Natural Resources University

Latest Episodes:

Rabies | Fins, Fur, & Feathers | #520 Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Rabies is an ancient, frightening, and deadly disease that humans are exposed to by wildlife. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss recent incidents involving rabies that have made news headlines, wildlife reservoirs for rabies in the US, how to limit our exposure to wildlife that might carry rabies, and what to do if you may have been exposed to a potentially rabid animal.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife

Are fire ants causing the turkey decline? | Wild Turkey Science #519 Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

We explore the myths surrounding fire ants and their negative impacts on nests, hens, and poults.

Resources:

Allen, C. R., et al. (2004). Red imported fire ant impacts on wildlife: a decade of research. The American Midland Naturalist, 152(1), 88-103.

Brennan, L. A. (1993). Fire ants and northern bobwhites: a real problem or a red herring?. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006), 21(3), 351-355.

Jones, J. C., Hodges, B. N., Tegt, J., & Butler, A. B. (2015). INVASIVE NON‐NATIVE SPECIES AND WILD TURKEY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2015, 89-103.

Martin, J. A., et al. (2015). Incubation and predation ecology of Wild Turkey nests: A cautionary case study regarding video camera surveillance. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2015, 295-301. t

Twedt, D. J., Wilson, R. R., Henne‐Kerr, J. L., & Grosshuesch, D. A. (2002). Avian response to bottomland hardwood reforestation: the first 10 years. Restoration Ecology, 10(4), 645-655.

Wojcik, D. P., et al. (2001). Red imported fire ants: impact on biodiversity.

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!

Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Forest Certification | Timber University #518 Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Tanger and Dr. Self are joined by Dr. Kevin Boston. They discuss the different US forest certification standards and the benefits of self regulation of the industry as a way to show good stewardship to potential and existing markets and to the general public.

Dr. Boston is an Associate Professor of Forest Operations at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and has written several books on various forest subjects.

For questions or comments, please email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com

Pond Design and Construction | Fins, Fur, & Feathers #517 Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Having a pond is a great way to increase the aesthetics and recreational opportunities of your property. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss key considerations for constructing a pond, proper techniques for building a pond to ensure it holds water, and methods for addressing issues with a pond's design or construction.

Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife

Does rain impact nest predation risk? | Wild Turkey Science #516 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Does water on a hen make it more susceptible to predation? In this episode, we comb through the literature on olfactory camouflage, dissecting studies assessing correlations between nest survival, weather, and environmental conditions, and divulging into the complicated web of ecology dynamics. Strap on your science boots for this one, it's gonna be dense…

Research papers referenced:

Episodes referenced:

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Return of the River Otter | Wild Ag #515 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

This month we are joined by Sam Wilson, Furbearer Biologist at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Frank Andelt, retired Furbearer Biologist and Sam's predecessor at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to share the amazing story of the river otter in Nebraska. From thriving populations to complete extirpation, river otters were wiped out across the state. But as our guests share, otters are a resilient species. After a few local otter sightings, Frank shares the story of reintroduction of otters to Nebraska and how far they have come since then.

Resources:

Sam Wilson [website]

Frank Andelt

Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]

Nathan Pflueger [website]

AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]

Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!

We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/

Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/

Music by Humans Win

Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

Wild Turkey Symposium Takeaways | Wild Turkey Science #514 Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we review papers that stood out to each of us from the 2025 Wild Turkey Symposium.

Resources:

Collier, B. A., & Chamberlain, M. J. (2025). The Notorious PIG: wild pigs are not primary predators of wild turkey nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1618.

Danks, Z. D., et al. (2025). A national standardized wild turkey brood survey: The first 6 years. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e164

Moscicki, D. J., et al. (2025). Multi‐scale evaluation of eastern wild turkey nest‐site selection and nest survival. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1635.

Ogawa, R., et al. (2025). Is wild turkey habitat selection spatially consistent? A three‐decade meta‐analysis in Mississippi. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e70000.

The Wildlife Society Bulletin - Wild Turkey Symposium

Thogmartin, W. E. (2001). Home-range size and habitat selection of female wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Arkansas. The American Midland Naturalist, 145(2), 247-260.

Ulrey, E. E., et al. (2025). Use of LiDAR to examine habitat selection by incubating female wild turkeys in South Carolina. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1628.

What does wild turkey nesting cover look like? (Video)

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Energy and Antlers | Deer University #513 Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Jacob and Eric sit down with Dr. Levi Heffelfinger of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to discuss their work evaluating how dietary energy affects antler and body size of white-tailed deer.

Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits.

Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Turkeys in Wisconsin : A success story | Wild Turkey Science #512 Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Wisconsin gamebird ecologist Taylor Finger joins us to breakdown the status of wild turkeys in the state. Join as he shares details on how Wisconsin has achieved successful turkey populations unlike any other state in the country.

Resources:

Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased female survival may explain wild turkey decline. bioRxiv, 2025-05.

Legends of turkey research | #50

Pollentier, C. D., et al. (2021). Gobbling across landscapes: Eastern wild turkey distribution and occupancy–habitat associations. Ecology and Evolution, 11(24), 18248-18270.

Ogawa, R., et al. (2025). Is wild turkey habitat selection spatially consistent? A three‐decade meta‐analysis in Mississippi. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e70000.

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Grazing, Burning, and the Science Between | BGWT #511 Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Esben Kjaer joins the Blazin' Grazin' hosts to talk fire, forage, and the fine art of managing rangelands for both cattle and wildlife. His work from Kansas to North Dakota reveals how prescribed fire and strategic grazing shape biodiversity - from plant and insect communities to nesting birds. He shares what happens when conservation meets production, and how landowners can use grazing without losing habitat.

The conversation also dives into fire aversion, Kentucky bluegrass invasions, and why fire still beats grazing when it comes to restoring native prairies. From the challenges of burning in the frozen north to bringing new fire science to Oklahoma, Dr. Kjaer offers both research and real-world lessons for anyone who loves the land, livestock, and a good burn plan.

Resources:

- OkState Department of Natural Resource Ecology Management

- Esben Kjaer Ph.D.

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