Aug 30, 2025
Ever heard of a shrew with venomous saliva, a vulture that cools off by pooping on its own legs, or a bird that impales its prey on barbed wire? 🦨🦅🐦 This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris take you on a wild ride through some of the strangest, funniest, and downright bizarre behaviors in the animal kingdom.
You’ll hear jaw-dropping stories like:
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Shrews that paralyze their prey and store them in a “meat locker” for later.
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Vultures with stomach-turning defense mechanisms.
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Loggerhead shrikes who skewer their meals on thorns or fence posts.
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Humpback whales using bubble nets to trap fish for a buffet feast.
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Octopuses that change color, shape, and even the texture of their skin for camouflage.
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Seahorses where the males give birth (to thousands of babies at once!).
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Hummingbirds doubling their body weight to fuel epic migrations.
With equal parts fascination and laughter, the hosts remind us that nature isn’t just beautiful — it’s endlessly surprising, sometimes gross, and always worth exploring. 🌿
🎧 Tune in to this week’s episode of The Backyard Naturalists and prepare to say “whoa!” more than once. Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you listen.