Elephants and Mayan Caves: Jessica Hightower

Kim Annis helps to manage conflict between the bears and people of northwestern Montana, with some interesting encounters in the process. Here are some of her stories, and her general philosophy on working in the wildlife field. To learn more about the UF/IFAS WEC Department, click here: http://www.wec.ufl.edu/ To learn more about living in a landscape with bears, here: http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/wildlife/bears/ To listen to more from Doctor Turtle, click here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/

Dr. Katie Haas's work to understand how animals are effected by temperature has taken her across the United States, from the frigid north and the humid swamps and prairies of Florida. She also studies bats, and their response to white nose syndrome, a disease that is sweeping the country's caves. Thanks to Dr. Turtle for the music, which you can find here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/

Jessica Hightower studies birds in Borneo's rainforests, a place where your field site can be visited by very large uninvited guests. She's also worked in Belize--where her mapping data was filled with holes. Literal holes--and a Mayan cave. ~ Learn more about Jessica and the work being done in the Fletcher lab here: http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/index.html Listen to Doctor Turtle's highly podcastable music here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/ Thumbnail Photo Credit Bas Leenders

Don Hardeman Jr. is a carnivore biologist. He currently studies black bear behavior in Florida, but his work has taken him across the US and into contact with many animals, including surprisingly strong beavers. To learn about living with bears in Florida, click here: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/environment/black_bears.shtml To learn more about the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, click here: http://www.wec.ufl.edu To hear more music by Jason Shaw, click here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/

Kirsten Hecht studies giant salamanders and science communication. Her work has led her to discoveries, and sometimes creepy situations. In this episode, we hear a little of both. Want to learn more about the WEC department? Click the link below: http://www.wec.ufl.edu Want to listen to more of Jason Shaw's music? Click this link:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/

Work at the bottom of the world and dead rabbits that keep on moving: PhD candidate Adia Sovie tells her stories. To learn more about Adia's research and the research of the McCleery Lab, click this link: http://www.themccleerylab.org/adia.html To learn more about the UF/IFAS WEC Department, click this link: http://www.wec.ufl.edu To listen to more music by Jason Shaw, click this link: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/

Annie Loggins has worked with wildlife around the world. She spoke to us here about a grumpy marsupial, and a day in the African bush that took an unsettling turn.

Dr. Matt Hallett has worked in the Rupununi, a region of Guyana, for eight years. He spoke with us about his experiences. Follow the Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit on social media here: https://www.facebook.com/rwru2015/ To learn more about the UF/IFAS WEC Department, click this link: http://www.wec.ufl.edu To listen to more form Dr. Turtle, this episode's musician, click below: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/

Dan Catizone is a turtle researcher. As part of his work, he has to drive up and down beaches, looking for nesting sea turtles. He ran into a catfish, and some unplanned difficulties. Learn more about the UF WEC department at this link: http://www.wec.ufl.edu Music provided by Jason Shaw: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/

Kodiak Hengstebek studies invasive species in southern Florida. Today he told us about two very different misadventures he's had as a result of his work. To learn more about the work being done by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, click here: http://www.wec.ufl.edu To listen to more music by Dr. Turtle, click here:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/