The MeatEater Podcast

Episode 825: Snowflake Man and the Cadaver Otter | MeatEater Radio Live!
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Spencer, with Giannis and Seth
Guests: Sue Richardson (Jericho Historical Society), Michael Hadsell (Peace River K9 Search and Rescue & Splash the Otter)

Episode Overview

This lively, wide-ranging episode of MeatEater Radio Live! dives into quirky corners of natural history and outdoor adventure. The team welcomes guests who bring to life the story of “Snowflake” Bentley, the first person to photograph snowflakes, and explores the bizarre, groundbreaking work of Splash, the world’s only search and rescue otter. Between entertaining gear reviews, audience Q&A, and the hosts’ signature banter, listeners get an engaging mix of education, conservation, tips, and surprising outdoor revelations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Winter Weather, Rockhounding, and Season Rankings

[01:11–12:02]

• The crew discusses the winter cold snap across northern U.S.
  • Seth recounts fossil and artifact hunting in Montana—finding fossils, bison vertebra, and intriguing rock carvings that might be linked to “Frenchie the Trapper” (1911) and possibly artist Charlie Russell.
    • “You're the only one who goes rockhounding in January.” (Spencer, 02:28)
• Giannis talks late-winter hunting and the challenges of lion and bobcat hunting near Bozeman, especially with private property boundaries and ever-changing snow conditions.
• Season Rankings:
  • Spencer and Giannis humorously rank their preferred seasons, revealing differences in outdoor priorities.

2. Bobcat Hunt Story: Mingus the Hound’s Big Solo

[06:33–12:02]

• Giannis details the thrill of his hound Mingus successfully treeing a bobcat solo—and the nuances between chasing bobcats and lions due to their different behaviors and lung capacities.
  • “Lions have small lungs…they cannot outrun a hound, so when they get pressured by dogs, they immediately go up in a tree…bobcats…have much bigger lungs…and can stay ahead of hounds.” (Giannis, 07:28)
• A memorable encounter:
  • Mingus follows the bobcat while Giannis and his wife, Jennifer, watch the elusive animal pass within 10 yards.
• Ethics and Regulations:
  • Giannis couldn’t harvest the bobcat because he hadn’t bought a furbearer license—he reflects that seeing the dog succeed was more satisfying than the kill.

3. Interview: Sue Richardson on ‘Snowflake’ Bentley, Pioneer of Snow Crystal Photography

[12:11–20:22]

• Who was Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley?
  • First to photograph and extensively study individual snowflakes—over 5,000 images in 46 years.
  • Innovated using a bellows camera with a microscope—working in a cold, unheated woodshed to prevent melting.
• Methods:
  • “He had this weird process…the slide had to be vertical in the stage on the microscope lens…he used a turkey feather…would press the cold snow crystal to the cold glass, slide it into the stage…throw the black cloth over his head…bring it into focus and take the picture.” (Sue Richardson, 15:11)
• Community Reception:
  • Neighboring Vermont farmers thought he was “crazy,” while scientific circles initially dismissed him as unqualified and too "flowery" in his writing.
• Legacy:
  • His work now forms the basis of modern snow science. His images and original equipment are exhibited at the Old Red Mill in Jericho, Vermont.
  • Notably, he never profited—charged only the cost for negatives.
• Quote:
  • “If you grew up knowing that no two snowflakes are alike, it's because of Wilson Bentley.” (Sue Richardson, 12:42)
• How to Experience His Work:
  • Visit the Old Red Mill in Jericho, Vermont, or the children’s book “Snowflake Bentley.”

4. Gear Talk: Innovative Packs, Gloves, and DIY Power Solutions

[20:37–32:29]

• Giannis reviews the Initial Ascent backpack—praised for its slim profile, simplicity, carbon fiber frame, and comfort for both heavy loads and everyday use.
• Spencer’s Top Pick:
  • First Lite Cody gloves for versatile use in hunting, snow, and chores; durable, warm, and user-approved by Midwest ranchers.
    • “Best winter gloves I’ve ever had for calving.” (Rancher, relayed by Spencer)
• Seth presents a homemade portable power station:
  • Using a Yeti LoadOut box and a 100Ah lithium battery, Seth makes a frugal alternative to brand-name power stations (like Jackery, Goal Zero).
  • “...Altogether, I think this box—and you don't have to buy a yeti box...fits it real nice...I think this thing's like 125 bucks. Battery’s 160. And then, you know, another probably 30 or 40 bucks for all the outlets. So, you know, very cheap compared to the alternatives.” (Seth, 31:10)

5. Live Listener Q&A: Trivia, Ice Fishing Warmth/Tips, and Spotting Scopes

[32:29–39:26]

• Birthday shouts and audience questions keep the tone fun and community-driven.
• Ice fishing warmth:
  • Extensive advice: "Hot Hands," bunny boots, heated insoles, slightly upsized boots, and the hand muff trick.
    • “Another...cheap piece of gear that I love for cold weather is a hand muff, especially for ice fishing…” (Spencer, 35:37)
• Spotting scope debate:
  • Team consensus: always carry full-size for true detail and identifying animals at a distance.
    • “The reason I'm packing a spotting scope is not to just see if it's an animal or if it's a deer versus an elk…it's going to be to see details like how big the elk is or...the deer…compact ones…if I put my binoculars on a...stable platform, I'm getting the same performance...” (Giannis, 36:23)

6. Interview: Michael Hadsell & Splash – The Search and Rescue Otter

[41:01–60:02]

