BewilderBeasts!

Latest Episodes:

Ep 18: Side Effects Of Toad Licking Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

Today on Bewilderbeasts Melissa explores Australia's hallucinogenic toads, New Zealand calls "fowl" in voter fraud, and a Salem, Massachusetts, landmark has its roots in animal history.
Let’s go!
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Send in your topic ideas!

BewilderbeastsPod@gmail.com
TWITTER : @BewilderedPod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BewilderBeastsPod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewilderbeasts/
About your host:
Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA, is a science-based dog trainer outside of Boston, MA, and author of the book, "Considerations for the City Dog". She has a dog training channel on YouTube with free classes and lessons for anyone who is interested in positive reinforcement dog training. More about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
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Intro Music:: Tiptoe out the Back” by Dan Lebowicz
Interstitial music: MK2
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends - you know, all the things the other podcasts tell you to do?
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I got today's information :

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/14/934749679/for-the-birds-voter-fraud-ruffles-new-zealand-bird-of-the-year-competition

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-true-story-behind-plymouth-rock-639690/

https://www.patriotledger.com/article/20120823/NEWS/308239750

https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/what-s-in-a-name-e8a1366f Dead Horse Beach

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/c/cane-toad/

https://arizonaaddictioncenter.org/toad-licking-trend/

https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-toad-licking-gets-you-high-and-then-kills-you-1642946043

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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 17: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: BewilderBeasts REMIX Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

For the last episode of the year, Melissa reviews all the creatures we talked about in a not-so-classic retelling of Clement Clarke Moore's, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", but with more dogs, swearing parrots and an exploding whale.
If you make your own version of this, please feel free to send it in or have your littles record their versions in the Voice Chat feature on Facebook Messenger at Bewilderbeasts Pod on Facebook.

Send in your topic ideas via:

Intro Music: “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz
Interstitial music: MK2
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends - you know, all the things the other podcasts tell you to do!

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas

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Ep 16: OK, Boomer Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Today, Melissa explores other customs, like the "Boomers" who pull Santa's sled in Australia, how a video game about animals has given a place for practicing Muslims to find community in a pandemic, and what a confused Rooster has to do with Christmas in the Philippines.
Let’s go!
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Send in your topic ideas!

https://onekindplanet.org/christmas-animals-around-world/

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

https://tinyurl.com/dailymailboomer

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28094561

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/23286976

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calendar
https://tinyurl.com/nationalnewsquraninsects

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emaoconnor/animal-crossing-ramadan-2020-eid-celebration-coronavirus

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/05/15/ramadan-animal-crossing/

https://slate.com/technology/2020/05/what-even-is-animal-crossing.html

https://www.al-islam.org/animals-welfare-acts-and-utilization-limits-islam-saeid-nazari-tavakkoli

Special thanks to @PasturesPolitic who took the time to help me find reputable sources on Islam. Thank you so very much for helping me out :)

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Ep 15: Christmas Carol Creatures Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

Today on Bewilderbeasts, Melissa explores two popular Christmas Songs: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the 12 Days of Christmas. Why are the reindeer named “Donder and Blitzen?”; when DID Santa decide to go with reindeer instead of a nice mustang? And, we’re going to figure out why on EARTH someone’s true love gave them all those dang birds.
Send in your topic ideas via:

BewilderbeastsPod@gmail.com
TWITTER: @BewilderedPod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BewilderBeastsPod (DM, voice text or comment)
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bewilderbeasts/
About your host:
Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA, is a science-based dog trainer outside of Boston, MA, and author of the book, "Considerations for the City Dog". She has a dog training channel on YouTube that has free classes and lessons for anyone who is interested in positive reinforcement dog training. More about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
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Intro Music: “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz
Interstitial music: MK2
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends - you know, all the things the other podcasts tell you to do!
*****
I got today's information from:
https://onekindplanet.org/christmas-animals-around-world/

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/reindeer-games/

https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/female-reindeer/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus%27s_reindeer

https://tinyurl.com/livesciencereindeerfacts

https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2015/12/reindeer_names_origins.html

https://tinyurl.com/nprrudolph

https://tinyurl.com/businessinsiderflyingreindeers

https://tinyurl.com/FDAreindeerfacts

(Alaska department of fish and game) https://tinyurl.com/AlaskaDFGreindeer

https://tinyurl.com/mentalfloss12days

https://tinyurl.com/triblivecostof12daysofchristma
Trulia.com
https://www.vox.com/2015/12/25/10661878/12-days-of-christmas-explained

