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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Why does the human voice scare animals?

Bears, wolves and mountain lions are some of the fiercest predators on earth. But the human voice terrifies them all.

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By Madeleine Brand • Jul 19, 2019 • 1 min read

Bears, wolves and mountain lions are some of the fiercest predators on earth. But the human voice terrifies them all. A new study found that when researchers played Rachel Maddow, Rush Limbaugh, or even someone reading poetry, those voices sent predators running for the hills. That has ripple effects throughout the entire ecosystem.

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    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

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    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

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    Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir

    Associate producer

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    Ed Yong

    science writer at The Atlantic

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