pet trade

In celebration of World Snake Day 2023, we’ve put together a collection of our favorite Snake Stories from our podcast guests over the years!  Featuring Dr. Matt Goode (Ep 53), John Jensen (Ep 59), Rulon Clark (Ep 12), Dr. Emily Taylor (Ep 23), Gowri Shankar (Ep 62), Craig Hoover (Ep 9), Dillon Perron (Ep 34), Dr. Bruce Means (Ep 61), Dr. Charles Smith (Ep 29) and Melissa Amarello (Ep 14), as well as a snake story from Dr. Chris Jenkins. 

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

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Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

On this week’s The Sci-Files, your hosts Chelsie and Danny interview Gia Haddock. Gia is a senior Fisheries and Wildlife student at MSU. Having an interest in disease, amphibians, and sociology, Gia combined the three with their undergraduate research. They study the current behaviors, knowledge, and opinions of those involved in the amphibian pet trade through the lens of disease spread. Currently, we are in a sixth mass extinction, with amphibians one of the most imperiled groups. One of these reasons is the human movement of lethal amphibian-targeting fungi, Bsal and Bd. There have been previous bans on amphibian and exotic species imports that have been overturned, but a new ban is being discussed now. This has been met with much disdain from the pet trade community. 

Gia has spent two years developing interview protocol, creating relationships with the pet trade, and conducting interviews. There is a trend in legislation and management decision-making to make choices without recognizing the voices of those that their decisions will affect. Gia aims to use their research to inform decision-making in regards to limiting the spread of disease in the pet trade. They hope their work will contribute to creating better representation, trust, collaboration, and transparency in the pet trade world.
If you’re interested in talking about your MSU research on the radio or nominating a student, please email Chelsie and Danny at scifiles@impact89fm.org. Check The Sci-Files out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube! 

Little Beaks is a rescue/rehoming bird sanctuary that focuses on small parrots/parakeets - budgies, cockatiels, doves, canaries and finches.
Sadly (like most bird rescue/rehomers) Little Beaks is in high demand  :(
Partly due to the unethical breeding behaviours of a select group of small parrot owners and partly to the continued human lack of knowledge concerning living with a small parrot - especially when it comes to caring for and sharing your life with a single budgie/cockatiel/canary living in a small cage.
It seems somewhat unbelievable that in the age of Google and internet access that people are still not knowing that birds in captivity need more than a seed diet and that a solitary life in a small cocky cage is not the best life for a bird.  But ask Little Beaks (probably any bird rescue/rehomer) and they will tell you these issues persist in a modern, pet trade focussed bird society with access to the internet.
When it come to caged bird welfare these are Little Beaks top tips:
1. Before you even step into a backyard or pet store do your research on the bird you think you want in your life.
2. Use reputable bird breeders - one who manage their breeding birds ethically and can show you clearly what they do, how they keep their birds and the care they give them.
3. If you buy a cage/patio aviary/aviary replace all the included dowel perches with real branches.
4. Use branches before bird safe rope; and if you buy a rope perch ensure it is made with bird safe fibres.
5. Never use plastic perches.
6. Provide your bird/s with a varied diet including good quality seed, sprouts, vegetables and fruit.
7. Avoid clipping any birds wings; if you must clip your bird/s wing/s consult with an avian vet and have the clipping done by an avian vet ONLY.
8. Never release your pet bird if you no longer want it or if you are having trouble caring for your bird - seek help from a vet or bird rescue service.

Little Beaks wants to clarify when talking "bird breeders" this is referring to unethical, uneducated bird welfare humans who bird farm, and is not referring to those aviculturists who care for and breed their birds ethically with great care and concern for their birds and educate themselves in bird welfare, nutrition, provide large aviaries and free flight opportunities for the birds in their care and acknowledge the need for captive breeding of birds that are endangered or threatened so as to maintain a species dna and for those who provide captive birds for re-population of restored habitat homelands.

Little Beaks FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/LittleBeaks

Little Beaks Instagram:
instagram.com/little_beaks