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Scars To Prove It: Living Through Animal Attacks

Today, you’re gonna hear from three people who had close encounters with wild animals - and have the scars to prove it.

You’ll hear how - and if - any of these people felt defined by their experiences, and what sense they’ve made out of their encounters. Plus, you’ll hear from a wildlife expert about what animals you should be careful to keep away from here in New England.

Join the conversation onFacebook,Twitter, and email.

GUESTS:

  • Kelci "Saff" Saffery from "Tiger King" was the park manager at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma, and he's now living in California. His forearm was amputated after a tiger at the zoo shredded it
  • Jane Hefferan is a registered nurse in Nashville, Tennessee, who has been in and out of hospitals since two brown recluse spiders bit her in 2008
  • Kyle Dickman is a New Mexico resident, and a contributing editor at Outside Magazine. He is the author of “On the Burning Edge: A Fateful Fire and the Men Who Fought It”, and was bitten by a northern Pacific rattlesnake in Yosemite National Park
  • Tracy Rittenhouse is an Associate Professor and Director of Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center at the Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut

Catie Talarski contributed to this show.

Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, spotlighting the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

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Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.