The Wandering Naturalist

Engaging with the outdoors can take many forms, from hiking to skiing to kayaking, but barriers can create hesitation or doubt of your own abilities.  Learn from guest, Allie Dart, Recreation Program Specialist at Three Rivers, on local opportunities for fem friendly programs, what makes them supportive, and why they are important.    

The relationship each of us creates and builds with wilderness is uniquely our own, but what is wilderness?  Join with Angela and Brandon, featuring special co-host Sara Gaines, as they take on the deeper definition and what it means to our guest, Ebba  Safverblad -Nelson who is currently living in Sweden.  A worldly perspective around outdoor recreation.    

Michael Waasegiizhig Price, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) specialist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Odanah, Wisconsin, joins us to give his perspective on what Black Bears mean to his Ojibwe Culture and how Ojibwe words and perspectives reframe how the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission manage wildlife compared to the western philosophy of most stat...

Dr. Diana Doan-Crider, Director of Animo Partnership in Natural Resources, discusses the research she is doing on Black Bears in Mexico. She talks about how she started her project with a traditional western science mindset,  how she started including Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the way TEK helped her project succeed.  

Andy Tri, MN DNR Bear Project Leader & Forest Wildlife and Populations Research Group, joins us to discuss the biology of Black Bears in Minnesota, how they are researched, and resources to help us be good neighbors to bears. John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers, talks to us about the Black Bears living at Elm Creek Park Reserve.  

Dr. Laurie Graham from Queen's University in Ontario Canada has spent 25 years studying antifreeze proteins. She talks about the evolutionary history of anti-freeze proteins, what life is like in a lab, and how you study creatures that are only 1 mm long.  

Dr. Rebecca Swenson and Dr. Corrie Nyquist join us from the University of Minnesota to talk about Minnesota's Bugs Below Zero project. We discuss some Minnesota specific winter active insects, why they are important and how you can help the University of Minnesota study them in a Citizen Science Project.  

We thought winter was safe! We were wrong… Brandon and Angela dive into the world of snow bugs, uh, we mean arthropods, to discover how they can survive and thrive on the snow.  Dr. Brent Sinclair, a professor in the Biology Department at Western University in Canada shares his research on how insects, spiders, and more can live and move over the snow.  

Steven Hogg, Wildlife Supervisor for Three Rivers, talks about the Wood Duck program's history in our parks, what has made it successful, and where you can find these ducks in our parks.

Greg Hoch, author of the book   With Wings Extended: A Leap into a Wood Duck's World . Joins us to talk about the history of Wood Duck conservation, how people can help Wood Ducks even if they don't live by water, and how Wood Ducks were an inspiration  for aircraft carriers in World War 1.

Jeff Bahls from the National Wood Duck Society joins us to explore the fascinating world of Wood Ducks. How far of a fall can a baby Wood Duck survive? Where do they go in the winter? Why are we talking about Wood Ducks in December? Listen to find out! 

Chris Smith joins us to talk about an app he helped to create, HerpMapper. Designed to document reptiles and amphibians around the world, Chris explains the features that make it safe for the animals being documented and how the app helps conservation.   

Breanne Black from Working Dogs for Conservation joins us to talk about conservation's best friend, dogs! Working Dogs for Conservation rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to perform conservation work. Whether it is searching for bumblebee nests, keeping habitats safe from invasive species,  protecting rare animals from poachers, or other jobs, dogs have unique traits that help them accompl...

Wander with us as we explore next and exciting tools being used by scientists in the field of conservation! Wendy Caldwell from Monarch Joint Venture joins us to discuss how drones and remote sensing are becoming an important tool for monarch conservation.  

In recognition of "International Artist Day" Angela and Brandon talk with artist Michelle Davis about her artistic process and how nature inspires the wonderful illustrations she creates for the podcast.

Dr. Dan Peach, "Dan the Mosquito Man", joins us to talk about his research on mosquitos, and what he calls the secret life of mosquitos. He shares the benefits that mosquitos bring to an ecosystem and why we should think twice before trying to squash one.  

Nancy Read from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District explains what the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is, how it evaluates when and where mosquitos need to be controlled, and what methods they use.  

John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers Park District, joins us to discuss everyone's favorite insect, mosquitos! We discuss some basic mosquito biology, why some mosquitos drink blood, and what Three Rivers Park District's policy is on mosquito control.  

John Moriarty, author of the book "Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota" joins us to discuss the salamanders that live in Minnesota, how new species are discovered, and the unique life strategy that several of Minnesota's salamanders have.  

Dr. Jennifer Lamb shares her recent discovery she made at St. Cloud State University about salamanders and other amphibians. They glow! Join us as Brandon and Angela geek out over the research and get to discover similar office decorations that Brandon and Dr. Lamb have.  

What is a salamander? Why did a famous animated movie use a folklore of salamanders and fire instead of deciding to just let it go? How are salamanders impacting human health care? Find out as Brandon and Angela explore the double lives of salamanders.  

Why do goldenrods make such great additions to gardens? What kind of goldenrods should you plant? Where should you plant your goldenrods? Bre Bauerly from Minnesota Native Landscapes joins us to answer all of your goldenrod gardening questions.

Often wrongly blamed for allergies, goldenrods are a misunderstood flower that are important for many different life stages of a misunderstood group of animals, wasps. Biologist and author Heather Holm wanders with us to explore the connections and dispel the misunderstandings for both goldenrods and wasps.

Wander with Angela and Brandon as they dive head first into botany by exploring patches of goldenrods. Larry Weber, author of the Book "In a Patch of Goldenrod" joins us to discuss the mini-ecosystems these yellow fall flowers create.

In part two of our Live Podcast we answer audience questions! Do birds go through puberty? What is the meaning of life? Listen and find out!