Into The Wild

This week we are all about sharks, and to be honest, when shouldn't we be about sharks? They are epic. Even better, we are talking to an expert. Marine conservation biologist, Dr David Shiffman from Washington DC, joined me for a chat about our shared loved of these marine predators.

From where to find them, how they eat, how old some can get all the way on how to save them, David goes into some expert detail on the real struggles sharks face & what options we should be open to in order to continue to save these wonderful animals.

If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects & shows that David is working on, you can do so on Twitter & Instagram @WhySharksMatter & follow the hashtag #BestShark

There is an article mentioned in this episode about shark conservation & policy, this can be found here: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acv.12265 

Get in touch on social media, @intothewildpod. Whether it's just to say hello, share some thoughts on an episode or even to let me know you'd like to hear about next! 

I love chatting about wildlife but one part that I enjoy even more is chatting about wildlife I don't know much about. This week I spoke with Sean McCann. A biologist & scientist across the Atlantic in Nova Scotia, Canada who works in the field getting up close to the native wildlife.

From the animals of Nova Scotia & the threats they are facing, to Sean's latest project, beach spider surveying, we covered many topics about wildlife, nature & sustainability. It's easy to get trapped in a UK bubble, so when talking about environmental movements in Canada, it was exciting to hear what is happening & what different priorities there are compared to life here in the UK.

If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects, & shows that Sean is working on, you can do so on Twitter @ibycter 

Don't forget to subscribe to us & say hello on social media, @intothewildpod

One question animal lovers ALWAYS get asked as a kid is "so....do you want to be a vet?" For me the answer was always "nah, not really" & for a long time that was also the same answer for Dr Jess French, until, after completing her Zoology degree, went into the work of veterinary.

Highs, lows & challenges, Jess tells us all about life as a vet & some unique moments she faced while complete veterinary work in different zoos around the world.

When Jess isn't saving or treating animals, she's instilling the love of them through her words. This year alone Jess has 3 books coming out & a big focus on these is waste reduction & sustainability. We talk about the steps to take & how even the smallest change, can have a huge impact.

If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects, books & shows that Jess is working on, you can do so on Twitter & Instagram, @Zoologist_Jess 

Don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes, Podbean & Spotify . You can also get in touch on social media, @intothewildpod. Whether it's just to say hello, share some thoughts on an episode or even to let me know you'd like to hear about next! 

Snot, poo & farts. These three things, in my opinion, will always be funny, but the what else can learn from them?

On this week's episode I speak with author & Dr of African wild dogs,  Dani Rabaiotti. After writing 3 books, Does it fart, True or Poo & Believe or Snot, Dani knows all about the gross side of nature & how it can grab people's attention.

Dani has also completed a PHD looking into the affects of climate change on African wild dogs, specifically their behaviour. We talk about what has changed, how they have adapted & what is being done to save these animals.

Finally climate change itself. A quick chat on what is actually going on & can all animals, including ourselves, adapt quick enough.

If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects & shows that Dani is working on, you can do so on Twitter & Instagram, @danirabaiotti

Does it fart, True or Poo & Believe or Snot are also available from all major book stores & online.

Our last few shows have been focused on local wildlife & different ways to attract it & maintain it in order to help nature, however, on this episode, we discuss with author of 365 Days Wild & Campaigner, Lucy McRobert, how nature can help us & the importance of its role in regards to mental health.

When talking about how her love for wildlife began, Lucy explained how her passion for nature & wildlife was 'toned down' in her teens due to social pressures of fitting in, something that she also explained still very much exists today in some areas. However this bulb was switched back on when getting into twitching, something I had never heard of but now, I've made Lucy promise to take me!

It's been scientifically proven that nature & access to green space improves someone's mental health. Lucy explained how it's more than just going for a walk. Using the senses from touch, smell, sound & even taste (safety first though) can make the experience so much greater & connect you more to the area you're in. We both agreed that being around wildlife & nature, is essentially, a kind of therapy.

 If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects & shows that Lucy is working on, you can do so on Twitter (@LucyMcRobert1) & Instagram, (@WildlyLucy).

Lucy's book, 365 Days Wild is also available from her website, www.365dayswild.com or at all major book stores/online.

Don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes, Spotify & Podbean . You can also get in touch on social media, @intothewildpod.

