The Wandering Naturalist
Episodes
Episode 172 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beetle - What's in a Name
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
David Pearson, Research Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, joins us to talk about how tiger beetle species were nam...
Episode 171 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beetle - The World's Fastest Insect
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wander with us as we burrow into the world of a creature that can run so fast it can't see where it is going, Tiger Beetles! Alex Harman, PhD student ...
Episode 170 - The Bug Balance - The Xerces Society
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Fultz, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist with Xerces Society, talks with us about the insects that help maintain a healthy garden, how y...
Episode 169 - The Bug Balance - Samurai Wasps
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jared Dyer, an entomology educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County New York wanders with us to discuss what Integrated Pest Managem...
Episode 168 - The Bug Balance - Farming Without Pesticide
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know Disney World doesn't use pesticides? If they don't need them, your garden doesn't either. Hope Flanagan, member of the Seneca Nation of I...
Episode 167 - Highway to the Nature Zone - MN DOT
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ken Graeve, Erosion & Stormwater Management Unit Supervisor, and Chris Smith, Wildlife Ecologist, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation join...
Episode 166 - Highway to the Nature Zone - Road Ecology
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Goldfarb, Environmental Journalist and author of such books as award winning, "Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter" ...
Episode 165 - Highway to the Nature Zone - The Need for Green
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brandon and Angela feel the need… the need for green, so they jump on the highway to the nature zone and explore what you can see as you drive to a ...
Episode 164 - Nature Fools - Myths of the Past
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our favorite historian is back to discuss the myths of the past! Why are beds really shorter in the 1800's? Were our parks untouched wilderness? Is Mi...
Episode 163 - Nature Fools - Nature Center Edition!
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Allie Gams Beeson and Brett Sieberer join us to discuss some of the common myths they hear at the nature centers they work at. From insects predicting...
Episode 162 - Nature Fools - Brandon and Angela's Favorite Myths
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brandon and Angela share some of the myths from their childhood they believed for years, then get into the meat of persistent nature myths. What's the...
Episode 161 – BONUS – Women and Wilderness – Breaking Trail
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join as aspiring winter backpacker and thru-hiker, Emily Ford, shares on the remarkable journey of being the first woman to thru-hike Wisconsin's 1,20...
Episode 160 - Women and Wilderness – Becoming an Outdoors Woman
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources program called Becoming an Outdoors Woman from its coordinator, Linda Bylander. Whether yo...
Episode 159 - Women and Wilderness – Outdoor Recreation
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Episode 158 - Women and Wilderness – Re-defining
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The relationship each of us creates and builds with wilderness is uniquely our own, but what is wilderness? Join with Angela and Brandon, featuring ...
Episode 157 - Black Bear, Black Bear Where Can You Live? - An Ojibwe Perspective
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Waasegiizhig Price, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) specialist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Odanah, Wiscon...
Episode 156 - Black Bear, Black Bear Where Can You Live? - Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Mexico
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Diana Doan-Crider, Director of Animo Partnership in Natural Resources, discusses the research she is doing on Black Bears in Mexico. She talks abo...
Episode 155 - Black Bear, Black Bear Where Can You Live? - Hennepin County!
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Tri, MN DNR Bear Project Leader & Forest Wildlife and Populations Research Group, joins us to discuss the biology of Black Bears in Minnesota, ho...
Episode 154: Snow Bugs - Antifreeze Chemistry
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Laurie Graham from Queen's University in Ontario Canada has spent 25 years studying antifreeze proteins. She talks about the evolutionary history ...
Episode 153: Snow Bugs - Bugs Below Zero Project
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 152: Snow Bugs - They're Super Cool
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 sur...
Episode 151: The Painted Duck - In Three Rivers Parks
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 yo...
Episode 150: The Painted Duck - A Conservation Story
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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, h...
Episode 149: The Painted Duck - Leaping into Wood Ducks
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 148: The Future of Conservation - There's an App for That
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Smith joins us to talk about an app he helped to create, HerpMapper. Designed to document reptiles and amphibians around the world, Chris explai...
Episode 147: The Future of Conservation - Who's a Good Conservationist?!
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breanne Black from Working Dogs for Conservation joins us to talk about conservation's best friend, dogs! Working Dogs for Conservation rescues dogs f...
