About The Wandering Naturalist

The Wandering Naturalist podcast explores the natural and cultural history of the 27,000-acre Three Rivers Park District and the surrounding Twin Cities area. Hosted by Brandon Baker, an interpretive naturalist at Eastman Nature Center, and wildlife biologist Angela Grill, the podcast covers a new topic each month. Baker and Grill discuss the basic science and biology of each month’s topic and interview expert guests for a lively and in-depth conversation on how natural and cultural history shapes and impacts the parks of today and their surrounding communities.

Join us as we wander from park to park and discuss the stories of the past, the nature in our present, and how they have shaped our parks. Come explore with us!

The Wandering Naturalist podcast has been honored with a Media Award from the National Association for Interpretation. Learn more about the award.

October 2024: Intriguing Bats of Minnesota

Episode 216: Intriguing Bats of Minnesota — Not So Scary

It’s spooky season, and Melissa Boman with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources joins us to talk about the creature of the night: bats! From what bats live in Minnesota to how they survive winters and the adaptations that should make you say “cool” instead of “eww,” we sour through the night listening for bats. 

Episode 217: Intriguing Bats of Minnesota — White-nose Syndrome

Dr. Christine Salomon from the University of Minnesota joins us to discuss her research on controlling white-nose syndrome. Come spelunking with us as we learn what it is, why it is so dangerous and possible hope for the future.

Episode 218: Intriguing Bats of Minnesota — Endangered Species

The northern long-eared bat is a federally endangered species. Jill Utrup from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the recovery team for the northern long-eared bat. She talks with us about what it takes for a species to be federally listed, how that changes its protections and the work done to help the species recover. 

September 2024: Sustaining Oaks

Episode 213: Sustaining Oaks — The Most Powerful Plant

Dr. Doug Tallamy, famous author, professor and more, wanders with us to discuss the one plant that can have the biggest impact on your yard: oaks. We discuss why oaks are such a powerful plant for biodiversity and turning your yard into a refuge for wildlife. 

Episode 214: Sustaining Oaks — Oaks in Our Parks

Dan Comerford, forestry supervisor at Three Rivers Park District, walks us through how oak trees are managed in Three Rivers' parks. From dealing with oak diseases to determining where they are planted, learn what goes into caring for the oaks you walk by in our parks. 

Episode 215: Sustaining Oaks — From Acorn to Oak

We are joined by Missy Anderson, propagation specialist at Three Rivers Park District, to talk about how they grow acorns into mighty oak saplings that are planted around the Park District. What makes a good acorn? Do mast years have an effect? How do you grow thousands of oaks a year? Wander with us to find out. 

August 2024: The Hopping Orchestra

Episode 210: The Hopping Orchestra — Backyard Grasshoppers

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 211: The Hopping Orchestra — Grasshopper Songs

Dr. Hojun Song from Texas A&M University's Department of Entomology discusses his research on how grasshopper songs have evolved. From cricket calls that evolved before ears to grasshoppers evolving ears to help them swarm, wander with us as we study the hopping orchestra.

Episode 212: The Hopping Orchestra — Minnesota Grasshopper Plagues

A swarm of wings that darkened the sky. Millions of bodies on railroad tracks that kept the trains from moving. Crops, clothes and anything else organic: eaten. The Minnesota Grasshopper Plagues of the 1870s devastated the immigrants and settlers in the area. Zack Mohlis from Three Rivers' history team joins us to discuss the Grasshopper Plagues. 

July 2024: Return of Fading Butterflies

Episode 207: Return of Fading Butterflies — Minnesota Pollinators

What is a state pollinator coordinator? Rebeca Gutierrez-Moreno, state pollinator coordinator with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, wanders with us to discuss the role of a state pollinator coordinator and explore how pollinators, especially butterflies, are doing in Minnesota.  

