Cool Facts About Animals

Latest Episodes:

Interview with a Jaguar (Bonus) Mar 02, 2019

Show notes

Ever wonder what makes Jaguar... well Jaguar? We dive deep into the mind behind the feline in this interview. We cover favorite foods, vacation spots, Thanksgiving carols (what?) and more in this bonus episode.

This is a bonus episode put out for our Patreon subscribers. We are sharing it on our regular feed with all our listeners so you can get a taste of some of the bonus footage you can get at the $5 level of support.

Thanks to our existing Patreon supporters, and thanks to those considering financially supporting us! Your contributions will help us get out in the field to interview animal experts and see animals in person.

You can find out more about how to financially support us, and the cool extras you can get here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals

Not everyone is able to financially support us, and that's okay! We thank all of our listeners for tuning in, writing reviews, drawing us pictures, writing in with suggestions, riddle and creature quiz answers, and more. You guys are all awesome!

Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow (Now back to the bonus episode)

Squirrels Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we speak to squirrel expert Amanda Robin, a PhD student at UCLA. She taught us about the fascinating world of squirrels, including how they decide to store or eat their nuts, what chunking is, and other cool facts about squirrels. THEN we have a "who would win" battle: squirrel v. rattlesnake. Think it's hands-down rattlesnake? Think again.

Thanks as always to Ear Snacks for our theme music. Send your creature quiz answers to us at coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or tweet us at @coolanimalspod.

Also we have a Patreon page. If you would like to financially support our podcast, please do so here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals

Duck-Billed Platypus Feb 09, 2019

Show notes

It's our most requested episode ever AND our most-answered riddle ever! You guessed it - it's the platypus.

This is one seriously cool animals you guys. I mean, how many venomous, egg-laying mammals do you know? Not many, right?

We dive into what makes platypuses so usual, discuss their super strange chromosomes, and talk about a recent discovery of a stegosaurs-platypus. Yup, no typos.

Special thanks to Samson and Dorothy, long-time listeners with an impressive amount of platypus knowledge!

Also special thanks to E.J. and all the other listeners who requested this episode, and who answered the riddle.

If you're interested in the sex chromosomes of platypuses (and let's be honest, who isn't), check out this video. The visuals are really helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nyAl7TipkI

Thanks as always to Andrew of the awesome podcast Ear Snacks for the theme music.

And please keep in touch - coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or Tweet us at @coolanimalspod

And support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals

Blue-Ringed Octopus Jan 27, 2019

Show notes

On this episode we are exploring the deadly but adorable blue-ringed octopus. This little guy is only the size of a golf ball, but has enough venom to kill 26 grown men in its saliva. We talk about symbiotic relationships, what its venom does, and, oh, zombie powder.

So many thanks to David, our newest Patreon sponsor! He's using his own pocket money to help support our show. You can support our show too! For more details, visit https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals

We love to hear from you – send us your creature quiz or riddle answer, or just send us a note. You can reach us at coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or on twitter at @coolanimalspod.

Thanks as always to Andrew of the awesome podcast Ear Snacks for our theme music!

Porcupines Jan 12, 2019

Show notes

It's our one-year anniversary! We are celebrating with an episode about... porcupines! Okay, it has nothing to do with our anniversary, but still... porcupines!

For this episode, we had a chance to go to the Oregon Zoo and meet with Bree Winchell, program animal staff and overall porcupine expert. Check out our pics of the animal encounter on our Twitter page (www.twitter.com/coolanimalspod)

If you'd like to hear more interviews with experts, please consider supporting us on our Patreon page (www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals). We will use funds from the page to help us travel to meet with other animal experts so that we can bring you more cool facts. We have lots of cool perks for your financial support, including magnets, notes, and shout-outs from your favorite CFAA host (human or otherwise).

We are also still doing our Kid Challenge. Send a picture of your kids with a bag of trash that he or she picked up from outside, and we will send a magnet and do a shout-out on the air for their help cleaning up the environment.

Thanks as always to Andrew of the podcast Earsnacks for our theme music!

Gray Whales with Oregon State Parks Ranger Luke Parsons Jan 01, 2019

Show notes

Ahoy, CFA listeners! We took a road trip to the Oregon Coast to meet with Luke Parsons, an interpretive ranger with Oregon State Parks and see the great gray whale migration. Over 20,000 of these school-bus sized whales pass by the Oregon coast around this time of year. We even got to see one! And we learned lots of cool stuff about them.

Want to hear more cool interviews? Support us on Patreon! We have lots of cool perks for supporting us, including shout-outs, outtakes access, and more.

Not able to financially support us? Take part in our Kid Challenge and pick up a bag of trash from the environment around you. Let us know, and we'll thank you on air. Email us at coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or tweet us at @coolanimalspod

Happy New Year!

Bonus! Interview with Oregon Zoo Expert Travis Koons About Condors! Dec 16, 2018

Show notes

How cool would it be to get a chance to bring a species back from the brink of extinction? Travis Koons of the Oregon Zoo tells us all about it in this bonus interview episode.

We were honored to have been asked to join the crew of the upcoming Oregon Wild podcast for this episode. We will let you know when their first episode launches. We cannot wait.

Thanks again to Oregon Wild, the Oregon Zoo, and Andrew of Ear Snacks for our theme music!

California Condors Dec 16, 2018

Show notes

This bird isn't cool just because its wingspan rivals the length of a grizzly bar on its hind paws. Nope, this bird battled its way back from the brink of extinction - just 22 in the wild to now close to 500 in the wild and in captivity. We talk about what makes this bird so awesome, and the rescue efforts behind it, in this episode. Be sure to also check out our episode right next to this in your feed where we interview Travis Koons of the Oregon Zoo. THANK YOU to Oregon Wild for bringing us along to the zoo with them.

And thank you as always to Andrew of Ear Snacks for our theme music!

Also guys - be sure to check out the podcast Species if you have serious animal lovers. The show is super awesome.

Want to answer our creature quiz! Awesome! Send us your answers at coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or on twitter at @coolanimalspod

Blue Whale Expert Bruce Mate Dec 04, 2018

Show notes

We were so honored to get a chance to Skype with Dr. Bruce Mate of Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute. He is the expert on marine mammals, including blue whales. We learned so much from him, and had such a good time talking about all things whales - from his ground-breaking research to touching whale poop. (Yes, we go there.)

Be sure to listen to this episode along with our stand-alone episode on blue whales.

Thanks to Andrew or Ear Snacks for our theme music!

Blue whales Dec 04, 2018

Show notes

This episode is part of a double episode. Be sure to check out our interview with Dr. Bruce Mate of Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute too!

In this episode, we dive into the big world of blue whales. Not only are they the biggest animal to have ever lived - like EVER - there are so many other cool things about them. We discuss their migration, sounds, diet, and even ear wax. We also add some of our conversation with Dr. Mate into this episode. It's one of our favorites so far - give it a listen!

Our riddle might have been a little hard to understand this week, so here it is:

Don't let the name fool you – you don't want this animal around your finger

If you see one, you definitely don't want to linger!

If you see its colors show

You won't want to know

The rest

Run the best

You can

Away!

Send your answers to coolfactsaboutanimals@gmail.com or tweet us at @coolanimalspod.

Thank you again to Dr. Bruce Mate, and thank you as always to Andrew of the podcast Ear Snacks for our theme music!