On this week's show we speak to wildlife presenter Kate MaCrae, better known as Wildlife Kate, about accessible, cheap & easy ways to attract wildlife into your garden!

Kate's passion & enthusiasm for wildlife has led her to discover such creative ways to provide for nature in your garden some by simply reusing items. Not only saving on waste but then also making interaction with wildlife accessible for anyone, these projects have been hugely popular, especially during the current lockdown.

Kate is a great educator & from talking to her, it's easy to see why. We spoke about the importance of getting the youth involved in outdoors learning & what positive affects this can have on them (& nature) later in life. However, it's not just schools that Kate has worked in, she has taken her knowledge to TV. Appearing on BBC's Springwatch, Autumnwatch & Countryfile, Kate shows what kind of wildlife is turning up in her garden using the secret camera traps.

If you'd like to keep in touch with Kate's future projects or shows you can do so by following her on Twitter & Instagram (@katemacrae). To find out more about Kate's lockdown wildlife challenges, visit https://www.wildlifekate-alfrescowild.co.uk/

People attracting wildlife into their gardens has never been more important & on this weeks show we spoke with presenter & ornithologist Dan Rouse to discuss not only how to cater for wildlife at home, but also why it is so important.

Dan's interest in wildlife started as a child, at home in the garden with her father. Building the first nest box, erecting that first bird bath & creating the first feeding station. Skip forward 20 years & the same garden is now a heaven for wildlife. With 15 feeding stations & numerous nesting boxes, there is a huge variety of native nature only 15 ft from Dan's house.

This episode is packed full of tips on how we can do the same yet Dan also explains it's not always about quantity. Every small addition can help nature & usually, animals will figure it out on their own.

If you'd like to keep up to date with what projects & shows Dan is working on, you can follow her on Twitter & Instagram (@DanERouse).

Thanks so much for tuning in & enjoy the show.

On this week's show i spoke author & manager of The Museum of Zoology at Cambridge University, Jack Ashby.

Jack knows his museums well & it was a pleasure to chat with him about what kind of things we can learn from visiting these rooms of education. It's not just what you read on the signs that can tell you about the animals. From conservation status, air pollution & even about the taxidermist themselves, there's a huge list of what these animals can tell us.

We also touched on a passion of Jack's, and that's Australian mammals, in particularly the platypus & the wombat & spoke about the recent fires in Australia & what impact this is going to have on these animals.

Thanks again for tuning in to Into the wild. If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects & shows that Jack is working on, you can do so on Twitter, @JackDAshby.

Don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes and twitter & leave a review. You can also get in touch on social media, @intothewildpod. Until next time, keep well, stay safe & live the good life.

Trying to find wildlife can often be a grueling task. Hours spent outside searching, waiting & often relying on luck to see anything, let alone catch it on camera. For wildlife filmmaker & presenter Billy Heaney (@BillyHeaney), the difficulties have almost been removed.

Specialising in camera traps, Billy knows how to get that wild & in the moment shot, without having to sit out & wait or disturbing the scene. In this episode he recounts the moment of a near miss with a Black Bear & his off the cuff trip to Jura in Scotland where he managed to see Grouse, Otters & even a Golden Eagle.

Billy is also an ambassador for a marine charity organisation, Marine Life UK (MARINElife_UK). An organisation dedicated to preserving & conserving the UK's rich & delicate ocean life. From fish, sharks & inverts to whales, seals & birds, Billy tells us all about the diversity of marine life around the UK.

Thanks for tuning in & don't forget to subscribe on iTunes & leave a review of the show. You can also get in touch on social media @intothewildpod.

 What makes an insect social? Find out from a man who has spent A LOT of time studying such creatures.

On this week's show I spoke with biologist, broadcaster & author, Professor Adam Hart. Adam's career has taken him around the world studying all kinds of animals, however, we promised each other a chat about bugs. From being in the field himself to setting up an active data study, The Big Wasp Survey (@bigwaspsurvey), Adam has dedicated a large chunk of his career in researching the creepy crawlies that many out there would not like to be around.

If you're a fan of Ants, Wasps & Bees, this show is for you!

If you'd like to keep up to date with Adam's projects & shows, you can do so by following him on Twitter & Instagram, @AdamHartScience.

Thanks for tuning in & enjoy the show!