The Wandering Naturalist

Latest Episodes:

Episode 210: The Hopping Orchestra - Backyard Grasshoppers Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

Hop along with us as Marissa Schuh a University of Minnesota Extension Educator joins us to explore the common grasshoppers in the Twin Cities area, and what makes them special.

Episode 209: Return of Fading Butterflies - Preparing for Butterflies Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers Park District, returns to talk about how you prepare to reintroduced a rare or endangered butterfly. From planting thousands of host plants to working with Federal Agencies, wander with us as we see what goes into restoring what's been lost.

Episode 208: Return of Fading Butterflies - Sanctuary in Army Bases Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Land management or stewardship is a complex task, especially when you are managing nature on an Army Base. Jessup Weichelt, Land Manager at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin joins us to talk about managing habitat for rare and endangered butterflies, and what makes Army Bases so uniquely suited to this.

Episode 207: Return of Fading Butterflies - Minnesota Pollinators Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

What is a state pollinator coordinator? Rebecca Gutierrez-Moreno, the State Pollinator Coordinator with the Environmental Quality Board, wanders with us to discuss this and explore how pollinators, especially butterflies, are doing in Minnesota.

Episode 206: Hidden Depth - Invasive Species Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Dan Larkin from the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the U of M discusses invasive aquatic species, issues with current control methods, and how we can better work to improve treatment of them while protecting native plants.

Episode 205: Hidden Depth - Three Rivers Plants Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Justin Valenty from our Water Resources team joins us to dive into how they monitor aquatic plants in the park district and some cool management techniques they are doing. This includes some rare Minnesota plants you can see in Three Rivers' parks!

Episode 204: Hidden Depth - Water Plants Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Brandon faces his fears and dives with Angela below the water to explore the plants that call lakes, ponds, and rivers home. Donna Perleberg, Aquatic Plant Ecologist from the Minnesota DNR, talks with us about native plant species. We learn about the different type of plants living in the water, including a predatory plant!

Episode 203: Secrets of the Soil - Bugs in the Soil May 01, 2024

Show notes

Sabrina Celis and Emily Althoff, graduate students at the University of Minnesota and members of Frenatae join us to learn about the bugs that keep soil healthy. From tiny springtails to animals with way too many legs, join us to learn about the different kinds of bugs and what they do in the soil.

Episode 202: Secrets of the Soil - Keepers of the Soil May 01, 2024

Show notes

Alex Romano from the Land Stewardship Project joins us to talk about how farmers are leading each other to sustainable practices and healthy soil. How can farmers teach each other sustainable soil practices and does it benefit them? Wander with us to find out.

Episode 201: Secrets of the Soil - Jumping Worms May 01, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Lee Frelich Director of the Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesota wanders with us as we discuss what makes forest soil healthy around the Twin Cities. We discuss the impacts invasive earthworms have had on soil, and how a new species of earthworm, the jumping worm, is expected to impact forests.

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