That's WILD! A Little Rock Zoo Podcast

In this episode of That’s Wild!, hosted by Dustin Bean and Joy Matlock, the podcast welcomes back Debbie Thompson, Carnivore Curator at the Little Rock Zoo, to discuss the world of capybaras and share major updates about the zoo's upcoming exhibits.The conversation begins with a six-question true-or-false trivia game about capybaras. The trivia clarifies that capybaras are highly social herd animals rather than solitary creatures, often gathering in groups of 10 to 20 and forming supergroups of up to 100 during dry seasons. It confirms that they frequently serve as "living furniture" for birds, turtles, and monkeys, can stay submerged underwater for up to five minutes to avoid predators, and use a wide range of vocalizations including purrs, barks, whistles, and clicks. Furthermore, eating their own specialized soft feces is a natural, necessary part of their digestion rather than stress behavior, and despite their large size, they are true rodents rather than relatives of horses or rhinos.Debbie delves into capybara biology, explaining that as the world's largest rodents, they average around 100 pounds but can reach up to 170 pounds. Native to South America, they are built for a semi-aquatic life with high-set eyes and ears that allow them to see, hear, and even nap while floating. Their young are born precocial at two to three pounds, fully furred with eyes open and capable of walking and swimming almost immediately. A typical litter consists of three to six pups, and mothers within a herd will nurse each other's young. While wild capybaras graze heavily on grasses, captive capybaras eat specialized biscuit diets supplemented with lettuce, browse like willow and bamboo, and occasional fruit treats like bananas. A historical highlight noted in the discussion is that in the 18th century, the Catholic Church declared capybaras to be fish due to their semi-aquatic nature, allowing Venezuelan Catholics to eat them during Lent.The episode highlights the return of live capybaras to the Little Rock Zoo after a nine-year absence. Over a previous 29-year span, the zoo celebrated the birth of 113 capybara pups before the former habitat was demolished due to age. As part of the zoo's largest construction undertaking in over 40 years, the new habitat will feature two outdoor pools, an indoor pool with guest viewing, and a mixed-species environment shared with squirrel monkeys. The zoo will initially welcome two young females named Ruby and Pepita, allowing them six months to a year to acclimate before introducing a male for breeding.The hosts and Debbie also explore the 21 life-sized, recycled-plastic capybara sculptures by the Italian art collective Cracking Art currently featured across zoo grounds. Guests are encouraged to interact with the interactive statues, take photos, and move them around the zoo. Debbie shares stories of taking one pink sculpture, named Rosemary, on road trips to Northwest Arkansas for marathon events, stops at local businesses like Fossil Cove Brewing and Pack Rat Outdoors, and visits to roadside attractions including the 30-foot dancing Hogeye sculpture and the Clarksville Peach Festival. Listeners learn that they can adopt or sponsor these sculptures through the zoo's website to support future exhibit construction. The episode concludes by celebrating Debbie Thompson's 40 years of service at the Little Rock Zoo and her 25-year tenure as the studbook keeper for the ringtail.

In this episode of That’s Wild!, hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock from the Little Rock Zoo are joined by General Curator Hannah Baker to explore the fascinating science of animal coloration. The team breaks down how creatures across the globe use color not merely for aesthetics, but as a vital tool for survival, communication, and reproduction. They kick off with the art of camouflage, highlighting the elusive snow leopard whose rosette patterns foil trail cameras in the wild, the remarkably adaptable octopus, and the cryptic ambush abilities of pit vipers.The discussion shifts to threat displays and defensive bluffs, showcasing the startling behavior of the sphinx moth caterpillar mimicking a venomous snake, the toxic warning colors of the fire salamander, and the dramatic frilled lizard. Hannah introduces Iris, a 19-and-a-half-year-old blue-tongued skink live in the studio, demonstrating how vivid colors and deceptive postures can startle predators without actual danger. The hosts then examine mating displays driven by female choice, contrasting the elaborate dances of the greater bird-of-paradise, the iridescent handicap of male peacocks, and the vibrant shifting courtship shades of the tiny peacock spider.Further diving into visual trickery, they cover the deceptive mastery of the mimic octopus, the coral snake mimicry of the harmless scarlet kingsnake, and the predatory lure of the orchid mantis. The conversation wraps with nature’s most extreme and surprising colors, including the rare true blue pigments of the mandarinfish, the unexplainably colorful Christmas tree worm, the status-revealing red chest of the gelada baboon, biofluorescent platypuses glowing under UV light, the silver maturation marks of gorillas, and the translucent, heat-absorbing fur of polar bears. Finally, Hannah reminds listeners that animals perceive the world through entirely different visual spectrums, leaving vast layers of natural color still waiting to be understood.

