host of The Show with The Preshaah and Frosty, and last but never least, Stacey from Rough Giraffe, and Run With Me On This.  

Let's monkey around with Paul and Donna and learn about baboons! Sources: https://mashable.com/article/baboons-on-the-loose-sydney/ https://science.jrank.org/pages/704/Baboons-Communication.html https://www.animalfactsencyclopedia.com/Baboon-facts.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk_Fu! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myyQ_CTVE_4&feature=youtu.be http://www.tv.com/shows/the-amazing-world-of-gumball/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLr6QOgqevc https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC387823/ Featured image, "Baboon" by Shelley Prevost is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago.     

Take a blindingly fast dive into the topic of falcons today with Paul and Donna on the Varmints! Podcast.    http://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200611-south-african-kalahari-lizards-eavesdrop-on-weaver-bird-neighbours-to-avoid-becoming-lunch-pygmy-falcon   https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/id https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Peregrine_Falcon/ https://youtu.be/wBzdzg_ffzw   https://hanna-barbera.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_Falcon https://www.youtube.com/c/FalconryAndMe/about   https://everwideningcircles.com/2020/06/11/falcons-airport-flight-safety/ https://www.usafa.edu/cadet-life/clubs/falconry/   Featured image, "American Kestrel (Male)" by Andy Morffew is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was done by the wonderful and supportive Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago.     

This week Paul glides solo and talks about sugar gliders!  Sources: https://newcastleweekly.com.au/sugar-gliders-call-lake-macquarie-home/ http://bmxglider.tripod.com/ogueyes.html https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-squirrels-fly-37372905/ https://www.facebook.com/SugarGliderComic/ https://www.reddit.com/r/sugargliders/ Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: The wonderful and supportive Kari McGinnis. Chris “Toph” Green is the host of the GravityBeard podcast. Curtis Craddock is the author of the novel An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors (The Risen Kingdoms, #1) Frosty is the co-host of The Show with The Preshaah and Frosty, and last but never least, Stacey from Rough Giraffe, and Run With Me On This.  

This week Paul is joined by special guest host Kate Shaw from the Strange Animals podcast to revisit an episode we did four years ago! Bats! Please go listen to the Strange Animals Podcast wherever fine podcasts are sold. You can also go to her website: https://strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net/ Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/science/vampire-bats-viruses.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180207151818.htm https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sound-absorbent-wings-and-fur-help-some-moths-evade-bats https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/how-bats-have-outsmarted-viruses-including-coronaviruses-65-million-years https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2020/03/covid19-faqs.php#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20is%20the,%E2%80%9Cnovel%20coronavirus%E2%80%9D. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49496760 https://weeklyworldnews.com/ Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. About our voice actors: The wonderful and supportive Kari McGinnis. Chris “Toph” Green is the host of the GravityBeard podcast. Curtis Craddock is the author of the novel An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors (The Risen Kingdoms, #1) Josh Hallmark runs the Our Americana network and hosts the podcasts Our Americana, The Karen and Ellen Letters, Playlist and True Crime Bullshit. Justine and Santiago are the hosts of the very funny Weird With You podcast. Frosty is the co-host of The Show with The Preshaah and Frosty, and last but never least, Stacey from Rough Giraffe, and Run With Me On This. The feature image used is "bat" by Noel Reynolds and is shared under a Creative Commons license (Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). You can view more of Mr. Reynolds' photographs on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29237715@N05/