This is another youtube channel that I have been hooked on. Any channel with people trying to help animals I usually will watch. Unlike Chandler’s Wildlife, there are no King Cobras, Crocodilians, Black Mambas, or many other reptiles. This guy takes in any animal that loses its mother, animals given up by people, and any lost ones that come in.
His name is Ben Christie (Uncle Ben) age 24. Right now he has a Kangaroo (saved from a Texas hunting range that charges hunters to hunt in a fenced-in area…which is disgusting to me), Prairie Dogs, Capybaras, goats, ducks, rabbits, deer, turtles, dogs, Opossums, chickens, and the most interesting one is a Rhea named Kevin. Kevin was going to be euthanized by a farm because he was so aggressive…Ben took him in with his other Rhea named Karen. Rheas are not usually aggressive at all. The rest of his Rheas are great…it seems Kevin just wants to inflict pain on Ben. Fans mailed riot shields and nerf swords for him to deflect Kevin’s bites.
I didn’t know what a Rhea was until I saw this. I thought Kevin was an ostrich or an Emu. He will terrorize any non-farm animal but will generally leave his fellow farm animals alone. He even chased a coyote out of the farm.
The animals have become just as big of interest as Ben has through this channel. People tune in just to see what new animals he has and how the familiar ones are doing. He keeps humor going through the videos. He has named his animals after rappers, politicians, characters (Darth Vader), and just whatever pops into his head.
He has joke titles for each of the 12-15 minute videos. Some examples are: Why I Fed a Beaver to my Prairie Dog, How to Hatch Rhea Eggs (I’m NOT the Father!?), How to Survive a Rhea Attack (Lawsuit Pending), Kevin and I go to Therapy?? (Extremely Emotional) *we also rescue ducks*…
The story of Ben Christie is interesting… when he was in college, people would send him animals without a home and he lived in a small house off campus and he would take care of them. He was in his senior year of Baylor University and he got a job at Oracle as a sales rep. He kept on receiving animals and thought he would film what he was doing. He started with Tik Tok and finally decided he was done with Oracle because he just wasn’t happy. He didn’t know how he was going to live because he wasn’t getting many views. The day after he turned in his two week notice he had a video to go viral. He then started his youtube channel and now around 2-3 years later has over 2.1 million subscribers.
He lived in Austin Texas but found a 3-acre property in Waco Texas and moved there. The small house was an old crack house. The property had old tires, junk, syringes, and everything else but he lived in a small camper and fixed it up. He started a not-for-profit shelter for animals. He is slowly building it up and his love for animals comes through.
I first noticed him on Chandler’s Wildlife when he visited. In the first episode, I watched…the Kangaroo (when he lived in a smaller house) escaped and he took off running through the neighborhood before Ben finally caught him. I was imagining if I was his neighbor looking at my window that day. A barefoot guy with overalls and a straw hat, complete with a staff chasing a Kangaroo came by my window…I would pause to think about what I just saw.
Sometimes Ben will go to downtown Waco and grab ducks from under the bridge. I was wondering what he was doing but a lot of the ducks are not wild. They were dropped off by pet owners who couldn’t take care of them anymore. He said they would be fine until winter came. He grabs a few and takes them back to his rescue.
A coyote killed one of his chickens during a drought so he captured it and gave it water because it was dehydrated. He ended up letting it go back into the woods. He is not licensed to keep coyotes so he called the authorities and they said they would come and euthanize or he could let it go… he took care of it and let it go.
The animals seem to appreciate all he does…except Kevin. You can tell if someone is genuine and Ben seems to be. I’ve read some articles about him and he has inspired a lot people to start small rescues to help out lost wildlife.
Ben has a very goofy sense of humor and his videos are edited really well so that he doesn’t lose your attention. He does this usually on an iPhone. I didn’t get him at first but I watched around 3-5 episodes and I haven’t stopped watching. The Urban Rescue Ranch
Prominent animals
Kevin
Karen
DaBaby
Poggers
Big Ounce…
Seeing this prairie dog makes me want one. When Ben pets and scratches him the prairie dog looks like he dies. So Ben has fun with this through a lot of videos.
