Keeper Chat

Think you're busier than a beaver? Think again.   This week we answer questions like: why do beavers build dams? what's up with those orange teeth? why are they so pivotal to an ecosystem? what do they think about their neighbors? and why are people obsessed with their castoreum?

Time for your regularly scheduled dose of even toed ungulate. Let's chat about a dry kinda guy. And before you come @ us check out Sahara Conservation Fund if you're interested in helping these dudes out, Flora forgot to mention it in the episode....   But we do mention stuff like: Where are addax found? How many are left in the wild? How many are found in captivity? Is hunting weird or nah? Is it...

Here is part 2 of 2 where we talk about our past zookeeping experiences. If you're new to the game, Flora and Fauna have roughly 19 years of zoo experience between them and recently left the field for other pursuits. These episodes will be a deep dive into our rationale behind leaving such a coveted career field, how we knew it was time to go, and what led us to that decision. BIG DISCLAIMER: we h...

Hey hey heyyy Grime Family! You've been asking for this one for a long time and we finally got around to it. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode wherein we talk all about our zookeeping experiences - the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you're new to the game, Flora and Fauna have roughly 19 years of zoo experience between them and recently left the field for other pursuits. These episodes will be a...

This episode is chaotic, but, when are they not. Flora's mom makes a brief appearance. But we mostly talk about a BUG. This one is weird, he gave up on flight, and became an Olympian, but he paid the price.   So what's up with tiger beetles? How many subspecies of tiger beetle are they? Do they have mustaches? Do they have bones? How fast can the fastest tiger beetle run? Do we want to go to the p...

Meet the only big cat native to the Americas! (Mountain lions, don't @ us, you're not included in this) This week learn all about the Jaguar and get answers to questions like: What is an obligate carnivore? How do jaguars hunt? What are the differences between Jaguars, Leopards, and Cheetahs? Are all cats just really big idiots? What is a melanistic color variant and how do black panthers fit into...

KC coming at ya with a weird bird! I mean, all birds are kinda weird but this one takes the cake. Also maybe someone call Flora a doctor. She needs help.   We chat about things like, What makes a hoatzin so weird? Where are they found? Do hoatzin share similarities with cows? Would we rather go flying or eat pizza? If there was a really bad horrific world ending event, what would we like it to be?...

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! Are you some of the blessed few who are experiencing Brood X right now? If so, we're jealous. This week we learn about the Cicada, a man of many talents.   Ever wonder why cicadas spend most of their life underground? Or why when they emerge en masse they seem like a horror movie monster? What about their resonating chamber butts? Can they really cause hearing damage? Does...

It's time for another Quick and Dirty! This time we get asked about a touchy subject. What do you do when your management/peers/coworkers hate the animals you work with? How can you convince them that they have the wrong attitude? What if your management sucks? Well, boy o boy, do we have the answer for you. Tune in to hear how best to tell everyone to sit and spin.

A little yucky man...what more could you want? He craves the best of both worlds and exists in all words. Say hello to Hannah Montana, the Last Airbender.   This week we learn about mudskippers, an amphibious fish with an identity crisis. How does he thermoregulate? Are his eyeballs a headband and where can I get one? Why does he have secret bonus fins that make him look jacked? How does he regula...

It's the biggest animal to have ever lived ever in the history of ever. That's insane. Tune in to learn more about this big wet thing! We chat about our love for Kristen Stewart, feeding poles, and the Apple Bottom Boys. The whale lives in the ocean, filter feeds, and moves kinda slow. How many school buses is a blue whale? What hunts blue whales? Are blue whales an endangered species? Can someone...

It's an eel! It's a noodle! No, it's actually a sinister cartilaginous tube, grow up.   This week we answer your burning questions about the lamprey, including: what is up with this tube boy? Why are some lampreys parasitic carnivores and others peaceful angels? Are the dots on the sides of their face gill pores or very cool edgy facial piercings? How powerful is their suck? What is a buccal gland...

