The Critter Shed

Back from the brink: The Scimitar-Horned Oryx

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:57:32 GMT

A re-release from several years ago in honour of World Scimitar-Horned Oryx Day.

The scimitar-horned oryx is an antelope from the very dry regions of north Africa. They were once listed as 'extinct in the wild' and now – thanks to the conservation efforts – these animals have made a comeback.

And in this episode we're meeting Brendan Walsh, zoo keeper at Dublin Zoo He spent time in north Africa studying this animal. And of course, he spent time looking after them in the Zoo.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella

Produced by Colette Kinsella

A Red Hare Media production

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wonderful Wild Bugs of Oz

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:18:55 GMT

Collie and Colette attempt a cross-hemispheric episode between Australia and Ireland to talk about... Australian shield bugs.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harvestmen: The Spiders That Aren't

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:24:55 GMT

The Spiders That Aren't

In this episode Collie and Brian Murray undertake a micro-safari in search of the wonderful, beautiful and mysterious harvestmen arachnids: the spiders that aren't spiders.

Brian Murray is the founder of Microwild in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, a conservation area set up specifically for the smallest, most elusive and under-appreciated members of this planet's web of life.

Brian is also involved in outreach and education. One of his missions is to help people to see, and then fall in love with, the insects and invertebrates that live in the Microwild meadow. He runs all sorts of courses throughout the year, and a visit to Microwild is great family day out. Pop over to his website for more information and a calendar of activities.

https://www.microwild.org/

We love hearing from you, so if you have any wildlife questions you want us to answer, please drop us a line:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great IN YOUR NATURE Mash-up Part 2

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:00:53 GMT

Collie chats with the great folk from the In Your Nature podcast about herons.

https://birdwatchireland.ie/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/in-your-nature/id1554068928

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

The Critter Shed is a RED HARE MEDIA production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great IN YOUR NATURE Mash-up Part 1

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:31:34 GMT

Collie chats with the great folk from the In Your Nature Podcast, which brings you conversations about wildlife and the work of conservationists all over Ireland.

https://birdwatchireland.ie/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/in-your-nature/id1554068928

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

The Critter Shed is a RED HARE MEDIA production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pond Stories

Tue, 21 May 2024 15:49:32 GMT

Collie and Colette talk about the bugs they find living in and around their ponds.

Do you have questions or queries for us? Get in touch... deets below.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, The Confrontation

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oryx Tales

Thu, 02 May 2024 16:03:52 GMT

A feel-good tale about a north African antelope species to lift your spirits.

Image link: Creative Commons image

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Scimitar-horned_oryx.jpg

As always, hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bedfellows

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:02:39 GMT

NEW SEASON

Today we meet an unusual bedfellow with extraordinary survival skills.

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about. Or tell us about some of the oddly toxic animals in your life.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm Natural

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

The Critter Shed is produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Newt News

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:25:49 GMT

Collie and Colette chat to research scientist Éinne Ó'Cathasaigh about a new species of newt that has mysteriously appeared deep in the Irish countryside...

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella and produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Photo:

Creative Commons image

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Alpine_newt_%E2%99%82_%28Ichthyosaura_alpestris%29%2C_Rocherath%2C_Ostbelgien_%2840909766513%29.jpg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pimp my pond!

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:25:01 GMT

Is your wildlife pond a bit overgrown? Well, pop in your headphones and clean it up along with Collie as he prepares his own pond for the breeding season.

Questions or queries? Hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and Dr. Steph Maher.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Warren is a collection of some of the most innovative podcasts in Ireland, all of which are independently owned and produced. Pop on over to discover great new podcasts to listen to and TELL YOUR FRIENDS if you like what you hear.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Predatory Plants

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 04:30:18 GMT

This episode is about plants that eat.... INSECTS!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about. Or tell us about some of the oddly toxic animals in your life.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Thanks to Marie Förg for taking us on a tour of the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden University, The Netherlands

Photo:

Triona - CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6463757

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An ode to goldfish

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 18:58:39 GMT

So, here's a joke for you:

My friend's goldfish died the other day So I surprised her and got her an identical one!

