Keeper Chat

To kick off October, we talk about the Skeleton shrimp! Because what's spookier than a man with 18 appendages who is also slightly transparent.   This week, we muse over questions like: What does it mean to be a detritivore? What happens in the afterlife? What are gnathopods and why are they maybe venomous? Where is the best place to set up a fight club? and WHY is the ocean so bonk?

A little owl! Found in the Eastern United States! But does he screech? No. Alright, we almost got the name right. Join us in your favorite podcast released every FORTNIGHT.   Where are Eastern Screeches found? What does Henry Thoreau have to say about this? Will I be able to spot a screech when I hear it? Has anyone ever thrown one at a tree before? Tune in to find out. 

This week, let's hype up the actually heart and soul of the Zoo: commissary keepers! Learn what goes on inside the food prep kitchens as we answer this listener submitted question: As a zoo outsider, how do diets work for the hundreds of zoo animals? And what alternatives are used for some of the exotic delicacies?

The final letter of the internet - we made it back around again. As the end of another era comes to a close we are changing the format of our little podcast just a bit. Tune in to hear about plans for the future.   This episode is really barely about this animal at all. It's just a cow.

The ocean is so extremely cursed and this thing proves it.    This week we tackle questions about the yeti crab like: where on earth is it found? What are setae and why does it have them? Is a hydrothermal vent basically just a hot tub? and what other horrors does the ocean have in store for us?

Everyone say it together! Sholo-eats-quint-lee. The xolo is actually kinda cute, he grows on us a little bit. For being a big bald baby with no teeth. Tune in to hear about what and where this bald thing comes from.   What's up with the baldness of the Xolo? Can they grow hair? How do genetics work anyway and why is it just like rock, paper, scissors.

Good luck to all the students out there using this podcast as a source for their school papers. This episode is a doozy.   We answer questions like: What makes mustelids so stinky? How does delayed implantation help female wolverines? What does it mean to be plantigrade? and Why is Wolverine the hero for all the short kings out there?

We are back after taking National Zookeeper Week off to relax and enjoy roasting the f out of zoos. Welcome back to this scorpion from the moon. Is he actually a scorpion? Does he whip or nene? Where are vinegaroons found and what do they eat? Is he in fortnite?

This episode is the epitome of struggle - not all of them can be winners. Listen to Flora and Fauna try to be normal humans and....maybe fail.   We answer questions about this New World monkey, like what is this arboreal friend up to? Where in South America is it found? Why did Darwin decide to give him a RED BALD HEAD? Did the writers of American Horror Story take hair inspo from the uakari? and Do you look like this monkey after 30 seconds of exercise or are you a fitness influencer?

We here at Keeper Chat love our interns, volunteers, students, and docents. Y'all make the world go round and our appreciation is through the roof. 99% of you are angels and we adore you. HOWEVER, 1% of you have contributed to our suffering and this episode is directed to you.   This week, we answer the question "do you have any advice for how to be most respectful to the zoo, other visitors, and of course the zoo keepers. Any stories of people/students doing projects on animals and being annoying?"   Also for literally no reason at all there are spoilers to Westworld season 1 and Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney.

We takin BIG BEAST this episode. This thing is kinda disturbing if you look at it too long. Avert your eyes. We answer those burning questions like:   Where are takin found? How many toes does it have? What does it eat and what eats it?

If you don't like sharks, well....this isn't the episode for you lol.   This week we answer questions like: what is the dental pattern of the Sand Tiger Shark? What are F&F up to during Pride month? Are there any confirmed fatalities from this shark? What is a hunting group of sharks called? and What is intrauterine cannibalism and should we maybe pursue a baby battle royale in humans??

Little vampire teeth, little poo ball, little no necked creature. Let's learn about the rock hyrax - something that was even included in the bible for whatever reason. Where are rock hyrax found? Where are the rock hyrax stans found? What does this little man do with his tiny little fangs? And what is his relation to an elephant?

We say this a lot....but this episode is something else. And for what?? This week we learn about the quoll and answer your questions, like What's the vibe of this nocturnal carnivorous marsupial? What shapes of meat are most upsetting to Flora? Is Invisalign a nightmare? What is the size of a quoll pup? Where do cane toads fit into this puzzle? and What does RuPaul's Drag Race have in common with quoll parenting?

F&F are back at it again answering some questions that have been rotting in an email inbox for 12 months. So, what are some fun animal mishaps that have occurred in our careers? You mean outside of the whole, becoming a zookeeper mishap? We can probably think of something.

If you thought our weekly episodes were a ride, just you WAIT. This week we're providing a sneak peek into the bonus episodes, available ONLY to our beloved patrons on www.patreon.com/keeperchat. If you've been craving more grime, more chaos, and more content, then join the Keeper Chat Patreon family and get immediate access to over 40 hours of bonus episodes and more! Hold onto your butts, these episodes are just the beginning.

Mmm the soothing sounds of Flora & Fauna ranting. We go to the archives and answer a listener question from....last year. What are our opinions on interactive exhibits at zoos? Are they worth it? Are they manageable? Are they the single worst idea anyone has ever had in the entire universe? What do you think?

OOO Alliteration - how cute. How do we make an episode about an animal with 0 information? Well, we talk about more important things to fill the time, like roller coasters, cavity sam, and our eating habits.  What is the Pesquet's parrot? Why is it commonly referred to as Dracula's parrot? Is it interesting at all? Where can it be found in the wild and what zoo can it be seen in? Tune in for all the answers to your burning questions.

Did you think you weren't going to learn about something concerningly phallic today? Think again.   This week we tackle the olm and answer questions like: What is neoteny? What did Charles Darwin have to say about this guy in On the Origin of Species? What are the odds he tastes like licorice? How does the olm use electron microscopy to perceive his environment? and Why does he LOOK LIKE THAT?

Have you ever had close relations with a vampire? the invisible man? a little bug? It was probably the no-see-um who is all of those things combined. We chat about the little biting midges that everyone hates. We hate them so bad we tried to kill, like everything, to get rid of them,   What is a no-see-um? Where are they found? How small are they? How many horrible diseases do they carry and what is their experience with DDT? Tune in to find out all this and more.