Dispatches from the Forest
Episodes
Episode 116: Ptarmigan
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ptarmigan are birds that live in the arctic and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. And they are well adapted to life in the cold! Learn...
Dirt Dispatch #44
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elk tusks and Peapod the pocket squirrel. I mean really, what more do I have to say to get you to listen to this Dirt Dispatch?  Support the podca...
Episode 115: Let it Snow (Leopards)!
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Snow leopards are built to live in cold, high altitude environments. They're also one of the most elusive predators on the planet. Do they really ...
Dirt Dispatch #43
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are the Great horned owls so vocal this time of year and are raccoons really becoming domesticated? Find out on this Dirt Dispatch!  Support t...
Episode 114: Turkeys 2: Tom's Revenge
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been 4 years since I first talked about wild turkeys - but in honor of American Thanksgiving we're revisiting this delicious upland game bird. ...
Dirt Dispatch #42
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what cool observations I've made recently, the world's largest spider web is discovered (not by me though!) and a couple social media rants! ...
Episode 113: Off-Track Betta-ing
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to Dawn for this listener-requested topic: Siamese Fighting Fish, A.K.A. Bettas. This ubiquitous pet store fish is one of the most popular aq...
Dirt Dispatch #41
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are seasons that are defined by the rising and setting of the sun, and seasons that are defined by which invertebrates are invading my house. ...
Episode 112: Not So Itsy-Bitsy Spiders
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're capping off Spooky Season by learning about some of the biggest spiders in the world! No tricks, just treats!  You know what would be a trea...
Dirt Dispatch #40
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm not social media savvy, but a video I posted on TikTok and Instagram of a pair of owls being mobbed by crows got really popular! Yay! On this ...
Episode 111: Aye Aye Captain
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We'll continue on the theme of "creepy" animals with a look at the Aye-aye and the Vampire Squid. How are they creepy? Well, I guess if you want t...
Dirt Dispatch #39
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My thoughts on being outside in the dark, and what the data says about the impact of wolves on deer populations. Check it out!  Support the podcas...
Episode 110: Where There's a Will...A Whip-poor-will
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's finally "spooky season"! So let's talk about things that lurk in the dark. Because we humans are not afraid of the dark, per se, but of the t...
Dirt Dispatch #38
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My stance on the use of A.I. as it relates to the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast, and one of my favorite things ever - the singing of coyotes in r...
Episode 109: Swallowtail Butterflies
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The largest butterflies in the world are species of Swallowtail butterflies. Learn more about these big, beautiful members of Lepidoptera on this ep...
Episode 108: Burying Beetles - Crypt Keepers of the Insect World
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seldom seen but working hard to help clean up dead stuff, carrion beetles are fascinating insects. And even among carrion beetles, burying beetles a...
Dirt Dispatch #36
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode I tell you all about the Belted Kingfisher. A mohawk sporting punk rocker of a bird that lives near calm waters across the U.S. and ...
Episode 107: Cormorant-o-Rama
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Double-crested Cormorant is a diving bird that's widespread across North America. If you've spent any time near water you've probably seen one, ...
Dirt Dispatch #35
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does wildlife survive extreme weather and a whole bunch of animal observations on this Dirt Dispatch!  Support the Podcast! Become a Patron! ...
Episode 106: Koala Kapers
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When George Perry published the first image of a koala in his 1810 natural history work Arcana, he wrote, “…they have little either in their chara...
Dirt Dispatch #34
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The world's largest wildlife crossing is nearing completion not too far from Dispatches HQ and a couple of really cool insects that I saw this week. ...
Episode 105: The Panda Files
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are two animals that are called, at least in English, "Pandas" - the Red Panda and the Giant Panda (aka "Panda Bear"). But other than sharing ...
Dirt Dispatch #33
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is an abundance of wildflowers in bloom here around Dispatches HQ - learn about some of these plants and how they were traditionally used on thi...
Episode 104: Leaping Lemurs Batman!
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lemurs are kind of a zoo staple, but how much do you know about them beyond that they're super cute? Well learn all about these adorable primates on...
Dirt Dispatch #32
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's baby season here at Dispatches HQ! In this dispatch I'll tell you about predator satiation strategies and the plants and animals that employ th...