She was furious, saying “what am I supposed to do with two dead goldfish?”

TODAY! We bust the many myths about goldfish and learn how they're so much more than fairground prizes that die as soon as you put them in a glass bowl. And also about why they should NEVER be put into a traditional goldfish bowl, how goldfish have better memories than many of us... AND, they're smart.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Belfast

Image:

GOLDFISH: By Benoît Prieur - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16152756

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stupendous sticklebacks!

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:35:59 GMT

Today we meet a remarkable fish and an energetic puppy.

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

It's a Red Hare Media production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Scoop on Sliders

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:28:39 GMT

Collie introduces us to some of his new, rescued critters: red-eared sliders.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Image:

Creative commons image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red-eared_Slider_(14585091976).jpg

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

It's a Red Hare Media production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The curious case of the frog and your granny's pregnancy

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 17:23:52 GMT

African clawed frog image used under Creative Commons:

Muffet, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas Crabs

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:18:53 GMT

This festive season we visi an island in the Indian ocean where crabs and ants battle for dominance.

Prsented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Christmas Island red crab image:

By DIAC images - Christmas Island, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24284778

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin's dear old deers...

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:54:18 GMT

We visit the Phoenix Park in Dublin to learn about its iconic wild residents. We also hear what happens to these animals when humans just won't leave them the heck alone. Spoiler alert: it's not good.

Image:

By Daveleicuk - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22830244

Credits:

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Creepy Shed - a Hallowe'en Special

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:05:56 GMT

Matricidal spiderlings, zombie tarantulas and intestine-splurging sea cucumbers... welcome to THE CREEPY SHED Hallowe'en special!

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

You can watch the Suriname toad doing its thing here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7b4spjXhw

Footage of the tarantula hawk wasp immobilizing a tarantula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq8916ZbjfE

Assassin bug, Acanthaspis petax: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-insect-uses-its-victims-carcasses-as-camouflage-83656246/

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wildlife Saviours

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:04:50 GMT

Ireland has one dedicated wildlife rehabilitation and teaching hospital. It's run by volunteers and is an incredibly demanding, emotional and tireless job, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They get very little government support and they need help to help our wildlife.

If you have a few quid to spare, please think about supporting them: www.wri.ie

You can also report wildlife crime here: https://wildlifecrime.ie/

The Critter Shed is presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dragonflies

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:16:40 GMT

Collie and Colette visit a local pond in search the elusive dragonfly larvae.

Further reading:

For more information on how to identify dragonflies, click here.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Rope Swing

Image:

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dragonfly_15.jpg#filehistory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ponds, quails and duck tales

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 15:20:39 GMT

SUPPORT THE CRITTER SHED: https://www.patreon.com/thecrittershed

We enter the wilds of the Co. Wicklow countryside on the east coast of Ireland to visit Collie's new home. We find out how to build a very simple pond to attract amphibians, and there's an investigation into a curious duck tale.

Thanks to Geoff McQueen for sharing his duck tales with us. If you want hilarious Twitter content with updates about his garden shenanigans, running adventures, and father-in-law woes, follow him here: @theGeoffMcQ

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Camp, Curious, Galoshes

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seduced by Sharks

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 13:39:03 GMT

SHARKS ARE NOT JAWS!!

We set the story straight on sharks, seriously misunderstood and maligned ocean dwellers. We chat to shark researcher Jenny Bortoluzzi who fell in love with sharks a long time ago and now studies them at Trinity College Dublin.

We think you'll fall in love with them too, once you've heard her stories about sharks and how they survive in one of the world's toughest environments, the open sea.

You can follow Jenny on Twitter to access gorgeous underwater images: @SharkyJenny

Become a citizen scientist! If you spot shark egg cases (mermaid's purses) on the beach, you can report your find online at the websites of Marine Dimensions if you're in Ireland and The Shark Trust if you're in the UK.