Fair warning, this has absolutely zero interesting animal facts in it. Come learn about the consequences for your actions.   We also chat about things like: Is there anything even interesting about the umbrellabird? Where are they found? When is Christmas John coming for me? Can I escape it?

Why ANYONE would come to us for advice on making a good first impression is baffling. But that's exactly what we discuss in this week's Quick and Dirty!   We answer: how to make a good first impression at a new job and how to build relationships with new coworkers?   We also talk more about prostates than you'd think.

We are on a wet roll, keep them coming. This is basically a Godzilla episode, take that as you will.   We answer burning questions like: Is Madagascar the Galapagos Islands? Are we fighting with Dad? What do marine iguanas eat? How does warm reptile boy go into cold water land? If we were in the Little Mermaid would we make the same choice as Ariel?

Time to play the training game! Everyone dig up your clickers, whistles, target poles, and fave treats, this week's Q&D is all about training! We're gonna give you the HOT TIPS needed to finally teach your caterpillar how to do a push up.   We answer the questions: what are the basics of animal training and what are some of Flora & Fauna's favorite zoo training stories?

Yeah, it's Nemo, we get it. We are getting our fish numbers up, back to back wet boys.   Lets get to the nitty gritty: Where are clownfish found? How many species are there? Was Marlin from Finding Nemo supposed to be Nemo's mom? Why do these things live inside other things? Why don't they get stung by the anenome?

Possibly the most aptly named animal out there, this week is all about the Puffer fish!   Have you ever wanted to know: How does a puffer fish puff? Why are his lips so luscious? Is the puffer fish Agatha Christie's most infamous literary murderer? Who needs a stomach when you can become a globe? Tetrodotoxin - what is that? What qualities are *required* in Flora's ideal partner? What is GOING ON...

This ugly little turtle has got a big hill to climb. One of the most endangered species is also very ugly, but that doesn't mean we don't love them! Tune in to hear about this BIG wet turtle friend.   We answer stuff like: How many Yangtze turtles are left? Where were they originally found? What kinda noms do turtles nom? Does Yurtle deserve to be canceled? Is Mitch McConnell our last hope?

Bun Bun time!!!! Round. Soft. Little nose. SMOL tail. Ears. What more could you want?? We learn answers to your BURNING rabbit (and non-rabbit) questions like: what is the difference between a rabbit and a hare? Do Flora and Fauna EVEN like each other? What is tonic immobility and why do rabbits do this? Why should you NEVER gift someone a rabbit for Easter? What is a hindgut fermenter and WHY do...

Let's talk about pigs, baby. Although, we actually talk a lot more about nothing this episode, sorry. Did you know Flora loves pigs? She does, and she's gonna tell you all about it.   We chat about: Where Visayan Warty Pigs are found. What won't a pig eat? How many warty pigs are there? What even is the difference between pigs, hogs, and boars.

*BUG BUG BE DUM BUG BUG BE DUM DUM* (to the tune of Disturbia by Rihanna) It's bug time. Stop what you're doing and learn about this bug.   We answer questions like: Why is this beetle so big? Better question, why is his larvae SO BIG? How can you differentiate between the different species? How old were you when you went through your Egyptian history phase? Is anyone else also freaking out about...

Back at it again with some questions and advice. This week we answer the question:   - What types of animal-related career fields are out there and how do I get involved?   We also talk quesadilla mishaps, our future career plans, Jeff Corwin, and more! 

Tag yourself: Snot otter, lasagna lizard, or devil dog? Are you ready to slip into something wet and talk about North America's biggest salamander!?   We answer questions like: Where can I find the Hellbender? Are they really from hell, and what is up with the name? Is this guy gonna steal my girl? What do they like to eat? Do Hellbenders smash or make love? How many species of hellbender are ther...

Big eyes...big mouth...flat head...who is she? The tawny frogmouth! Join us as we learn about another really great bird.   We answer questions like: Is this the week Flora finds love? Is this thing a potoo...does anyone know what a potoo is? Where does the frogmouth get its name? What is your Furby up to these days? How does the frogmouth use cryptic plumage to blend into its environment? And what...