Haley and Debbie (and Debbie's cat, Roy) are talking about homing pigeons trained by the military in WWII (and WWI too). The programs spanned decades and are full of fascinating tales of expertise, bravery, and heroism. But today we're focusing on G.I. Joe, a homing pigeon trained by American troops at Fort Monmouth. In Italy in 1943, GI Joe carried a message so important it is believed to have saved an estimated 1,000 lives.

Let's be friends!

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instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

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Youtube Shorts (I said it was a tiktok on the episode but I misspoke):

Gas Mask:

https://youtube.com/shorts/DsEdhyn26XQ?si=IVujXmrnO0LLn2Gj

The History Guy (very informative, love his stuff):

https://youtu.be/cDwsnpo066g?si=9XXwDNZvgKPLpHef

General Sources:

https://www.army.mil/article/268163/honoring_those_who_served_pigeon_memorial

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2019-02-12/operation-columba-secret-pigeon-service-untold-story-world-war-ii

https://www.fortmonmouth.org/history/

https://www.army.mil/article/74924/cecom_history_is_for_the_birds_hero_pigeons

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal

How Pigeons Home:

https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/216/12/2165/11389/Forty-years-of-olfactory-navigation-in-birds

Father Raskin

https://www.elimarpigeons.com/articles/pigeon-clubs-and-federations/dorset-federation-2/10062-from-the-chair-by-chris-williams-01-11-21

Haley and Debbie recorded this episode about Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day. We talk a lot about guys in top hats, Groundhog Day being very odd and very intense, and we really want to give some credit to Marcy. Debbie has a new bucket list item to see Groundhog Day's festival in Punxsatawney and we really go into depth about the Inner Circle because we know all about it. We also know about the fact that shadows and weather and weirds animals looped into a special day has been around for a realllllly long time! Come for the groundhog, stay for the friendship!

Let's Be Friends:

creaturemeetsculture.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

Cistations:

The Inner Circle! The Inner Circle!

https://www.groundhog.org/about/groundhog-clubs-inner-circle/

The Inner Circle Describing Groundhog Day:

https://www.groundhog.org/contact/resources-for-teachers/

More about the Inner Circle:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/group-normal-guys-wearing-top-hats-and-tuxes-keep-groundhog-day-running-180961954/

General/Origins:

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/31/nx-s1-5279482/groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil

https://www.history.com/articles/groundhog-day-history-and-facts

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-origins/

https://whyy.org/articles/pa-groundhog-day-origins-punxsutawney-phil/

The Others: https://www.foxweather.com/learn/famous-forecasting-groundhog-day-phil

Debbie and Savanna are together to talk all about Pelorous Jack. For nearly 24 years, a Risso's dolphin appeared in the treacherous waters of Cook Strait, New Zealand, approaching ships and guiding them safely towards French Pass. Pelorous Jack became a celebrity in his own time—passengers booked voyages just to see him, newspapers covered his appearances, and sailors considered him good luck. But when someone tried to shoot him in 1904, the public outcry led New Zealand to do something unprecedented: they passed a law protecting a single wild animal by name. Pelorous Jack became the world's first individually protected creature, setting a legal precedent that would shape wildlife conservation for generations.

Let's Connect!:

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instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

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PRIMARY SOURCES

1. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/pelorus-jack

https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4696/the-story-of-pelorus-jack

2. New Zealand History Online

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/ss-penguin-wrecked-in-cook-strait

3. Te Papa Museum Blog

https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2016/07/07/what-or-which-was-new-zealands-first-protected-dolphin/

4. Excerpt from “Pelrous Jack” by Maori 1913

https://exiw.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/legends-of-pelorus-jack/

We have our VERY FIRST expert on the show...because you know it's not us. Debbie is joined by Breanna Zwick, an educator who travelled around Canada studying the connection between dairy and beef farmer's mental health and their cattle's welfare. It's SO INTERESTING because Breanna has done the research, she's seen this up close and has a lot of wisdom to share. She shares the findings from her thesis, published in 2024, and also shares some practical ways to be more aware about the food you consume (choose what matters to you and talk to the people who are making your food). Also, I have known Breanna since she was just a wee lass and, yes, she has always been this cool.

Let's Connect!:

creaturemeetsculture.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

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Read her thesis here:

https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/items/3dc0169a-8c60-412f-b97c-e2128be1d8fb

Video about the perception of wildlife on dairy farms:

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

Iiiiiit's a rescue story! Debbie and Savanna talk about the largest marine mammal rescue in history that Debbie found out about it because her father-in-law played a role in it! When a week-old gray whale calf washed ashore in Marina del Rey in 1997, veterinarians gave her almost no chance of survival. But a team at SeaWorld decided to try anyway—attempting something never done before. This is the story of JJ, the largest marine mammal rescue in history, and the baby whale who rewrote the rules of marine science. We're a new podcast and want to be friends so leave us a comment and let us know what story you want us to cover next!

Let's Connect!:

creaturemeetsculture.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

The only source because this issue had it all:

https://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/article/issue-27-3/

Welcome to Haley's first ever episode and it's all about BATS! That's right, we're doing a deep dive into the way bats have been perceived throughout history and how and why those perceptions came to be. Haley brings the facts to the table and the facts are bats are incredible, unique, and essential contributors to our ecosystem.

Let's Connect:

email us! creaturemeetsculture@gmail.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

Sources:

Articles/studies/reviewshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167587724000217?via%3Dihub

https://www.cell.com/trends/microbiology/fulltext/S0966-842X(14)00248-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0966842X14002480%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004222010549?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=9b24bc636a702f07

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/80107

Websites

https://www.batcon.org/https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chiroptera/

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhWKT2gUcks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0YB6_7Kync

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd-X3Pi8Oz0

It's part 2 everyone! Haley and Debbie continue talking about the different complexities that come with being a nation that has been obsessed with their animal friends for hundreds of year. What responsibilities do we have? How long have dog booties and sweater been a thing? We're so glad you're here and would. love to chat with you!

Let's Connect!:

Creature Meets Culture is a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of animals that have shaped the course of human history. We're three best friends that are enthusiastic about animals and history but experts on neither.

creaturemeetsculture.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

Sources:

Grier, Katherine C. Pets in America: A History. University of North Carolina Press, 2006.

Haley and Debbie are coming to you with our first two-parter! This was a bit of an unexpected one though. We're here with a lighter-hearted episode to chat about how pets got their start in the USA and how much (or little?) has changed. Debbie's telling this story after reading Pets in America by Katherine C. Grier so you should definitely also read that book. It's very interesting! Debbie also used a few other sources as she was writing so those are below too. Enjoy the episode and we would love to chat!

Let's Connect!:

creaturemeetsculture@gmail.com

creaturemeetsculture.com

instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

Sources:

American Pet Products Association. "2024 Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics." APPA.org, 2024.

Grier, Katherine C. Pets in America: A History. University of North Carolina Press, 2006.

Oxford English Dictionary. "Pet, n.1." Historical Thesaurus, Oxford University Press.

"Rent-A-Cat Service Thrives." New York Times, 24 Mar. 1895.

Robichaud, Mark A. "Animal Personhood and the Development of Animal Welfare Policy." Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum, vol. 28, 2018.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog. 1895 and 1902. Archive.org.

Shevelow, Kathryn. For the Love of Animals: The Rise of the Animal Protection Movement. Holt Paperbacks, 2008.

Sigourney, Lydia. Letters to Mothers. Harper & Brothers, 1838.