Episode 208: Return of Fading Butterflies — Sanctuary in Army Bases

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 209: Return of Fading Butterflies — Preparing for Butterflies

John Moriarty, senior wildlife manager at Three Rivers Park District, returns to talk about how to prepare to reintroduce 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. 

June 2024: Hidden Depth

Episode 204: Hidden Depth — Water Plants

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 types of plants living in the water, including a predatory plant! 

Episode 205: Hidden Depth — Three Rivers Plants

Justin Valenty from our water resources team joins us to discuss rare Minnesota plants you can see at Three Rivers, how they monitor aquatic plants and some cool management techniques they are doing. 

Episode 206: Hidden Depth — Invasive Species

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

May 2024: Secrets of the Soil

Episode 201: Secrets of the Soil — Jumping Worms

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. 

Episode 202: Secrets of the Soil — Keepers of the Soil

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 203: Secrets of the Soil — Bugs in the Soil

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

April 2024: Talking Turkey

Episode 198: Talking Turkey — Dispelling Myths

Angela and Brandon go on their own hunt to figure out fact from fiction on the topic of turkeys. Can turkeys fly? How did they get their name? Did Benjamin Franklin really want them to be the national symbol of the United States? Tune in because the answers are beyond belief! 

Episode 199: Talking Turkey — Managing Game Birds

Nate Huck, resident game bird specialist, and Timothy Lyon, research scientist and upland game project leader, both from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wander with us to discuss the history of the introduction of wild turkeys in Minnesota, the ecological balance of managing a game bird and research currently being done. 

Episode 200: Talking Turkey — Hunting Wild Turkey

Meg Duhr, Three Rivers invasive species supervisor and participant of the DNR program Becoming an Outdoor woman (BOW), and her BOW mentor Kathy Von Bank join us to discuss hunting wild turkeys, barriers to being able to hunt and how BOW helps remove those barriers. 

March 2024: Women and Wilderness

Episode 195: Women and Wilderness — Changing Outdoor Paths

Working in any aspect of the outdoors is rewarding to most; there's plenty of fresh air and endless curiosity to be sated. Join Angela, Brandon and guest co-host Charity as they talk with returning guest, Judy Voigt-Englund on her career working outdoors as a part of the wildlife team at Three Rivers and then later as an educator at our very own The Lowry Nature Center. 

Episode 196: Women and Wilderness — Sparks of Hope

Connecting everyone with the outdoors and wilderness is constantly evolving. Those stepping in to continue the legacy of outreach are creating and passing on a spark of hope so that everyone can feel like they belong. Interpretive naturalist, Katie Frias, shares how this force of change can come from educators to create a bright future of stewardship. 

Episode 197: Women and Wilderness — Land for Healing

Teaching and engaging with nature takes many forms from film to writing to creative art and much more. Local writer, organizer and film producer, Erin Sharkey, joins to discuss the power nature holds in unearthing black history and memory—how healing is guided by the relationship built between people and the land.

February 2024: What's Love Got to Do With It?

Episode 192: What's Love Got to Do With It? — The Good, the Bad and the Heartbroken

Brandon and Angela explore the spectrum of symbiotes. From mutualistic relationships that are like you and your friend making each other better, to that one friend that just takes and takes (a.k.a the parasite) and everything in between, wander with us as we figure out the complex relationships that make up the world. 

Episode 193: What's Love Got to Do With It? — Cultural Bias in Science

Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, curator of mycology at the New York State Museum, talks with us about how cultural biases impact how we study things like symbiotes. We discuss how the tools of science help us understand the world until they become dogmatic and how to avoid those pitfalls in science.

Episode 194: What's Love Got to Do With It? — Symbiotes with the Land

Can humans and the land be in a mutualistic relationship? Jenna Grey-Eagle and Gabby Menomin from Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi share their thoughts on why we are, how approaching our relationship with the land as a mutualistic relationship benefits both us and the land, and how this view point impacts their work at Wakan Tipi Awayankapi.

