The Tasmanian Devil

What would you do if you heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the forest?
For Wally the wombat and Padma the pademelon, there’s only one reasonable answer: go find out what made it.
As night falls over the forests of Tasmania, the two friends hear something strange among the eucalyptus trees. First comes a scream. Then a growl. Then the unmistakable CRUNCH of something eating a bone.
Whatever is hiding behind those ferns must be enormous. Ferocious. Possibly bigger than a house.
Or … maybe Wally and Padma are getting a little carried away.
Their search leads them to a creature they weren’t expecting, and a chance to see those frightening sounds from a completely different point of view.
In this episode, we’ll get to know the Tasmanian devil and learn:
• What it means to be a marsupial
• How Tasmanian devils use powerful jaws to help them crunch through bones and other tough food
• Why these nocturnal animals scream, growl, show their teeth, and open their mouths incredibly wide
Wild and Kind Kids is a screen-free animal podcast for curious kids ages 3–8 and their grown-ups. Each episode combines movement, animal facts, an original story grounded in real science, and a Wild and Kind Mission that helps children see how they can care for wildlife, too.
Perfect for car rides, quiet time, homeschool science, or a family story together.
Keep exploring:
• Learn more about the work of Devils@Cradle (devilsatcradle.com) and the WWF (gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/spec…) and see how to adopt a Tasmanian devil
• Download a tasmanian devil coloring sheet (0f00c271-cc67-41f0-bab6-22990eb1f7eb.usrfiles.…)
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod (instagram.com/wildandkindkidspod)
• Join our Kids Club or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com
Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:
• See Tasmanian Devils (nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/t…) (Photo Ark by National Geographic)
• Tasmanian devil (kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/fa…) (National Geographic Kids)
• Tasmanian devil facts for kids (nre.tas.gov.au/conservation/threatened-species…) (Tasmanian Government)
• Tasmanian devil (perthzoo.wa.gov.au/animal/tasmanian-devil) (Perth Zoo)
• Toledo Zoo discovers Tasmanian Devils that glow (npr.org/2020/12/14/946189582/ohio-zoo-document…) (NPR)
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