Gort and Quandale Dingle
Queen
…and too many more to mention.
This is Ben Christie telling how he started.
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How wonderful
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Thanks for reading Sheree…he keeps a sense of humor and doesn’t dwell on the sadness of some of them coming in.
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😎
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What a wonderful mission. I seldom watch or follow the animal rescue/rehab people, because it is just so emotional. I’m grateful for Ben and all of the others.
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I don’t know why they hook me but they do. I do know what you mean though.
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Good for him! I’ll have to try to set aside a bit of time to watch some of those in full. I applaud anyone that try to help animals in trouble. It’s too bad he gets so little attention around here in his home city. Then again, maybe keeping a low profile in the neighborhood might benefit him.
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He keeps it very silly but there is a seriousness underneath it. His first videos he was just talking and you can see him grow into letting his sense of humor show.
Chandler is more PG 13 and Ben is more G. I think you might enjoy it if you like his sense of humor….but the animals are cool enough if not.
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A Mother Nature’s Son.
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Entertaining and helps critters in needs or vice versa. He’s got a good sense of humor. One youtube channel I’ve gotten hooked on is Ohio Fish Rescue. Take a look at it sometime. They have some impressive fish in there. Many of them outgrew their home tanks so Rich and Josh (father and son team) take them in.
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I sure will Lisa! Thank you for the site.
I’m really thinking about getting a couple of prairie dogs! No one realizes how much time is spent with these animals and the cost of food. I can’t imagine feeding all of these animals and Chandler’s also…they make quite a bit from youtube but they have to…to maintain their animals.
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You’re welcome, and I do know what you mean about getting hooked on channels. I alternate between them and Colbert for my bedtime youtubes. Yes, Ohio Fish Rescue pretty much feeds all of their fish shrimp, and that cannot be cheap!
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No it can’t… I’ve been watching some of them now…Jen and I thought about doing a Saint Bernard rescue one day…but that is not wildlife…I wouldn’t mind some wildlife but no snakes lol…
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I think anyone who works to rescue animals in need is a hero. Doesn’t matter if they are wildlife or not. So many critters will die without a kindly human stepping in.
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After having watched for a few minutes, I can totally see how you can get hooked on Ben Christie. He has a good sense of humor. More importantly, he comes across as genuine. Giving up what sounds like was a “solid job” to do what he does now takes a lot of courage and conviction. Looks like he has found his calling. Plus, he’s helping many animals in the process – a true win-win!
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It really works out for everyone and most importantly the animals. He takes his youtube money and pumps it back into the animals. We all get entertained.
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I’m glad he seems to be able to sustain himself and his animal ranch with YouTube – kudoes to him!
I’m kind of amazed how certain folks evidently can live from their presence on YouTube! It’s probably not easy, especially in the beginning when you don’t have much of an audience.
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Well it’s a bit like the new TV now. They can make quite a bit of money…probably more than you and I IF they have enough subscribers…he has over 2 million BUT… feeding those animals every day adds up…plus buying the land, fences, medical attention etc…
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Oh, goodness…looking after babies. I didn’t know what a Rhea was, either.
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That Rhea is an evil one lol…every single time Ben runs into him…it wants him dead lol
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It must have been abused.
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It might have been. Kevin is the most stubborn bird I’ve ever seen. Ben has a riot shield and uses a garbage can lid at times…no matter what he does…it doesn’t matter. But Kevin does chase away any intruder…person or animal.
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Good lord…
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Some people reported him on youtube as animal abuse when he started…he made a hilairous apology video…
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Ren and Stimpy shorts! LOL! Kevin is a giant pain in the ass. And, he has such patience.
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And, I didn’t know about the pile-up on I-35 near Fort Worth. Damn.
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Yea I remember that from the news… it was terrible. He was MUCH more serious in that video than he usually is.
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Thanks for sharing this, Max. Looks like a channel worth spending some time with. Hadn’t heard of Ben until now. Looks like he has a lot of “friends!”
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I thought you would like this Bruce. I’ve been in Atlanta on a business trip this week… that is why I’ve been quiet. Just returning tonight.
Ben has normal animals… well including the Rheas and Kangaroo. He keeps it funny and moving.
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