January 2024: Bugs are Friends

Episode 189: Bugs are Friends — What is a Bug?

It is BYOB! Big Year of Bugs. The coordinator for the year, Bailey Kaul, joins us to discuss why Three Rivers is celebrating bugs for a year, the diversity of bugs, what bugs are and why they are important.

Episode 190: Bugs are Friends — A Bug Library

Dr. Robin Thomson, the curator for the University of Minnesota Insect Collection, joins us to talk about what running a bug library is like. With insect collections from the late 1800s to today, the Insect Collection is an invaluable resource for studying bugs. From unidentified specimens to figuring out how to organize a collection like this, a lot of work goes into running it.

Episode 191: Bugs are Friends — Even in Your House

Dr. Holly Menninger, executive director of the Bell Museum, wanders with us to discuss her research on the bugs found in your homes! Why are they there? What are they? Should you be worried? Learn all about the amazing variety of insects that share your home.

December 2023: Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Episode 186: Traditional Ecological Knowledge — What is TEK?

Dr. Deondre Smiles, member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and assistant professor at the University of Victoria, Canada, and graduate student Aidan Gowland wander with us as we learn what Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is, how Western history removed or co-opted the knowledge and how Indigenous People are reclaiming it. We discuss why this knowledge is important and how parks are working with Native Nations to manage land using it.

Episode 187: Traditional Ecological Knowledge — Understand Native Minnesota

Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, secretary/treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and leader of the Understand Native Minnesota campaign, joins us to discuss why the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is working with Minnesota teachers to improve education in K-12 schools about Native history.

Episode 188: Traditional Ecological Knowledge — Bringing Back Fire

White Earth Band of Chippewa member and Fond du Lac fire program manager, Damon Panek, as well as Rachel Olesiak, research plot coordinator for the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center, join us to talk about how the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Cloquet Science Center partnered to bring back cultural fire for the first time in 100 years. The Cloquet Science Center stopped Ojibwe from practicing their fire management 100 years ago to preserve the forest. Rather than preserving the forest, the lack of fire drastically changed it. Learn how this partnership uses TEK and Western science to restore the red pine forests to what they used to be.

November 2023: Warm Winters

Episode 183: Warm Winters — Minnesota's Climate Change

How is climate change affecting you? Brandon and Angela share stories of how the warmer winters are impacting their lives. Dr. Luigi Romolo, Minnesota state climatologist, joins us to give specifics on how Minnesota's climate is changing and some things you can do to help stop climate change. 

Episode 184: Warm Winters — Managing Parks

As our climate changes, the ways we manage parks have to change as well. Dr. Heidi Roop, director of the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership, and Joshua Booker, zone biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, join us to talk about the research they are doing to develop a climate change adaptation framework for National Wildlife Refuges in the Midwest.

Episode 185: Warm Winters — A Personal Story

Leslee Gutiérrez Carrillo is a local climate activist who joins us to share her personal story about why and how she has worked to combat climate change in Minnesota, and how she deals with the stress and anxiety caused by climate change.

October 2023: Nighttime Animal Sounds

Episode 180: What was That? — Bumps in the Night

The nights are getting longer, the aeolians of the wind creepier… What was that? Join Angela and Brandon for a nighttime excursion as they explore the sounds you can hear, and not hear, at night. 

Episode 181: What was That? — Moth Magic

Kyle Johnson, Minnesota Biological Survey entomologist, wanders with us to discuss how moths in Minnesota are surveyed. How many moths are in Minnesota? Kyle is trying to find out. Are there new-to-science species in Minnesota? You betcha! Can you help moths in your backyard? Tune in to hear Kyle's advice. 

Episode 182: What Was That? — Rocky Lied to Me!

Nighttime can bring a lot of fears of the unknown — what we can't see but can hear. Our imagination gets the best of us... but there is likely a reasonable explanation behind the various noises. One often overlooked nocturnal species is the flying squirrel. Michael Joyce, wildlife ecologist with Natural Resources Research Institute, joins the podcast to put the spotlight on this nighttime creature.   