Episode 146: The Future of Conservation - Drones, Monarchs, and Milkweed Oh My
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 145: The Art of the Wandering Naturalist
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In recognition of "International Artist Day" Angela and Brandon talk with artist Michelle Davis about her artistic process and how nature inspires the...
Episode 144: Minnesota's Other State Bird - Good Mosquitos?
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 143: Minnesota's Other State Bird - Mosquito Control District
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy Read from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District explains what the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is, how it evaluates when and wher...
Episode 142: Minnesota's Other State Bird - Mosquitos 101
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers Park District, joins us to discuss everyone's favorite insect, mosquitos! We discuss some basic...
Episode 141: Glowing Amphibians - The Salamanders of Minnesota
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Moriarty, author of the book "Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota" joins us to discuss the salamanders that live in Minnesota, how new species a...
Episode 140: Glowing Amphibians - Wait, They Glow?
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jennifer Lamb shares her recent discovery she made at St. Cloud State University about salamanders and other amphibians. They glow! Join us as Bra...
Episode 139: Glowing Amphibians - What is a Salamander?
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 salamander...
Episode 138: The Golden Forb - Gardening with Goldenrods
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do goldenrods make such great additions to gardens? What kind of goldenrods should you plant? Where should you plant your goldenrods? Bre Bauerly ...
Episode 137: The Golden Forb - The Misunderstood Club
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Often wrongly blamed for allergies, goldenrods are a misunderstood flower that are important for many different life stages of a misunderstood group o...
Episode 136: The Golden Forb - A Mini-Ecosystem
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 135: Migratory Bird Festival - Live - Audience Questions
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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!
Episode 134: Migratory Bird Festival - Live - A Cross Countries Partnership
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's our first Live Podcast! Wilmer Fernandez, board member of Audubon Minneapolis, joins us at the Migratory Bird Festival at Eastman Nature Center ...
Episode 133: The Comeback Bird - Analyzing Results
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ken Peterson, Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University joins us to discuss what it is like volunteering to monitor ospreys, and the re...
Episode 132: The Comeback Bird - Hacking the Reintroduction
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After their extirpation from Minnesota, it was estimated that it would take until 2030 to 2080 before Ospreys naturally made it back to the Twin Citie...
Episode 131: The Comeback Bird - Ospreys
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Wander with Angela and Brandon as they explore the unique adaptations of the Osprey. This bird is the penultimate fisher, with adaptations seen nowher...
Episode 130: Birds of Prey - Eagle Artifacts
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Howes, Natural Resource Manager of the Fond du Lac Reservation, joins us to discuss the rules that dictate how Native People can possess and us...
Episode 129: Birds of Prey - The Raptor Center
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lori Arent from The Raptor Center talks with us about the specialized care raptors need, and how The Raptor Center provides that. Learn about what a d...
Episode 128: Birds of Prey - Hawk Ridge
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Margie Menzies migrates (via Zoom) from Hawk Ridge to discuss what makes raptors unique, why Hawk Ridge near Duluth is one of the best raptor watching...
Episode 127: Birds Got Rhythm - Bioacoustics Conservation
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Connor Wood from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology talks about how he uses sounds in animal conservation despite being tone deaf. Using passive acoustic ...
Episode 126: Birds Got Rhythm - Surveys by Ear
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Hogg from Three Rivers Park District and Sam Safran, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Minnesota, join us to discuss how Three Rivers Park...
Episode 125: Birds Got Rhythm - It's All About the Syrinx
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Angela and Brandon as they explore how birds make the complex calls that both delight and sometimes aggravate at 4 in the morning. From the syrin...
Episode 124: A Synanthropic Companion - Purple Martin Care in the Park District
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Three dedicated volunteers from Three Rivers Park District discuss how they monitor and care for a purple martin colony, what they do if a storm blows...
Episode 123: A Synanthropic Companion - From Pennsylvania to Brazil
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does a motorized couch have to do with Purple Martins? Joe Siegrist, President and CEO of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, joins us to...
Episode 122: A Synanthropic Companion - Purple Martins
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Angela and Brandon discuss an animal that has become completely dependent on humans for housing, Purple Martins. Angela teaches Brandon about Purple M...
Episode 121: Song Dog - Urban Studies
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Geoff Miller, a PhD student working with the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project joins us to talk about the research he is doing to shed light on wh...
Episode 120: Song Dog - Managing with Coyotes
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Noland is a Land Manager with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He joins us to talk about land management with coyotes, the bene...
