Talking Animals Duncan Strauss

Jill Horstmann–founder of Squirrelly AF Rescue, a squirrel-focused rescue and rehabilitation operation she runs at her St. Petersburg home—recalls growing up in Wisconsin, where she was that neighborhood kid who tended to injured or ill critters. But it’s hardly been a straight line from Jill Horstmann, Kid Animal Rescuer to Jill Horstmann, Adult Animal Rescuer—though in her late teens, she did work as a vet tech. That gave way to working in local television in, the fruition of a desire that began as a childhood fascination with making videos. That realm didn’t turn out to meet her expectations, or standards, so she plunged into the bar world, spending years bartending and managing taverns—but Horstmann being Horstmann, during that period she also informally ran a small dog rescue, she notes. She describes the origin of Squirrelly AF—origins, really. That is, the rescue’s history tends to mark 2017 as the official beginning, in the wake of Hurricane Irma, when many people contacted her for help with squirrels that the storm had left injured or orphaned. But the reason they reached out to Horstmann then: Several years prior, she had rescued some squirrels—with no background or experience, not unlike those childhood days in Wisconsin, when she jumped into helping wounded animals—and posted about those instances on social media. And make no mistake, social media is pivotal to Squirrelly AF’s success—Horstmann says the nonprofit recently reached 16,000 followers on Facebook, crucial for outreach and marketing of course, but also significant for connecting her with various resources, including fellow squirrel rescuers and other wildlife rehabbers. (While her focus remains squirrels, she has widened out her services over the last year to additionally care for raccoons and opossums.) She explains that at the beginning, she funded Squirrelly AF with her own money; now, as a 501 (c ) (3) nonprofit organization, she welcomes donations: there are a lot of mouths to feed–the rescue typically houses 50-60-plus animals at any given moment, many of whom require squirrel formula, as well as medicine and other supplies. Horstmann fields several, mostly squirrel-related, questions from callers and emailers. (https://squirrellyaf.org/, https://www.facebook.com/ImSquirrellyAF, https://www.instagram.com/squirrellyaf/, https://www.tiktok.com/@squirrellyaf.247)
COMEDY CORNER: Sarah Silverman “Squirrels” (https://sarahsilvermanmerch.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Like My Dog,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TANov29Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window
 

Dr. Justin Perrault–vice president of research at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education, and conservation operation in Juno Beach, FL—recalls the early, pioneering work on sea turtles performed by Juno resident Eleanor Fletcher, establishing the beginnings of what became LMC. Perrault unspools what became an overlapping narrative of his academic and professional journey to this pivotal position at LMC, an unlikely arc given that his formative years were spent in landlocked Memphis, TN—though he hastens to point out a photo exists of Perrault at LMC, at age 5, suggesting a precocious interest in sea turtles. There were also Perrault  family roots in south Florida, accounting for trips and visits to  the area over the years, and later earning his PhD there: Integrative Biology from Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton. He addresses what serving as vice president at Loggerhead entails, outlining his extensive areas of responsibilities, among them management and other duties across the Research and Conservation department, including the relentlessly-long days (and nights) of nesting season, which runs roughly March to October.  Perrault discusses that he and his team counted a record-setting number of nests (25, 025, to be precise) in the nearly 10-mile expanse of beach–spanning Juno Beach, Jupiter, and Tequesta—which constitutes LMC’s parcel of land for conducting such research, and represents a 38% increase over the number of nests tallied last year. This surge in turtle nests is a phenomenon experienced in other parts of Florida. Perrault shares the prevailing theories about the increase in nests statewide, with some minor exceptions, noting the number of nests will likely decrease next year. Veering off-topic, I ask Perrault about this unusual circumstance reported relatively recently, in a beach on Poipu, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, whereby dozens of greens emerge from the water in the afternoon, ease onto the sand and proceed to nap. This behavior is called “basking,” only engaged in by green turtles, and, Perrault explains, only seen in three or four parts of the world. [Photos by Jeff Beige, Christian Del Rosario, others] (https://marinelife.org/, https://www.facebook.com/loggerheadmarinelifecenter/, https://www.instagram.com/loggerheadmarinelifecenter/)
 