If you want to find out more about the fish you eat and how it's caught, you can get some good information here: The Good Fish Guide

As usual, don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Seashore, Funk, Belfast, Glitter, Swale.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Image:

Creative Commons: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Hammerhead_shark%2C_Cocos_Island%2C_Costa_Rica.jpgs

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the Trail of the Thylacine

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 19:45:53 GMT

Collie gets excited about reported sightings of an animal that was declared extinct in the early 20th century. Are the stories true?

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

Or, leave us a voicemail on our website https://www.podpage.com/the-critter-shed/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

WEB: https://www.podpage.com/the-critter-shed/

Music:

Podington: Curious, Camp, Algo Rhythm

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of Mice and (Wo)Men

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 17:10:21 GMT

A peek into the private lives of one of our oldest companions, the house mouse.

Produced by Red Hare Media

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella

The Critter Shed is now on Patreon! We make this show for free, in our own time, but it does incur costs for us. A donation from you - even the price of a cup of coffee - will help us stay afloat and allow us to keep sharing stories about the weird and wonderful side of nature.

We are grateful for every donation, however small.

If you want to buy us that coffee, you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/thecrittershed

You are TOADLY awesome!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Image source:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nat_mouse_-_Christopher_Watson.jpg

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm, Sunset, Tuxes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Valentine's Day Short.

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 17:17:57 GMT

For the romantic day that's in it, we're chatting about one of nature's greatest lovers...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Animal Games in Ancient Rome

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 18:30:00 GMT

A very special chat with Kathryn Murphy from Trinity College Dublin about the way exotic animals were used for entertainment and hunting in ancient Rome. With a particularly gruesome (i.e. fascinating) tale of a human-bull mating. Yeah, we know.

The Critter Shed is now on Patreon! We make this show for free, in our own time, but it does incur costs for us. A donation from you - even the price of a cup of coffee - would help us stay afloat and allow us to keep sharing stories about the weird and wonderful side of nature.

We are grateful for every donation, however small.

https://www.patreon.com/thecrittershed

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Gizmo, 808 and Moog Out, Juliette

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of The Warren podcast network. https://www.thewarren.ie

Our newest member, the Hazbeanz Show, is here.

AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On zoos

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 17:00:17 GMT

Today we chat with Dublin Zoo keeper Brendan Walsh about the role of zoos in modern society and modern conservation.

For more information on Dublin Zoo conservation projects: https://www.dublinzoo.ie/

We are grateful for every donation, however small.

If you want to buy us that coffee, you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/thecrittershed

You are TOADLY awesome!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Tuxes, Algo Rhythm

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of The Warren podcast network. https://www.thewarren.ie

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas 2020: An ode to the robin

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 18:22:58 GMT

A special Christmas episode celebrating an iconic seasonal bird, the robin.

If you have queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about, we'd love to hear from you.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of https://www.thewarren.ie/ podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saucy, sex-crazed space beetles: it's the ladybird show!

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:47:17 GMT

We meet some lucky garden ladies who are literally out of this world - it's the ladybird show!

If you'd like to donate to Dublin Zoo to help them through their COVID-induced financial bottleneck, you can do that here: https://www.dublinzoo.ie/

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Dimmy

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oddly Toxic Critters

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:58:21 GMT

Have you heard the one about the cuddly Australian mammal that has a venomous spur on its heel? Or, how about the gorgeous bird whose feathers contain toxin? Today we're all about creatures that pack a toxic - and unexpected - punch.

Sindbad the stowaway

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:55:13 GMT

Meet Sindbad the Stowaway, Collie's newest housemate. And we have an update on Sam the Fox from Trinity College Dublin.

Click here for more information on the Kildare Animal Wildlife Unit: https://www.facebook.com/Wildlifeunitkildare/

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vampire fish

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 21:21:37 GMT

Collie finds a living fossil, and also becomes a surrogate mother to 15 feathery offspring...

