BewilderBeasts!

BewilderBeasts!

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BewilderBeasts! episodes

  • Ep 36: Banning The Toxic Lipstick Aisle

    Melissa talks about some animals who could easily end up in a police lineup, a horse to thank every time Romaine lettuce is recalled, and cat butt science.

    *****
    Fingerprint Folly:
    Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/koalas-make-monkey-out-police-1313275.html
    Ripleys https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/koala-fingerprints/
    New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15220591-500-you-may-be-sweet-and-furry-but-youre-nicked/

    Jim the Carthorse
    https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/health/10hors.html
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_(horse)
    https://www.fda.gov/media/110418/download
    https://allthatsinteresting.com/salem-witch-trials-causes
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351897
    https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/2002/11/04/Jim-the-horse-played-a-part-in-history/stories/200211040002 

    Cat Butt Science
    Nerdist https://nerdist.com/article/cat-buttholes-surface-touch-science-fair-experiment/
    Mental Floss https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/646004/do-cat-buttholes-touch-all-surfaces
    Boing Boing https://boingboing.net/2021/04/23/science-fair-does-your-cats-butthole-really-touch-all-the-surfaces-in-your-home.html
    Music credits: 
    Tiptoe Out The Back by Dan Lebowicz
    Interstitial Music is by MK2

    “Decision” by Michael Kobrin https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=3784

    Sad lullaby: Music by waltermazzaccaro https://pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=1752

    Waves by MichaelKobrin https://pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=3782

    Melissa McCue-McGrath is a dog trainer. She is the author of Considerations for the City Dog, the co-Training Director of the New England Dog Training Club (the oldsest AKC obedience club in the United States). More at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com

    Send in your favorite stories!
    [email protected]
    Tweet @BewilderedPod
    Facebook: BewilderBeastsPod
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    Visit the website: BewilderBeastsPod.com 

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    28 min
  • Ep 35: The Army That Lost To Emus

    An animal control investigator gets a delicious surprise; emus beat the Australian Army, and we finally have a spi...spi….a story about my phobia that we had to include, so if you hear a thud, it’s just me passing out from fear.

    ******
     The Mysterious Tree Creature
    https://www.delish.com/food-news/a36163171/animal-control-croissant-call/
    https://www.history.com/news/burmese-python-invasion-florida-everglades#:~:text=These%20massive%20snakes%2C%20which%20can,havoc%20with%20the%20area's%20ecosystem.

    Army Vs. Emu
    http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/01/great-emu-war-1932/

    https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/running-ponies/the-great-emu-war-in-which-some-large-flightless-birds-unwittingly-foiled-the-australian-army/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_War

    Got Milk?
    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/australian-reptile-park-spiders_n_58877c62e4b096b4a234ac1b

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala_hijack

    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2
     

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    38 min
  • Ep 34: Bring Out Your Dead!

    Today's episode covers three stories of how animals intersect with human death or death prevention, including forensic entomology (the use of bugs to solve crime), a dog who stayed at his owners final resting space for 14 years, and how tree frogs can inspire advancements in human organ donation. Let's go!

    Crime solving bugs:
    Case files discussed in today's episode https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-forensic-entymology-bugs-murders-2015jan10-story.html
    University of Florida Entomology and Nematologydepartment on the life cycle of a fly  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/flies/house_fly.HTM

    Greyfriar's Bobby:
    https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/greyfriars-bobby

    https://www.introducingedinburgh.com/greyfriars-bobby

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5637/greyfriars_bobby

    "Animal Stories: Heartwarming true tales from the animal kingdom" by Jane Yolen with her kids, Heidi, Adam and Jason Stemple and beautiful illustrations by Jui Ishida. https://www.janeyolen.com/animal-stories/


    Pee and Pixie Sticks:
    https://www.breakthroughs.com/health-tomorrow/nature%E2%80%99s-antifreeze-holds-answer-preserving-human-organs#:~:text=The%20wood%20frog%20is%20built,in%20vital%20organs%20from%20freezing.

    https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-biomimicry-definition-examples/

    https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Unique_Properties/Expansion_upon_Freezing#:~:text=When%20frozen%2C%20water%20molecules%20take,dense%20than%20the%20liquid%20water.&text=Thus%20water%20expands%20as%20it%20freezes%2C%20and%20ice%20floats%20atop%20water.
     

    Support The Show!
     Paypal.me/muttstuff
    Instagram
    Twitter
    Facebook

    More about Melissa:
    MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
    Buy the book: Considerations for the City Dog


    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    34 min
  • Ep 33: Ann Harvey, Hairy Man, and the Island Of The Dead

    Today we have an all NEWFOUNDLAND DOG special! A lifeguard Newfie named Reef jumps out of helicopters for the Italian Coast Guard; a Newf named Hairy Man pulled 180 Irish Immigrants off of Wreck Rock to safety on the Isle aux Morts (literally the Island of the Dead); and one unnamed Newfie gave this podcaster the best rabbit hole about Napoleon Bonaparte's Body Parts that you'll ever hear. #SorryNotSorry. Let's Go!

