The Wild Life

An unexpected turn of events, a last-minute decision, and here we are! This week, we revisit an oldie but a goodie as we preview what is to come. Next week is The Fungus Among Us Part I, and the following week will be a double whammy: Part II and our first #CitizenScienceFriday! Thank you for being patient while we work to make sure you get the awesome episodes that you deserve!

Read more and see images of the find here: https://thewildlife.blog/2018/09/06/this-ghostly-parasitic-plant-survives-by-hacking-the-wood-wide-web/

This creature is one of the oldest living animals in existence, it shoots a death slime out of its face, and drinks it’s prey up like a smoothie. They're one of the coolest creatures on 20+ legs--- I’m talking about, of course, the Velvet Worm. Hold onto your butts, you’re about to get a whole face full of velvety worm.

***CORRECTION*** As it turns out, there are actually currently just about 200 species identified. The 700 number mentioned is referring to some reports that identify 700 as a possible *actual* amount of species.

Check out a video of one in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8TgD6-7kg

Follow our special guest, Tia Freeman, at @theausbiologist on Twitter and Instagram

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Links mentioned in the breaks:

Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC.org)

thewildlife.blog/iNaturalist

and hikehoppers.org

If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming hikes, visit

https://thewildlife.blog/hike/

Follow Devon on Instagram @devonthenatureguy or on Twitter @devthenatureguy

Follow the official blog and podcast pages on Instagram @thewildlife.blog and on FB.

Join our official FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheWildLife.Blog/

This months donation is going to Armand Bayou Nature Center. A link to check them out can be found earlier in the description.

Nothing is ever as it seems. Get ready for a tangled web of semantics and systematics!

To read the blog version and see the video mentioned, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2019/07/09/when-a-spider-isnt-a-spider/

If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming hikes, visit

https://thewildlife.blog/hike/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

If you live in the north, you almost definitely know we have frogs, but how do they survive the winter?

If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming hikes, visit

https://thewildlife.blog/hike/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

How do Pelican beaks work? How much can they fit in their pouch? How do Pelicans hunt? I've got the answers to those and more!

To read the blog version and see the video mentioned, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2018/07/07/pelicans-are-fly/

If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming hikes, visit

https://thewildlife.blog/hike/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

Sources:

BirdLife International. 2016. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22697611A93624242. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697611A93624242.en. Downloaded on 07 July 2018.

BirdLife International. 2016. Pelecanus occidentalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22733989A95071744. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22733989A95071744.en. Downloaded on 07 July 2018.

Knopf, Fritz L. and Roger M. Evans. 2004. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA

Sibley, D. A. (2016). The Sibley guide to birds, second edition. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, USA.

Toe-Biter, Electric-Light Bug, Alligator-Tick; people have come up with many names for the fascinating critter. It’s actual name is perhaps the most boring—the Giant Water Bug. They are the largest of the ‘true bugs’ and belong to the Belostomatidae family of insects.

To read the blog version and see the video mentioned, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2018/06/02/the-electric-light-loving-scuba-diving-toe-biting-giant-water-bug/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

This week, it’s time to bust some myths, bow down in awe, and learn something new about the biggest birds outside of Sesame Street.

To read the blog version and see an ostrich dance an some adorable babies, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2019/06/27/get-your-head-out-of-the-sand-ostriches-are-actually-pretty-amazing/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

As promised, here is a link to the first study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2019.1605521

and here is one to the story about ostrich penis evolution: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ostrich-penis-study-evolution_n_1140105?guccounter=1

This time of year, a spin on a classic joke about a chicken comes to life as thousands of turtles are seen crossing roadways and trails, leading many to wonder, “why?” and “how can I help do it safely?”. Well, here's the answer to both!

To read the blog version, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2018/06/07/its-turtle-time-how-you-can-help-turtles-cross-roads-safely/

As promised, here is the link to check out HerpMapper

https://www.herpmapper.org/

Become a patron (and our best friend), and get tons of cool perks at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

Why do seagulls hang out in parking lots? Do seagulls even exist? Why are they always after my fries?!?!?! Find out in this short episode of #TheWildLife

To read the blog version, visit https://thewildlife.blog/2018/08/09/gulls-and-the-concrete-sea/

Become a patron (and our best friend) at www.patreon.com/TheWildLife and help us to keep doing what we are doing and getting better!

Follow us on instagram at instagram.com/devonthenatureguy and instagram.com/thewildlife.blog

#TheWildLife is setting out on new horizons. Now not only is our show available wherever you get your podcast, but starting September 1st, we will be releasing new episodes every single Friday! Each month will have a shorter episode by Devon, an hour+ episode with a special expert guest, a shorter episode by Richard, and a new series we are super excited about—#CitSciFri! Citizen Science Friday will feature an expert guest to showcase a new and exciting opportunity for you to get involved in science as an everyday person. For more information on our future plans and how you can be a part of it, visit patreon.com/thewildlife .

Stay tuned for a new short this Friday on seagulls, whether or not they exist, and why they love parking lots so much!