Image:

Creative Commons Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Lamprey_mouth.jpg

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Tuxes

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

African Wild Dogs: a love story

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 18:48:13 GMT

Holly English watched a wildlife documentary when she was 10 and it changed her life. The documentary was about the beautiful and enigmatic African wild dogs and now she studies them for a living. This episode is an ode to African wild dogs.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Sunset

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Wild Dog image:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:African_wild_dog_(Lycaon_pictus_pictus)_play_fighting.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/African_wild_dog_%28Lycaon_pictus_pictus%29_play_fighting.jpg

Charles J Sharp / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Eggselence of Nests

Wed, 27 May 2020 21:21:44 GMT

Which came first, the chicken or the nest? Collie and Colette talk turkey about nests, who made the first one, and who makes the biggest one.

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Animal Crossing meets The Critter Shed

Sat, 09 May 2020 17:34:32 GMT

There's a Nintendo Switch video game doing the rounds now that is basically Collie's life in digital: Animal Crossing.

Podcaster and writer Rosemary Mac Cabe and producer Liam Geraghty are both big fans of the game, and they take us to their digital islands and show us around.

Also: we meet an Animal Crossing character who is a REAL digital version of COLLIE ENNIS!!!

This is fun!

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lockdown nature around the world

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 11:51:11 GMT

Isn't nature sounding amazing at the moment? Now that many of us are in lockdown, and there are fewer noisy machines on the road or in the air, we can actually hear nature more clearly than ever.

Collie and Colette listen in to the nature sounds collected and sent in by listeners from around the world, and it's a treat.

Also, if you can spare the price of a cup of coffee, the folks at My Lovely Horse Rescue in Ireland would be delighted for any support you can give them. The do amazing work.

You can donate here: https://www.mylovelyhorserescue.com/pages/donate

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Sunset

Blue Dot Sessions: Beignet; Calisson

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Budgie Business

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:54:34 GMT

Today we soothe your corona-isolated soul with one of the most beautiful sounds of all: chattering budgies!

And, we delve into their fascinating natural history. Do you know where they are native to? Well, struth, we have the answer!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious; Tuxes; Little Black Cloud

Image:

Reproduced under Creative Commons license:

Shiv's fotografia / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is a founding member of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like the podcast. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Murder Rope

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 16:00:53 GMT

Like centipedes? Then you'll love this giant carnivorous animal that can take out BATS!

Watch this BBC video about the bat-eating scolopendra:

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161205-giant-centipede-hunts-bats

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Photo:

Yasunori Koide / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Music:

Podington: Curious, Firefly

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Curious Case of the Dead Duck F%*ks

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:42:21 GMT

Like zombie movies? Then you'll love this episode because we examine the darker side of the mating season... and it gets very dark...

Further reading:

Here's a great read from The Guardian.

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm Natural.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you like our show. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toadageddon!

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:02:37 GMT

In these socially distant times of ours, we have a special episode dedicated to an underrated amphibian: the cane toad!

We dispel myths like: "They're Australian, aren't they?" Er, no.

Or: "They are sadistic killers of all life on Earth, aren't they?" Again, no... and after this episode, we hope you will agree that they are simply gorgeous animals.

Further reading and watching:

Cane Toads, an Unnatural History

Watch this great documentary about the cane toad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBLf1tsoaw

A great read here about heroic Australian animals who are learning how NOT to be eaten by cane toads:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/26/australian-water-rats-cut-cane-toads-open-with-surgical-precision-to-feast-on-their-hearts

Photo copyright Leo Oosterweghel

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of bunnies and beetles

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:49:46 GMT

Collie and Colette celebrate the great and important BEETLE family... with a cameo by a very lucky and lovely bunny.

Photo copyright Colette Kinsella

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Firefly

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on iTunes if you like the podcast. We really appreciate it!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Critter Shed, live from Cork

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 14:52:42 GMT

This is a live recording in front of an audience in The Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, and we're all about SPIDERS!!!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unsung critters of Christmas

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 12:00:00 GMT

Gather round, children, for stories about lesser-celebrated Christmas animals.