September 2023: Nature for All

Episode 177: Access Through Community — How Do Community Groups Help?

Asha Shoffner, founder of FIWYGIN (pronounced "fusion") Outdoors and BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities joins us to discuss the importance of having groups people can identify with to get them outside. She talks about why she created two different groups in the Twin Cities and how they meet the needs of two different groups of people. 

Episode 178: Access Through Community — Birdability

Birdability was created to help everybody bird. Virginia Rose, founder, and Michael Hurben, Birdability's local representative, join us to discuss what Birdability is, why it is important to people with disabilities and how Birdability provides resources for people with disabilities to bird. 

Episode 179: Access Through Community — Urban Roots

David Woods, conservation program director for Urban Roots, joins us to discuss how Urban Roots in St. Paul works to encourage youth to enter careers in the outdoor field. Often Urban Roots is the student's first job and Urban Roots teaches them the basics of having a job. A progressive employment model encourages the students to grow as their duties and responsibilities increase as the student's work capacity increases. Learn how this organization is helping increase diversity in the outdoor field. 

August 2023: Fish

Episode 174: It's Not A Carp — Is it a Rough Fish?

Dr. Andrew Rypel, professor at University of California Davis and the Peter B. Moyle and California Trout Endowed Chair explores the underwater world of Minnesota and explains what a rough fish is. We push our knowledge upstream as we explore the history of these fish, why they are important to our lakes and rivers, and what we can do to help these native fish.

Episode 175: It's Not A Carp — Minnesota's Fish

Tyler Winter, river ecologist and director of Native Fish for Tomorrow, joins us as we explore Minnesota's native fish. What are some things that make them special? Can you eat them? If, like Brandon, you feel a little guilty fishing, can you enjoy them in a non-extractive way? Wander with us as we find out the answers.

Episode 176: It's Not A Carp — The Gar Guy

Did Brandon meet his match on puns? Find out as Dr. Solomon David, an aquatic biologist, assistant professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, one of the leading experts on gar and punster extraordinaire, joins us to discuss one of Minnesota's strangest fish: gar. From their strange shape, to studying their scales for use as body armor, to the behind the scenes of crafting a legislative bill to protect an animal, this pun-filled episode is one you don't want to miss.

July 2023: Tiger Beetles

Episode 171: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beetle — The World's Fastest Insect

Wander with us as we burrow into the world of a creature that can run so fast it can't see where it is going: tiger beetles! Alex Harman, Ph.D. student at Oklahoma State University joins us to discuss the unique strategies it has as both a larva and adult to catch prey, and how you can help researchers study tiger beetles.  

Episode 172: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beetle — What's in a Name

David Pearson, research professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, joins us to talk about how tiger beetle species were named, why birds were integral to his interest in tiger beetles, and how to get involved in researching them. 

Episode 173: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Beetle — If You Build It

Barry Knisley, professor emeritus of Randolph-Macon College, and Rodger Gwiazdowski, adjunct professor, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst discuss what goes into protecting tiger beetles and why it is hard to put insects on the endangered species list, and Angela has some plans for the prairie. 

June 2023: The Bug Balance

Episode 168: The Bug Balance — Farming Without Pesticides

Did you know Disney World doesn't use pesticides? If they don't need them, your garden doesn't either. Hope Flanagan, member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, and community outreach and cultural teacher for Dream of Wild Health joins us to discuss how they farm without pesticides. She provides a Native perspective on our relationship with insects and provides some strategies we can use in our gardens. 

Episode 169: The Bug Balance — Samurai Wasps

Jared Dyer, an entomology educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County New York wanders with us to discuss what integrated pest management is, how parasitoid wasps help control unwanted species, and his research on one of those parasitoid wasps, the Samurai Wasp. 

