Although species decline and habitat loss is widespread throughout the animal kingdom, the feral pig is in the midst of a dramatic population increase and territory expansion. Once considered a regional phenomenon, the destructive mammal is becoming commonplace across much of the nation, leaving billions of dollars of damage in its wake. There are an estimated 5 million wild hogs in the United States, and more than half of them can be found in Texas, where Dr. Billy Higginbotham, a wildlife specialist at Texas A&M University is a key figure among scientists working to control the animal in the state. Higginbotham tells us about this herculean effort. Meanwhile, wild ponies have become a popular attraction at a state park in southwest Virginia and we find out why from Beverley Amsler of Radio IQ.
A Virginia woman’s guinea pig has developed an unusual condition and Dr. Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society offers advice. In Washington, D.C., a rescued pit bull is showing signs of separation anxiety and its caretaker wants to know if drug therapy is the right course of action.
John Lill, associate professor of biology at The George Washington University, shares his considerable knowledge of the singing insect species known as Magicicada, in anticipation of their arrival this spring after 17 years underground. Cori Menkin of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, talks about the organization’s campaign to expose the mistreatment of animals in large-scale commercial dog breeding operations known as puppy mills.
Music: “La Cigarra (The Cicada)” by Linda Ronstadt
Dr. Gary Weitzman offers counsel to a Maryland woman whose cat is regurgitating its food. Reports of dog bites are rising and a woman in San Diego wants to know more about the statistics and ways to avoid incident.
Music: “Road Dogs” by Acoustic Alchemy; “Wild Horses” – Norah Jones and Tim Ries