Yule felines, yule arachnids, yule goats and even yule marsupials - this Christmas episode has them all.

Further reading:

Feast your eyes here on the truly breathtaking Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) who manage to look festive all year round.

More on the terrifyingly gorgeous Icelandic Yule Cat story here.

And Christmas spiders.... get wrapped up in their story here.

Music:

Six White Boomers sung by Bucko & Champ.

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on iTunes if you like the podcast. We really appreciate it!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do elephants count sheep? ... and other important questions...

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Snoring cats, peaceful pachyderms and orgasmic ostriches. This episode has it all!

We went to Dublin Zoo to chat to keeper Brendan Walsh about a study he carried out on the zoo's largest residents, one that gave him new and remarkable insights into their nocturnal lives.

An elephant-sized THANK YOU to the staff at Dublin Zoo for being so generous with their time and information. It was a wonderful visit.

https://www.dublinzoo.ie/

Photo credit: copyright Ray Mentzel and Niamh Smith

The Warren:

The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on iTunes if you like the podcast. We really appreciate it!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:

Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm, Rope Swing

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Warren!

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT

The Critter Shed is now a proud resident of The Warren, Ireland's newest podcast network and home to some of the most remarkable and innovative podcasts in the country.

We have some great flatmates in our cosy burrow and we'd like you to get to know them as well as you know The Critter Shed. Have a listen to this bonus episode and, if you like what you hear, hop on over the http://www.thewarren.ie to hear more great audio.

And if you REALLY like what you hear, please tell a friend or give us an oul' rating on iTunes.

Thanks from Collie and Colette and all the critters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roly-poly town

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Today we head off to roly-poly town to visit the unsung heroes of the invertebrate world... WOODLICE!!!!

These tiny armadillo-like creatures are nature's recyclers. All winter long they will be working hard in your garden, breaking down and recycling your organic waste.

We also hear about what you can do in your winter garden to help your wildlife neighbours survive and thrive until spring, AND what to do with all those fallen leaves.

Be a winter garden hero!!

Further reading:
Here's a fabulous little piece about the roly-poly woodlice you heard about in the podcast.

The Warren:
The Critter Shed is now part of thewarren.ie podcast network.

The Warren is a collection of some of the most innovative podcasts in Ireland, all of which are independently owned and produced. Pop on over to discover great new podcasts to listen to and TELL YOUR FRIENDS if you like what you hear.

The Critter Shed is still available in all the usual places like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, etc. AND please give us a rating on iTunes if you like the podcast. We really appreciate it!

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tallaght Wetlands Memorial

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 20:00:00 GMT

Some time before this episode was released, Collie came across an amazing sight in his own Dublin suburb, Tallaght.

Over many years a former waste ground and dumpsite for silt dredged from local ponds had regenerated into a vibrant and multi-layered wetland ecosystem that was home to species such as newts, bats, frogs and the endangered European eel.

The site was included in the local council's Local Area Plan and Collie was looking forward to mapping the progress of this biodiversity hotpot for any years to come.

Unfortunately, less than a month before this episode was released in 2019, Collie popped by to look for newts and found that most of the the wetland area had been covered in a 1.5 m layer of silt. Everything that had lived and thrived there for so many years had been buried alive.

The Critter Shed visited the wetlands during the summer of 2019, before its destruction, and recorded this episode. We present it as a memorial to something wonderful and vibrant and vital that has been lost.

It's also a reminder that we should each treasure our piece of the planet and fight tooth and nail for its survival.

Music:

Podington Bear: Curious, Associations

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

TWITTER: @crittershedpod

EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast has legs... and it knows how to use them!

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 13:00:00 GMT

This week we meet a gentle - and leggy - giant of the invertebrate world, Collie comes up with a new business idea, and we hear how ingenious primates deploy invertebrates as recreational drugs.

Seriously. They get baked.

Music:
Podington: Curious, Sunset, Tuxes, Chauncy

Don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Little Miss Tina Sunshine... and Wilbur

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 15:00:00 GMT

This week we’re on an animal rescue farm visiting one of the world's most intelligent, misunderstood and mistreated animal: the pig.

