Conan Names A Polar Bear Monitor's Owl | Conan O'Brien Needs A Fan

This episode of "Conan O'Brien Needs A Fan" features Mike, a conservation authority from London, Ontario, who shares his unique experiences working with wildlife. The discussion immediately takes a turn when Mike reveals he has an owl perched next to him, which Conan gleefully names "Interrupto." Mike delves into his past role as a polar bear monitor in the Arctic, a job that involved escorting people safely from these dangerous predators. He explains that polar bears are highly aggressive hunters, unlike other bear species, and will actively pursue humans for food.

Mike details the protective measures he employed, including the use of non-lethal rubber slugs and, as a last resort, a 12-gauge shotgun, though he thankfully never had to use lethal force. He recounts a tense encounter where a polar bear merely "squinted its eyes" and walked away after being hit by a non-lethal round. The conversation then shifts to Mike's extensive work training birds of prey, such as hawks, falcons, and bald eagles, to deter other birds from areas like blueberry farms.

He shares insights into the challenging nature of training bald eagles, noting their inherent "nasty" tendency to steal prey from others. Mike specifically recalls a bald eagle he raised from an egg named Bape, who developed a peculiar jealousy towards women. Conan and Mike also discuss the humorous "car hawking" technique, where Mike drives with a hawk in his front seat, deploying it from the window to scare off nuisance birds, and a funny incident where his hawk flew into the wrong car window. The episode blends thrilling tales of Arctic survival with fascinating details about bird behavior and training, punctuated by Conan's characteristic humor.