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Nadia Tenouri, an organizer of ThanksVegan, the 14th annual powerhouse potluck, to be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa. Tenouri outlines the history of ThanksVegan in Tampa, noting when she began attending the event and when she became an organizer. She explains some of the day’s key details (social time at 1:30pm, potluck starts at 2pm, raffle held at 3:30, food table closes at 4, event ends at 5:30), and the formulas by which those attending bring a dish and offer a certain donation to participate in ThanksVegan. Tenouri notes there other requirements for bringing a dish, starting with all food must be vegan, of course. And providing a serving utensil and ingredient list for the dish you bring. Tenouri adds that they’re seeking volunteers to help with various aspects of the event, and to respond to this entreaty, or for any inquiries, folks can email ThanksVegan@gmail.com (https://www.floridavoicesforanimals.org/thanksvegan)
COMEDY CORNER: Drew Lynch’s “Touchin’ Turtles” (https://drewlynch.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TANov15showFinal.mp3 | Open Player in New Window
 

Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA Worldwide, the largest greyhound protection organization in the world, and Rory Goree, who for many years ran the largest industry-funded greyhound adoption group, Greyhound Pets of America, explain how–as former enemies in the battle to end greyhound racing–they transformed into allies. Goree and Theil (co-author–with Christine Dorchak, GREY2K USA Worldwide’s president and general counsel–of the just-published book, “Brooklyn Goes Home: The Rise and Fall of American Greyhound Racing and the Dog that Inspired a Movement”) recall their earliest days of becoming greyhound devotees, and the traits of these dogs they found most appealing. Turns out Theil was raised by a mother who adored dogs of all kinds, while Goree was previously more of a German Shepherd guy. With Theil drawing partly on a truncated account from the book, both men offer their perspectives on why greyhound racing became successful, and when in that rise it became apparent racing was going to be problematic (or worse) for the dogs. Goree weighs in, characterizing those initial years and reconstructing the unfolding battle when Theil and others began efforts to shut down racing. Theil fleshes out that account from the standpoint of an initially-precocious, now veteran activist and political operative. Theil also outlines the saga of Brooklyn, the sweet greyhound occupying the center of the new book, whose key storylines include being born in Australia, a deeply unsuccessful career as a racer, then being consigned to what was widely considered the worst dog track in the world: Yat Yuen Canidrome in Macau, where it was not uncommon for every racing dog there to die. But Brooklyn was spared when that track was shut down, and all surviving dogs were airlifted to safety. He also had the good fortune to be adopted by Theil and Dorchak, who are married. (https://rorygoree.blogspot.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorygoree, https://www.grey2kusa.org/index.php)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Representative Lindsay Cross (D-St. Petersburg), who joined by two colleagues, has proposed a bill—SB 272, HB 297—that allows for the discretionary appointment of a volunteer attorney, certified emeritus attorney, or certified legal intern to act as an advocate for the interests of justice in criminal cases of neglect or abuse involving a dog or cat. We discuss how Rep. Cross’s bill is intended to be a parallel to the laws permitting the appointment of guardians ad litem to protect the interests of children and other victims—but there’s no law currently in Florida for animals, who are even more hard-pressed to advocates for themselves. Based on efforts to pass a similar bill a year ago, Cross opines on what kind of resistance she and her colleagues anticipate. (https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4887)
 
COMEDY CORNER: Tom Shillue’s “Animal Shows” (https://www.tomshillue.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Was (Not Was)’s What Up, Dog?,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  The Rolling Stones’ “Monkey Man” (https://rollingstones.com/)
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TANov8Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window
 