Episode 170: The Bug Balance — The Xerces Society

Sarah Fultz, senior pollinator conservation specialist with Xerces Society, talks with us about the insects that help maintain a healthy garden, how you can encourage them to live in your garden, and techniques for going pesticide-free.

May 2023: Highways

Episode 165: Highway to the Nature Zone — The Need for Green

Brandon and Angela feel the need… the need for green, so they jump on the highway to the nature zone and explore what you can see as you drive to a Three Rivers park. From the large birds on light posts, to how bridges are making some birds' wings shorter, and more, learn about the nature outside your car window. Just don't buzz to close to any cell towers. After all, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.

Episode 166: Highway to the Nature Zone — Road Ecology

Ben Goldfarb — environmental journalist and author of such books as the award-winning "Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter" — is about to release a new book, "Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet" in 2023. He wanders with us to discuss the impacts roads have on humans and wildlife, new habitats created by roads, and direct impacts to Minneapolis and St. Paul from highway construction.

Episode 167: Highway to the Nature Zone — MnDOT

Ken Graeve, Erosion and Stormwater Management Unit Supervisor, and Chris Smith, Wildlife Ecologist, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation join us to discuss how the MnDOT is working to make highways and other roads safer for animals, a better habitat for plants and safer for the people who drive on them.

April 2023: Nature Fools

Episode 162: Nature Fools — Brandon and Angela's Favorite Myths

Brandon and Angela share some of the myths from their childhood they believed for years, then get into the meat of persistent nature myths. What's the truth about Daddy Long Legs' venom? How did Walt Disney create a brand new nature myth? Is your dog really colorblind? Wander with us as we discover the truth and look into where these myths came from.

Episode 163: Nature Fools — Nature Center Edition!

Allie Gam's Beeson and Brett Sieberer join us to discuss some of the common myths they hear at the nature centers they work at. From insects predicting the weather to baby birds, wander with us to find the truth.

Episode 164: Nature Fools — Myths of the Past

Our favorite historian is back to discuss the myths of the past! Why are beds really shorter in the 1800's? Were our parks untouched wilderness? Is Minnesota really a Scandinavian state? Find out!

March 2023 (Bonus Episode): Women and Wilderness — Breaking Trail

Episode 161: Women and Wilderness — Breaking Trail

Join as aspiring winter backpacker and thru-hiker, Emily Ford, shares the remarkable journey of being the first woman to thru-hike Wisconsin's 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Hiking Trail in winter. Hear how Emily continues to seek adventure and represent the underrepresented in outdoor spaces.   

March 2023: Women and Wilderness

Episode 158: Women and Wilderness — Redefining

The relationship each of us creates and builds with wilderness is uniquely our own, but what is "wilderness"? Join us with special co-host Sara Gaines to take on a deeper definition of "wilderness" and what it means to our guest, Ebba Safverblad-Nelson, who resides in Sweden and offers a worldly perspective to outdoor recreation.

Episode 159: Women and Wilderness — Outdoor Recreation

Allie Dart, recreation program specialist at Three Rivers Park District, joins us to discuss how barriers can create hesitation and doubt in our abilities to engage with the outdoors. Learn about local opportunities for femme-friendly programs, what makes them supportive and why they are important.

Episode 160: Women and Wilderness — Becoming an Outdoors Woman

Linda Bylander is coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She joins us to share how the BOW program can help you gain new outdoors skills and improve techniques in a relaxed, fun and supportive atmosphere.

February 2023: Black Bears

Episode 155: Black Bear, Black Bear, Where Can You Live? — Hennepin County!

Andy Tri, Minnesota DNR Bear Project Leader & Forest Wildlife and Populations Research Group, joins us to discuss the biology of black bears in Minnesota, how they are researched and resources to help us be good neighbors to bears. John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers, talks to us about the black bears living at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Episode 156: Black Bear, Black Bear, Where Can You Live? — Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Mexico

Dr. Diana Doan-Crider, Director of Animo Partnership in Natural Resources, discusses the research she is doing on black bears in Mexico. She talks about how she started her project with a traditional western science mindset, how she started including Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the way TEK helped her project succeed.  

