Human: Kirsten "The Hellbender" Hecht, Salamander Expert
Salamander expert Kirsten Hecht\u2014also known as Kirsten \u201cHechtbender,\u201d for reasons that will become clear\u2014gave Macken a call tonight to talk about salamanders and other topics. The conversation was light & fun, we heard a few stories, learned a bit of history, and found out a lot about animals.
Macken had several questions for her tonight, including:\xa0Why are they called hellbenders?\xa0Can all salamanders regenerate limbs?\xa0How do salamanders regenerate limbs?\xa0Why do amphibians go through a tadpole stage?\xa0Why don\u2019t mudpuppies and axolotls grow up?\xa0How do you balance being a mom with being a scientist?
Macken and Kirsten ended up covering some tangential topics, from the history of dragons in China to the joys of Halloween. Everyone can find something to enjoy! \xa0