Hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock dive into the astonishing world of lizards—exploring Komodo dragons, bearded dragons, and Arkansas’s eastern collared lizard “dragons.” Learn what makes Komodos fearsome predators and how local zoos breed and release native species to restore Ozark glade ecosystems. Zookeeper Hannah also introduces Steve the bearded dragon, a laid-back ambassador who helps families connect with reptiles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Reptile vs. Lizard vs. Dragon: Why all lizards are reptiles but only certain “dragon” species earn that nickname.
• Komodo Dragon Biology: How their venomous bite, venom glands, and ambush tactics make them top predators on Indonesian islands.
• Bearded Dragon Traits: Why Steve “puffs” his spiky beard, blinks with eyelids, and uses color changes to communicate mood and temperature.
• Arkansas’ “Native Dragons”: How the Little Rock Zoo partners to breed and re-release eastern collared lizards—bright green, two-legged runners—back into Ozark glades.
• Conservation Challenges: The impacts of habitat loss, poaching, and climate change on Komodo populations and regional “dragon” species.

Key Takeaways:

• Komodo Size & Strength: Records show Komodos up to 10.5 ft and 266 lbs—capable of killing deer or water buffalo with venom-induced blood loss.
• Dragon Names: “Komodo dragon” comes from a 1927 book; locals call them Ora. Zoo dragons Iris & Circe are named after Greek deities of chaos and magic.
• Ambassador Care: Komodos Iroh (1½ yr) and Tia (3½ yr) undergo quarantine, target-training, and specialized habitat management before public display.
• Bearded Dragon Ambassador: Steve (named for Steve Irwin) lives 10–15 years, requires UV light, dietary variety, and expert handling—pets demand research before adoption.
• Local Restoration: Eastern collared lizards depend on glade ecosystems; captive-breeding programs aim to rebuild wild populations at risk from development.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis)
• Bearded Dragon Ambassador (Steve)
• Greek-named Dragons: Iris & Circe
• Eastern Collared Lizard Recovery Program
• Little Rock Zoo Reptile House

Quote:

“Komodos may not breathe fire, but their venomous bite and stealth make them real-life dragons.” – Susan Altruy

Enjoy this reptilian adventure—and remember: supporting accredited zoos fuels vital conservation efforts worldwide!

Episode Summary: Hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock explore how animals secure food—through foraging, hunting, and special tactics—and how habitat loss endangers those sources. Zookeeper Hannah then presents Monty, a Ball Python, to demonstrate snake adaptations for locating and subduing prey. Learn simple actions you can take to protect natural food chains.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Foraging vs. Hunting: Black bears gather berries and carrion; river otters dive for fish; red-­tailed hawks hunt rodents.
• Habitat & Food: Clearing forests or draining wetlands removes vital plants and prey for box turtles, penguins, and pollinators.
• Python Biology: Monty’s infrared “pit organs,” backward­-curved teeth, and glottis “snorkel” let him ambush and swallow prey whole.
• Conservation Steps: How the Seafood Watch app guides you toward sustainable seafood to help maintain healthy food webs.

Key Takeaways:

• Arkansas Black Bears: Once so plentiful the state was nicknamed “Bear State,” these omnivores switch from plant foraging to small­-mammal hunting.
• River Otter Fishing: Otters chase fish underwater with streamlined bodies and paddle­like tails.
• Red­-Tailed Hawks: Using sharp talons and keen eyesight, they patrol skies to catch rodents—showing aerial predator roles.
• Box Turtle Foraging: Native turtles eat insects, berries, and mushrooms; habitat loss removes their essential food.
• Monty the Ball Python:
  • Pit Organs: Detect heat from warm­-blooded prey in darkness.
  • Ambush Tactics: Strike quickly, grip prey with backward teeth, and constrict.
  • Glottis “Snorkel”: Allows breathing while swallowing large meals.
• Ecosystem Impact: Losing predators or pollinators (snakes or bees) triggers imbalances—rodent overpopulation or plant declines.
• Practical Actions:
  • Don’t Litter Roadsides: Food scraps attract rodents, which lure snakes or owls into traffic.
  • Use Seafood Watch: A free Monterey Bay Aquarium app to choose sustainable fish and protect ocean ecosystems.

Mentioned:

• Arkansas Black Bear
• River Otter
• Red-­Tailed Hawk
• Box Turtle
• Pollinators: Bats & Fireflies
• Ball Python (Monty “Monica”)
• Seafood Watch App

Quotes:

“Wetlands and forests aren’t just landscapes—they’re grocery stores for wildlife.” – Susan Altruy “Monty’s pit organs are like an infrared GPS toward prey.” – Hannah (Zookeeper)

Join hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock on That’s Wild Podcast as they explore the myriad ways animals communicate—through dance, color changes, smells, and vocalizations. From honeybee waggle dances to skunk foot stomps, squid chromatophores, and the hoots of a great horned owl named Lincoln, this episode reveals how nonverbal and verbal signals shape survival and social bonds in the wild. Zookeeper Hannah also brings Lincoln on-mic to demonstrate visual cues and territorial hoots firsthand.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How honeybees perform their “waggle dance” to share precise directions to food sources.
• The role of body language and color changes (chromatophores) in squids and octopuses, and how those signals convey threat or courtship.
• Why skunks combine foot-stomping with powerful scents to warn predators, and how fireflies use bioluminescent “Morse code” flashes to attract mates.
• The different purposes behind great horned owl Lincoln’s hoots, hisses, and feather-tuft displays, and how visual throat-patches reinforce his vocal messages.
• Practical ways listeners can help minimize road-kill prey signals (like not littering) to protect owls and other wildlife.

Highlights & Key Takeaways:

• Honeybee Waggle Dance: Honeybees waggle through a figure-eight pattern to pinpoint distance and direction to nectar.
• Squid Chromatophores: Squids (and octopuses) control pigment-filled sacs (chromatophores) to flash warning colors, signal mates, or evade predators.
• Skunk Warning System: Foot stomps plus pungent musk are an effective “back-off” communication—watch for raised tail and stomping feet.
• Firefly Flash Codes: Fireflies synchronize blinking patterns as mating signals; each species has its own “light language.”
• Lion’s Roar vs. Owl Hoot: Verbal calls—like a lion’s roar or owl’s hoot—serve for territorial claims, mate attraction, or alarm calls.
• Lincoln the Great Horned Owl: Female horned owls are larger. Lincoln’s hoots mark a roughly one-mile territory and can also court mates. His black eye resulted from a past injury, explaining why he lives at the zoo.
• Owl Vision & Hearing: Forward-facing eyes, a heart-shaped facial disk, and asymmetrical ear placement give owls pinpoint auditory and visual precision—essential for hunting nocturnal prey.
• Preventing Roadside Predation: Avoid tossing food scraps or trash roadside; it lures rodents, which then attract predatory owls to dangerous road edges.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Little Rock Zoo (and its honeybee exhibit)
• Chromatophores (pigment cells in cephalopods)
• Great Horned Owl (Lincoln)
• Zookeeper Hannah

Quotes:

“Imagine if we could change color when we’re mad—turning bright red might give away too much!” – Susan Altruy “Lincoln’s throat patch literally flashes—reinforcing his hoot for territory or a date.” – Hannah, Zookeeper

Enjoy this fascinating dive into nonverbal and vocal animal “languages,” and be sure to subscribe for more “That’s Wild” episodes that inspire you to value—and protect—our natural world.