Natural Resources University

Dr. Alex Potash joins us to explore the ecological role of squirrels, focusing on their impact on oak regeneration and how animal behavior influences forest management strategies.   Resources: Chester, M., Beck, J., & Potash, A. D. (2025). Observation of a grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) suggests that some rodents can vomit. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 103, 1-4. Horn, C. C., et al. (2013). W...

Emerald ash borer continues to spread across the South, threatening ash trees in forests, urban areas, and important bottomland hardwood ecosystems. In this episode of Timber University , Dr. Colin Bonser, an entomologist with Forest Health Protection in the USDA Forest Service, joins us to discuss emerald ash borer, how it is detected and monitored, and what its continued spread could mean for so...

In this episode, Dr. Gino D'Angelo and Lisa Jorge from the UGA Deer Lab join Jacob and Eric to discuss innovative research on deer fencing and urban deer management. They share insights into how fences affect deer behavior and how science is informing fence design.   Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down me...

In this episode of Gamebird University, James Callicutt and Mark McConnell catch up on fall habitat management for waterfowl and upland game birds. They discuss how timing, scale, and landscape context influence management decisions, from prescribed burning and fall disking to crop harvest, vegetation control, and water management.   The conversation covers habitat diversity, quail cover, food ava...

Jacob and Eric sit down with Jason Sumners, Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, to discuss deer management, landowner collaboration, and adaptive strategies to address CWD. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are...

Much like terrestrial landscapes, ponds and aquatic environments change over time. Management plans can help support and drive how many of the processes in the pond play out over time. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss changes that occur in a pond over time, how to identify if these changes are occurring, and what you can do to help manage your pond for long-term success. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Dr...

Jacob and Eric catch up with Luke Resop, PhD student in the MSU Deer Lab, to discuss food plots. They cover the basics of cool-season food plots and what you can do to increase your chances of success. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The s...

We deep dive into the complex mechanisms of sex determination in birds, focusing on how environmental and physiological factors influence sex ratios.   Resources: Aslam, M. A., et al. (2014). Effect of corticosterone and hen body mass on primary sex ratio in laying hen (Gallus gallus), using unincubated eggs. Biology of Reproduction, 90(4). Curry, J., et al. (2023). Dietary fat supplements influen...

What happens when floods, fish and farms all connect? Flooding is a natural process, but it can cause major problems for farms and residential areas alike. Joining us this week is Mitch Paine, Flood Risk Policy and Planning Specialist with the Washington Department of Ecology and lecturer for University of Washington's Urban Planning program, to walk us through how conservation, agriculture and fl...

Jacob and Eric chat about what summer looked like for the Deer Lab and some of the less discussed aspects of academia. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be...

To kick off Oaktober, we break down the genetics behind why some oak trees are reliable acorn producers and others aren't, and how you as a landowner can use that variation to guide forest stand improvement decisions that benefit both turkeys and deer.   Resources: Boggess, C. M., Strickland, B., Alexander, H. D., & Lashley, M. A. (2019). Mast Seeding in Oaks: A Strategy to Satiate Predators or St...

Implementing a wildlife management plan is not cheap and the associated costs may be a barrier for many landowners to start improving their land for wildlife. Fortunately, there are a number of resources and financial assistance programs that can substantially reduce the technical and cost barriers that many landowners encounter. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss sources of technical assistance, c...

In this episode, we discuss the difference between anecdote and research in wildlife science, limitations with unreplicated site-specific studies, how meta-analyses narrow the direction of an effect, and why seemingly conflicting results can each be right within their own context.   Resources: Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population traje...

We break down native early successional (old field) management for turkeys — how to identify the plants that really matter, when and why to use fire versus spot-spraying, and how to keep a field cycling through the diverse structure that makes great brooding cover.   Resources: iNaturalist Seek App We manage DEER food plots for TURKEYS (video)   Enter our raffle for a chance to win a Wild Turkey S...

Fish kills can result in detrimental losses in ponds but dead fish are just part of the bigger story. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss how to identify a fish kill, common fish kill causes, and how to prevent fish kills in your pond. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State Universit...

We step back to synthesize what's changed in wild turkey science since the show began and where the biggest open questions still remain.   Resources: Huang, M. H., Demarais, S., Brookshire, W. C., & Strickland, B. K. (2022). Analysis of supplemental wildlife feeding in Mississippi and environmental gastrointestinal parasite load. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 995437. Huang, M. H., Demarais,...

Implementing conservation practices like prairie strips or cover crops on your farm might feel like an overwhelming or confusing process. But private lands biologists and other conservation professionals are an invaluable resource to help farmers and landowners navigate the process and choose the best options. This month, we are joined by longtime Nebraska farmer Ed Olson along with Rob Peterson,...

Forest management decisions are made under biological, financial, and market conditions that can change considerably during the life of a stand. In this episode of  Timber University , Dr. Adam Polinko, formerly of Mississippi State University (now at Northern Arizona University), joins us to discuss two applied research projects examining how landowners and foresters can respond to those challeng...

Dr. Craig Harper of the University of Tennessee rejoins us to share results from recent research assessing annual survival and resource selection of juvenile males in Tennessee.   Resources: Bones, J. T., et al. (2026). Vegetation response varies by season of burning in pine woodlands across the southeastern US. Fire Ecology, 22(1), 19. Pollentier, C. D., et al. (2014). Survival and productivity o...

Mourning doves are a popular migratory game bird to hunt in Kansas and many other states in the U.S. Kansas alone accounts for about 630,000 harvested mourning doves per year. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss population trends, diet, habitat, and hunting of doves. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management P...

In this episode, we dive into turkey reproductive physiology, focusing on how photostimulation and photorefractoriness influence turkey breeding cycles.    Resources: Dawson, A., et al. (2001). Photoperiodic control of seasonality in birds. Journal of biological rhythms, 16(4), 365-380. Turkey Predators | Ep 06   Enter our raffle for a chance to win a Wild Turkey Science hunt with Dr. Will Gulsby...

Join us in celebrating the 100th year of pheasant hunting in Nebraska! In this episode of the WildAg Podcast, we welcome Lonnie Shafer, hunter and author of Shafer's Nebraska Pheasant Hunting Almanac, to explore the history of the Ring-necked pheasant in Nebraska and across the United States. Schafer traces the bird's origins in Asia, its introduction to North America, and the events that led to i...

We're bringing back the episode where we dig into decades-old crop-content studies to quantify exactly how much of a turkey's diet is acorns, and what the trends in declining oak forests mean for the future of wild turkeys.   Resources: Alexander et al. (2021). Mesophication of oak landscapes: Evidence, knowledge gaps, and future research. BioScience, 71(5), 531-542. Burk et al. (1990). Wild turke...

With information more accessible than ever, it can be hard to know what's actually good advice for your pond. In this episode, Joe and Drew talk through common sources of misinformation, examples of good spirited bad advice, and how to determine if the guidance you hear is worth listening to.   Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and O...

Will leads us through a deep dive of the scientific literature on the relative contribution of avian predators to wild turkey predation.   Resources: Hughes, T. W., et al. (2005). The impacts of predation on wild turkeys. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2005, 117-126. Palmer, W. E., et al. (2005). Effect of field borders and nest‐predator reduction on abundance of northern bobwhites. Wildlife Society B...