Dr. Faraz Harsini–biomedical scientist and speaker at the 2023 Tampa Bay Veg Fest—remembers growing up in Iran, including a possible foreshadowing of his future activism, when participating in a student protest of the country’s leadership resulted in his being chased by someone wielding a machete. Harsini left the country at 22, recalling being mystified and mortified by the Iranian New Year’s tradition of displaying live goldfish, many of whom don’t survive. When designing a poster to protest the practice—this is while living in Germany—a friend observed the contradiction in his expressing love for the fish while still eating them. This swiftly resonated with him, prompting him to go vegan, and he recounts the impact of this friend’s observation like it was uttered yesterday. Meanwhile, he noted that in traveling his academic path (Bachelor’s in chemical engineering, Master’s degree in biotechnology and cancer research, PhD in Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics) his concern for animal welfare intersected with his studies and research, most prominently how certain diseases some cancers, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease—can be slowed, in some cases reversed, by following a plant-based diet. Harsini describes Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP), a nonprofit he founded and leads that supports college students who are committed to advocating for animal and environmental protection, public health, and other missions. He adds that ASAP has launched an initiative at Columbia University, urging the campus to become 100% plant-based. He offers a sneak preview of his then-impending Veg Fest lecture, bearing the provocative title, “Is The End Of Modern Medicine Near.” This followed an earlier moment of the conversation in which Harsini lamented that med school curriculum has generally not advanced when it comes to nutrition, neglecting to reflect the virtues of a plant-based diet. (https://farazharsini.com/, https://www.alliedscholars.org/, https://www.instagram.com/dr_faraz_harsini/, https://www.facebook.com/faraz.harsini)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Myriam Parham, one of the organizers (and co-founders) of the Tampa Bay Veg Fest, who provided an overview of the event to be held Saturday, Nov. 4, including noting this year’s Fest will feature upwards of 100 vendors—including many offering an array of food and drink—as well as a handful of cooking demonstrations. Parham notes that, per tradition, there will also be free food samples. She also touched on a reception-cum-fundraiser the night before, a new and multifaceted event that raised a considerable amount of money for two local organizations, Compassion Kind and Mercy Full Projects (whose founder, Aja Nikaya, was recently named Best Activist in Creative Loafing’s “Best Of The Bay” awards.) Parham pointed out that there would be live music, played by local musicians, as well as a varied slate of speakers, including Dr. Harsini, whom I’d just interviewed on the show. (http://www.tampabayvegfest.com/, https://www.compassionkind.org/, https://mercyfullprojects.org/)
COMEDY CORNER: Hari Kondabolu’s “A Vegan Long Con” (https://harikondabolu.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/TANov1Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Pete Walsh–who lives in Tasmania, where he found himself becoming deeply concerned about the plight of local platypuses in the capital city of Hobart, part of narrative that unfolds in “The Platypus Guardian,” a documentary kicking off the new season of the PBS series “Nature”—describes his background before becoming a platypus partisan. In doing so, he recounts his formative years, living amidst assorted animals, an important and impactful experience that he re-created when raising his own kids. Clearly a serious and accomplished photographer, Walsh explains that one outlet for his photos is the entity he created (https://hobartrivuletplatypus.org/) to raise awareness of, and help protect, his beloved local platypuses.He seeks to describe the platypus, a singular animal found only in Australia, and one that appears to have been designed by a committee that had considerable trouble agreeing on key characteristics—for starters, it’s a mammal that lays eggs, a furry-coated critter with a duck bill. After touching on the medical condition that’s not an insignificant facet of the film—in that it seems to serve as a catalyst for Walsh spending more time at the body of water (“rivulet”), where he first sees the female platypus that becomes his friend. He named that platypus Zoom, and spends a portion of our conversation tracing the unfolding friendship with her, which he chiefly attributes to the animal’s curiosity, but may well go beyond that, given that she continued to approach him, like she was indeed visiting a friend. We touch on a number of other subjects—while striving to avoid spoilers, with the U.S. premiere “The Platypus Guardian” not offered until the Oct. 18 showing on “Nature”—including how Walsh, a soft-spoken fellow, transformed into a vocal activist and public speaker, guiding efforts to clean up the trash in the waterway, pieces of which can imperil the platypus by wrapping around their bills. In closing, we addressed Walsh’s observation that concluded the film: “I thought I was looking after nature, but, really, it was nature looking after me.” [Photos: Pete Walsh by Wildbear Entertainment…Close-up of platypus by Pete Walsh…Platypus in front of waterfall by Daniel Van Duinkerken…Walsh joined by platypus friend by Wildbear Entertainment] (https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/, https://www.facebook.com/PBSNature, https://www.instagram.com/pbsnature)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Sherry Silk, CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, seeking her perspective and analysis of this monumental controversy involving the SPCA Tampa Bay. That organization’s CEO, Martha Boden, recently unveiled a plan whereby the SPCA Tampa Bay will forge an alliance with Pinnacle Pet, a dog breeding operation headquartered in Missouri, and Sunshine Puppies pet stores. This announced alliance has generated outrage from a growing number of local and national animal welfare organizations–including calls for Boden’s ouster—while local and national media outlets have flocked toward covering the story. Silk and I discuss the improbability of such a gambit, and how it flies in the face of the “adopt, don’t shop” philosophy espoused by animal shelters (and SPCA Tampa Bay is an animal shelter), rescues, and animal advocates of various stripes for decades. Silk notes she spoke with Boden, and the conversation did go anywhere fruitful. Indeed, more broadly, despite all the outrage and criticism, it appears SPCA Tampa Bay has doubled down on its puzzling position. Among Silk’s suggestion for taking action on this matter were to contact Boden (mboden@spcatampabay.org) &/or the SPCA Tampa Board (spcatampabayboard@gmail.com) and voice your concerns and criticisms.
COMEDY CORNER: Richard Jeni’s “Platypus Man”
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT [...]

