Dispatches from the Forest

Timberdoodle, Labrador Twister, Bogsucker, Hokumpoke and Fiddle Squeak are just a few of the nicknames for a gamebird whose real name is the American Woodcock.  They aren't flashy, but Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks would be proud.  Learn more on this episode!   Patreon: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Merch Store: cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   PayPal/Email:  Dispatchesfrom...

Common loons are anything but common - unless you count their drab winter plumage, but HEY - who among us DOESN'T look a bit drab in the winter?  Discounting their winter look, they are amazing birds - divers who carry their chicks on their backs and whose calls are among my list of "Top 10 sounds of Wilderness".  Learn all about the common loon on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Po...

Otters are arguably some of the cutest members of the Mustelid, or Weasel, family.  Learn about North America's two native otter species: Sea otters and River otters on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!   Check out our Patreon!  Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Check out our Merch Store!  Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Send us an email or PayPal a donation!  Dis...

In our continuing celebration of hitting 10k downloads I give you some of the best from 2022!  Turtle Rabbits, Thorn Pigs, Iron Snails, Foxes, Mantis Shrimp and much more!   If you've already heard those episodes hopefully this will remind you of some cool stuff - and if you haven't listened to those episodes hopefully it will inspire you to go back and learn more!  Next episode will be all about...

In celebration of passing 10,000 downloads we're going back to the beginning and recapping the first 12 episodes.  Hear some of my favorite facts from those episodes.  If you listened to those already, I'll bet I can make you go "oh yeah - I forgot about that!" at least once.  If you didn't listen to those, hopefully it will make you want to!  Either way - thank YOU for listening and helping me re...

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of my favorite places - and someday will be the permanent home of Dispatches from the Forest World Headquarters.  Learn more about this region that was once described as a "sterile region on the shores of Lake Superior destined by soil and climate to remain forever a wilderness." (Please note: this episode was recorded outside so enjoy the background commenta...

Inspired by being back in prairie dog country we're taking a look at some animals that tend to live in close proximity to them, and in some cases, depend on them for their very survival.  Learn about the decorating prowess of burrowing owls, how Shep the ranch dog helped save black footed ferrets from extinction and the amazing partnership that badgers are known to form with another predator.  All...

Common Grackles and Brown Headed Cowbirds are two birds that don't get a lot of love.  They're not brightly colored, they don't have pretty songs and they do some things that many humans don't like.  But to be fair, judging them against human standards is unfair, and these birds are actually pretty darn interesting!  Listen and learn why you, "never go against the family."   Patreon: Patreon.com/D...

The C&O Canal stretches 185 miles from Washinton DC to Cumberland, MD.  Built 200 years ago and abandoned nearly 100 years ago, the canal as it exists today is a 185 mile wetland that provides habitat for many species of wildlife.  Learn more about the history of the canal and 3 species of heron that live there on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!   Check out our Patreon...

By special request we're going in-depth to learn more about tree frogs.  Some can change color, some have super-jumping power and some don't live in trees at all.  Learn more on this episode!   Check out the merch store!  Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Check out our Patreon!  Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   PayPal/Email Address:  Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com

Let's head back down to the tropics and I'll tell you about some of the other wildlife we saw on our trip to Costa Rica!  Leaf cutter ants, hermit crabs and howler monkeys!   Check out the Merch store!  Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Become a patron!  Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   PayPal/Email:  Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com

The Nature Nerd family got to spend a little time in the cloud forest of Costa Rica.  Two of the animals we saw - the Central American Agouti and the White-nose Coati - are familiar sights...if you live in Costa Rica.  But for us, they were exciting and new.  Learn more about these two animals on this episode!   Want to support the show?  Here's how: Consider becoming a patron!  Patreon.com/dispat...

With Memorial Day Weekend just passed summer has officially started - that means picnics and picnics mean ants - but did you know that ants have superpowers?  Or that they can become zombie?  Or that they take prisoners?  Learn all about these amazing insects on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!   Check out our merch store:  cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Check out o...

In what may have been the first negative Yelp review in history, Ben Franklin said that the Bald Eagle had "bad moral character" and called it a "rank coward".  "1 out of 5 stars: do not recommend".  Ok maybe not that last one but still....This mostly had to do with the interaction between Bald Eagles and Osprey.  Learn more about these two birds of prey in this episode!   Check out our Merch stor...

Truth be told, I don't much care for Ticks, but I have to admit that they ARE pretty interesting when you get to know them.  Learn more about these vampiric little arachnids in this episode of the podcast!   Follow us on FaceBook, Instagram and Tik Tok - and coming soon to YouTube!   Check out our merch store at cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Check out our Patreon at Patreon.com/dispatche...

Snakes get a lot of hate - either because people are afraid of them or because they think they're creepy or icky.  But just 7% of the 600 or so species of snake in the world have "medically significant" venom. Most snakes you are likely to encounter are harmless - especially if you just leave them alone.  So let's learn about some of North America's more common "non-venomous" snakes!   Check out o...

Snot Otter is my favorite nickname for salamanders.  There are over 700 species worldwide, and if there is a common theme to unite them, it's "variability".  These wacky amphibians range in size from an inch to over 6 feet, they can regrow limbs and some are poisonous if you eat them (Don't eat them.)  Learn more on this episode!   Check out our Patreon at Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Che...

Meet the largest species of deer in North America:  The Elk and the Moose - although in other parts of the world, Moose are called Elk, and Elk are called deer - it's all very confusing - but you can find out how all this confusion came about by listening to this episode!   Get yourself some Dispatches from the Forest Merch - it's OK to get it dirty!  Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest   Check...

You ever feel like you're just bashing your head against a wall?  Well, if you were a woodpecker, you'd do that all the time!  But since you're not a woodpecker, doing that will hurt - a lot!  Learn about how these head banging birds avoid long term memory loss in this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest podcast.   Check out our merch store at Cafepress.com/Dispatchesfromtheforest   Check ou...

Prairie dogs are a keystone species of the Great Plains, and as it turns out, they are AMAZING!  You may have FaceBook drama, but Prairie Dog social networking is almost as bad - and they have one of the most complicated vocal repertoires of any animal.  Take a look UNDER the prairie and learn more on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!   Check out our new merch store!  Cafepre...

"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play..."  But there were not actually buffalo or antelope roaming or playing.  You can learn more about bison and pronghorn - the ones that were roaming and playing with the deer on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! Also, we now have merch!  Check out our merch store at Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromthefor...

What's black and white and red all over?  A penguin with a sunburn!  Learn more about these flightless fowl of the south on this week's episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!   To support future episodes please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest.  Individual donations are also accepted via PayPal at Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com.

Sea turtles are amazing creatures!  The largest species, the Leatherback Sea Turtle can grow to be over 1000 pounds.  Learn more about these ocean-dwelling reptiles on this episode!

I know plenty of people that would hibernate through the winter if they could.  For the last episode of the year, we take a closer look at those iconic hibernators (or are they?) black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and all the rest, but do you know all the amazing features that make Reindeer the perfect animal to pull Santa's sleigh?  Learn all about these amazing and unique members of the deer family!