The Wandering Naturalist

Latest Episodes:

Episode 250: Urban Trees - The Next Generation Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Laila Bacon and Makayla Freeman started working with Analyah Schlaeger do Santos when they were 14 years old. Seven years later they are still planting trees in Hennepin County were tree deserts exist, and teaching their community how to plant and care for the trees. Join us as they discuss why this work is important to them, the accomplishments and challenges they have faced over the last seven years, and how they keep hope alive despite the despair they sometimes feel trying to mitigate climate change.

Episode 249: Urban Trees - Starting with the Community Aug 06, 2025

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Trees provide health, economic, and many other benefits just by being present. However, some suburbs and urban areas in and around Minneapolis and Hennepin County are tree deserts. Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos, Environmental Justice Youth Director & Global Climate Justice Coordinator, MN Interfaith Power and Light, among many other things,. Joins us to talk about work she has done to increase tree cover in parts of Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs that had none, why that is important, and how it became a community effort.

Episode 248: Fisher Facts - THE Fisher Guy Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

While connecting with fisher researchers Angela and Brandon were told over and over that there was one researcher they had to talk to. Dr. Roger Powell, Professor Emeritus at NC State University in North Carolina has been researching fishers for decades and is considered the expert on them. He shares his insights into fishers, how he raised fishers to learn more about them, and how they fit into, what he calls, a fitness landscape.

Episode 247: Fisher Facts - Research in the City Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Michael Joyce of the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota joins us to talk about why NRRI is researching fishers as they move from the north woods to southern Minnesota. What are the risks and rewards for a fisher living in a Three Rivers Park? How is he studying fishers? How can you help his research? Wander with us to find out.

Episode 246: Fisher Facts - What is a Fisher? Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Fishers have been moving from northern Minnesota south and can now be seen in the Twin Cities area. What is a fisher? Join Brandon and Angela as they discuss what makes this large member of the weasel family special, and the special adaptations it has to help it hunt foods from rabbits to porcupines.

Episode 245: Whispers of Wildlife Diseases - Scoop a Poop and More Jun 04, 2025

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Why does a scientist want poop mailed to them? Find out as Dr. Dr. Michelle Power joins us all the way from Australia! She has a passion for engaging the public in scientific research using it to help study diseases. We discuss what One Health is and how that impacts wildlife and human health. She also gives advice on what you can do to prevent antibiotic resistance and diseases in animals.

Episode 244: Whispers of Wildlife Diseases - Fish Diseases Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever seen a sick fish? Dr. Isaiah E Tolo, Fish Health Supervisor at the Minnesota DNR, discusses diseases that affect fish, how he monitors for them, and what, if any, impacts they have on us. Learn how to help keep fish healthy as we dive deep into fish diseases.

Episode 243: Whispers of Wildlife Diseases - Minnesota Diseases Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Just like humans, animals can get sick too. We wander with Dr. Michelle Carstensen, Wildlife Health Program Supervisor for the Minnesota DNR. How do animals get sick? What are some of the diseases the Minnesota DNR is looking out for in wildlife and how do they monitor for them? How can you help keep animals from getting sick? Wander with us to find the answers.

Episode 242: Turtle Treks - Adapting to a Changing World May 07, 2025

Show notes

Starting their research right here at Three Rivers, Dr. Jeanine Refsnider, shares the journey of being curious about Minnesota's State Threatened, Blanding's turtle, led to having her own lab at University of Toledo. Jeanine shares past and current studies exploring turtle adaptions.

Episode 241: Turtle Treks - Nesting Insight May 07, 2025

Show notes

How do baby turtles manage to wander from their nest to a lake or pond? If turtles are male or female is decided by temperature how will climate change impact them? Do turtle hatchlings coordinate their calendars to leave the nest? Learn all of this and more as Dr. Steve Freedberg, Professor of Biology at St. Olaf College discusses his research on turtles.

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