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Ep 14: The Little Snot House That Could Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

Today Melissa discusses the rats of the Black Plague who got a bad rap ; the tiniest, but mightiest, snot house of the sea, and a common house pet who is banned from Queensland, Australia.
Let’s go!
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If you have ideas for future episodes, know of historical animals who changed the world, animals who help humans, animals with a misunderstood history, or wacky animals in the news, send them in to:

bewilderbeastspod@gmail.com
@BewilderedPod on TWITTER
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BewilderBeastsPod
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/bewilderbeasts/
About your host:
Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA, is a science-based dog trainer outside of Boston, MA, and author of the book, "Considerations for the City Dog". She has a dog training channel on YouTube that has free classes and lessons for anyone who is interested in positive reinforcement dog training. More about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
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Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz
Interstitial music is by MK2
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends - you know, all the things the other podcasts tell you to do?
*****
I got today's information on the Black Plague (Black Death), the giant larvaceans and rabbits being banned from Queensland, Australia from the following sources:

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/549005147 (Wow in the World transcript for the episode referenced)
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world is the link to the podcast

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/dont-blame-rats-spreading-black-death
https://www.livescience.com/61444-black-death-cause-found-transmission.html

https://www.earthtouchnews.com/conservation/human-impact/meet-the-giant-oceanic-mucous-creature-that-eats-plastic/

https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/larvacean-life-the-surprise-ocean-giants-of-global-carbon-capture/

https://www.shapeoflife.org/news/featured-creature/2017/08/26/giant-larvacean-bathochordaeus

https://www.seeker.com/earth/animals/giant-larvaceans-sweep-up-and-poop-out-plastic-waste-in-the-oceans

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/57780/keeping-rabbits-as-pets.pdf

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/817905023/overview/

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Ep 13: Sergeant Stubby Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

We’re going to talk about a frisky feline who left her prints ALL over history, a mutt who was promoted to sergeant in WW1 and a snake who sent a man to a hospital hours after the snake was beheaded.
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If there are topics you would be interested hearing about on the podcast, know of any historical animals who changed the world, animals who help humans, or wacky animals in the news, send them in to:
bewilderbeastspod@gmail.com
Tweet @bewilderedpod
BewilderbeastsPod on Facebook
@bewilderbeasts on Instagram

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

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends.
Thanks for listening!

I’m Melissa McCue-McGrath with Muttstuff media, author of Considerations for the City Dog

Now, go get curious!

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https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/05/dogs-of-war-sergeant-stubby-the-u-s-armys-original-and-still-most-highly-decorated-canine-soldier.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sergeant-stubby

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

https://guhoyas.com/sports/2018/6/6/trads-gu-hoya-html.aspx

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvNyvYjhw5/?igshid=hzermmk4pogs

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/3/130326-animals-medieval-manuscript-books-cats-history/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-a-cat-walked-across-this-medieval-manuscript-1766202/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/06/texas-man-bit-decapitated-rattlesnake-venom-animals/

https://www.boredpanda.com/cute-snakes-hats/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SnakesWithHats/

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Ep 12: The Parachuting Yorkie Saves The Day! Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Smoky the 4# dog hero of WW2, a boy who solved the puzzle of the missing Lemur, and a national weather service announcement about falling frozen iguanas!

Welcome to Bewilderbeasts! Today, we’re going to talk about a 4 Pound Dog who was the hero of World War II, a 5 year-old boy who solved the case of the missing lemur, and a national weather service announcement about falling frozen iguanas.

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

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends.
Thanks for listening!

I’m Melissa McCue-McGrath with Muttstuff media, author of Considerations for the City Dog

Now, go get curious!

