The Pouch Rats

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In 2003, there was a US outbreak that according to the CDC involved 47 confirmed and probable cases of monkey pox. And all those cases stemmed from prairie dogs, which were infected by Gambian pouched rats. They have cheek pouches like hamsters; they can reach their hand out and undo the cage or for the smaller ones, move their food hutch because it slide in - then they would use that to escape out. So imagine like a chihuahua with a long tail and a Mickey Mouse hat or like a possum, but the rats just imagine huge rats.

Mammals: you’re one. Your dog is one. So are giant rats. What do we have in common? Nipples. The incredible Southern Illinois University professor, researcher, science communicator and mammalogist Dr. Danielle N. Lee joins to chat about everything from nature’s parenting styles to hairy bellies, milk glands, nip counts, how a meteor paved the way for our existence, her favorite mammals and the mysteries of the platypus. An episode years in the making, Alie barely keeps her cool as Dr. Lee gives insight and perspective on what it means to be a human and a mammal. Also, we chat about Black Mammalogists week Sept. 13-19 and the important pivots that changed her career path.

Follow Dr. Danielle N. Lee at Twitter.com/DNLee5 or Instagram.com/DNLee5

September 13-19 is Black Mammalogists Week! https://blackmammalogists.com/

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

Theme song by Nick Thorburn