That's WILD! A Little Rock Zoo Podcast

Join us as we explore the amazing natural world that surrounds AND ASTOUNDS us. We’ll share insights and mind-blowing facts with special guest appearances that will leave you saying “That’s WILD!” Podcast edited and produced by Vines/Brookshire https://www.vinesbrookshire.com

That's WILD! A Little Rock Zoo Podcast is a kids podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts That's WILD! A Little Rock Zoo Podcast, a kids show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #9

  Cheetah Anatomy, Speed, and Survival with Kate Neal

  Aug 18, 202630 minS2

  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".

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  Episode #8

  Bird Conservation & Backyard Tips with Kevin Krajcir

  Aug 4, 202638 minS2

  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.

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  Episode #7

  Would You Rather: Wild Edition

  Jul 21, 202638 minS2

  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." — Joy The 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.

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  Episode #6

  Is That True?!

  Jul 7, 202651 minS2

  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."

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  Episode #5

  Raccoons, Dogs & Wolves: How Wild Animals Shape to Our World with Dr. Raffaela Lesch

  Jun 23, 202642 minS2

  This episode of the That's Wild podcast features host Susan Altrui, host Joy Matlock, MC Dustin Bean, and their guest, Dr. Raffaela Lesch. Dr. Lesch is a biology professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock who specializes in animal behavior, domestication, urbanization, and bioacoustics. The conversation explores how wild animals adapt and change physically when living close to humans. A central highlight is Dr. Lesch's research on raccoons, which she regards as a "modern day ancestral line" for studying the early stages of domestication driven by urbanization and the availability of human trash. The hosts and Dr. Lesch discuss the cleverness of campus raccoons, noting a study by a student named Kelsey who caught them on camera "opening those huge doors, those huge dumpster doors." The discussion clarifies that a wild animal learning to coexist with humans does not equal true domestication, which requires structural changes across many generations. Additionally, the episode touches upon Dr. Lesch's work in bioacoustics, including a long-term study comparing the vocal boxes of dogs and wolves to test the "neural crest domestication syndrome hypothesis." This study—which was later inherited by her master's student—revealed that dogs do have smaller larynges and shorter vocal folds than wolves, though this anatomical difference did not definitively explain the difference between barking and howling. Dr. Lesch also references external research on raccoon anatomy and urban-rural comparisons conducted by Dr. Christina Sluka at the University of Wyoming. Finally, the podcast explores how human speech patterns change when interacting with pets, noting that both men and women naturally shift to a higher pitch when communicating with animals.

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