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https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/theres-a-lemur-5-year-old-helps-crack-sf-zoo-theft-case/article_131c4c70-6019-5a98-9d9d-59ad9cad1ae3.html

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Kids-got-close-encounter-with-escaped-lemur-15653962.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_(dog)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/5/140520-dogs-war-canines-soldiers-military-healing-yorkshire-terrier-smoky/

https://mashable.com/article/stolen-lemur-san-francisco-zoo-safe/

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

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maki-lemur-stolen-san-francisco-zoo-found-safe-nearby-city-n1243680

https://apnews.com/article/lemur-theft-san-francisco-zoo-962bb0064c2129c8da75cf4f5780b11b

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51203724

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160308-how-one-squirrel-manages-to-survive-being-frozen

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Ep 11: Why Goats Want To Drink Your Pee Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to Bewilderbeasts! Today, we’re going to talk about the sloooooooooooowest two minutes in sports, why goats got banned from a national park, and how lobsters pee out of their faces.

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

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends.
Thanks for listening!

I’m Melissa McCue-McGrath with Muttstuff media, author of Considerations for the City Dog

Now, go get curious!

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https://www.forksforum.com/life/wildlife-3

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/goats-thirsting-for-human-pee-sweat_n_5bb26adfe4b0e2960fc5d25f
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/science/mountain-goats-urine-pee-glacier-national-park-montana.html

https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/flying-goats-washington-national-park-relocation

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/world-snail-racing-championship_n_5b57a9ace4b0b15aba9349b4

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

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57241/25-delicious-facts-about-lobsters#:~:text=Lobsters%20pee%20out%20of%20their,glands%20located%20near%20the%20antennae.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGc8afSBR_r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11562054#:~:text=A%20hiker%20has%20died%20after,Ridge%20in%20Olympic%20National%20Park.

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Ep 10: The Dogs Who Saved A Town At The End Of The World Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to Bewilderbeasts! Today, we’re going to talk about Balto and Togo who saved a town from a diphtheria outbreak, a hero rat saving people from unexploded bombs, and some bizarre animal laws around the United States that are still - somehow - on the books.

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

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends.
Thanks for listening!

I’m Melissa McCue-McGrath with Muttstuff media, author of Considerations for the City Dog

Now, go get curious!

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https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/25/asia/hero-rat-landmines-award-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161014-in-1925-a-remote-town-was-saved-from-lethal-disease-by-dogs

https://www.nps.gov/people/togo.htm

https://www.cmnh.org/balto

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome

https://www.bandofcats.com/15-strange-and-funny-cat-laws/

https://www.pawculture.com/for-fun/weird-pet-news/the-weirdest-animal-laws-in-america/

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Ep 9: Political Animals Special Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

With 6 days before the 2020 national election in America, Melissa talks about animals in politics, including a berserker bunny who nearly sunk President Jimmy Carter's boat), why the two parties use a donkey and an elephant for representation, and animals who became town mayors in Vermont.
Let's go!

https://www.vote.org/

If you have ideas for future episodes, have an animal on your ballot, know of historical animals who changed the world, animals who help humans, or wacky animals in the news, send them in to:

bewilderbeastspod@gmail.com
@BewilderedPod on TWITTER
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BewilderBeastsPod
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/bewilderbeasts/
About your host:
Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA, is a dog trainer outside of Boston, MA, and author of the book, "Considerations for the City Dog". She has a dog training channel on YouTube that has free classes and lessons for anyone who is interested in positive reinforcement dog training. More about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com
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Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz
Interstitial music is by MK2
Taps this week is played by Andrew Dale via Freesound.org
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, review and share with your curious friends - you know, all the things the other podcasts tell you to do? And, for the love of animals and humanity - VOTE.
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https://www.livescience.com/34241-democratic-republican-parties-switch-platforms.html

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/23805/how-did-donkey-elephant-become-political-mascots

https://www.wpr.org/how-did-us-political-parties-get-their-mascots

https://www.dictionary.com/e/political-parties-animal-mascots/

https://www.history.com/news/how-did-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-get-their-animal-symbols

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/01/us/goat-dog-honorary-mayor-election-vermont-town-trnd/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/FairHavenPoliceDepartment/photos/a.256838401067240/2785016208249434/

https://preview.tinyurl.com/kupohwe (Wikipedia)
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y53jeaot (Washington Post)
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y6buvhsd (CNN)
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yxrdsr9w (Burlington Express)

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