Episode 157: Black Bear, Black Bear, Where Can You Live? — An Ojibwe Perspective

Michael Waasegiizhig Price, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) specialist at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Odanah, Wisconsin, joins us to give his perspective on what black bears mean to his Ojibwe culture, and how Ojibwe words and perspectives reframe how the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission manage wildlife compared to the western philosophy of most state departments of natural resources. 

January 2023: Snow Bugs

Episode 152: Snow Bugs — They're Super Cool

We thought winter was safe! We were wrong… Brandon and Angela dive into the world of snow bugs, uh, we mean arthropods, to discover how they can survive and thrive on the snow. Dr. Brent Sinclair, a professor in the Biology Department at Western University in Canada shares his research on how insects, spiders, and more can live and move over the snow.

Episode 153: Snow Bugs — Bugs Below Zero Project

Dr. Rebecca Swenson and Dr. Corrie Nyquist join us from the University of Minnesota to talk about Minnesota's Bugs Below Zero project. We discuss some Minnesota specific winter active insects, why they are important and how you can help the University of Minnesota study them in a Citizen Science Project. 

Episode 154: Snow Bugs — Antifreeze Chemistry

Dr. Laurie Graham from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, has spent 25 years studying antifreeze proteins. She talks about the evolutionary history of antifreeze proteins, what life is like in a lab, and how you study creatures that are only 1 mm long. 

December 2022: The Painted Duck

Episode 149: The Painted Duck — Leaping into Wood Ducks

Jeff Bahls from the National Wood Duck Society joins us to explore the fascinating world of wood ducks. How far of a fall can a baby wood duck survive? Where do they go in the winter? Why are we talking about wood ducks in December? Listen to find out! 

Episode 150: The Painted Duck — A Conservation Story

Greg Hoch, author of the book  With Wings Extended: A Leap into a Wood Duck's World. Joins us to talk about the history of wood duck conservation, how people can help wood ducks even if they don't live by water and how wood ducks were an inspiration for aircraft carriers in World War 1.

Episode 151: The Painted Duck — In Three Rivers Parks

Steven Hogg, Wildlife Supervisor for Three Rivers, talks about the wood duck program's history in our parks, what has made it successful and where you can find these ducks in our parks.

November 2022: Conservation

Episode 146: The Future of Conservation — Drones, Monarchs and Milkweed, Oh My

Wander with us as we explore next and exciting tools being used by scientists in the field of conservation! Wendy Caldwell from Monarch Joint Venture joins us to discuss how drones and remote sensing are becoming an important tool for monarch conservation. 

Episode 147: The Future of Conservation — Who's a Good Conservationist?!

Breanne Black from Working Dogs for Conservation joins us to talk about conservation's best friend — dogs! Working Dogs for Conservation rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to perform conservation work. Whether it is searching for bumblebee nests, keeping habitats safe from invasive species,  protecting rare animals from poachers, or other jobs, dogs have unique traits that help them accomplish these goals. 

Episode 148: The Future of Conservation — There's an App for That

Chris Smith joins us to talk about an app he helped to create, HerpMapper. Designed to document reptiles and amphibians around the world, Chris explains the features that make it safe for the animals being documented and how the app helps conservation.  

October 2022 (Bonus Episode): The Art of the Wandering Naturalist

Episode 145: The Art of the Wandering Naturalist

In recognition of “International Artist Day,” Angela and Brandon talk with artist Michelle Davis about her artistic process, and how nature and her work as a natural resources and podcast volunteer for Three Rivers inspires the wonderful illustrations she creates for the podcast.