We meet the enigmatic (and GIANT) boar Wilbur and his friend Tina Sunshine, who spend their days lounging in the sun when they're not opening childproof fridge locks or stable doors.

Tina Sunshine and Wilbur were rescued from dire circumstances, and we also hear what Tina's life might have been like if she hadn't been rescued. It's not pretty (put down that sausage roll now).

Further reading:
Here's a quick article that explains just how smart Tina, Wilbur and their pig cohorts are.

This is the Compassion in World Farming website that explains more about commercial pig farming and why we need actual proper humane standards for keeping these gorgeous creatures.

And if you'd throw a few bob to My Lovely Horse Rescue, you can do that here.

Music:
Podington: Curious, Boop, Samara

And don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
In conversation with Martina Kenny, Wilbur, Tina Sunshine, and other gorgeous pigs horses and goats on the My Lovely Horse Rescue farm.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snail tales in 'the love shack'

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 23:00:00 GMT

This week the critter shed becomes 'the love shack' as we delve into the sensuous, sumptuous and scintillating love lives of SNAILS!

We hear how giant African land snails smooch and snog their way through courtship, and then shoot actual LOVE DARTS (be still my beating heart) during coitus. AND how they have enviable staying power.

Also, these snails are just gorgeous, wonderfully adapted animals. If you haven't fallen in love with them by the end of this episode, we'll give you your money back. Or something.

Let's all swoon for snails.

And don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:
Podington: Curious
Lobo Loco: Spook Castle
Broke for Free: Love Is Not

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and with several hundred snails.
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We need to talk about Ted...

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 14:00:00 GMT

...or, as we really wanted to call this episode: LOCK UP YOUR PUSSIES!

We've been wanting to have a conversation about domestic cats, the amount of wildlife they kill every year, and why they really REALLY should be kept indoors. And here it is.

It's a gentle conversation, though, led by the gorgeous Ted, Colette's charismatic feline companion.

AND, we have a very special after-hours tour of Colette's own critter shed, i.e. the place she calls home. And holy crap, it's quite a place and full of HUGE animals...

Further reading:
Some info here and here on cats and their impact on wildlife.

If you want to see Ted strutting his majestic stuff on a leash, click here to have a look at Ted's own YouTube channel "Science With Ted". It's a series of short science videos hosted by Ted and Colette. Great for kids of all ages.

And don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Music:
Podington: Ant Farm, Curious, Samara, Tuxes, Netherland

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, with #ScienceCatTed
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To keep or not to keep?

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2 of our chat with herpetologist Rob Gandola. This time we're tackling the thorny issue of the rights and wrongs of keeping exotic pets and the unregulated pet trade.

With cameos by tubular and amazing slow worms (who have been unfairly associated with hippies in the west of Ireland) and a couple of media-friendly frogs from Collie's shed.

Here's a bit of reading from National Geographic on the - at times horrific - history of the global exotic pet trade.

Music: Podington (Curious, Algo Rhythm, Chauncy).

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, with herpetologist Rob Gandola.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great Frog-Nerd-Gasm of 2019

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 21:00:00 GMT

This week we're getting nerdy about amphibians with stories of exploding toads (yup, for real), pirate frogs (aaaarrr... yup, for real), as well as why there's an amphibian die-off right now and what small things you can do to help frogs recover.

Our victim... er, guest this week is amphibian-nerd extraordinaire Rob Gandola of the Herpetological Society of Ireland.

Part 1 of a two-part chat.

Further reading:
This is the story of the exploding Teutonic toads.

Music:
Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm, Chauncy.

And don't forget to hit us up on our various channels with questions, queries or things you'd like us to get nerdy about.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The buzz about bees

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:00:00 GMT

This week we chat to Collie's cousin Dr. Stephanie Maher about the lonely, busy and fascinating lives of solitary bees. We also hear about the wondrous bee orchids, who imitate the seductive end of a female bee to encourage pollination.