Episode 103: Pretty in Pink (Flamingoes)
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I went to the zoo last week and saw a bunch of stuff - including flamingoes! Other than being pink what else do you know about these brightly colore...
Dirt Dispatch #31
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My nature observations of the week, a plea for using humane methods to get mice out of your house, and an addendum to the last episode of the Dispatch...
Episode 102: Aquatic Insects
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Water striders and predacious diving beetles are found in almost every aquatic habitat in the world. In seasonal wetlands they seem to appear like m...
Dirt Dispatch #30
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Birds sometimes nest in strange places - but maybe they know what they're doing. Also the magic of seasonal wetlands. Tune in to get all the detai...
Episode 101: Weirdos: Pangolins and Echidnas
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode I'll tell you about a couple of strange critters that share some similarities but are not closely related. One of them has a 4 heade...
Dirt Dispatch #29
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some people just seem to hate wildlife? Well, I've been giving it some thought and I've got some ideas. Find out what I'm thinking on this ...
Episode 100: Mighty Morphin' Mustelids
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
100th Episode? How is that possible? Learn about some more mustelids: mink, ermine and long tailed weasels. How are they different? How are th...
Dirt Dispatch #28
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some really cool and unusual wildlife sightings this week! Plus porcupines as a rabies vector and the "alarming" rate at which they reproduce. Tune ...
Episode 99: The Tale of Black Bart & Old West Misconceptions
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're heading back to the Old West, because the portrayals of nature in most movies and TV shows set in that era tends to be....well, misleading. Lear...
Dirt Dispatch #27
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wyoming wildflowers are in bloom and an unusual mustelid sighting! Find out what I've been seeing this week!  Support the Podcast with a donation!...
Episode 98: Release the Kraken
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cephalopods! If they had a longer lifespan and a way to pass on generational knowledge they'd rule the planet! Learn more about these amazing inve...
Dirt Dispatch #26
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is in the air! Western Meadowlarks, Turkey Vultures and Kestrels! Plus I talk about heat lightning. Learn more about all of these things ...
Episode 97: Muskrat Love
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nutria and muskrats are often mistaken for beavers, but once you get to know them, it's easy to tell these semi-aquatic rodents apart. Get to know n...
Dirt Dispatch #25
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is here (at least according to the calendar) and even if we're still getting snow, the signs of spring are all around: Northern Flickers, Mount...
Episode 96: Nobody Here but Us Chickens
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's springtime feral friends - at least by the calendar - and that means it's Prairie Chicken mating season! Learn about these amazing birds - whos...
Dirt Dispatch #24
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you're in the right place, at the right time, and the universe gives you a gift.  Support the podcast by becoming a patron! www.patreon....
Episode 95: Spineless Superheroes
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to a listener request, this episode is all about earthworms! There are over 6000 species of earthworm and they come in a wide range of sizes ...
Dirt Dispatch #23
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nothing says "I love you" like bringing home a dead squirrel, Phenology and how to tell the difference between a crow and a raven. Check it all out ...
Episode 94: SHARK!
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's shark week - well, at least here at Dispatches from the Forest. We don't have sharks here in Wyoming, but sharks found in all of the world's oc...
Dirt Dispatch #22
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bald Eagles, Moose and the importance of community science. Find out what I've been up to the last couple weeks on this episode!
Episode 93: Chicka-dee-dee-dees and Nuthatches
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're going to look at a couple of birds that are frequent visitors to bird feeders - especially in the winter. One of which is, according to ...
Dirt Dispatch #21
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deer antlers, Pronghorns horns and coyote tracks. Also: don't forget to register for the first Final Feral Friday Webinar coming up on January 31st ...
Episode 92: Llama Drama
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Llamas and Alpacas have a long history with humans.  They were domesticated 5-6000 years ago. But their wild ancestors still roam South America, ...
Dirt Dispatch #20
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Winter weather has finally come to Dispatches HQ. I tell you one of my favorite things about being outside after a light snow. I saw some birds th...
Episode 91: Let it Snow-y Plover
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy 2025! In honor of winter weather I'm going to tell you about a bird that, well, at least has "snow" in it's name: The Snowy Plover. I'll also ...
