Hey everyone! It's your buddy Paul. You may have noticed that there has been no episodes lately and if you don't follow us on Twitter or Facebook you might not know why so here I am to tell you. Back on September 3rd I found out that my someone at my day job tested positive for COVID-19. The next day I also tested positive for COVID-19. I had a breakthrough infection which means that I was fully vaccinated at the end of April and got sick anyway. Which is fine. I knew that was a possibility. There are nine employees at my job and seven of us tested positive and one employee's wife tested positive as well and we are all dealing with varying degrees of symptoms. I am happy to tell you that as of this morning, September 16th, I am about 85% healthy, I tested negative for COVID-19 and even though I had some pretty rough days and nights I think the vaccine did its job and kept my symptoms mild enough that I could stay here at home in almost total isolation for 10 days. I think in ten days I left my room for six hours maybe? For walks outside and going to the pharmacy to get tested. Lots of cotton swabs in my nose there for a while. Anyway I have no doubt that if I hadn't been vaccinated that this would have been much, much worse. So if you haven't been vaccinated already please go do that. I told people that I'm glad that instead of Original Recipe Covid that I had Diet Covid instead. It's no fun. It's not like any cold or flu you've ever had. Losing your senses of taste and smell is one of the most bizarre things I've ever experienced. 0/5 stars on Travel Advisor. Do not recommend. I decided shortly after I tested positive that I would take the month of September off as far as podcasting and even though I'm feeling much better I still have a lot of fatigue and I can't talk that much which is pretty important if the content you create involves talking into a microphone for an hour or more at a time. My voice gives out. My hope is that we can publish the second part of our episode about pigeons and doves sometime in October. I don't know when because we haven't recorded it yet. And we have other episodes planned after that but I just need to get a little more healthy. We are going to do our second annual Fat Bear Week tournament in the Varmints Discussion Group on Facebook. The Katmai National Park does a Fat Bear Week tournament and in the group we play along and we give the winners of the tournament prizes and it's a lot of fun. You'll hear trailers for that in the next couple of weeks but if you're on Facebook look us up. It's the Varmints Discussion Group. We ask you a couple of questions about the show. And it's just a nice, positive group where we share funny animal memes and news stories and I hope you check it out. The Fat Bear Week Tournament starts on September 29th and we'll remind you about it next week. It's also time for the Discover Pods awards! We won the award for Best Kids and Family podcast a couple of years ago and it would be cool to do that again. You can go to awards.discoverpods.com and nominate us for Best Kids and Family. It's super easy and that would be amazing. If you are a Patreon supporter first of all thanks for your support. We're not going to bill you on October 1st. You're getting a free month which means that if you join our Patreon now you'll get all of the bonus content and you won't be billed until November 1st. If you've been kicking the idea around of helping the show through Patreon it's a great time to do that. I'll put the links to everything I've talked about here in the show notes. And that's it. I'm really looking forward to giving you a proper show in the next month or so but I'm not 100% and I'm probably going to go lay down after I publish this so thanks for listening. Thanks for all of your support. Thanks for your patience. Just thanks. Until we talk again, be nice to animals. Take care. Links: patreon.com/varmints awards.discoverpods.com The Varmints Discussion Group on Facebook

Varmints!

Update!

Flap on over and join Paul and Donna for a coo episode about those head-bobbin', saucy-walkin', statue-poopin' pigeons and doves! Did Thousands of Pigeons Poop on Spectators at 1936 Olympic Games? Quiz for Paul: Pigeon or Dove? https://birdfeederexpert.com/pigeon-diet-list/ https://www.amesgroup.uk.com/blog/what-do-pigeons-eat/ https://pigeonpedia.com/why-do-pigeons-poop-so-much/ A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching Mighty Bird Brains How Two Pigeons Helped Scientists Confirm the Big Bang Theory   Featured image is: "Pigeon" by RG in TLV is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was by Kari McGinnis, Jennifer Csomo, and Stacey and Frosty. 

Pigeons and Doves Part One

Wanna hear one person talk about a krillion of something? Paul goes solo this week to talk about the planet's biggest, coolest swarm: krill! Our sources: https://www.theonion.com/red-lobster-celebrates-return-of-annual-all-you-can-eat-1819576667 https://www.superbakrill.com/blog/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-krill https://happyfeet.fandom.com/wiki/Will https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/jan/29/aussie-scientists-embark-on-voyage-with-new-technology-to-count-antarctic-krill-17748.html https://www.ccamlr.org/en/fisheries/krill-%E2%80%93-biology-ecology-and-fishing With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris “The Toph” Green, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. Featured Image: "Antarktický krill" by Norkrill is licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)  

Krill

Join Paul and Donna this week to learn about the many and varied species of audacious, adventurous, and adorable armadillo! San Antonio man's backyard invaded by pack of adorable armadillos Nine-Banded Armadillo — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department LiveScience - Armadillo Facts Armadillomon | Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki | Fandom Armadillo (comics) Armadillos Carrying Leprosy Bacteria Spreading in Southern US 21 Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts Featured Image: "Nine-banded Armadillo" by LandBetweentheLakesKYTN is marked with CC PDM 1.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Armadillos

All right everybody, let's not butt heads; it's time to stand in a circle and learn about musk ox!  Ice Age Musk Ox? Nevada Man Finds Bones in Backyard | Nevada News | US News https://www.nps.gov/gaar/learn/naMusk Ox: Circle Defense by the National Park Serviceture/muskox-circle-defense.htm Inside the Mind of a Musk Ox How Musk Oxen Make It Through Arctic Nights and Never-Ending Days Featured Image: Image from Public domain images website, http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/fauna-animals-public-domain-images-pictures/musk-ox-pictures/adult-musk-ox-bulls-animals.jpg.html Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Musk Ox

