The Backyard Naturalists

As the seasons turn and the air gets crisp, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris are diving into everything fall for your wildlife habitat! In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , the team explores how to make the most of autumn's natural bounty, especially those fallen leaves. Should you rake them up, blow them away, or just "leave the leaves"? The answers might surprise you. Drawing from new data fro...

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.   In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, we dive into the joys of fall gardening! With cooler temperatures and colorful leaves setting the stage, now is the perfect time to plant native perennials that will thrive through the season and beyond. Learn about the best fall planting practices, incl...

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.   In this fall-themed episode of "The Backyard Naturalists," hosts Debbie and Laurie, based near Charlotte, delve into the wonders of the autumn season. They discuss the changeable weather and share their favorite aspects of fall. The episode is packed with practical advice for nature enthusiasts, in...

If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Facebook page  or our  website . We would really like to hear from you. Connect with the Backyard Naturalists on the  Web ,  Facebook  and  Instagram . Please visit and support our presenting sponsor, Backyard Birds at  http://www.thebirdfoodstore.com/ . A mecca for bird lovers and bird watchers, Backyard Bi...

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the award-winning podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 115 countries, 50 states, and all throughout the Carolinas. Honored with the Best of the Weeklies podcast award by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, we bring you engaging and educational content each week.   In this episode, your hosts, Debbie and Laurie delve in...

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.   In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie are joined by renowned nature photographer, author, and wildlife expert Stan Tekiela to explore the incredible world of animal adaptations. From polar bears' heat-absorbing fur and bats' echolocation abilities to the hibernation habit...

Summer is STILL here, and if you've stepped outside lately, you've probably felt it too—sweltering heat, sticky air, and maybe even a few critters making themselves a little  too  comfortable in your backyard. In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie (with Chris chiming in, of course!) share a lighthearted but practical guide to keeping your habitat healthy during the hotte...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome Allison Young, Director of Outreach Programs for iNaturalist, the global platform that's changing the way people experience nature. Whether you're snapping a photo of a butterfly in your backyard, spotting a rare bird on a hike, or identifying tracks in the mud, iNaturalist turns those moments into data that helps fuel research, cons...

Summer is heating up across the Carolinas, and that means snakes are on the move — and stirring up plenty of conversation. In this episode, Debbie and Laurie bust myths and tackle misinformation about  snake deterrents , exploring what truly works (and what absolutely doesn't) to keep these fascinating reptiles out of spaces where they aren't welcome. From mothballs to marigolds, ultrasonic gadget...

Debbie and Laurie return to the Matthews Community Farmer's Market to record an episode "live" and on location!

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.   In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, we dive into the many reasons why trees are invaluable to our health, environment, and economy. A recent study conducted by the University of Louisville shows that planting trees can significantly reduce heart disease markers, improve sleep quality, and...

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast! As spring blooms with vibrant life, Debbie and Laurie delve into the world of advanced bird feeding, exploring Bird Feeding 2.0. From the allure of black oil sunflower seeds to the strategic placement of multiple feeders near trees and bushes, this episode unlocks the secrets to attracting a diverse array of avian visitors to...

In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a fun and fascinating leap into the world of  frogs and toads —those small but mighty voices you hear rising from ponds, ditches, and backyards as spring turns into summer. You'll learn how to spot (and hear!) some of  North Carolina's most common amphibians , including the  American Bullfrog ,  Southern Leopard Frog ,  Spring P...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster, Laurie Horne, and Chris take a playful trip through the animal kingdom with a trivia-style episode all about the names for male and female animals . Some are familiar — like a buck and doe , bull and cow , or stallion and mare — while others are far less obvious, including cob and pen for swans, jack and jill for opossums, and even cock and he...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne explore the fascinating world of wildlife bridges, wildlife crossings, green bridges, and ecoducts — structures designed to help animals safely move across fragmented habitats caused by highways, railroads, canals, and other human-made barriers. From deer, elk, badgers, mountain lions, alligators, amphibians, turtles, and even...

It's nesting season in the Carolinas, and this week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne take a fun, award-show-style look at the many ways birds build — or sometimes barely build — their nests. From the lightning-fast Carolina wren to the ground-nesting killdeer , the late-arriving American goldfinch , and the nest-hijacking brown-headed cowbird , this episode celebrates t...

Think you need a big backyard to help wildlife? Think again! In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie prove that even the tiniest patio, balcony, porch, apartment landing, condo space, or HOA-approved corner can become a welcoming wildlife habitat. With a little creativity — and maybe a bit of "no mess, no evidence" bird feeding strategy — you can provide food, water,...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne celebrate spring planting season with a practical conversation about choosing plants that support wildlife and strengthen local ecosystems. Using the idea of "Plant This, Not That," they compare native plants that thrive in the Carolinas with invasive or problematic plants that can outcompete native species, spread aggres...

Spring is finally making itself known, and that means our backyard habitats are changing fast. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie talk about what listeners may be seeing, hearing, and experiencing in their own outdoor spaces — from nesting bluebirds, Carolina wrens, catbirds, frogs, butterflies, lizards, bats, possums, raccoons, snakes, deer, and even coyotes. Whether...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne take us into the fascinating world of barred owls , inspired by a local owl box success story just in time for Earth Day. From the excitement of watching young owlets leave the nest to the unmistakable "who cooks for you?" presence of barred owls in the Carolinas, this conversation explores how these remarkable birds live...

What do you do when tadpoles take over a horse trough? In this fun and wide-ranging episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris dive into the fascinating world of tadpoles after a listener from California asks how to handle an unexpected amphibian boom in her horses' water troughs. Along the way, the conversation explores why frogs choose certain places to lay eggs, what tadpol...

In this special Earth Day episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris celebrate Earth Day 2026 by exploring the history behind this global movement and sharing practical, everyday ways listeners can make a real difference for the planet. From the surprising origins of Earth Day in 1970 to the staggering number of people who now participate around the world, this episode is pack...

In this fun and fast-moving second installment of "How Big Is It?" , Debbie and Laurie explore some of the biggest creatures in the natural world—from the world's largest vulture and giant hummingbird to the Komodo dragon , Goliath frog , capybara , and even a massive Australian sea snail . Along the way, they share surprising facts about size, habitat, diet, and behavior, with plenty of laughter...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're bringing back a timely favorite from last spring as an encore presentation packed with practical, eco-friendly garden advice. Debbie and Laurie revisit smart, natural solutions for some of the season's most common backyard headaches, including weeds, garden pests, and unwanted plant invaders. From weed control methods like solarization and hand-pulling...

What do you call the place an animal lives? In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie dive into the surprisingly fascinating world of animal homes. From bird nests and squirrel dreys to eagle aeries, bobcat dens, bird rookeries, and bee hives, they explore the wide variety of places wildlife builds, borrows, and calls home. Along the way, they share fun facts about everything...