Dirt Dispatch #19
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! In this dispatch: my final observations of 2024 and goals for 2025. Support the podcast in the new year! Become a patron: www.patr...
Episode 90: The Gift of the Lost Episode
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Holidays feral friends! For this special episode I give you the gift of the "lost" episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast. Truly ...
Dirt Dispatch #18
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy winter solstice (for my Northern Hemisphere listeners) and summer solstice (for those of you down under!). I share my solstice tradition and t...
Episode 89: Pigeon Holed
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pigeons have become a fixture of cities - but why? Well it turns out that pigeons and humans have been intertwined for thousands of years. And the...
Dirt Dispatch #17
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clark's Nutcrackers - an amazing member of the Corvid family that can cache up to 98,000 pine nuts per season, and did the City of Chicago release coy...
Episode 88: Cleaning out the Junk Drawer
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I tell you about two unrelated things - one is a plant, one is a bird - both are interesting but neither is enough for a full episode ...
Dirt Dispatch #16
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Dirt Dispatches: It's a small world, letting nature sooth you, and a bunch of critter sightings. Check it out!  Support the podcas...
Episode 87: A Flock of Seagulls
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You've seen em' at the seashore, you've seen em' at the lakeshore, heck you've probably seen em' in the parking lot of the big box store. Seagulls a...
Dirt Dispatch #15
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grizzly 399, the cautionary tale of P'Nut the squirrel and the importance of licensed rehabbers and 3 common social media comments that need to be ret...
Episode 86: The Mysterious Mothman
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gather round feral friends and in honor of Halloween, let's dim the lights and tell spooky stories about the creepy cryptid with glowing red eyes know...
Dirt Dispatch #14
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A reminder to check those amazing facts you see on social media to make sure they're actually true, and the surprisingly tender mating ritual of prong...
Episode 85: House Spiders
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's spooky season feral friends! So to honor that we're taking a look at some critters that go with Halloween like peanut butter goes with jelly: s...
Dirt Dispatch #13
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Recovering from surgery has kept me in the house the last week or so, but I've got owls, orb weavers (or rather a lack of orb weavers) and book recomm...
Episode 84: The Grebe-y Jeebies
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Before we get too deep into "Spooky Season" let's take a break from creepy crawlies and return to the world of birds. Grebes are a diving bird with ...
Dirt Dispatch #12
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Fall to my Northern Hemisphere listeners - Happy Spring to the New Zealanders and anyone else in the Southern Hemisphere! In this Dispatch: Fa...
Episode 83: Ain't no Hopper Like a Grasshopper
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grasshoppers have been around for 250 million years. They're so common that we kind of take them for granted. But what do you really KNOW about gr...
Dirt Dispatch #11
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's been happening here at Dispatches HQ? It's starting to feel like fall - a brief pelican update, coyotes playing the long con, cat-faced orb w...
Episode 82: Not the Mothman, but Moths, Man
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last episode I talked about butterflies, this episode is about moths. How are they different from butterflies? How are they the same? I'll also ...
Dirt Dispatch #10
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An addendum to Episode 81 (Butterfly Royalty) regarding Monarch butterfly conservation, the Swainson's hawks are back in town, and a couple of corvid ...
Episode 81: Butterfly Royalty
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Monarchs and milkweed go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. Viceroy butterflies look an awful lot like monarchs. Learn more about these beauti...
Dirt Dispatch #9
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scorpion hunting and ball moss in San Antonio, TX plus Katarina receives a gentleman caller. Find out what I've been up to for the last couple weeks...
Episode 80: Taking the Sting out of Scorpions
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another arachnid that's not a spider - but this one is not likely to be mistaken for a spider like Solifuges and Harvestmen! Learn more about scorpi...
Dirt Dispatch #8
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The final pelican update of the summer (unless they surprise me!), the rules of collecting roadkill and a really big kitty that I (sadly) couldn't bri...
Episode 79: Arachnids (But NOT Spiders)
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
All spiders are arachnids, but not all arachnids are spiders. Learn more about a couple of these non-spider arachnids - what makes them similar? W...
Dirt Dispatch #7
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do wolves decimate deer populations or is the survival of deer fawns just low no matter what? And meet the Solifuge aka Camel Spider, Sun Spider or ...