In this episode of "That’s Wild!" (Season 2, Episode 13), host Susan Altrui, co-host Joy Matlock, and MC Dustin Bean explore "the villain edit," taking a look at how pop culture, myths, and fear give certain animals an unfairly bad reputation. They are joined by Hannah Baker, General Curator at the Little Rock Zoo, to listen to real voicemails from concerned citizens and separate animal facts from fiction. The conversation also features a special in-studio appearance by Madonna, a 1.5-year-old rescue ambassador opossum living at the zoo.The team kicks off the voicemails with a caller panicked over 30 to 50 vultures sitting on his roof, tearing the heads off fake owls, and "drooling disease". Hannah Baker sets the record straight, pointing out that vultures actually destroy disease rather than spread it, as their stomach acid has a pH of zero to one—as strong as battery acid. Next, a caller trapped in her bathroom complains about a "blind, flying rat" that drinks blood, carries rabies, and wants to nest in her hair. Hannah clarifies that bats are warm-blooded mammals belonging to the order Chiroptera, not rodents, and they are the only mammals capable of sustained powered flight. They do not nest in human hair, and they are not blind, using exceptional low-light vision paired with echolocation to navigate. Out of about 1,400 bat species worldwide, only three are vampire bats—none of which live in Arkansas—and while bats can vector rabies and should never be handled directly, they are essential for insect control.A third voicemail comes from a sleep-deprived new mom worrying if daddy longlegs are the most poisonous spiders in the world, if detaching a leg is a magic trick, and if killing one summons more. Hannah explains that harvestmen are arachnids but not true spiders, possessing zero venom glands. Detaching a leg, known as autotomy, is a survival distraction technique to escape predators while the leg keeps moving. They do not release recruitment pheromones when killed, and as omnivores, they even hunt black widows. The hosts also debunk the viral internet myth that humans swallow six to eight spiders a year in their sleep.The fourth caller vents about mosquitoes bypassing bug zappers, citronella, and garlic oil while completely ignoring his wife. Hannah explains that bug zappers mostly kill harmless insects like moths because mosquitoes are drawn to carbon dioxide, body heat, and moisture rather than light. Only female mosquitoes bite because they need blood protein for egg development, and they carry diseases like West Nile Virus regardless of climate. The hosts jokingly agree that mosquitoes deserve their villain status.The fifth voicemail describes a neighbor who "grieved" a dead opossum in her garage until it suddenly stood up and walked away, leaving behind a foul odor. Hannah clarifies that opossums are North America's only marsupial, not rodents, and "playing dead" is an involuntary, stress-induced reflex where they pass out and emit a nasty smell to deter predators. Due to their low body temperature around 92°F, they rarely carry rabies. They possess 50 teeth and a prehensile tail, which can hold onto branches for balance, though adults cannot hang upside down by their tails for long.The final caller, a worried grandfather, fears sharks are tracking his grandson's blood from an old wound, swimming up freshwater rivers, and riding in "tornadoes". Hannah explains that sharks can detect blood up to a quarter-mile away under ideal conditions, but they do not go into frenzies over human blood. While bull sharks can navigate fresh water via osmoregulation, landlocked lakes remain safe. While sharks account for 5 to 10 human deaths worldwide per year, humans kill over 100 million sharks annually through finning, overfishing, and bycatch.

