Keeper Chat

We always said our final episode would be Pigeon so if this title doesn't make sense that's why. Also good luck finding a single fact about pigeons in this episode lmaooo. End of an era, gang! Thanks for sticking with us all these years and join us over on Patreon if you want to keep the party going.    Xoxo, gossip girl

There's something about a bug-eating bird that just checks all the boxes, you know? This week we ponder questions like How do weavers and pygmy falcons have a symbiotic relationship? What does it mean for egg-hatching to be asynchronous? Which back-to-school supply is closest in size to this bird? and Why does this little guy have so much riz? Happy National Zookeeper Week to all of our hard-working animal-loving babes out there - we see you and

Let's zoop back down to New Zealand and talk about another one of those sentient avocados they have flying around down there. This episode is about the Kea! Did you know it commits real crimes? Something to do with sheep, very bad.   We chat about this omnivorous cheeky parrot. Where are they found? Do they like hitting the gym? Are they the same thing as the kakapo?

Little monkey hour - come learn about this LITTLE GUY. We ponder questions like Where did the emperor tamarin get its name? How does low-key bullying play into their survival strategy? Did y'all have a Furby and how much did you torture it? and Was this monkey created in Waluigi's image?

Not gonna lie the intro is long on this one - if you are a louse only interested in louse information please skip about 12 minutes in.   We chat about LICE which is the plural of louse I already didn't know that at all. Are they a big deal? Are they full of disease? Are they easily spread? Tune in TO FIND OUT

The number one takeaway from this episode is that F&F are dumb, per usual. Enjoy! We answer questions about the crested coua such as If you're not that great at flying can you still live a life in the trees? What does it mean to be altricial? Where was Darwin born (warning: false facts ahead)? Where do I have to go to get a reversible toe? and Why does this chick have a lower lip tattoo and BULLSEYE in its mouth?

Welcome back to another fact *filled episode. We discuss the crocodile monitor which might be the longest lizard in the whole worl. THE WHOLE WORL. Don't tell the komodo dragon.   We chat about the Carrier's Constraint, whip tails, killing one woman, long school buses, and this big big boy.  

Weird teeth, weird teeth, weird teeth! Tune in to learn about the Crabeater seal, an Antarctic krill-lovin' pinniped. We dive into questions such as Does this thing eat crabs? What are Flora and Fauna's recurring nightmares? Where in the world does this seal end up when it gets lost? and What is life like out on the free-floating pack ice?

It ain't deja-vu baby we are here again. Only this time we focus on one lil creature instead of all the lil creatures. Come learn about the Alien Cinematic Universe, DnD, and the Challenger Deep

Is it an artichoke or a bug-eating boy? This mysterious animal is exposed in this week's episode and we have a hard time coming to terms with its tongue. What's going on with the scales? Why is this the most trafficked animal in the world? How does the pangolin put new meaning into the phrase "pelvic thrust"? We answer these questions and many more!

How many legs do you have? And are they walking legs or mouth legs? Now how many do you think a lobster has? We discuss this biblical being and have one big ask of all of you. :)  Participation is required.   Tune in to hear all about this crusty crustacean and how Fauna dreams of lobster fan fiction.

Rodent gang rise up, it's time to learn about the big boss. This week, we answer questions like What does it mean to be gregarious? Exactly how many toes are on this guy? What is autocoprophagy and why is it.....interesting? Why are rodent teeth so whack? and Will F&F ever get a sponsorship deal with Burger King?

Are they murder machines? Or are they bringers of justice? Only you can decide. We learn about the African Buffalo which is a real big'n. Tune in to hear about where they eat, sleep, and make sweet lil Ed Sheeran babies.    

Throw on your uggs and parka because we're getting frosty learning about the arctic fox.   We answer questions like: How does the arctic fox stay toasty in their harsh environment? What is kin selection? Why are lemmings the tastiest treat? How does the arctic fox control its Basal Metabolic Rate? and Why she just so darn cute?

Weird Australian animal time! With this episode we officially mark Monotremes off of our list. We are actually making progress covering all the animals on the planet. Happy New Year! If you thought we would change or get better, we didn't.   Tune in to hear about this egg laying mammal who is full of surprises. I mean FULL OF THEM.

Rounding out 2022 with one of the most unhinged episodes to date. Who's ready to learn about the original internet-famous funky fresh bird? We learn about the American woodcock and answer questions like Why are all of this bird's nicknames absolutely buckwild? What insane ideas does James Cameron have in store for Avatar fans? When does this crepuscular cutie migrate? What are Flora and Fauna's 2023 resolutions? and LITERALLY WHAT is a peent??