    Melissa's work can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, Considerations for the City Dog can be purchased at Dogwise.com or through any independent retailers by request, or online. Because the Internet is magic.
     
    Resources for today's episode:
    Newfies Join the Italian Coast Guard
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/dogs-train-year-round-save-lives-italian-waters/story?id=54094675

    https://mymodernmet.com/newfoundland-rescue-dogs/#:~:text=The%20Newfoundland%20dog%20breed%20has,a%20special%20K9%20lifeguard%20unit.


    Shipwrecked:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Harvey

    https://www.isleauxmorts.ca/our_history.php

    https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/trip-ideas/travel-stories/the-shipwrecks-of-newfoundland-and-labrador

    https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/irish-catholic-immigration-to-america/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Humane_Society

    https://www.isleauxmorts.ca/official_ah_nomination.php

    https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/plan-and-book/festivals-and-events/24920790

    https://thedespatch.wordpress.com/

    This segment was inspired by minisode 219 of "My Favorite Murder" where a listener wrote in with her story about how her family would not exist if it were not for Hairy Man, the Newfoundland. Karen and Georgia are my sheroes and while they are not for children, I'm glad I was able to take that story and learn more.  https://omny.fm/shows/my-favorite-murder-with-karen-kilgariff-and-georgi/mfm-minisode-219

    Napoleon Complex
    https://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/11/01/ten.dogs/index.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_dog

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon

    https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/newfoundland-senses-neighbors-fall/

    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2
    Additional music this week by Zachariah Hickman (Argonne) and Godmode (Melancholia) 



     




    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    30 min
  • Ep 32: The Dolphin of Dingle Bay

    The a cow who escaped a slaughterhouse and went on the lam, the dolphin of Dingle Bay, the town who went dark to save a nest of baby birds.

    Support the show: http://paypal.me/muttstuff

    Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! 

    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2 

    Visit BewilderbeastsPod.com for all episodes and bonus content. Don't forget to rate, review and share with your friends! 

    Resources:
    Cow on the run
     https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/1500-pound-cow-roaming-rhode-island-after-escaping-slaughterhouse/TXN3B3VTOBE7LC7EU

    https://www.abc6.com/johnston-police-say-that-the-runaway-cow-has-been-captured/

    https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2021/03/26/johnston-cow-captured-after-weeks-lam/7011452002/

    Fungie the DIngle Dolphin
    https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fun-fungie/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungie

    https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/spectacular-dolphin-footage-galway-bay-fungie-speculation

    https://www.insideedition.com/fungie-is-that-you-some-hope-irelands-favorite-dolphin-is-alive-as-1-is-spotted-leaping-in-galway

     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloch%C3%A1n

    The Baby Robins Saved By The Town
    https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/sivaganga-tamil-nadu-keeps-lights-off-to-help-birds-india/ 

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    25 min
  • BONUS: The Cow Who Gave Us Libraries

    The story of the cow who didn't start the fire- no, she didn't light it, but she tried to fight it.

    Original episode and shownotes can be found: 
    BewilderBeasts, Episode 3: Mrs. O'Leary's Cow

    Other podcasts that cover this story:
    Stuff You Should Know
    Stuff You Missed in History Class

    More about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
    Melissa's book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase on Dogwise and on Amazon. 

    Support the show: 
    paypal.me/muttstuff

    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com 
    Email: [email protected]
    Twitter: @BewilderedPod
    Instagram: Bewilderbeasts
    Facebook: BewilderBeastsPod

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    13 min
  • Ep 31: Bears, Bees, Battlestar Galactica

    Bears in bear jail are in the quality assurance department; crossbow conservation, and a sleepy walrus gets a rude awakening
     
    Support the show: http://paypal.me/muttstuff

    Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! 

    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2 

    Visit BewilderbeastsPod.com for all episodes and bonus content. Don't forget to rate, review and share with your friends! 

    Resources:
    B&E Bears
    https://wiseaboutbears.org/black-bears/the-bear-family/a-bears-quest-for-food

    https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/reviews/g1530/the-results-of-our-bear-proof-cooler-test-are-in/

    https://www.outsideonline.com/2417218/bears-testing-coolers-outdoor-gear

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAi9QdqUAaw

    Crossbow Conservation
    https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/saving-the-lears-macaw 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lear%27s_macaw

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549483/ 


     Sleepy Walrus (#WalrusWatch)
     https://www.livescience.com/walrus-sighting-ireland.html

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/walrus-arctic-wales-ireland-b1820213.html

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/21/rspca-arctic-walrus-spotted-off-south-wales


    Good for Nothing Safety by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

    Machinations by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100510
    Artist: http://incompetech.com/ 

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    38 min
  • Ep 30: A Crow Left of the Attempted Murder

    A crow tampers with a crime scene - TWICE; Nikola Tesla’s obsession with pigeons, and are you liable if your murder of crows commits murder?
    Support the show
    Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! 
    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2 

    Visit BewilderbeastsPod.com for all episodes and bonus content. Don't forget to rate, review and share with your friends! 

