In this episode, guest host Lauren Novack (MS, ACDBC, KPA-CTP, FPPE) interviews Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) about ethology, working in wildlife conservation, and lessons learned from training exotic species. We discuss:

• The ethological perspective on animal behavior
• Functional breeding 
• Being a trainer at Central Park Zoo and an ecologist for NYC
• Lessons learned from training exotic species 

Ferdie's bio:
Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is the host of Behavior Vets' "Worry Less, Wag More" podcast and the Director of Shelter & Community Outreach. He has an MA in Conservation Biology from Columbia University and a BS in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan. Ferdie was a zookeeper and trainer both the Central Park Zoo and Bronx Zoo from 2002 to 2005, and trained dozens of exotic species including California sea lions, river otters, Arctic foxes and polar bears. He is the Staff Trainer at the Humane Society of Westchester and an instructor at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. Ferdie studies urban coyote behavior and population dynamics with the Gotham Coyote Project.

Links:
More about Lauren Novack
More about Ferdie Yau

Gotham Coyote Project
NYC Coyote Diet Study
Evidence of variable dog genetic ancestry influencing coyote behavior in NYC?

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