Howdy y’all and welcome to Season 4, Episode 28 of the EEARSS by Alligator Robb Podcast, produced by Terrier TV at Titusville High School!

This week, we’re honored to feature Dr. Trevor Zachariah, Director of Veterinary Programs at Brevard Zoo. Dr. Zachariah has been a cornerstone of the zoo’s veterinary care since 2010, overseeing the health and wellbeing of over 700 animals spanning nearly 200 species. His leadership extends to the Harris Animal Care Center, the Sea Turtle Healing Center, and the zoo’s animal commissary .

Dr. Zachariah’s educational journey began in Coldwater, Michigan. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Michigan State University. Furthering his expertise, he completed an internship in exotic pet and wildlife medicine and obtained a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from Louisiana State University. His residency in Zoological and Aquatic Animal Medicine was conducted through the University of Illinois, with training at the Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Shedd Aquarium. He is board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine .

Under Dr. Zachariah’s guidance, Brevard Zoo has advanced its veterinary programs, emphasizing animal wellness, enrichment, and conservation. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the development of the Scaife Family Sea Turtle Care Complex, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles .

Each week, our listener base keeps growing—thank you for tuning in and sharing the love! We’re always looking for sponsors to support our mission of education, awareness, and fun, so if that sounds like your kind of partnership, reach out and let’s chat.

EEARSS by Alligator Robb Podcast – Season 4, Episode 27 – Dr. Rachel Turner

Howdy y’all and welcome to Season 4, Episode 27 of the EEARSS by Alligator Robb Podcast, produced by Terrier TV at Titusville High School! This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Rachel Turner, staff veterinarian at Brevard Zoo.

Dr. Turner brings a wealth of experience in exotic and zoological medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from North Carolina State University, followed by a veterinary degree from the same institution. Her postgraduate training includes a small animal rotating internship at the University of Pennsylvania, an exotics specialty internship at Tufts University, and a residency in Zoological Medicine at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Brevard Zoo, she served as Associate Veterinarian at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama.

At Brevard Zoo, Dr. Turner plays a pivotal role in the care of a diverse range of species, from sea turtles and Florida grasshopper sparrows to Perdido Key beach mice. She is particularly passionate about the zoo’s animal training and wellbeing programs, emphasizing voluntary medical care through positive reinforcement.

Each week, our listener base keeps growing—thank you for tuning in and sharing the love! We’re always looking for sponsors to support our mission of education, awareness, and fun, so if that sounds like your kind of partnership, reach out and let’s chat.

Howdy y’all and welcome to Season 4, Episode 26 of the EEARSS by Alligator Robb Podcast, produced by Terrier TV at Titusville High School! This week’s guest is the incredibly insightful Dr. Norman Beatty.

Did you know Florida leads the country in leprosy cases—and that the majority of those are coming from Merritt Island? Ever heard of Chagas disease? Curious about the real dangers and science behind snakebite?

Dr. Beatty joins us to explore all of this and more. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine and works through the Emerging Pathogens Institute. His research focuses on neglected tropical diseases, including Chagas disease, leprosy, and snakebite.

Dr. Beatty grew up right here in Florida and had a firsthand experience with the dangers of snakebite when his brother was bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake—an encounter that nearly led to the amputation of his thumb without quick antivenom intervention. Trained at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Dr. Beatty worked alongside experts in toxicology and envenomation before bringing his expertise back home. At UF, he’s now leading the charge in educating people about venomous snakes, their vital role in Florida’s ecosystems, and how we should medically manage a bite when it happens.

Each week, our listener base keeps growing—thank you for tuning in and sharing the love! We’re always looking for sponsors to support our mission of education, awareness, and fun, so if that sounds like your kind of partnership, reach out and let’s chat.