In this episode of That’s Wild, hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock sit down with Hannah Baker, the general curator at the Little Rock Zoo, to bust common snake myths and explore the fascinating biology of reptiles. The conversation kicks off with Susan playfully describing a snake as "maybe a tube with teeth", which sets the stage for a deep dive into the complexities hidden inside that body. Hannah introduces Mojave, a 20-year-old Rosy Boa who serves as a zoo ambassador. Originally kept as a pet before coming to the zoo in 2015, Mojave helps educate the public that snakes aren't scary pests, but unique animals that play a vital role in our ecosystem.Throughout the discussion, Hannah debunks several persistent reptile myths, including the idea that vertical slit pupils automatically mean a snake is venomous. As Hannah explains, "A ground-dwelling ambush predator usually has vertical eye slits", which simply helps them with depth perception when waiting for prey rather than indicating venom. She also addresses how constrictors capture prey, dispelling the belief that they break bones or suffocate animals. Instead, constrictors cut off blood circulation, leading to a rapid loss of oxygen to the brain. Beyond hunting mechanics, the group discusses sensory adaptations, noting how snakes detect ground vibrations using their lower jaw and gather scent molecules with their unique split tongues.The episode emphasizes responsible pet ownership and wildlife conservation. Hannah highlights the long lifespan of snakes—explaining that they can easily live 20 to 30 years in human care—and warns against releasing exotic pets into the wild. Releasing non-native species can severely damage local ecosystems, as seen with invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades. The hosts remind listeners that zoos rarely have space to accept unwanted pets, urging prospective owners to do thorough research first or adopt traditional pets from shelters. The episode concludes with a appreciation for snakes, reminding listeners to value and conserve the natural world around them.

This episode of That's Wild! hosted by Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock features returning guest Dr. Sarah Stoneburg, who serves as a veterinarian at the Little Rock Zoo and oversees the zoo's commissary operations. The discussion highlights the massive logistical operation required to feed over 400 animals representing more than 200 species every day.Dr. Stoneberg explains the diverse diet categories handled by her team of three commissary keepers, noting, "we have carnivores, we have insectivores, we have herbivores, we have frugivores... a frugivore is a fruit-based diet". She emphasizes the intense meal preparation and safety standards involved, sharing that keepers follow human-grade kitchen standards and pass "ServSafe for our commissary keepers" to prevent cross-contamination between produce and meat. Managing supply lines requires constant calculation and spreadsheet tracking, as Dr. Stoneberg admits, "some deliveries take two weeks, some deliveries take six to eight weeks depending on what we're ordering, so we have to be paying attention of how much we still have in stock and then ordering to make sure we cover it at the right time".The conversation covers several specific species and their unique nutritional needs. For instance, the zoo participates in sustainable sourcing for its fish and krill to protect wild marine populations. When describing flamingos, Dr. Stoneberg reveals that krill and a specialized grain pigment called "canthaxanthin" help "maintain their coloration". Addressing their elephants, she notes that Zyna weighs about 6,000 pounds while Babe "weighs closer to 12,000 pounds," requiring carefully calibrated daily rations of grain, produce, and Bermuda hay.Handling picky eaters and administering medication also demands creative solutions. When a sloth rejected her formulated gel diet, Dr. Stoneberg notes that keepers got creative by "forming it into different shapes... we got different silicone molds to make sticks or stars" until she accepted it. To give medication to clever animals like big cats or primates who try to avoid pills, staff resort to using "jelly or pie filling," disguising pills inside whole prey, or even using "needles and inject it into superworms and mealworms".To manage costs and ensure a reliable food supply, the zoo operates a dedicated "bug shed" on site where they "propagate superworms on grounds... crickets... fruit flies... and then roaches" for the insect-eating animals. Ultimately, Dr. Stoneberg explains that all training rewards and enrichment foods are strictly factored into each animal's daily calorie count because "we love our animals at the zoo, but we want them to be healthy and not obese".

