The Wandering Naturalist

Episode 290: Life is a Flyway - Local Impacts

For the final episode on the Mississippi Flyway, it's time to zoom in with John Lindstrom from Ducks Unlimited. The flyway is thousands of miles of habitat, but here in t

Episode 289: Life is a Flyway - The Economics of Birds

Dr. Wayne Thogmartin from the US Geological Survey joins us in this episode to discuss the economic impacts of birds along the flyway. We cover the prairie pothole region

Episode 288: Life is a Flyway - The Mississippi Flyway

The Mississippi flyway is the name of the route migratory birds take following the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lower Ohio Rivers in the US. In this episode we chat with ou

Episode 287: River Otters - Bringing Otters Back

Dr. Carrol Henderson is Minnesota's first Non-game Wildlife Program Supervisor. He defined what this position is in Minnesota and nationally. He joins us to talk about on

Episode 286: River Otters - Are they Intelligent?

Dr. Caroline DeLong has studied the cognitive ability of animals ranging from goldfish, to orangutangs, river otters, and many others. She joins us to discuss how she mea

Episode 285: River Otters - Why they are Special

Bound along with Brandon and Ellen as they investigate river otters. Often viewed as playful, these members of the weasel family are full of adaptations that help them su

Episode 284: Rivers Inspiring Art - Art and AWE

Sarah Nassif joins us to talk about the group she created, Art, Water, and Ecology (AWE) Network. Using her past experience as an educator, and her current profession as

Episode 283: Rivers Inspiring Art - Cultural Connections to Art

Cole Redhorse Taylor talks to us about the art he creates and how he draws on his Dakota ancestors connections to water to inspire him. He discusses his contribution to t

Episode 282: Rivers Inspiring Art - Poet Laureate and Waterways

Minneapolis' first Poet Laureate, Heid Erdrich joins us to discuss her poetry and how it relates to waterways. She talks to us about why water inspires her, how her Ojibw

Episode 281: Fishy Business - Let's Go Fishing

For many people, their connection to fish isn't through research, it's through fishing! For our final episode of the month we talk to Trey Fails from Dreaded Outdoors on

Episode 280: Fishy Business - Thousands of Jars

  How many fish is too many fish? Or- wait- how many fishes is too many fishes? Find out in this episode with Dr. Kassandra Ford, the Bell Museum's Curator of Fishes an

Episode 279: Fishy Business - Survey Says...

We are halfway through the Big Year of Rivers and what species is more closely connected to our rivers than the many native species of fishes in Minnesota! In this episod

Episode 278: Floods and Floodplains - Helping Minnesota's Water

What is Minnesota doing for its rivers and floodplains? Andrea Fish, from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources talks to us about how soil and water quality are

Episode 277: Floods and Floodplains - Why Should We Care?

Join us as we float down the Mississippi and talk to American Rivers. American Rivers is an organization dedicated to protecting waterways. One of their scientists, Eilee

Episode 276: Floods and Floodplains - Surviving the Flood

What does it take to survive a flood? Brandon and Ellen explore the living things that thrive in a floodplain habitat. From climbing snakes to the fastest growing tree in

Episode 275: The Vernal Pool Parade - Who's With the Band?

Our final episode this month goes fully into the vernal pool weeds! Brandon and Ellen bring out their favorite stars of this ecosystem. We talk fairy shrimp, fishing spid

Episode 274:The Vernal Pool Parade - A Deeper Dive

In our second episode we sit down with Dr. Mark Hanson to hear about his research on vernal pools during his career with the Minnesota DNR. We zoom out a bit from vernal

Episode 273: The Vernal Pool Parade - A Dip into the Pool

Time to get your feet wet in the world of vernal pools! This month's topic zooms in on these often overlooked, but crucially important ecosystems. In our first episode we

Episode 272: Women and Waterways - Journeys through Time

Jade Ryerson, historian with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, wanders with us through time and she shares stories of women who have connected to the Mi

Episode 271: Women and Waterways - Kayaking the Mississippi

Wander with us down the Mississippi River as Devin Brown joins us to discuss how her connection to the Mississippi River changed her life. Her first meeting with the Miss