Ann Paul–an organizer of the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, a multifaceted, multi-day extravaganza, scheduled to take place Oct. 12-15, in and around Apollo Beach, Florida—revisits, at my request, the story of her first real foray into birding, and how arriving late at that outing proved fortuitous. She spotted a black and white warbler, and all these years later, her enthusiasm for the experience—clearly, it was Paul’s “spark bird”—is palpable. For those listeners who aren’t yet birders, Paul describes what she loves so much about birding after decades of doing it. Bridging this topic with outlining some of the programming offered at the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, including a seminar called “Birding 101,” aimed at the novice, the beginning birder. I ask about Christian Cooper–the birder who soared to national recognition in the wake of a famous incident in Central Park, he went on to host a show on the National Geographic channel, “Extraordinary Birder,” and wrote a memoir—and how she would characterize his impact on the birding world? She observed Cooper’s significant influence–as a gay black man–in widening and diversifying the birding community, particularly in hatching new birders. Paul returns to highlighting some Festival offerings (having already noted that the Festival schedule was far too sprawling to cover everything), focusing on one of the two Keynote Talks: Stan Tekiela, delivering a presentation entitled “Bird Migration,” with Paul pointing out this lecture, along with the other Keynote Talk (David Johnson on “The Taxonomy of Burrowing Owls in The Americas”) served a buffet meal, creating a nice opportunity for organizers and attendees to socialize at these lectures. [Photos: Frigate bird by Tom Bell…uncredited photo of Ann Paul…promo image of Stan Tekiela…Spoonbill by Tom Bell]
(https://www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org/, https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBirdingNatureFestival/, https://www.instagram.com/fbnfestival/)

ALSO: I spoke briefly with Gracie Topp, from the Humane Society of Pinellas, giving us the lowdown on the organization’s then-impending big event, “Walk For Whiskers,” slated to happen Saturday, Oct. 14 in Pioneer Park, in Dunedin. Topp—whom longtime WMNF & “Talking Animals” listeners will know by her maiden name: Grieshop…she was formerly Gracie Grieshop, and remains the longtime singer-songwriter fronting the Tampa band Sunset Bridge Band–outlined some key details planned for the third annual “Walk.” This included a pet costume contest, pet-oriented vendors, and the “Walk” itself. Topp also explained an event like “Walk For Whiskers” raises important funds for the Humane Society of Pinellas, underwriting the organization’s ongoing operation, and the construction of a new facility, which she said they hope will be completed by the beginning of 2024. (https://www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org/, https://www.facebook.com/HumanePinellas/, https://www.instagram.com/humanepinellas/)
COMEDY CORNER: Andy Ritchie’s “Balthazar”
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE:  We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TAOct11Final.mp3 | Open Player in New Window