The Wandering Naturalist

Latest Episodes:

Episode 30 - Nature of Zombies: Attack of the Zombees and Plants Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Our guests students Evie and AJ and Three Rivers Forestry Supervisor Dan Comerford, join us to investigate other real life zombies. Evie and AJ talk to us about their award winning project with Zombees. Dan shares his knowledge with how plants can become zombies. Come wander with us as we journey through the strange world of zombies.

Episode 29 - Nature of Zombies: Strange World of Animal Zombies Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Zombies are real. Zombies are everywhere, near places you would never expect. In fact, some of you may have even encountered zombies in your life, right in nature. Join Angela and Brandon to explore the very real, and awesomely creepy world of zombies including horse hair worms, fungi, and cat parasites.

Episode 28 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: Looking to the Future Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

Three Rivers has worked to make our parks home for surrounding communities and wildlife over these past 50 plus years. Building a foundation on educating others for a chance to nurture the interest about natural happenings in the outdoor world led to many greater things such as prairie restoration. Kirk Mona, Interpretive Naturalist, joins to discuss the present and future of Three River's mission.

Episode 27 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: Planting Restored Prairie Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

Listen in as Brandon and Angela journey to 1969 to explore Crow-Hassan Park Reserve and the first planting of restored prairie. Joined by Senior Wildlife Manager, John Moriarty, they dig deeper to discover the challenges faced that have now seeded the way for large scale restoration with what is now the largest, first restored prairie of the metro area. Now home to unique wildlife and a high diversity of plant life, you will want to hear this origin story.

Episode 26 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: Lowry Nature Center Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

The first nature center was built in 1969, Lowry Nature Center. Tag along as hosts Brandon and Angela interview Tom McDowell, retired park employee of 40 years, to explore the story of how outdoor education molded our mission of promoting environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural-resource based park system for the past 50 years.

Episode 25 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: The Need for Parks Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

To celebrate the past 50 years, Brandon and Angela are talking to special guest Bill Walker, Cultural Resources Manager of Three Rivers Park District, to discuss the how and why Three Rivers was created. 2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of Minnesota's first public nature center, the Lowry Nature Center at Carver Park Reserve. It also marks the 50th Anniversary of the first planted prairie at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. Join them on a journey to discover this rich history and how the two are connected.

Episode 24 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - Native Bee Atlas Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

Britt Forsberg from the University of Minnesota Native Bee Atlas shares with us how the university is discovering what native bees live in Minnesota. She also gives advice on how to provide a home for native bees around your home, and Angela and Brandon give some tips on planting for natives.

Episode 23 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - Farmer Tim and the Bees Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

Tim Reese, Director of Gale Woods Farm, talks with us about his experience raising bees, how bee keeping has changed over the past 9 years, and how Gale Woods Farm manages to be a working farm while still using bee friendly practices.

Episode 22 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - To Bumblebee be or to Honeybee? Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

Wander with us as Angela and Brandon investigate the differences between two different kinds of bees, bumblebees and honeybees. Though different, they both face many of the same challenges, and they both are important pollinators for our food.

Episode 21 - Here there be Dragon(flies) - Cultural Fascination to Research Subjects Jul 03, 2019

Show notes

With over 149 dragonfly and damselfly species in Minnesota there is much to learn and observe. Dragonfly scientist Ami Thompson joins on this episode to talk about her study subject, the Common Green Darner, as she works towards a PhD in Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota. Listen to learn more about this fascinating dragonfly that migrates.

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