October 2022: Mosquitos

Episode 142: Minnesota's Other State Bird — Mosquitos 101

John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager at Three Rivers Park District, joins us to discuss everyone's favorite insect, mosquitos! We discuss some basic mosquito biology, why some mosquitos drink blood and what Three Rivers Park District's policy is on mosquito control. 

Episode 143: Minnesota's Other State Bird — Mosquito Control District

Nancy Read from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District explains what the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is, how it evaluates when and where mosquitos need to be controlled, and what methods it uses. 

Episode 144: Minnesota's Other State Bird — Good Mosquitos?

Dr. Dan Peach, “Dan the Mosquito Man,” joins us to talk about his research on mosquitos and what he calls the secret life of mosquitos. He shares the benefits that mosquitos bring to an ecosystem and why we should think twice before trying to squash one.

Want to learn more? Check out this blog post on Mosquitos in Three Rivers.

September 2022: Salamanders

Episode 139: Glowing Amphibians — What is a Salamander? 

What is a salamander? Why did a famous animated movie use a folklore of salamanders and fire instead of deciding to just let it go? How are salamanders impacting human health care? Find out as Brandon and Angela explore the double lives of salamanders. 

Episode 140: Glowing Amphibians — Wait, They Glow? 

Dr. Jennifer Lamb shares her recent discovery she made at St. Cloud State University about salamanders and other amphibians. They glow! Join us as Brandon and Angela geek out over the research and get to discover similar office decorations that Brandon and Dr. Lamb have. 

Episode 141: Glowing Amphibians — The Salamanders of Minnesota

John Moriarty, author of the book Amphibians and Reptiles in Minnesota, joins us to discuss the salamanders that live in Minnesota, how new species are discovered and the unique life strategy that several of Minnesota's salamanders have.

August 2022: Goldenrods

Episode 136: The Golden Forb — A Mini-Ecosystem

Wander with Angela and Brandon as they dive head first into botany by exploring patches of goldenrods. Larry Weber, author of the book In a Patch of Goldenrod joins us to discuss the mini-ecosystems these yellow fall flowers create.

Episode 137: The Golden Forb — The Misunderstood Club

Often wrongly blamed for allergies, goldenrods are a misunderstood flower that are important for many different life stages of a misunderstood group of animals, wasps. Biologist and author Heather Holm wanders with us to explore the connections and dispel the misunderstandings for both goldenrods and wasps.

Episode 138: The Golden Forb — Gardening with Goldenrods

Why do goldenrods make such great additions to gardens? What kind of goldenrods should you plant? Where should you plant your goldenrods? Bre Bauerly from Minnesota Native Landscapes joins us to answer all of your goldenrod gardening questions.

July 2022 (Bonus Episodes): The Migratory Bird Day Festival

Episode 134: Migratory Bird Day Festival — A Cross Countries Partnership (Live)

It's our first live podcast! Wilmer Fernandez, board member of Audubon Minneapolis, joins us at the Migratory Bird Day Festival at Eastman Nature Center to discuss the project he coordinates between Aves Honduras and Audubon Minneapolis to monitor the birds that migrate between the two areas. We discuss some of the findings that the Honduran researchers have made and what we can do to help migratory birds in both their summer and winter homes.

Episode 135: Migratory Bird Day Festival — Audience Questions (Live)

In part two of our live podcast we answer audience questions! Do birds go through puberty? What is the meaning of life? Listen and find out!

July 2022: Ospreys

Episode 131: The Comeback Bird — Ospreys

Wander with Angela and Brandon as they explore the unique adaptations of the osprey. This bird is the penultimate fisher, with adaptations seen nowhere else!

Episode 132: The Comeback Bird — Hacking the Reintroduction

After their extirpation from Minnesota, it was estimated that it would take until 2030 to 2080 before ospreys naturally made it back to the Twin Cities. As of 2022, there are over 100 active osprey nests because Three Rivers Park District reintroduced them. Listen to Judy Voigt Englund and Larry Gillette, the Three Rivers staff who led the reintroduction, about how they returned the Osprey to our area.