Also, if you want to find out how you can help bees to thrive, we have some very helpful hints. Here's a quick one: embrace your weeds! They're just badly labelled plants and they're are important food sources for bees and other insects.

Further reading:
Click on pollinators.ie to find out everything you need to know about bees and how to provide for them, even if you only have a balcony.

And get a load of these GORGEOUS bee orchids.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, with Dr. Stepanie Maher.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Photo image:
Creative commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solitary_bee.jpg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SNAKES: silent assassins and surprising survivors

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Weird, tubular animals or geniuses of evolution?

While Collie feeds his various constrictors, we hear how snakes are THE ultimate survivors.

The can unhinge their jaws to swallow enormous prey items. They also have wily ways with their windpipes that stops them suffocating when ingesting a huge meal.
And, when it comes to defending themselves, they have some stinky weapons up their, er, sleeves.

Oh, and they have two penises. Seriously.

Snakes rock.

And don't forget to hit us up with any critter-related questions:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/
TWITTER: @crittershedpod
EMAIL: crittershed@gmail.com

Further reading:
Have a look at this great BBC video that shows how a snake breathes while eating a huge meal.

Check out this mad video about the ancient, ginormous Titanoboa snake.

Herpetological Society of Ireland website: https://thehsi.org/

Music:
Podington: Curious, Algo Rhythm, Chauncy.

The Critter Shed is produced by Red Hare Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Booty calls, bed-hopping, and birdsong - it's the badger show!

Tue, 14 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Booty calls, bed-hopping and badger housekeeping tips!

Join Collie and Colette as badger expert Dr. Aoibheann Gaughran reveals the saucy sex lives of a group of wild badgers in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Aoibheann has been studying a family of badgers in Co. Wicklow for a number of years, and in this episode we visit an enchanted glade (seriously, it felt like that at the time) where she tells us about their extraordinary lives.

Badgers are shy, reclusive, and just plain old gorgeous animals, and so often misunderstood. Aoibheann eloquently debunks much of the crap that's disseminated about these creatures and - The Critter Shed crew wagers a pint on it - she'll make you fall in love with them on the way.

We adore this one.

FURTHER READING:

Watch the RTÉ Living The Wildlife Episode made by Collin Stafford-Johnson about the badger research project mentioned in this episode.

Music: Podington Bear

Tracks: Samara and Curious

BADGER IMAGE:

Killianwoods [Public domain]

Licensed under a Creative Commons license.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Badger(UO).jpg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The giant piranha sperm splurge!

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Collie delves into his new collection of epic, carnivorous horned frog tadpoles, what we lovingly call GIANT PIRANHA SPERM!!!

Find out about one of the world's most amazingly adapted amphibians that can go from barely fertilized egg to fully functioning, HUGE froglets in just over two weeks - the Ferraris of the frog world!

Presented by The Critter Shed crew, Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella, and a tank full of ravenous tadpoles.

Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Follow us on social media to track the tadpoles' progress:
Twitter: @CritterShedPod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

Read more about these fascinating creatures here and here.

Music: Podington Bear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we got NEWTS for you!!

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 23:00:00 GMT

Why are Collie and Colette lurking in a suburban park under cover of darkness wearing head torches and carrying a boom pole?

The Critter Shed goes WILD in search of.... newts!

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media

Share your wildlife stories with us, ask us questions about wildlife or tell us what you'd like us to chat about on the podcast:

Twitter - @crittershedpod
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheCritterShedDUB/

Music by Podington.

Read more about Ireland's gorgeous smooth newts here and here.

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Scorpions! Dreaded killers or musunderstood ancients?

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Today, Colette and Collie delve into the world of these fascinating arachnids where we hear about their history on Earth, their hunting methods and very odd love lives.

AND, Colette has a very unusual, VERY close encounter with a male Asian forest scorpion.

Further reading:
Read more about scorpions in this National Geographic article.

More information on the Egyptian scorpion goddess Serket here.