Episode 78: Trash Pandas
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
By listener request I'm talking about those dumpster diving little bandits: raccoons! Do they really wash their hands or their food? Find out the ...
Dirt Dispatch #6
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pelican update, pronghorn babies and a long-tailed weasel! Hear what I've been up to and what I've been seeing here at Dispatches HQ!  Become a pa...
Episode 77: A.C.M.E.: All Coyote Myths Exposed!
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Coyotes are one of the largest predators most of us are likely to encounter. They're also one of the most misunderstood animals around. Join me as...
Dirt Dispatch #5
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pelicans, Pronghorn and the prodigious Miller moths. Check out the happenings here at Dispatches HQ!  Support the podcast by becoming a Patron! ...
Episode 76: Award-worthy Avian Actors
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a little shorter than normal since it was a busy week here at Dispatches HQ, but I want to introduce you to two birds who could win aw...
Dirt Dispatch #4
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pelican update, more coyotes, moth season and a thorn pig sighting! Tune in to see what I've been up to!  Patreon: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromthe...
Episode 75: Cicadas Revisted
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This year we're witnessing an event that hasn't happened since 1803 - when Thomas Jefferson was president. The dual emergence of a 13 year species o...
Dirt Dispatch #3
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pelican update, coyotes out during the daytime, a possible crow's nest and becoming a Certified Interpretive Guide.   Become patron to support th...
Episode 74: Hissy Fits 2: The Ssssssequel
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about some snakes native to Wyoming: The Prairie Rattlesnake, the Midget Faded Rattlesnake and Bull Snake - and why misinformation and not readi...
Dirt Dispatch #2
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this dispatch I'll give you a Pelican update, share "who" I heard the other day and tell you what I learned about Turkey Vultures in the state of W...
Episode 73: Please Turn Off the Lights!
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about air pollution and water pollution, but what about light pollution? I mean, it's not real pollution right?  It's just an inco...
Dirt Dispatch #1
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Dirt Dispatch #1! These are designed to be short and informal - a place for me to talk about what nature-related shenanigans I've been up...
Episode 72: The Scoop on Pelicans
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A wonderful bird is the Pelican, Its bill can hold more than his belican It can take in its beak Enough food for a week But damned if I know how the h...
Episode 71: The Meadowlark has Sung
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Red-winged Blackbirds and Meadowlarks are both very vocal, both migratory in my area, and both members of the Icteridae family. In this episode we'l...
Episode 70: Leaping Lagomorphs!
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is here! (At least in the Northern Hemisphere). A time celebrated by many cultures as a time of rebirth and renewal. Rabbits are often a ...
Episode 69: The Cranes of North America
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are 15 species of crane worldwide, but only 2 are native to North America: The Sandhill Crane and the Whooping Crane. The Sandhill Crane's spr...
Episode 68: Magpies - the Smartest of the Pies
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Magpies are one of the smartest animals on the planet - they make tools, play and hold "funerals" for their dead. Learn more about this amazing memb...
Episode 67 Nature News Updates
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Several stories hit the news recently that relate - either directly or indirectly - to things I've talked about in the last few episodes of this podca...
Episode 66: What would Snow White Say? Lemmings and Snowy Owls
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lemmings are another small, artic tundra dwelling mammal - and they have a very interesting relationship with Snowy Owls. Learn more about both - an...
Episode 65: Moles and Voles and Shrews (Oh My!)
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last episode I told you about a "Golden Mole" which, as it turns out, is not actually a mole. So what IS a mole? And what's the difference between...
Episode 64: 2023 Nature News Roundup
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We finish off 2023 by looking at some of the notable news from the past year, including new species discovered, old species re-discovered and species ...
Episode 63: Wolverines!
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm talking about more mustelids! You've probably heard of a wolverine - whether it's the superhero or the University of Michigan mascot - but...
Episode 62: Mustang Sally
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Wild Horses" aka Mustangs in America are a surprisingly complex and controversial issue. Ride along as we explore the history of horses in North Am...
Episode 61: Timberdoodles
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Timberdoodle, Labrador Twister, Bogsucker, Hokumpoke and Fiddle Squeak are just a few of the nicknames for a gamebird whose real name is the American ...
Episode 60: Loony Tunes
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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? Dis...