• Meet Splash:
  • 2-year-old Asian small-clawed otter, world’s only certified search and recovery otter, trained to find human remains underwater—originally from the World Wildlife Zoo in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Mission & Method:
  • Splash helps recover drowning victims and underwater criminal evidence where dogs/divers struggle to locate remains deep in "muck."
  • He signals a “find” by returning to the handler and “squeaking and making a lot of noise.”
    • “We use Splash...to locate human remains underwater...He'll swim around the surface. He finds the odor...just like the dogs do. And then he'll zoom down…” (Michael Hadsell, 44:12)
  • If Splash finds something, a line is clipped to his harness, and he leads a diver to the exact spot before returning for his favorite treat—salmon.
• Training Challenges & Animal Welfare:
  • Otters aren’t domesticated like dogs; earlier attempts with American river otters struggled due to their aggression. Asian small-clawed otters, like Splash, are more vocal and safer to handle.
  • Lifespan in captivity up to 15–20 years; risk of human diseases and waterborne hazards.
• Significant Missions and Results:
  • Splash’s major successes include recovering evidence and human remains in multiple hard-to-solve cases, including finding a key brick with DNA in a 22-year-old cold case.
• How Otters Work Underwater:
  • Hadsell’s research shows Splash uses both scent confirmation (with special “bubble” tasting) and can detect magnetic fields via heavy-metal-rich whiskers—an incredible adaptation for underwater search!
    • “They have glands in their mouth that transfers [bubble sampling] into ascent response…So...they use magnetic field and they use this bubble scent technique in order to find what they’re looking for.” (Michael Hadsell, 57:43)
• Splash’s Personality:
  • “He is...very much a wild animal. They have a different set of priorities...I found out he's actually about the fifth otter that we've trained up for this work.” (Hadsell, 47:35)
  • Constant companion at home, occasionally sassy (“I think he’s horny…” 41:59), sleeps at the foot of the bed.

7. Top Three Lists: Hunts & Books

[61:05–77:19]

Seth: Top 3 Turkey Hunts

• Tales of wild bird success across the country, from windy Montana mornings to Florida’s “skeeter-ridden” Osceola swamps—highlights include triple kills and hunting with his partner Kelsey and their small dog.
• “She’s a very smart dog...once I start calling and she hears turkey's gobblin’...she just lays down and hunkers down. Doesn't really move.” (Seth, 63:30)

Spencer: Top 3 Books Read in 2025

• Endurance by Alfred Lansing: Gripping non-fiction about Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic survival saga—“It’s a really incredible story and so fantastical that you’d think it’s fiction.”
• In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick: The true whaling disaster that inspired Moby-Dick.
• The Art Thief by Michael Finkel: The story of the world’s most prolific art thief in modern Europe—a recommended true-crime romp.
• Also recommends: Killers of the Flower Moon, God’s Country, and Squanto by Andrew Lippman.

Giannis: Most Anticipated Filmed Hunts of 2026

• Hunting Alaskan bear in a wetsuit with Clay Newcomb (testing if wetsuits improve stalks).
• Wyoming elk with his aging father (crossbow, mid-70s, “crossbow prime”).
• Kansas deer with Brent Reeves—unique twist, as they’ll self-film and forego a videographer.

Phil: Top 3 ‘90s Cartoon Characters He’d Eat

• CatDog (“just curious...long backstrap!”), Mr. Krabs (because “crab over lobster all day”), Crumb from Aaahh!! Real Monsters (possibly tastes great), with wild honorable mentions including Reptar and Angry Beavers.
• “He also could be a...scrotum.” (Giannis, 79:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (Timestamps)

• “You're the only one who goes rockhounding in January.”
  — Spencer to Seth, discussing fossil hunting (02:28)
• “Lions have small lungs…they cannot outrun a hound...bobcats…have much bigger lungs.”
  — Giannis, explaining hunting differences (07:28)
• “If you grew up knowing that no two snowflakes are alike, it's because of Wilson Bentley.”
  — Sue Richardson, summing up her great-great uncle’s impact (12:42)
• “He was 17 years old when he started this process…It took three years of trial and error to figure out…He worked in an unheated woodshed…”
  — Sue Richardson, on Snowflake Bentley’s dedication (13:57)
• “We use Splash...to locate human remains underwater...”
  — Michael Hadsell, on Splash the otter’s work (44:12)
• “He is...very much a wild animal. ...He's actually about the fifth otter that we've trained up for this work.”
  — Hadsell on the reality of working with otters (47:35)
• “The whisker array...is high in lead...it gives them the ability to detect magnetic fields...they hunt the same way a platypus does...”
  — Hadsell on otters’ extraordinary sensory biology (57:43)
• “Take [kids] turkey hunting when they're little—easy...before they start actually being able to grab and walk…You won’t have that time later.”
  — Giannis, on introducing kids to hunting (67:02)

Listener Q&A and Feedback Highlights

• Birthday wishes, gear questions, and best boots/gloves for the coldest winter days.
• Home-built mobile power stations as a budget alternative to Jackery, handled by Seth.
• Debate: Compact vs. full-size spotting scopes—verdict, always take the big glass!
• Top books for reading with kids: Where the Red Fern Grows, My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, Tom Sawyer, and Huck Finn.
• Ice shelter camping as a wall tent alternative—pros and cons discussed.

Episode Flow & Tone

The trademark MeatEater blend of humor, expertise, and genuine curiosity shines through. The hosts and guests share knowledge with humility and irreverence, making for a show that’s as entertaining as it is informative. The real stars are the stories—whether about a winter-bound hound dog, a snowflake-obsessed ancestor, or an otter that’s changing forensic search-and-rescue forever.