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Wild Secrets

Wild Secrets

By Frances Carleton

Wild Secrets delves into the nature of caring for wildlife. It has a image of being all cute a fluffy, but it really isn't. Hear the stories of the folks doing the hard yards.
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Currently playing episode

Dr Gavin: the academic approach

Wild SecretsNov 21, 2021

00:00
58:04
Debbie: Drones helping wildlife and the environment
Sep 18, 202231:21
Rob: who doesn't love a Red Rump

Rob: who doesn't love a Red Rump

Rob is an environmental graduate student based in Melbourne.  His research project looking at the habitat requirements of the charismatic Red Rump Parrots coincided with a pandemic and extended lock-downs.  We talked about how his project had to change direction and how he employed citizen science.  Follow Rob on Twitter: robdashworth

Aug 15, 202256:38
Kristy: for the love of jumping spiders

Kristy: for the love of jumping spiders

Kristy is a marketing student and ex-nurse.  Now her passion is spreading the love for jumping spiders and sharing what they can teach us.  Follow Oods of Spoods on Instagram: www.instagram.com/oodsofspoods/

Aug 03, 202229:14
Sue and Steve: outback in the Bluebush

Sue and Steve: outback in the Bluebush

Sue and Steve run a shelter and rescue miles from anywhere.  They candidly share the trails, highs and lows of working with wildlife off the beaten track.  For more information: https://www.facebook.com/BluebushWRR

Jul 01, 202241:57
Peg: for the love of Raptors

Peg: for the love of Raptors

Peg McDonald OM is the founder of the Higher Ground Raptors in NSW Southern HIghlands.  With over 40 year working with wild she has a lot to say and share about these majestic birds and the amount it's taken to get to where they are today.

Apr 29, 202246:39
Jackie French: Living with wildlife

Jackie French: Living with wildlife

Jackie has been a beloved author and public presence in Australia for more than twenty years.  We sat down with a dodgy Zoom link to talk about wombats and how living with wildlife has influenced her writing and life.  

More info: www.jackiefrench.com/

Apr 14, 202226:34
Shane and Pauline: just batty

Shane and Pauline: just batty

Pauline and Shane are based in South Australia and dedicate their lives to bats. It's rewarding, but sometimes it can absolutely break your heart.

find out more on Instagram: talkingbatty_education_team

Mar 22, 202250:02
Juleen: from Townsville to Tasmania

Juleen: from Townsville to Tasmania

Juleen is a wildlife carer based on Tasmania.  The wildlife down there is a little different but the learning curve to be a carer and issues don’t vary much from the mainland.

Jan 08, 202244:20
Dr Gavin: the academic approach

Dr Gavin: the academic approach

Dr Gavin Smith is a long way from his origins in Scotland.  He finds himself living and working in Canberra as a full-time academic studying human nature and on the side studying the impacts of moving brown snakes from their habitats.   

Nov 21, 202158:04
Nikki: a love affair with an old roo

Nikki: a love affair with an old roo

Nikki is a wildlife shelter operator based in country Victoria.  Hear her talk about dealing with the locals, human and otherwise, and how some are more welcoming than others.

Nov 04, 202151:54
Mathew: a life long love

Mathew: a life long love

Mathew is the founder of the Facebook Group Fast Snake Identification (Australia).  Hear his talk about what drives him, surprising connections, and what's next.  

Oct 25, 202144:07
Krysti: Relentless and rewarding

Krysti: Relentless and rewarding

Based in Victoria, Krysti spends much of her day rescuing, euthanising, and raising orphan kangaroo joeys.  While her work with roos gives her the chance to alleviate suffering of many, it also rewards her.  You can find more on Facebook at @RescueRehabilitateRelease

Oct 11, 202132:54
Mary: the science of trauma

Mary: the science of trauma

Mary is an EMDR therapist who has spent many years working with clients in trauma.  Since making a tree change she has a new apprication of the mental health impacts faced by wildlife workers and carers.