Sorry we are late - I almost died.   Here is this episode about WORMS. We are very worm-centric these days. It just feels right. Would you enjoy Christmas more if your tree was a worm? Think about it

What would a Keeper Chat episode be if it wasn't 2% informative and 98% nonsense - asking for a friend. This week we learn about the dik-dik, a little deer with some interesting habits.   We ponder questions like how did the dikidik get its name? What is going on with that preorbital gland? Why are ungulates buckwild? What are Flora and Fauna's worst qualities? and Will scent-marking ever not be heinous?

We surely must be running out of animals - why was I forced to look up a 2 inch fish from Kansas. Tune in to hear about the Arkansas Darter which is just a lil guy being threatened by a couple of things! One of those things, is even kind of a mystery! ooooo! Fun.   What are F&F's thoughts on Spike the Gremlin? Would an Arkansas Darter feed a family of four? What are everyone's thoughts on latex? Tune in to find out all this and more.

This week we tackle another listener-submitted question all while battling a series of ailments and sleep deprivation. Heads up, we talk about some heavy animal-welfare related topics and our personal experiences which haven't always been pleasant, so proceed with that in mind.  We discuss the question of: What are some of the best strategies for advocating for animals under your care and at what point do you jump ‘chain of command' and do so effectively? 

It is that time of year where all the animals are spooky scary! So how about a deer with the teefers of a vampire! I mean he doesn't use them to suck blood or anything, but hey it's all about looks these days anyway. Come learn about where the vampire deer is found, what lengths F&F will do to have a famous podcast, what a pheep is and more!

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.

In honor of the new Batman movie, we learned about the Mexican free-tailed bat. Actually that's a lie, we just wanted to talk about a bat.   We answer questions like What is a patagium? How does this species use echolocation to one up other bats? Who on earth is in charge of the M&M wiki and are they ok? What about Texas makes this bat go buck wild? How would Flora and Fauna send secret messages to one another? and WHY does this man zoom around so fast?

Things lemmings don't do: commit suicide. Things Disney does: kills animals for profit. This week we learn about the wildly misconstrued lemming. Where did the idea that they commit suicide come from? Do they really not do it? How does Disney come into play and what atrocities did they commit? Why is Flora's soul mate probably a lemming and when does Ole Worm come knockin? Tune in to find out.

It's been a hot minute since we dished on a reptile! Come learn about the Krait, a noodle with an edge.   We answer questions like: What does it mean to be ophiophagous? Why does this snake genus have THE BEST name (#bungarus)? Where in the world can kraits be found? How does the venom of the krait affect its victims? Are Flora and Fauna claustrophobic? (spoiler: yes) and How does the krait fit into the Ninjago universe?

Lil kitty cat that blends in with the otters. There isn't much to this lil guy but we talk about him anyway. It is what you have demanded of us. We chat about where jaguarundis are found, what they eat, and how high they can jump. They may be from Roswell and their favorite store might be Kohl's.

Antarctica stans, rise up! This frosty fish is full of surprises.   We answer questions like what does it mean to be piscivorous? Why is icefish blood colorless? What is going on with their hemoglobin? Was the icefish created in Darwin's image? and Why does the ocean always give way to some of the absolute weirdest animals on Earth?

H is for BONELESS HORSE. Also sometimes referred to as a horseshoe crab, but what even is it anyway? We chat about this frisbees closest relatives. Can horseshoe crabs sting me? Just how many legs is too many legs? Did Ariel use her legs to breathe? Find out in the latest ep.

What about a little ape, huh? What about a little furry friend?   This week we learn about some of our favorite primates, the gibbon! Learn answers to some your burning questions like What is brachiation? On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do the babies look like aliens? What is a gibbon song and why is it BEAUTIFUL? and What are some of Flora and Fauna's experiences working with gibbons? 

It doesn't fly and it's not a lemur, we are off to a great start. Tune in to hear about a little critter that yeets itself off limbs to forage for tasty leaves. We answer questions like: Where are flying lemurs found? What actually is a flying lemur? Where are Flora & Fauna's umbilical cords? What if steering wheels were made of skin? Are flying lemurs endangered?

Modern day dinosaur? Yes puhlease.   This week we answer all of your big bird questions, like: what is a ratite? How fast can emus run? Are these Australian birds actually muppets? How do they support seed dispersal in their environment? and Are they the embodiment of new boot goofin? (spoiler: absolutely 100% yes)

Dirty buggies. There are 8000 of these, oh my god, I had no idea. This is overwhelming, so instead of giving you any factual information, let's talk about everyone's favorite movie franchise, Air Dung. Where do dung beetles live? If I took them on a field trip, would they love it? Do they live, eat, or breed in the poop? Or is this a trifecta situation. Are we overdue for another Egyptian phase? YES