This is what the goddess Serket looks like: https://www.ancient.eu/image/4695/serket-statue/

Music:
Artist: Podingon Bear
Tracks: Sunset, Curious, Algo Rhythm Natural

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Cockroaches, cockchafers and the insect armageddon cock-up

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

This episode features The Great Cockroach Challenge where Collie & Colette search for the beauty and majesty in cockroaches. Collie shows Colette his cockchafer (beetle), and we find out why insect numbers are dropping like flies and how we can all help them recover.

It's a cock-a-doodle of a show.

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
Produced by Colette Kinsella for Red Hare Media.

Further reading:
How to save our bugs! The Guardian
More about the cockchafer.

Music: Podington Bear.
Tracks: Curious, Firefly, Netherland, Samara, Bell Club.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holy axolotl (hot) nun juice!

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Ever wanted to visit a frog orgy? Or take a trip to Mexico to meet the local salamanders and the nuns who are helping save them from extinction? (Get this: it involves holy salamander juice!)

If so, this is the episode for you.

And if not, tag along regardless because it's a cracker of a journey.

Join Collie Ennis & Colette Kinsella in the critter shed as they delve into the world of these two amazing, amorous amphibians.

Produced by Red Hare Media

Presented by Collie Ennis & Colette Kinsella

Further reading:

Read about the nuns who breed endangered salamanders in Mexico.

Find out how Chester Zoo in the UK is working to save the rare Lake Pátzcuaro salamander from extinction.

Read about citizen science and how you can get involved.

Music:

Artist: Podington

Tracks: 'Curious', 'Dimmy', 'Sunset', 'Netherland' and 'Bell Club'.

Image:

Mexican axolotl photograph: copyright Colette Kinsella

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parasite Puppeteers

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 01:00:00 GMT

So, you think you have free will, right? Well, have we got news for you!

As it turns out, many of our actions - from what we wear, to how we drive, or even to our business skills - may be controlled by microscopic parasites.

Today in the shed Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella chat with passionate parasitologist Maureen Williams of Trinity College Dublin about fungi that control their hosts like puppets on a string, crustaceans that bite off and replace their hosts' tongues, and parasitic wasps that feast on the fresh meat of their still-living hosts.

Latch on and listen in!

Presented by Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella

A Red Hare Media production.

Music:
Artist: Podington
Tracks: 'Curious' and 'Sunset'

The accompanying image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/16424898321/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nipples No Nipples

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 01:00:00 GMT

A milky session in the critter shed where Colette and Collie find out how some animals nourish their young without nipples - from lactating spiders and frogs who feed their tadpoles in the treetops, to sharks whose young fight to the death in utero.

You’d be a right tit to miss this one.

The Critter Shed. A podcast with legs… and without nipples.

Produced by Red Hare Media.

Music:

Podington Bear - Curious
Podington Bear - Firefly
Podington Bear - Bell Club

Further reading:

Lactating spiders: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/11/spiders-nurse-young-with-milk-lactation-arachnids/

How the supercontinent Pangea was created: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYD2Ee5ABYE

Shark pups and in utero competition: https://www.livescience.com/29198-shark-embryos-cannibalize-others.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spider Ridin'

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 01:00:00 GMT

"Ridin'" is an Irish colloquial term for "sex".

Science research associate Collie Ennis and audio producer Colette Kinsella meet in the critter shed to talk about the saucy (and sad) world of spider sex, where your first act of procreation might be your last. We also find out what it feels like to fall victim to a venom-packing tarantula, and why spiders are your friends (no, really, they are).

A podcast with legs. In a shed.

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The Critter Shed - podcast trailer

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 14:00:00 GMT

If you like learning about the weird and wonderful side of nature - about things like spider sex, venom-toting frogs, mind-controlling parasites, and more - then this is the podcast for you!

Coming at you fortnightly from 15th January 2019.
Oh, and it's in a shed.

With Collie Ennis and Colette Kinsella.
Produced by Red Hare Media.
http://podcast.thecrittershed.net/

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.