The Backyard Naturalists

As we welcome in 2026, Debbie and Laurie kick off the new year with a relaxed, behind-the-scenes conversation about nature, community, and what's ahead for The Backyard Naturalists . From skipping midnight celebrations to rethinking traditional New Year's resolutions, the discussion turns toward meaningful, nature-centered intentions, like reducing food waste, swapping non-native plants for native...

In this quick but eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a closer look at the Environmental Working Group's annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists —two rankings that help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables carry the highest (and lowest) pesticide residues. Whether you shop for your family, your backyard wildlife, or even your parrots (as both Debbie a...

In this eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie sit down with Benjy Strope , Private Lands Management Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission , to explore the sneaky, persistent, and surprisingly complex world of invasive plants . Inspired by Benjy's article "Quiet Invasives," this conversation gets right to the root of how invasive species spread...

In this festive episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie dig into a holiday-season debate that comes up year after year: Should you buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? The answer may surprise you and it definitely has more to do with nature, sustainability, and even family traditions than you might expect. Debbie and Laurie compare the environmental impacts, benefits, dr...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're revisiting a fan-favorite conversation with wildlife expert, naturalist, and author Stan Tekiela, a flock-level guest whose knowledge always leaves us wide-eyed and amazed. In this encore episode, Stan takes us on a deep dive into the remarkable world of animal adaptations , exploring how species survive, evolve, and thrive through millions of years of...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie welcome back "Flocker" and trusted friend of the show, Ruby Davis of NC Wildlife Rehab , for a rapid-fire myth-busting session about what to do when you encounter wildlife in your own backyard. From possums playing dead to raccoons out in the daytime, baby bunnies hidden in plain sight, fallen squirrel nests, mysterious fawns, mangy f...

In this encore presentation of The Backyard Naturalists , hosts Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne revisit one of the most important conversations of Season 2 — their discussion with Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at NC State University, about the invasive and destructive Spotted Lanternfly. This brightly colored but harmful insect has become a serious concern for North C...

Even the most dedicated backyard bird lovers sometimes run into trouble, empty feeders, spoiled seed, or disappearing birds. In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and producer Chris roll up their sleeves to help listeners troubleshoot their bird-feeding setups. From moldy seed and filler-heavy mixes to misplaced feeders and seasonal slowdowns, they cover the small details...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're revisiting one of our most popular and seasonally fitting episodes, "We're Talkin' About Pumpkins!" Originally aired in October 2021, this encore favorite is the perfect listen for fall. Join Debbie and Laurie as they explore the fascinating world of pumpkins, from surprising agricultural facts and record-breaking gourds to their valuable role in suppo...

In this week's episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take listeners on a fascinating update tour of several topics previously featured on the show, all of which continue to evolve in the natural world. From hopeful signs of recovery to growing ecological concerns, this episode is packed with new developments and ways for citizen scientists to get involved. You'll hear encouraging...

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...

If you've ever dreamed of turning your backyard (or even your balcony!) into a haven for butterflies, this episode is for you. Debbie and Laurie welcome Pamela Grundy — historian, writer, and passionate butterfly gardener from Charlotte, North Carolina — to share her journey into creating thriving butterfly gardens and inspiring others to do the same. Pamela explains the simple but powerful differ...

The Backyard Naturalists are back for Season 5! In this special anniversary episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris take a fun walk down memory lane to celebrate over four years, 200+ episodes, and more than 106,000 listens across all 50 U.S. states and 137 countries. From their very first kitchen table recording during COVID to becoming a Saturday morning routine for listeners around the world, the te...

🕷️ What's big, colorful, and showing up in backyards across the Southeast? Debbie and Laurie are diving into the world of Joro spiders, and trust us, this is one episode you won't want to miss! From their eye-popping golden webs to their wild habit of "ballooning" through the air as babies, these spiders are making quite an entrance in the Carolinas (and beyond). Are Joro spiders scary invaders, o...

In this episode, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Kristen Rhodes , an organizer with the North Carolina Conservation Network (NCCN) , to explore the power of grassroots action in protecting our state's environment. Kristen introduces NCCN as a statewide network of more than 60 environmental and justice organizations , all working collaboratively to safeguard North Carolina's natural resources and p...

This week, Debbie and Laurie welcome Ben Pfeiffer , founder of Firefly Conservation and Research , for a glowing conversation all about one of nature's most magical creatures — the firefly! ✨🐞 Or, depending on where you grew up, the lightning bug. Ben shares his passion and deep knowledge of these enchanting insects, explaining why firefly populations are declining, how development and habitat l...

Ever heard of a shrew with venomous saliva, a vulture that cools off by pooping on its own legs, or a bird that impales its prey on barbed wire? 🦨🦅🐦 This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris take you on a wild ride through some of the strangest, funniest, and downright bizarre behaviors in the animal kingdom. You'll hear jaw-dropping stories like: Shrews that paralyze th...

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 hottest...

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, c...

Welcome back, nature lovers! After a few weeks of summer break, The Backyard Naturalists are back with another brand-new episode, and this one's all about embracing the spontaneity that summer inspires. In this week's episode, Debbie , Laurie , and Chris settle in for another unscripted (and unplanned) conversation that meanders through the joys and challenges of late summer in the Carolinas. From...

What do you get when you cross a fast-growing, hard-to-kill, concrete-cracking plant with curious naturalists and a microphone? You get this week's brand-new episode of The Backyard Naturalists ! Debbie and Laurie are back and diving into the wild, weird world of Japanese knotweed—also known as "the plant that ate the world." It's not every day a plant earns a reputation as one of the most invasiv...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're diving nose-first into the world of foxes with Elizabeth Negron, Director of Foxtales Wildlife Rehab in Midland, Virginia. Elizabeth shares her journey from Washington State to the East Coast, driven by her lifelong fascination with foxes. She offers incredible insights into their behavior, biology, diet, and the important role they play in our environ...

We're reaching back to one of our most popular episodes for this week's encore—and trust us, it's a fan favorite for a reason! If squirrels have ever turned your bird feeders into their personal buffet, this one's for you. Debbie and Lori are joined by Tatiana Thompson of Brome Bird Care , makers of the innovative Squirrel Buster bird feeders. Broadcasting all the way from snowy Quebec, Tatiana sh...

Have you ever wondered what's really going on with the skunks in your backyard? 🦨 In this fascinating encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , hosts Debbie and Laurie sit down once again with fan-favorite Ruby Davis for a deep dive into one of nature's most misunderstood creatures. Ruby brings her signature blend of expertise and storytelling to the conversation, helping us explore skunk beha...

It's pollinator season in full swing, and what better way to celebrate than by rolling out the red carpet for butterflies? In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie share practical, inspiring ways to support these winged wonders — starting with host plants . From milkweed for monarchs to passionflower for Gulf fritillaries, you'll learn how simple choices in your garde...