Jul 13, 202153:34
Yolandi: Wonder of wombats

Yolandi: Wonder of wombats

Yolandi has travelled far to get to were she is today but she believes she was put on this planet to do the work she does with wombats.  This episode is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting.  You won't regret spending 45 minutes with Yolandi. 

Jun 30, 202150:60
Bill and Lesley: Who'll looks after them when we're gone?

Bill and Lesley: Who'll looks after them when we're gone?

Lesley and Bill have committed their lives to wombats.  They have taught their local community a little more respect for these delightful, character filled animals.  Having made so many sacrifices, and having difficulties finding others with as much passion, they ask themselves the question... 

Mar 23, 202101:07:29
Greg and Justine: Constantly Learning

Greg and Justine: Constantly Learning

The importance of constantly learning isn't lost on Greg and Justine.  Their small, independently run Dimmocks Retreat Wildlife takes in animals from a wide radius of their home.  Working closely with veterinary professionals, both locally and interstate, their mission is to provide the best care, every time, and that can only be done when you commit to learning how to treat every individual. 

Feb 28, 202153:32
Judith Crispin: Honouring the Spirit

Judith Crispin: Honouring the Spirit

Judith Crispin is an artist that lives and works in the Canberra Region.  She makes works using native and introduced species and during the  process time of creating she feels they allow her a different insight into their lives, unseen by other eyes.  A passionate and vocal advocate for wildlife and aboriginal people, this episode may touch on difficult topics for some. 

Feb 15, 202144:23
Caroline and Peter: doing it all together

Caroline and Peter: doing it all together

Caroline and Peter have been caring for animals for many years through thick and thin, fire and drought, laughter and tears.  With hard work they have raised kangaroos, wombats, birds, and myriad of domestic animals...together. 

Jan 20, 202144:24
Mandy and her desire to help

Mandy and her desire to help

Mandy lives in suburban Sydney, she doesn't look after wildlife, but during and after the 2019/20 fires that swept the East Coast she knew she had to do something to help the carers.  She just didn't immediately know what.  Now she does!

Jan 11, 202136:17
Gill and caring for wildlife in suburbia

Gill and caring for wildlife in suburbia

Gill is a carer based on the mid-north coast of NSW.  A retiree she shares the lengths she went to to save animals and give them and lasting safe place.

Sep 22, 202039:29
Ally for the love of reptiles

Ally for the love of reptiles

Ally is based in the Canberra region, is originally from a much warmer climate in the US.  She finds herself championing the limited, but fascinating reptiles in her adopted home through her volunteering and work.

Sep 22, 202055:22
Mark Pearson MP from animal liberation to Parliament House

Mark Pearson MP from animal liberation to Parliament House

Mark is a Animal Justice Party MP in the NSW government.  He started his career as a psychiatric nurse and campaigner for animal rights.  Now he is passionately challenging the law for all animals from a position that's unlikely to see him on the wrong side.

Sep 22, 202001:05:37
Rae and surviving Black Summer

Rae and surviving Black Summer

Rae lives on the South Coast of NSW and lost her entire property to fire during the fires of 2019/20.  This is her story.  Warning: may be distressing to some listeners.

Sep 22, 202040:25
Michele and her passion for macropods

Michele and her passion for macropods

Michele and her husband grew up in the US and now live in rural NSW with their family.  She volunteered for her local wildlife group to help save kangaroos (macropods) and other things with pouches that hop.  t didn't end well for her.

Sep 22, 202041:29
Erna and a lifetime of working with wildlife

Erna and a lifetime of working with wildlife

Erna Walraven wrote the book.  Literally.  The author of 'Care of Australian Wildlife: For Gardeners, Landholders and Wildlife Carers', started life in the Netherlands, before migrating to Australia and becoming a zookeeper.  She shares interesting observations about we viewed animals then and now. 

Sep 22, 202034:37