K9 Conservationists

Today Kayla Fratt is joined by Calum O’Flaherty and Dr. Tim Hofmann from the Cheetah Conservation Fund about to discuss livestock guardian dogs, cheetahs, and a very unique approach snake avoidance training.
Snake bites are a huge problem in Namibia. With CCF losing upwards of 10% of their guardian dogs each year to snake bites. CCFs newest approach in how they train their livestock guardian puppies to avoid snakes could be a huge game changer not only for their dogs, but for guardian dogs everywhere.
Host: Kayla Fratt
Editor: Sara Fangton
Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs
Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder
Website: Meg du Bray
Patreon: Madison David

Today, Kayla Fratt is joined by Murrelet Halterman for an in depth discussion on managing multi-year conservation dog projects. Having recently completed three multi-year wind farm projects, Murrelet dives into the challenges of project acquisition, recruiting detection dog handlers, and the nitty-gritty side of long term project management. If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes into the logistical marathon of a multi-year study, this is the place to start!

Host: Kayla Fratt
Editor: Sara Fangton
Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs
Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder
Website: Meg du Bray
Patreon: Madison David

Join Kayla Fratt and favorite of the podcast, Paul Bunker to discuss his fantastic new workbook "The Detection of Buried Targets by Canines". Kayla and Paul delve into the challenges of buried hides and how just digging a hole and covering your target doesn't cut it. This workbook is fantastic for working K9 handlers or anyone who wants to become a more skilled and knowledgeable trainer. Paul brings over 40 years of K9 detection knowledge and experience not only to the workbook but to today's podcast.
( PS: There are some minor audio issues throughout the podcast due to internet issues during recording. We've mitigated them as much as possible. )

Purchase all Paul's workbooks here:
https://chiron-k9.com/publications/
Host: Kayla Fratt
Editor: Sara Fangton
Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs
Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder
Website: Meg du Bray
Patreon: Madison David

Today Kayla Fratt chats with Wes Binder who studies cougars (also known as mountain lions or pumas) in Yellowstone national park. Learn about this unique (but tried and true) method to find these elusive cats and then how they safely bring the cougars down from the trees to perform vital research. Hear first hand stories from the field and how Wes and the team found more than just a cougar on one of their adventures 🐻

Host: Kayla Fratt
Editor: Sara Fangton
Sci-comm intern: Evelyn Combs
Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder
Website: Meg du Bray
Patreon: Madison David

Join Kayla Fratt and special guest Caden Christopher for this somewhat unorthodox episode of K9Conservationists. Today we're stepping away a bit from conservation detection dogs and imagining what a better world for our canine companions would look like if there were no borders, no financial constraints, breeding and dog placements were truly in the best interest of the dog and people, and so on.
Connect with Caden here!
(Fun fact: There's an additional 15 minutes of this episode over on our pateron! )

Host: Kayla Fratt
Editor: Sara Fangton
Sci-comm interns: Evelyn Combs and Grace Koski
Guest logistics: Brooke Schoeder
Website: Meg du Bray
Pateron coaching calls: Madison Davis