Critter Chat

American Black Bears

Over centuries, humans followed mammals like bear and caribou from Siberia into North America and back again to Asia and Europe several times. Our ancient myths cast bear

Celebrating Cliff Swallows

As one of the first North American birds to be described in our history books, the Cliff Swallow has something to teach us about adaptability and resilience. Migrating to

Consider The Courteous Rattlesnake

Humans have evolved alongside snakes since our earliest existence. From then to Eve’s story and countless myths, snakes have created mystery, fear and folklore within our

The Gifts of the Caddisfly

Why is the Caddisfly a favorite of some nature lovers? Is it their clever engineering of silk? Their essential role as stream garbage cleaners? Maybe it’s the artistic ho

Wildlife Babies Amongst Us

With Spring comes wildlife emergencies anew. Unfortunately, it's us humans who are often the cause of these emergencies. In this episode, we are pleased to welcome two gu

Jumping Spiders

What is it about Jumping spiders that have people intrigued? Is it their big beguiling eyes that look back at you, or their furry bodies? The entertaining way they stand

Thinking Raccoons

Rocky Raccoon stars in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, a scrappy, genius, tinkering with tools to solve problems of the universe. It’s not surprising that our raccoon n

Nature Poetry

Our guest is acclaimed poet Una Kobrin, author of Words Between Darkness & Light, who will share some of her poems about stags, crickets, cows and hummingbirds to give us

The Rain Beetle

With the rainy season upon us in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a critter emerges to look for his mate. The Rain Beetle, a species related to the Scarab, a beetle symbolizi

The Fisher

The sleek and secretive fisher, doesn’t fish or even like to swim. This beautiful mammal is a cousin of the weasel, otter and badger, living in old growth forests, having

Turkey Vultures

What’s your first thought when you think of a Turkey Vulture? Without putting any more negative thoughts out there about these important birds, Critter Chat challenges yo

Gold Country Wildlife Rescue

Critter Chat hosts Susan Brandt and Marney Blair talk with Christy Berger of Gold Country Wildlife Rescue, an important non-profit organization founded in 1991 and which

Dogface Butterfly, the California state insect

When the California Dogface butterfly was officially made the California state insect by then governor Ronald Reagan in 1972, the children who pushed to make that happen

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

How much do we know about the native Foothill Yellow-legged Frog? Living in open, sunny and shady areas of the Sierra Nevada rivers and streams, they are cleverly camoufl

The Critters of Wolf Creek

Critter Chat hosts Marney Blair and Susan Brandt interview the program director and biologist of Wolf Creek Community Alliance, Kristen Hein Strohm. Listeners will hear a

Bobcats

Image credit: Bobcat © Henry Colletto, courtesy Rachel Roberts, CDFW Bobcats are our native felines living around us in the Sierra Nevada and across the country. They ar

Riffle Sculpin

Celebrate World Aquatic Animal Day  Get to Know Your Local Riffle Sculpins  Raise your hand if you’ve heard of the Riffle Sculpin! This local bottom-dwelling fish is a

Steller's Jays

Critter Chat - Episode 12 - The Steller’s Jay The Steller’s Jay, the gregarious azure-feathered bird, is the focus on this episode of Critter Chat. Steller’s Jays are ha

California Mountain Kingsnake

Critter Chat Celebrates the Year of the Snake with the California Mountain Kingsnake Starting the 2025 season having recently won KVMR’s prestigious Award for Excellence

Great Gray Owl

Naturalist, Author, Artist John Muir Laws and Biologist Ramiro Aragon  Describe the Magnificence of The Great Gray Owl Critter Chat hosts and producers Marney Blair and