Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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The image depicts a blonde-haired, bearded man standing outdoors, gently kissing a raven. He has a peaceful expression, and the raven appears calm. The background is a soft, blurred natural setting with trees and sky. The lighting is serene, highlighting the man’s flowing hair and the raven’s sleek feathers.

743. Kissing a Raven

March 10, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from kissing a raven.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Ragnar raven in a lovely chatty and affectionate mood. | Raven Talking | TikTok
  • Julie Andrews – My Favorite Things Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
  • Elton John - Rocket Man (Official Music Video) - YouTube
  • Salmonella ravens - Google Scholar
  • Salmonella in Sheep in Iceland - PMC
  • Prevalence, Characterization and Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella Isolates in Large Corvid Species of Europe and North America Between 2010 and 2013 - Janecko - 2015 - Zoonoses and Public Health - Wiley Online Library
  • Bacterial Diversity in Feces of Wild Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures and Common Ravens from the Pacific Northwest Coast, U.S.A | bioRxiv
  • Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Lyrics) - YouTube
March 10, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Kissing, Cross-contamination

The image features a small, vibrant parrot perched on a person's finger, holding a tiny spoon in its beak and stirring a steaming cup of coffee. The background is warm and cozy, with soft lighting. The parrot appears curious and focused, adding a whimsical touch to the charming scene.

742. Stirring Your Coffee With "Pickle" the Barrista Bird Daily

March 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of letting a parrot stir you coffee with a spoon every day.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Pickle the barista birb loves to stir my coffee every morning : r/aww
  • Salmonella | Cornell Wildlife Health Lab
  • Psittacosis (Ornithosis) fact sheet
  • Human Salmonellosis Outbreak Linked to Salmonella Typhimurium Epidemic in Wild Songbirds, United States, 2020–2021 - Volume 29, Number 11—November 2023 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
  • Salmonella pet birds - Google Scholar
  • Full article: Zoonotic potential and prevalence of Salmonella serovars isolated from pets
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Salmonella spp. in Fecal Samples of Pet Birds | Avian Diseases
  • Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella spp. in Pet Mammals, Reptiles, Fish Aquarium Water, and Birds in Trinidad - Seepersadsingh - 2003 - Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Series B - Wiley Online Library
  • Salmonella Newport outbreak in Brazilian parrots: confiscated birds from the illegal pet trade as possible zoonotic sources - Saidenberg - 2021 - Environmental Microbiology Reports - Wiley Online Library
  • Zoonoses in pet birds: review and perspectives | Veterinary Research
March 07, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Coffee, Cross-contamination

The image shows an open dishwasher in a modern kitchen. Inside, along with regular dishes, sits a very dirty bird feeder covered in grime, dirt, and birdseed remnants. The scene looks unusual and messy, highlighting the contrast between household cleaning and outdoor grime in an unexpected setting.

741. Using a Dishwasher to Wash a Bird Feeder

March 05, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a dishwasher to wash a bird feeder.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Infectious Diseases of Garden Birds - Minimising the Risks - UFAW
  • Outdoor Cleaning Products | Jeyes Fluid
  • Method to Evaluate Factors Influencing the Microbial Reduction in Domestic Dishwashers | Journal of Applied Microbiology | Oxford Academic
  • Jeyes Fluid - Wikipedia
  • John Jeyes - Wikipedia
  • p-Chlorocresol - Wikipedia
March 05, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Cross-contamination, Dishwasher

DALL·E - An outdoor restaurant under a bridge on a river, as seen from a passing boat. The setting includes tables and chairs neatly arranged… Lots of birds too

611. Eating at a Restaurant Under a Bridge

May 06, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating at a restaurant under a bridge at the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Under the Bridge - Wikipedia
  • The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk - YouTube
  • San Antonio River Walk
  • 535. Adults Eating at Picnic Tables With a Little Bit of Dried Bird Poop — Risky or Not?
  • Battle of the Alamo - Wikipedia
  • 213. Eating on an Active Fishing Pier — Risky or Not?
  • Food Establishment License - City of San Antonio
  • Certificate of Occupancy- Health Inspection Checklist


May 06, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Cross-contamination

DALL·E - the superhero robin standing on a supermarket shelf

557. Robin in the Supermarket

January 01, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of allowing a robin to stay in a supermarket.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Aldi: Brecon supermarket says resident robin can stay
  • The Clash – Lost in the Supermarket Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
  • Salmonellosis in wild birds - ScienceDirect
  • Prevalence and molecular characterization of Salmonella isolated from wild birds in fresh produce environments - PMC
  • Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhimurium and Escherichia coli 086 in wild birds at two garden sites in south‐west Scotland - Pennycott - 2002 - Veterinary Record - Wiley Online Library
January 01, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Grocery store, Retail, Salmonella

DALL·E 2 - a brown wood picnic table with two small white spots

535. Adults Eating at Picnic Tables With a Little Bit of Dried Bird Poop

November 10, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks to adults eating at picnic tables with a little bit dried bird poop.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Abundance, diet and Salmonella contamination of gulls feeding at sewage outfalls - ScienceDirect
  • Can domestic pigeon be a potential carrier of zoonotic Salmonella? - PMC
  • Survival of Salmonella in Various Wild Animal Feces That May Contaminate Produce - ScienceDirect
November 10, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Salmonella, Birds, Feces, Cross-contamination

372. Siracusa's Gull Bite Sandwich

October 26, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a sandwich that a seagull has taken a bite from.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

PS thanks to Christopher Robin (surely not their real name) for the Overcast Link.

  • Seagulls (Larus spp.) as vectors of salmonellae: an investigation into the range of serotypes and numbers of salmonellae in gull faeces - PubMed
  • Isolation and characterization of multidrug resistant beta-lactamase producing Salmonella enterica from wild migratory birds
  • Pigeons aren't just rats with wings
  • Salmonellosis in wild birds | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Wild Songbirds | CDC
  • 351. Kissing a Bird — Risky or Not?
October 26, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Sandwich, Cross-contamination

351. Kissing a Bird

September 07, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from kissing a parrot (Norwegian Blue, or other) or really any bird.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Animals on Instagram: "I can’t handle how cute this is. I watched it like 20 times🥹 Credits to @tamarasbluechicken via TikTok - - - - #funnyparrot #parrot #talkingparrot #cutepets #bird #animallovers"
  • Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Poultry | CDC
  • Isolation of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis in Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot (Amazona aestiva) | Avian Diseases
  • Testing for Salmonella Spp. In Released Parrots, Wild Parrots, and Domestic Fowl in Lowland Peru | Journal of Wildlife Diseases
  • Dead Parrot sketch - Wikipedia
  • The Parrot Sketch - Monty Python's Flying Circus - video Dailymotion
  • 8 Top Blue Parrot Species to Keep as Pets
September 07, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Birds, Salmonella, Kissing
167.png

167. Backyard Lettuce for a Pregnant Woman

July 04, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks to a pregnant woman from eating lettuce grown in the backyard at the tail end of a wild bird salmonellosis outbreak.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Salmonellosis Outbreak — Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
  • Lettuce, Other Leafy Greens, and Food Safety | Food Safety | CDC
  • Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Wild Songbirds | CDC
  • Food Safety in Community Gardens | NC State Extension
July 04, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Lettuce, Salmonella, Birds, Backyard Garden

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