In this episode of That's Wild, hosts Joy Matlock and Dustin Bean sit down with guest Buddy Hasten. Buddy serves as the President and CEO of the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Incorporated, but beyond his corporate career, he is a dedicated backyard beekeeper.During the episode, Buddy explains the ecological and economic significance of bees to Arkansas, noting how essential pollinators support the state's agriculture. He discusses threats to bee populations like Varroa mites, different bee breeds such as Italian, Russian, and Saskatraz bees, and the phenomenon of catching wild bee swarms—which he likens to winning the "bee lottery". Reflecting on the docile nature of swarming bees, Buddy notes, "At that moment in time, all of their focus is on protecting the queen... You can literally pick them up by the handful, and they don't even care." He also shares a humorous story about a suit mishap that resulted in over 50 bee stings. YouTube video link has won 19 international film festival awards and is the third film in the Pollinators Under Pressure documentary miniseries.Watch Power for Pollinators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBg1m3C_Mk&t=4s&utm_source=chatgpt.coThe conversation expands into how electric cooperatives operate as member-owned, non-profit entities, comparing their structure to a beehive's collective effort. Buddy highlights the cooperative's environmental and conservation efforts, including integrated vegetation management along power line right-of-ways to protect pollinator habitats, and its partnership with research projects like Electric Power Research Institute's Power for Pollinators. Reflecting on the core ethos driving their work, Buddy shares, "When you slow down and stop in life and just really look, that's when you really see." The hosts and guest reflect on how communities and organizations can work "better connected together" to conserve the natural world.You can learn more about Buddy Hasten on the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Staff Directory and the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Executive Bios. To explore more about the host organization, visit the Little Rock Zoo, and check out Vines/Brookshire, the agency that edits and produces the podcast.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBg1m3C_Mk&t=4s&utm_source=chatgpt.com

In this episode of "That's Wild!", hosts Joy Matlock and Susan Altrui are joined by Kate Neal, the interim and senior carnivore keeper at the Little Rock Zoo, to explore the world of cheetahs. Neal clarifies right away that cheetahs are not actually classified as big cats, explaining, "Panthera is lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, where Acinonyx is the genus for cheetahs. So they are their own genus, there are no other extant members of that genus". The conversation highlights the species' remarkable adaptations for speed, including a flexible spine, semi-retractable claws that "act like cleats", and the black tear marks under their eyes that function "not unlike what football players do" to help reduce glare on the open savanna. Neal also shares that cheetahs are "obligate carnivores," meaning their short digestive systems require them to strictly digest meat.The episode delves into the Little Rock Zoo's role within the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a coordinated effort across 53 AZA facilities. Neal explains that while specialized breeding centers handle most births, the Little Rock Zoo acts as a "boarding school boot camp" where young cheetahs learn how to live at a public zoo and adapt to visitors before moving on to their next phase. The hosts and guest discuss four male cheetah brothers recently welcomed to the zoo who live together in a natural "coalition".Finally, the discussion turns to wild conservation challenges, such as habitat loss, disease, and retaliatory hunting by farmers, as well as the efforts of organizations like the Cheetah Conservation Fund to promote peaceful coexistence. Neal reflects on the importance of human connection to wildlife, noting that "seeing those things that need to happen abroad and in our backyard is really important for people to learn".

In this episode, Joy Matlock and Susan Altrui sit down with Kevin Krajcir, Conservation Biologist and Grants Coordinator with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. We dive deep into local bird conservation efforts, the research surrounding bird-feather mite symbioses, and practical steps everyday Arkansans can take to transform their backyards into thriving avian sanctuaries.Kevin shares his research background at Arkansas State University's Boves Lab, focusing on the functional nature of the symbiosis between songbirds and feather mites. Contrary to the common belief that all mites are harmful parasites, many feather mites maintain a commensal or mutually beneficial relationship with their avian hosts."Feather mites are among the most diverse avian ectosymbionts on the planet, yet over eighty percent remain undescribed. Studying how these tiny symbionts interact with warblers and songbirds gives us crucial insights into avian health, transmission behaviors, and broader ecosystem dynamics."The discussion moves to local field conservation initiatives, including the banding station established at the Little Rock Audubon Center. Banding plays a key role in national monitoring efforts like MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) and tracking Neotropical migratory birds."Establishing regular bird banding in central Arkansas fills major historical gaps in research, public outreach, and education. When you hold a bird in hand, measure its wing chord, and release it safely back into the wild, it completely changes how people connect with local conservation."Kevin highlights field surveys for wintering populations of species of concern, such as the Henslow’s Sparrow in rare saline soil barrens. The conversation emphasizes how prescribed fire and habitat management directly influence bird density and long-term population trends."Our long-term data from community science projects—like the annual Christmas Bird Count—clearly demonstrate how habitat loss and climate change are shifting bird ranges and population baselines across the state."Finally, the episode outlines actionable advice for listeners wanting to support local species at home. From incorporating native Arkansas plants to reducing glass collisions and providing clean water sources, small residential adjustments offer vital stepping stones for migratory birds."You don't need hundreds of acres to make a tangible difference for migratory birds. Planting native species and maintaining safe habitats in your own yard creates essential refuges across our urban landscapes."To see Kevin Krajcir present his local research and field methods in detail, check out the Bird Banding in Little Rock Presentation. This video is directly relevant because it features Kevin discussing his ongoing avian banding initiatives and conservation goals at the Little Rock Audubon Center.

