BewilderBeasts!

Latest Episodes:

Ep 36: Banning The Toxic Lipstick Aisle May 09, 2021

Show notes

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
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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 :)

Ep 35: The Army That Lost To Emus May 02, 2021

Show notes

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

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Ep 34: Bring Out Your Dead! Apr 25, 2021

Show notes

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

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Ep 33: Ann Harvey, Hairy Man, and the Island Of The Dead Apr 18, 2021

Show notes

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)

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Ep 32: The Dolphin of Dingle Bay Apr 11, 2021

Show notes

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/

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BONUS: The Cow Who Gave Us Libraries Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

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: Bewilderbeastspod@gmail.com
Twitter: @BewilderedPod
Instagram: Bewilderbeasts
Facebook: BewilderBeastsPod

Support the show

Ep 31: Bears, Bees, Battlestar Galactica Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

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.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/

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Ep 30: A Crow Left of the Attempted Murder Mar 28, 2021

Show notes

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

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

Badass Of The Week
Oatmeal Comic

Tesla Universe
LiveScience

YouTube

Smithsonian Mag

Sawbones Podcast From MaxFun

Forbes

No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast

Murder of Crows

Ep 29: The Harbormaster Mar 21, 2021

Show notes

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

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Ep 28: The Flying Turtle Who Killed A Guy Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

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