Lake Cow Bacon: America’s Hippo-Sized Solution to Hunger | 405

Explicit content warning

01/10/25 • 58 min

2 Listeners

Did you know America once eyed hippos as a solution to its problems? This week on Hysteria 51 we dive into the bizarre yet true tale of how early 20th-century Louisiana faced a water hyacinth invasion and a looming food shortage—and how importing hippos, lovingly dubbed “lake cows,” was proposed as the answer. Join us as we explore the strange saga of "Lake Cow Bacon," the politicians and eccentric dreamers behind the plan, and why this idea almost became reality. Grab a plate of hypothetical hippo bacon, and let’s get weird with history!

Special thanks to this week’s research sources:

Videos

Exploring 'Lake Cow Bacon': A Unique American Tale | weird history - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_d2LkczvLY

America's Secret Plan to Replace BEEF with HIPPOS - https://youtu.be/ChqkNAeJygM?si=lu4ZzqkrrltaMETh

Websites

Second Boer War: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War

The Daily Beast - https://www.thedailybeast.com/lake-bacon-the-story-of-the-man-who-wanted-us-to-eat-mississippi-hippos/

Smithsonian Magazine - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-us-almost-became-a-nation-of-hippo-ranchers-180982244/

On Pasture - https://onpasture.com/2016/04/18/u-s-hippo-ranches-and-lake-cow-bacon/

Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories:

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Special thanks to this week’s research sources:

Videos

Exploring 'Lake Cow Bacon': A Unique American Tale | weird history - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_d2LkczvLY

America's Secret Plan to Replace BEEF with HIPPOS - https://youtu.be/ChqkNAeJygM?si=lu4ZzqkrrltaMETh

Websites

Second Boer War: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War

The Daily Beast - https://www.thedailybeast.com/lake-bacon-the-story-of-the-man-who-wanted-us-to-eat-mississippi-hippos/

Smithsonian Magazine - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-us-almost-became-a-nation-of-hippo-ranchers-180982244/

On Pasture - https://onpasture.com/2016/04/18/u-s-hippo-ranches-and-lake-cow-bacon/

Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories:

[email protected]

Support the Show

Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1

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Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!

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Previous Episode

Blurry Hysteria: Jawbreakers and Nuked Cabinets! | 404

1 Recommendations

This week, we’re serving up a smorgasbord of strange! First, we sink our teeth into the tale of a woman who took "jawbreaker" a little too literally—because candy shouldn’t come with a side of dental disaster. Then, we go nuclear (literally) with the bizarre practice of detonating file cabinets for "science." It’s an explosive mix of absurdity and hilarity you don’t want to miss!

News Stories Mentioned:

Jawbreaker: https://www.odditycentral.com/news/woman-breaks-jaw-after-biting-into-jawbreaker-candy.html#google_vignette

File Go Boom: https://www.ripleys.com/stories/nuking-file-cabinets

Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories:

[email protected]

Support the Show

Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1

Shop

Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!

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Next Episode

Blurry Hysteria: Birds, Needles, and Deadly Christmas Feasts | 406

Hold onto your tinsel, folks! This week on Blurry Hysteria we dive into the weird and wacky with stories you never knew you needed in your life. First, we head to the stomach-turning world of fertility rituals gone very wrong—complete with a live baby bird found in a dead man’s belly... or maybe throat. (Yeah, you read that right.)

Then, it’s a two-part yuletide warning: Ever considered nibbling on your Christmas tree? Belgium says, "DON’T!" Sweden on the other hand says otherwise. We unravel the science behind toxic Christmas tree needles and why your festive feast shouldn’t involve the fir, or maybe it should... Join us for a late holiday episode packed with laughs, gasps, and the weirdest news to ever deck the halls!

News Stories Mentioned:

Bird Job: https://www.latintimes.com/baby-bird-found-alive-inside-dead-mans-stomach-after-being-swallowed-during-fertility-ritual-569420

Tree Treats: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dont-eat-christmas-tree-warns-182651558.html & https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/sweden-says-christmas-tree-needles-173426923.html

Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories:

[email protected]

Support the Show

Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1

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Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!

https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51?ref_id=9022

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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