In this wildly entertaining episode of That’s Wild, hosts Susan and Joy go head-to-head in a hilarious, fast-paced game of animal-themed "Would You Rather." They dive deep into the bizarre realities of the animal kingdom, weighing the pros and cons of shedding their entire outer layers against entering a complete physical shutdown. Along the way, they swap stories of forty-mile-an-hour cheetahs, arctic foxes, and the unexpected challenges of sharing a refrigerator with a wild animal. Amidst the laughter and chaotic hypotheticals, the duo also sneaks in some vital conservation truths, shedding light on the real-world impacts of coltan mining and palm oil on global wildlife.The heart of the episode centers on the terrifying choice between undergoing a "catastrophic molt"—losing all of one's feathers or skin in one giant, chaotic burst like a penguin—and experiencing a complete hibernation-style power outage. Susan immediately makes her stance clear, preferring to face the elements naked rather than lose consciousness for months on end. Joy, however, is much more hesitant to embrace the naked truth, sparking a brilliant debate about survival, dignity, and thermal regulation."I’d rather just get the whole thing over with all at once. Frankly, it's better naked than cold." — Susan"A complete power outage sounds peaceful until you realize you have zero control over where you wake up—or who is watching you hibernate." — JoyThe hypotheticals only get weirder as the episode progresses. The hosts debate whether they would rather have the lightning-fast, forty-mile-an-hour sprinting capacity of a cheetah or have to share their kitchen appliances with clever woodland creatures. Joy makes a strong case for why a fox in the fridge might actually be a roommate upgrade, while Susan questions the sheer caloric intake required to fuel a human-sized cheetah sprint.While the episode is packed with hilarious banter, Susan and Joy don't shy away from the serious side of wildlife advocacy. In a brilliant transition from their silly debates, they discuss the critical consumer habits that affect habitats worldwide. They highlight the devastating effects that standard coltan mining and unsustainable palm oil production have on endangered species, reminding listeners that the choices we make in our daily lives have massive, real-world ripple effects.

The hosts of the That's Wild podcast, Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock, spent this episode debunking famous animal myths and exploring weird wildlife facts:Susan kicks off the trivia by asking, "Supposedly sharks can smell a single drop of blood from miles away," but Joy corrects this, noting that "the single drop from miles away is a little far-fetched... it's a little heavily exaggerated. So it's not quite true, but they do have a very sharp sense of smell." Joy adds that "piranhas do become significantly more aggressive when water levels drop and prey concentrates in shrinking pools," but clarifies that many piranha species actually "eat fruit, seeds, insect, and smaller fish rather than attacking large animals."When discussing whether bats are blind, Joy notes that "bats are not blind. Most can see, and many use both vision and echolocation together simultaneously." The hosts clarify that people often assume echolocation replaces their eyesight simply because the ability seems so mysterious. Moving on to bullfighting, the hosts address the color red. Joy explains, "Bulls are red-green colorblind. They react to the movement, just like you said, of the cape, not the color," and notes that the red cloth is merely traditional, "partly to hide bloodstains during bullfighting."As for elephants being terrified of mice, Joy reveals, "Actually, there's no solid evidence that elephants have any special fear of mice. They may be startled by sudden small movements, but mice specifically are not necessarily the terror that cartoons want us to believe." She points out that elephants actually "explore unfamiliar objects carefully with their trunks... which are their noses, their fingers, their straws... It's like thousands of muscles in the trunk."Turning to city birds, the hosts discuss pigeon intelligence, with Joy stating, "The reality is that pigeons really can recognize and distinguish individual human faces, which kind of doesn't surprise me." She adds that they are also "capable of long-distance navigation and surprising feats of visual memory." When Susan brings up honey, Joy confirms it basically lasts indefinitely: "Honey's low moisture, acidity, and natural chemistry make it extremely resistant to bacteria. Properly stored, honey can remain edible essentially indefinitely." She notes that if it ever hardens, "crystallized honey isn't spoiled... it can usually be gently warmed back into liquid form."