Episode 119: Song Dog - A Brief History of Coyotes
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Angela and Brandon explore the fascinating history of the largest predator in urban areas, coyotes. From it's plethora of names, to unique adaptations...
Episode 118: Fur Trade to Today - A Personal Story
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Quantina Beck-Jones joins us about her personal experiences in nature, from the time she was a kid to today. Nature has been important to her since sh...
Episode 117: Fur Trade to Today - Understanding Barriers to Park Access
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 116: Fur Trade to Today - The Bonga Legacy
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as Joel Brown, a professional historic interpreter, talks to us about the legacy of George Bonga and the rest of his family. One of the first ...
Episode 115: Bird is the Word – The Missing Winter Birds
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In January and the rest of our long winter, many of our Minnesota birds are not here...where do they go and what are they doing? To give us some per...
Episode 114: Bird is the Word - Dr. Sushma Reddy and Bird Evolution
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sushma Reddy, Bell Museum's Breckenridge Chair of Ornithology, discusses what it is like managing the Bell Museum's 46,000+ bird specimens, new ad...
Episode 113: Bird is the Word - Birding Before Minnesota was a State
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zack Mohlis from the Three Rivers History Team joins us to talk about the history of birding in Minnesota, why a state geologist led the research on b...
Episode 112: Bird is the Word - Introduction to BYOB
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kick off Season 4 as Brandon and Angela discuss what birding means to them, talk to Kim Nowicki of Eastman Nature Center and John Moriarty, Senior Man...
Episode 111: The Final Frontier - NASA Ambassador
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nadia Abuisnaineh is a NASA Solar System Ambassador. She joins us to talk about what a Solar System Ambassador is, why the night sky is so important, ...
Episode 110: The Final Frontier - A Native Perspective on the Night Sky
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We often think of Greek constellations when we look at the sky, but every culture had their own constellations and stories. James Knutson-Kolodzne and...
Episode 109: The Final Frontier - Lights at Night
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Heim has a Master's in the field of Cultural Astronomy. She joins us to discuss her Master's Thesis on light pollution, what causes it, and ho...
Episode 108: The Final Frontier - Animals at Night
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Angela and Brandon as they explore how the final frontier, space, impacts the animals in Three Rivers Parks. From moths orbiting the light outsid...
Episode 107: Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Colombia
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Raul Velaquez joins us to share his immigration story. Originally from Colombia, he came to Minnesota to study engineering. He now works for the Minne...
Episode 106: Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Croatia
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Dalma Martinovic immigrated to Minnesota from Croatia in 1996. Join us as she shares why she moved to Minnesota, her experiences here, and h...
Episode 105: Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Switzerland
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as Jayne Becker, from our history interpretation team, starts our conversation on neighbors by telling us about immigrants from Switzerland wh...
Episode 104: Removed from Nature, A Real Fear - The Only Thing to Fear is…Yourself?
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Grant Armour- Recreation Program Specialist from our Outdoor Recreation School talks to us about how the greatest threat in nature is ourselves. Grant...
Episode 103: Removed from Nature, A Real Fear - Fear in Our Parks?
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager, talks to us about whether we have anything to fear in our parks. We discuss what, if any animals pose threats ...
Episode 102: Removed from Nature, A Real Fear - A Historical Perspective
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Walker, Historical Programs Supervisor, joins us to give a European historical perspective on fear of nature. Why did early American settlers fea...
Episode 101: Fall Colors to Spring Buds - Maples and Climate Change
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Rachel Putnam joins us to talk about current research on climate change's impacts on forests in North America. She then talks about her own resear...
Episode 100: Fall Colors to Spring Buds - The Tree Nursery
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by Shawn Howard, Nursery Operations Supervisor, and Paul Kortebein, Senior Manager of Horticulture and Forestry to discuss how the park ...
Episode 99: Fall Colors to Spring Buds - What's Happening?
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Angela and Brandon as they discover that trees do more than just sleep during the winter. They discuss what causes fall colors, how the colors ...
Episode 98: Mussels Matter - A Trip to the Zoo
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Gilles from the Minnesota Zoo discusses the zoo's "Show Us Your Mussels Challenge", the work the zoo is doing to educate people about mussels, and...
Episode 97: Mussels Matter - Restoring Mussels
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Davis (MN DNR) and Olivia Poelmann (Graduate Student at Clemson SC) join us to talk about how the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are s...
Episode 96: Mussels Matter - What is a Mussel?
