Ep. 68 - All Hail the King (Salmon)

Ep. 68 - All Hail the King (Salmon)

This month, Daniel leads the guys into uncharted waters for the podcast…that’s right, it’s our first-ever episode about fish! The Great Lakes salmon fishery is one of the greatest angling spectacles in the US. Large predatory salmon, native to the Pacific Northwest, are stocked in the Great Lakes region to maintain a world class fishery and control invasive baitfish. The undisputed monarch among these stocked species? The appropriately named King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). While they are fished for year-round, the action heats up when mature King Salmon run (well, they swim, but that’s what it’s called) up the creeks and rivers where they were born or stocked each fall. The salmon run attracts anglers from all over the country, fostering a multi-million dollar industry and countless memories. But what is with all the excitement? Why are Pacific salmon even put here? Dare we even ask, should they be here? In this episode, the guys venture to a popular salmon fishing spot near Lake Ontario and reel in the story of one of the most consequential actions in fisheries management history. 

Ep. 67 - Fishers in the Field: A Hike with Fisher Researcher Dr. Scott LaPoint

Ep. 67 - Fishers in the Field: A Hike with Fisher Researcher Dr. Scott LaPoint

If we want to help wildlife, we need to know when and where they’re moving on the landscape. Dr. Scott LaPoint has spent his career researching just that. When our recent episode on fisher cats left us with a lot of questions, we figured who better to help us out than Dr. LaPoint. He was kind enough to join Daniel and Bill for a hike, sharing his expertise and his amazing ability to communicate science with enthusiasm, humor, and clarity. Join the guys for a wide-ranging discussion on fishers, connectivity, and wildlife-human interaction.

Ep. 63 - Field Trip!: On the Trail of the Florida Panther

Ep. 63 - Field Trip!: On the Trail of the Florida Panther

Daniel and Bill journey to south Florida for an episode about the Florida Panther, tackling the questions and misconceptions that leave this cat shrouded in mystery.

Ep. 55 - Bill and Steve Go to Hell(benders)

Ep. 55 - Bill and Steve Go to Hell(benders)

What’s dark and slimy and over two feet long? It’s an Eastern Hellbender! This aquatic giant salamander, endemic to the eastern and central US, is the largest amphibian in North America, often weighing in at over 4 lbs.! The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is, not unlike Steve, secretive and slimy but also fascinating. Join the guys for one hell of an episode learning about this rare and disappearing denizen of fast-moving streams.

Ep. 54 - Can't Touch This: A Deep Dive Into Touch-me-not

Ep. 54 - Can't Touch This: A Deep Dive Into Touch-me-not

Jewelweed. Spotted touch-me-not. Orange Balsam. It’s a plant known by many names, and, even if you don’t recognize any of them, you’ve probably popped one of its exploding seed pods. A favorite of hummingbirds and nature-lovers young and old, it’s a species with many stories to share. Listen in as the guys dive deep into the jewelweed patch, eating some seeds, trying to find the source of the “jewel” in jewelweed’s name, and getting to the bottom of the age-old claim that jewelweed is a cure for poison ivy.

Ep. 52 - Who's Your Daddy (Longlegs)?

Ep. 52 - Who's Your Daddy (Longlegs)?

This month, the guys set out to discover if daddy longlegs really are the most poisonous spider in the world, but, along the way, they uncover a fascinating array of arachnids and adaptations in the group known collectively as harvestmen. Join them for some mythbusting and a deep dive into the little-known order of arachnids called Opiliones.

Ep. 51 - Flickers Foolin' Around: Sex Roles in a North American Woodpecker

Ep. 51 - Flickers Foolin' Around: Sex Roles in a North American Woodpecker

The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a common bird that has some exceptionally uncommon behaviors. Unlike most bird species, male flickers take an equal share of egg incubation and feeding, and, in up to five percent of females, a lady flicker will take up with two mates - an older male and a younger male - raising young in two different nests at the same time. In addition, flickers will sometimes lay their eggs in the nests of other flickers, a behavior called intraspecific brood parasitism, another habit rarely seen in birds. Join the guys as they delve into studies exploring the wild and swinging world of northern flicker reproduction.

Ep. 48 - Eat Sh*t and Live, Bill (Part 2)

Ep. 48 - Eat Sh*t and Live, Bill (Part 2)

Now that Bill’s done droning on about animals, we can finally talk about PLANTS! and CARNIVOROUS plants at that. Steve reviews carnivorous plants in general and then breaks into examples of carnivorous plants that have evolved to eat poop: Roridula spp. in South Africa, Sarracenia purpurea in North America, & Nepenthes spp. in Southeast Asia.

Ep. 48 - Eat Sh*t and Live, Bill (Part 1)

Ep. 48 - Eat Sh*t and Live, Bill (Part 1)

With the high-end guests we’ve recently had on, we’re concerned that the podcast is getting a bit too classy. So, this month, we’re getting down and dirty, delving into the delightful topic of defecation. Specifically, animals and plants that eat poop. We know, it seems gross. We thought so, too. But once we started exploring this surprisingly common behavior (called coprophagy), we were amazed at what we uncovered!

Ep. 47 - Field Trip!: Exploring the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (Part 1)

Ep. 47 - Field Trip!: Exploring the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (Part 1)

This month, Bill and Steve visit The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY. In part 1, we talk with CEO Arthur Pearson, delving into Roger Tory Peterson’s background, his influence on the modern field guide, how field guides influence conservation, and how the Institute seeks to bridge people’s passions for art, nature, and conservation.

Bonus 09 - Finding a Job in the Wild - An Interview with Matt Gaffney

Bonus 09 - Finding a Job in the Wild - An Interview with Matt Gaffney

Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job and pursuing a career in the woods? Maybe working with wolves in the desert southwest or conducting plant surveys in the wilds of Alaska? Well, Matt Gaffney did it! Leaving behind a job in digital marketing, he went back to school to get his degree in environmental studies and went on to work a series of seasonal positions with the National Forest Service. Bill caught up with him in August of 2019 in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Join them on a hike on Spruce Knob (the highest point in WV) as Matt shares his adventures and advice on pursuing a career in the wild!

Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 2) - The Coywolf?

Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 2) - The Coywolf?

This month, Steve and Bill present part 2 of their episode on coyotes, focusing on the questions, “How big of a threat to livestock are coyotes?” and, “Is the coyote in the east a new species?”

Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 1)

Ep. 43 - The Coyest Dog Around (Part 1)

Awooooo! This month, Bill and Steve talk all about coyotes.