Take a dip into the sea with Donna and special guest Megan "Danger" Hesse to talk about the weird and wonderful sponge! Sea Sponges: Nature's Disinfectants Unusual Sea Sponge Movement in the Arctic Ocean is Remarkable But Comes at a Horrific Price “Sleezy” sponge sexuality Spongebob Squarepants Theme Song Sea Sponges Facts   Featured Image: Sponges in Caribbean Sea, Cayman Islands ,Twilight Zone Expedition Team 2007, NOAA-OE, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Sponges w/Megan from The Weird podcast

Paul's segment on the Livestream for the Cure telethon for cancer research recorded on May 21, 2012. Edited for time and content.  Please be advised that this episode has mild and bleeped swearing and a little bit of adult subject matter and may not be suitable for very young children.

Livestream 4 the Cure!

Please join me for my segment on the Livestream for the Cure this year! It starts at 4PM EST on Friday May 21, 2021 at https://twitch.tv/livestreamforthecure Please join me for some fun and help us raise $15K for cancer research this year!  

Livestream For The Cure!

Hop on down to Robin Town with Paul and Donna and hang out with us while we talk about Robins!  Why do Robins have Red Breasts? The Beauty and Biology of Egg Color | All About Birds All About Birds How Birds Get Berry, Berry Drunk | HowStuffWorks  Weatherwatch: how robins became a symbol of Christmas   With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris Braaten, Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Jennifer Csomo, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago. Featured Image: "American robin (Turdus migratorius)" by Lip Kee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 "European robin (Erithacus rubecula), Parc du Rouge-Cloître, Bruxelles" by Frank.Vassen is licensed under CC BY 2.0     Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Robins

It's Brood X emergence time, everyone! Join Paul and Donna to chat about cicadas and their buggy, buggy ways.  US researchers seek citizen scientists as billions of Brood X cicadas set to emerge https://cicadasafari.org/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-cicadas-180977361/ https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/category/pop-culture/ https://youtu.be/0ThPKyYG4hQ How to eat cicadas: Just in time for the swarm, tips on cooking the bug-eyed bugs     Featured Image: "Periodical Cicada" by treegrow is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Cicadas

Sources for this show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk886pOS4Mo&t=4074s https://loudwire.com/lemmy-kilmister-facial-masks/ https://shop.imotorhead.com/products/faces-of-lemmy-mask-3-packhttps://shop.imotorhead.com/products/faces-of-lemmy-mask-3-pack https://youtu.be/skGEBgePHtk https://youtu.be/RTvyZZsHOYI 

LEMMY

Join us for a special episode with Roswell, New Mexico rancher, Cotton Shorts, as we take advantage of the short window of internet availability to chat about Hippogryphs! Featured Image: "Hippogriff" by Benimoto is licensed under CC BY 2.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.  

Hippogryphs

Swim on down to Cuttlefish Town with Paul and Donna as they find out all sorts of interesting things about these adorable cephalopods! But first, the news! Cuttlefish show self-control, pass 'marshmallow test' Tricky Cuttlefish Put on Gender-Bending Disguise NOVA: Kings of Camouflage, Anatomy of a Cuttlefish Animal Guide: Cuttlefish Filipino Tales: Cuttlefish and Squid ZeFrank: True Facts about the Cuttlefish Cuttlefish learn from watching potential prey even before they are born Yes, this Cuttlefish is Wearing 3-D Glasses   With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Chris Braaten, Josh Hallmark, Chris “The Toph” Green, Jennifer Csomo, Stacey and Frosty, Justine and Santiago.    Featured Image: "A winsome cuttlefish. P4181345" by wbaiv is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.    

Cuttlefish

Hop on over and join Paul and Donna for the bounciest, chirpiest conversation about the tiny insect musicians, crickets!   But first, the news! RHOD Recap: Dr. Tiffany's Party Ends in Disaster as Brandi Falls Ill After Eating Tiffany's Crickets Pizza   How Do Crickets Talk?   Cricket acoustic communication   IUCN Crickets   The Crickets   Sonorous Science: Have a Cricket Tell You the Temperature!   Crickets are invading Texas with a fury, as weather conditions are ‘perfect,’ experts say   Technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent by Kari McGinnis, Josh Hallmark, Stacey and Frosty   Featured Image:   "File:Gryllus pennsylvanicus female 01.jpg" by Kevinjudge is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0   Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.    

Crickets

Weird. Misunderstood. Funny looking. This is not an episode about Paul. This is a solo episode about aye-ayes. Sources:https://theconversation.com/new-discovery-madagascars-bizarre-aye-aye-has-six-fingers-on-each-hand-126520 https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ayeaye/taxonomy https://youtu.be/3k2m2xIvSik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSWIHyVeoig https://www.madamagazine.com/en/das-tier-das-den-tod-bringt/ With technical support by Matthew Csomo, bed music by Kevin MacLeod, our logo was created by Imran Javed. Our vocal talent was Stacey and Frosty and Justine and Santiago. Featured images:"Aye-Aye 1" by Mark Dumont is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Any other images on the page are featured on the linked websites. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

Aye-Ayes

The Varmints! podcast is an education/comedy podcast that's all about animals! Every week two nerds name Paul and Donna do a whole bunch of research to bring you a mix of science, education, pop culture and comedy about all things that creep, crawl, slither, fly, jump, hop and swim on this planet one animal at a time.

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Varmints!

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