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Holzer from Mississippi Gateway Regional Park joins us to talk about what is a mussel, their unique life story (including interesting techniques ...
Episode 95: The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow - A Farmers Perspective
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jerry Jennissen's farmland includes the ditch that is the official start of the Crow River. Any action he takes on his farm has a direct impact on the...
Episode 94: The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow - Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Redlin, Manager of the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture talks about how it ...
Episode 93: The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow - Keeping it Clean
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we explore the third river in Three Rivers - The Crow. Dan Nadeu joins us from Wright Soil and Water Conservation District. He explains why...
Episode 92: Casting a Line - Fishing in Our Parks
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Park Service Assistant Thao Vang talks to us about fishing in Three Rivers Park District, how fishing has changed over time for Hmong culture in Minne...
Episode 91: Casting a Line - Local Fishing tips
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Sacco from Three River's Outdoor Recreation School and Janine Kohn from the Minnesota DNR drop us a line to go over fishing basics such as how to...
Episode 90: Casting a Line - Fish Habitats
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we dive under the water to explore fishing habitats with Brian Vlach, Water Resources Senior Manager at Three Rivers. Diverse aquatic hab...
Episode 89: Coffee for Birds – Minnesota Roasting
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The great coffee migration ends back in Minnesota where we talk to Anne Costello of Peace Coffee Company, a local Minnesota roaster. Anne discusses ho...
Episode 88: Coffee for Birds - Coffee Farmers' Perspectives
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we are joined by three coffee farmers to hear their perspective on farming everyone's favorite morning drink. Ashley Prentice in Guate...
Episode 87: Coffee for Birds - Supporting Local Communities
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Eastwood of Westrock Coffee Company joins us to talk about what it is like buying coffee from farmers, how the process can support local commun...
Episode 86: Coffee for Birds - What's a Bird Got to do With it?
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Birds and coffee have more in common than just hearing both early in the morning. Many of the migrating species that call Minnesota home in the summer...
Episode 85: Accessible Outdoors - Planning for Everyone
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three Rivers believes you belong here. Making sure that "You" applies to everyone is a continual job with a lot of work going on behind the scenes to ...
Episode 84: Accessible Outdoors - Adapted Programming
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three Rivers Park District wants everybody, of any abilities, to participate in programs and enjoy experiences in a natural resourced based park setti...
Episode 83: Accessible Outdoors - An AuSM Partnership
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us to discuss how Three Rivers Parks and The Autism Society of Minnesota have partnered to provide programing specifically designed for people wi...
Episode 82: Healing in Nature, Opt Outside
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Perspective from a retired biologist and current Three Rivers volunteer, Mike Sweet, shares his goal to get outdoors every day to enjoy the benefits o...
Episode 81: Healing in Nature, Soap for the Soul
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Silverwood Park of Three Rivers has an exciting first in Minnesota to share and Angela and Brandon immerse themselves in forest bathing with a certifi...
Episode 80: Healing in Nature, Get the Prescription
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Angela and Brandon from the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Brent A. Bauer shares the science behind parks and greenspaces improving both physical health and...
Episode 79: Nature of Love - The Language of Flowers
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we give roses on Valentine's day? It has something to do with the Language of Flowers. A tradition at least as old as Shakespeare where the flo...
Episode 78: Nature of Love - The Love Life of Plants
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wander through the Plant Kingdom as Missy Anderson, Propagation Specialist at Three Rivers Park District Nursery, joins us to discuss the love life of...
Episode 77: Nature of Love - "Weird" Mating Habits in the Animal World
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we give tribute to the most romantic month of the year by exploring the weird, at least to us, mating habits of the animal kingdom. From fl...
Episode 76: Landing into History - Modern Management
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to interpret a historic village? Cooperation between education and natural resource management. Join us as Bill Walker, Historical P...
Episode 75: Landing into History - Archeology
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we talk to Anne Ketz, co-founder of 106 Group, an archeology consultation group that has worked in and around The Landing-Minnesota River H...
Episode 74: Volunteering for at Risk and Vulnerable Species
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gain perspective from a Three Rivers volunteer, Allison Weyer, who is making a difference with a Minnesota threatened species the Blanding's turtle. ...
Episode 73: Protecting at Risk and Vulnerable Species
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The metropolitan Twin Cities area is home to more than half the citizens of Minnesota. Despite this factor wildlife is still diverse partly thanks t...