00:00
Terrestrials

The Invaders: Coquí Frogs Just Won't Die

Listened

// Coquí frogs are synonymous with Puerto Rican identity. Residents of the island doze off to the high-pitched calls of coquís from dusk to dawn. There are even playlists of hours of coquí calls that lull listeners to sleep. //

© WNYC Length 00:23:20 8 May 2025 Episode 18 Age: 6-10 , 11plus Topics: Science , Nature , Adventure Country: USA Type: Story

Full episode description

© WNYC Length 00:23:20 8 May 2025 Episode 18 Age: 6-10 , 11plus Topics: Science , Nature , Adventure Country: USA Type: Story

Terrestrials: A New Kids Show from Radiolab

Terrestrials: A New Kids Show from Radiolab

This is a serialised ongoing story, so jumping in at episode 10, for example, could confuse matters.

Listen to episode one here

Coquí frogs are synonymous with Puerto Rican identity. Residents of the island doze off to the high-pitched calls of coquís from dusk to dawn. There are even playlists of hours of coquí calls that lull listeners to sleep.

That’s why ProducerBud Ana, a proud Puerto Rican, was confused when she saw a poster calling for the eradication of coquí frogs at a Hawaiian airport. Turns out, residents of Hawaiʻi see coquís as a nuisance, disrupting not only their sleep but their precious ecosystems.

Listen as Ana explores how different islands can view these frogs so differently, and how, despite all of our human efforts, they won’t stop singing.

Special thanks to evolutionary biologist Ana Longo and professor Noelani Puniwai for telling us about coquí frogs.

Watch a coquí frog perform its call.

Listen to Puerto Rican sleep sounds.

Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC Studios. This episode was produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski, Mira Burt-Wintonick, Joe Plourde, Lulu Miller, and Sarah Sandbach, with help from Tanya Chawla and Natalia Ramirez. Fact checking was by Anna Pujol-Mazzini.

Our advisors this season are Ana Luz Porzecanski, Anil Lewis, Dominique Shabazz, and Liza Demby.

Support for Terrestrials also comes from the Simons Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the John Templeton Foundation.

HEY GROWN-UPS!

Love the show? Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app—it helps curious listeners find us!

Terrestrials is made possible in part by listeners like you. Support the show by joining The Explorers Club —and we’ll send you a special puzzle as a thank-you gift from our team!

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts about Terrestrials with us.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for bite-sized essays, activities, and ways to connect with the show.

Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes extras and more.

Listen to original music from Terrestrials on Spotify, Apple Music, or our music page.

Got a badgering question for the team? Email us at terrestrials@wnyc.org or submit a voice memo with your name, age, and your question using this form!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


© WNYC | 00:23:20

The content, artwork and advertising within this podcast is not owned or affiliated with Sound Carrot and remain the property of their respective owners.

Original Episode URL


Find your next favourite Podcast

Sound Carrot is your source for Family Podcast Discovery. Verified awesome, 0% boring.

Privacy Focused

Distraction free website, no flashing banners or adverts to steal your attention.
(Some shows do contain their own ads however).

Kid verified

At first I made this site for my kids, but like any dad I got a little over excited. I hope you find it as useful as they do.

Family Friendly

Whether you want to listen to them together in the car, or alone in your room - the content is all safe for younger ears.