Short Wave Episode Summary: "Will Bark For Science"

Release Date: March 5, 2025
Host: Emily Kwong and Burleigh McCoy
Producer: Burleigh McCoy
Produced by Rachel Carson Carlson

Introduction: Meet Jack the Conservation Dog

In this engaging episode of NPR's Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Burleigh McCoy delve into the fascinating world of conservation dogs, focusing on Jack—a blue heeler mix with a remarkable talent for sniffing out scientific clues. Jack's journey from a shelter dog to a vital member of conservation efforts underscores the profound impact these canines have on environmental science.

Jack's Mission: Tracking Whale Scat

[04:47] Emily Kwong: "Okay. Burleigh McCoy, shortwave producer. Why is Jack the Dog searching for whale poop?"

Burleigh explains that Jack's primary mission is to locate whale scat, which provides invaluable data about the whales' health, diet, and exposure to toxins. "So this poop can tell scientists if the whale is eating enough, how stressed they are, if they are pregnant, if they've consumed toxins," Burleigh states [04:53].

Training Jack for Marine Conservation

[05:35] Colette Yee: "Whale scat in, like, trees and on top of rocks and all these places where obviously you're never gonna find it in the wild, but it doesn't make a difference to him, he's just like, okay, I know this game."

Colette Yee, Jack's handler, shares insights into the rigorous training process. Jack was trained on land to recognize the scent of whale scat before transitioning to boat-based searches. "He loves that game," Burleigh adds [05:45], highlighting Jack's enthusiasm and adaptability.

The Science Behind Dogs' Superior Sense of Smell

To understand Jack's extraordinary abilities, Burleigh interviews Lauren Degreeff, a forensic chemist at Florida International University.

[08:42] Lauren Degreeff: "Dogs and other mammals like rats and mice are considered macro osmotic, while humans are considered micro osmotic."

Lauren explains that dogs have a more complex nasal structure, allowing them to concentrate and sift through scents more effectively than humans. "They can code more odorants, and they can basically distinguish better between what you want them to find and the other things that are there," she elaborates [09:55].

This advanced olfactory capability is why Jack can detect subtle scents like whale scat amidst a myriad of other odors in the ocean environment.

The Team Effort: Trust and Coordination

[12:12] Ken Ramirez: "The secret of odor detection is that you don't really train that the dog already knows how to smell the world around them. But our job as trainers is to teach them what to smell, when to smell it, and what to do when."

Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice President and Chief Training Officer for CARE and Pryor Clicker Training, emphasizes the importance of precise training techniques. Colette and Jack's success hinges on their mutual trust and seamless coordination. Colette must interpret Jack's subtle cues to identify when he has detected the target scent without disrupting his focus [07:06].

High-Stakes Conservation Efforts

Searching for whale scat is a time-sensitive endeavor. [07:26] Burleigh notes, "They can't, because the scat breaks up or it sinks really quick, sometimes within 10 minutes of leaving the whale's back end." This urgency requires Jack and Colette to quickly position their boat based on the whale's movements, water currents, and wind direction to maximize the chances of locating fresh scat [07:29].

Colette recounts the first successful detection:

[08:25] Colette Yee: "She's, like, got the biggest grin on her face. And I just know, like, this is it. We just did this."

Her excitement underscores the emotional rewards of their meticulous work.

Expanding the Role of Conservation Dogs

Beyond whale scat, conservation dogs like Jack are employed in a variety of environmental projects:

• Detecting Invasive Species: Sniffing out invasive plants and insects that threaten native ecosystems.
• Locating Poachers: Helping protect endangered animals from illegal hunting.
• Identifying Disease: Detecting diseases in wildlife populations, such as the deadly disease in bighorn sheep.
• Environmental Cleanup: Assisting in oil spill cleanups by locating residual crude oil in challenging terrains.

[13:39] Burleigh mentions, "Dogs are sniffing out beetle-infested wood and cryptic endangered stone flies. They've been trained to detect a deadly disease in bighorn sheep and used to detect poachers."

These diverse applications illustrate the versatility and critical importance of conservation dogs in modern environmental science.

The Importance of Human-Canine Trust

Central to the effectiveness of conservation dogs is the trust between the handler and the dog. [13:14] Burleigh states, "This is where this other component comes in, which is trust. Both Colette and Ken told me that these types of projects work because of the unique human dog relationship that can form when it's built on trust."

This bond ensures that dogs like Jack perform reliably under pressure, making split-second decisions that can significantly impact conservation outcomes.

Conclusion: Celebrating Conservation Success

[14:20] Emily Kwong wraps up by celebrating the achievements of Jack and his fellow conservation dogs: "Shout out to Jack and conservation doggos everywhere. And they're humans like Colette."

The episode concludes by highlighting the essential role these canine heroes play in safeguarding our planet's biodiversity, demonstrating how their innate abilities, combined with human dedication, drive meaningful scientific discoveries and conservation successes.

Notable Quotes:

• Burleigh McCoy [04:53]: "So this poop can tell scientists if the whale is eating enough, how stressed they are, if they are pregnant, if they've consumed toxins."
• Colette Yee [05:35]: "Whale scat in, like, trees and on top of rocks and all these places where obviously you're never gonna find it in the wild, but it doesn't make a difference to him, he's just like, okay, I know this game."
• Lauren Degreeff [09:55]: "They can code more odorants, and they can basically distinguish better between what you want them to find and the other things that are there."
• Ken Ramirez [12:12]: "The secret of odor detection is that you don't really train that the dog already knows how to smell the world around them. But our job as trainers is to teach them what to smell, when to smell it, and what to do when."
• Colette Yee [08:25]: "She's, like, got the biggest grin on her face. And I just know, like, this is it. We just did this."

Acknowledgments:

This episode was produced by Rachel Carson Carlson, edited by Rebecca Ramirez, fact-checked by Tyler Jones, with audio engineering by Kwesi Lee and Beth. Special thanks to Donovan, Senior Director, and Colin Campbell, Senior Vice President of Podcasting Strategy.

For more insights into the intersection of science and everyday life, tune into NPR's Short Wave.