    Resources
    Canuck the Crow: 

    The Dodo on Canuck

    Vancouver is Awesome

    CBC News

    Audobon.org

     National Geographic

    Nikola Tesla's Pigeon Obsession
     https://www.historytoday.com/archive/first-execution-electric-chair

    Badass Of The Week

    Oatmeal Comic

    PBS

    Britannica

    Huffpost

    Business Insider

    Smithsonian

    Tesla Universe

    LiveScience

    YouTube

    Smithsonian Mag

    Sawbones Podcast From MaxFun

    Forbes

    No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast

    Murder of Crows

    Reddit Thread

    PBS

    NatGeo

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    32 min
  • Ep 29: The Harbormaster

    Today,  Melissa covers the legendary Andre the Seal from Rockport, Maine.  Additional topics include slugs who decapitate their own heads and regrow bodies for survival, and alligators turn into popsicles to survive freezing water. 

    Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! 
    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2 

    Support the show (https://paypal.me/muttstuff)  and visit BewilderbeastsPod.com for all episodes and bonus content. Don't forget to rate, review and share with your friends!

    Resources for today's episode:

    Self-decapitating sea slugs who use chloroplasts and regrow entire bodies:
     https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/science/decapitated-sea-slugs.html

    Andre the Seal:
    https://newengland.com/today/travel/maine/portland/andre-the-seal/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_the_Seal

    https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/21/us/andre-the-seal-dies-in-maine-delighted-tourists-for-years.html

    https://www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org/pbho-1/collection/andre-seal

    https://ournewenglandlegends.com/podcast-177-harbor-master-andre-the-seal/

    https://bangordailynews.com/2014/08/05/news/midcoast/pbs-documentary-on-andre-the-seal-has-host-family-reminiscing-about-special-bond/

    https://apnews.com/article/8e0175f60802447116c597fa54c31d98 

    Alligator Popsicles:
     https://www.livescience.com/snorkeling-alligators-oklahoma.html#:~:text=Learn%20more-,Alligators%20in%20Oklahoma%20turn%20into%20'popsicles'%20sticking,out%20of%20the%20frozen%20water&text=Oklahomans%20came%20face%2Dto%2Dface,the%20American%20South%20this%20month.

    https://www.sciencealert.com/these-frozen-alligators-aren-t-dead-they-re-displaying-a-creepy-survival-strategy


     

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    27 min
  • Ep 28: The Flying Turtle Who Killed A Guy

    Naked mole rats can save humans, horses killed a lot of kings named Loius, and eagle killed a playwright with a turtle.

    Terry Pratchett's book, "Small Gods,"retells the story of the Eagle who killed Asechylus with a turtle. Other Podcasts mentioned in today's episode for kids who love science and animals:
    Varmints
    Just the Zoo of Us
    Wow in the World
    Earth Rangers
    Planthropology
    Strange Animals Podcast

    Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase!

    Resources:
    Naked Mole Rats
    https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/disparities

    https://www.who.int/news/item/12-05-2016-air-pollution-levels-rising-in-many-of-the-world-s-poorest-cities

    https://www.livescience.com/naked-mole-rats-have-seizures-without-carbon-dioxide.html.

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/naked-mole-rats-bathe-their-bodies-carbon-dioxide-prevent-seizures-180974798/

    Technology Networks 

    Livescience Video on Naked Mole Rats and CO2

    William III of Orange
    https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/king-william-iii-of-orange

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXvvbmpz5i0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx9N0mrTPtw 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_England

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_Revolution

     https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/king-william-iii-of-orange

    Aeschylus
    https://www.goldencharter.co.uk/news-and-info/2017/six-strange-deaths-from-history/

    https://www.cracked.com/article_16133_the-5-historical-figures-who-died-weirdest-deaths.html

    https://allthatsinteresting.com/embarrassing-celebrity-deaths/5

    Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz and Interstitial music is by MK2


     

    Support the show

    Intro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan Liebowicz
    Interstitial Music: MK2
    Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org 

    Instagram: @EggAndNugget (chicken stan account) or @MelissaMcCueMcGrath
    Website: BewilderBeastsPod.com
    Support the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPod
    Your host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)


    30 min

About BewilderBeasts!

From the publisher's feed

Host Melissa McCue-McGrath dives deep into the weirdest, funniest, sciency-est ways in which animals intersect at humanity. How is a horse responsible for the FDA? How did fish farts nearly cause…