Episode 133: The Comeback Bird — Analyzing Results

Dr. Ken Peterson, Professor of Biological Science at Bethel University, joins us to discuss what it is like volunteering to monitor ospreys, and the results of a paper he published from the data collected by Three Rivers' volunteers and staff on ospreys.

June 2022: Raptors

Episode 128: Birds of Prey — Hawk Ridge

Margie Menzies migrates (via Zoom) from Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory to discuss what makes raptors unique, why Hawk Ridge near Duluth is one of the best raptor watching areas in the world, and how cloacal swabs are helping Hawk Ridge researchers better understand raptor habits. 

Episode 129: Birds of Prey — The Raptor Center

Lori Arent from The Raptor Center talks with us about the specialized care raptors need, and how The Raptor Center provides that. Learn about what a day is like at The Raptor Center, how to tell if a raptor is injured and needs help, and how to prevent raptor injuries. 

Episode 130: Birds of Prey — Eagle Artifacts

Thomas Howes, Natural Resource Manager of the Fond du Lac Reservation, joins us to discuss the rules that dictate how Native People can possess and use eagle artifacts. He also discusses the work he has collaborated on to update the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's rules so Native Nations can work with the USFWS to allow access to eagle artifacts that starts to better meet the needs of Native People while still protecting eagles. 

May 2022: Bird Calls

Episode 125: Birds Got Rhythm — It's All About the Syrinx

Join Angela and Brandon as they explore how birds make the complex calls that both delight and sometimes aggravate at 4 in the morning. From the syrinx, to what the calls mean, and regional accents in birds, join us as we tune in to bird calls.

Episode 126: Birds Got Rhythm — Surveys by Ear

Steven Hogg, from Three Rivers Park District, and Sam Safran, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Minnesota, join us to discuss how Three Rivers Park District surveys for birds. How do you document all the birds in an area? Do you really have to wake up before dawn? Do the birds at least make you coffee? How can you use bird calls to evaluate restoration practices? All this and more will be answered.

Episode 127: Birds Got Rhythm — Bioacoustics Conservation

Connor Wood from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology talks about how he uses sounds in animal conservation despite being tone deaf. Using passive acoustic surveys he has studied spotted owl populations, surveyed the entire Sierra Nevada mountains with a team of only 15, and even studied endangered toads. What is a passive acoustic survey? Will this technology make Angela obsolete? Listen and find out.

April 2022: Purple Martins

Episode 122: A Synanthropic Companion — Purple Martins

Angela and Brandon discuss an animal that has become completely dependent on humans for housing, purple martins. Angela teaches Brandon about purple martin life history, the bird's relationship with humans historically, and dispels a few myths about their relationship with mosquitos.  

Episode 123: A Synanthropic Companion — From Pennsylvania to Brazil

What does a motorized couch have to do with purple martins? Joe Siegrist, President and CEO of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, joins us to explain. Learn what it's like to be on an undercover stakeout in Brazil looking for purple martins, why purple martins are given fanny packs for their migration, and what research the Purple Martin Conservation Association is doing. 

Episode 124: A Synanthropic Companion — Purple Martin Care in the Park District

Three dedicated volunteers from Three Rivers Park District discuss how they monitor and care for a purple martin colony, what they do if a storm blows a house down, and why they enjoy caring for these dazzling birds. 

Learn more on the blog about how we're protecting purple martins.

March 2022: Coyotes

Episode 119: Song Dog — A Brief History of Coyotes

Angela and Brandon explore the fascinating history of the largest predator in urban areas: coyotes. From its plethora of names, to unique adaptations that let it thrive even when hunted by humans, the coyote is a misunderstood animal full of amazing attributes.   

Episode 120: Song Dog — Managing with Coyotes

Scott Noland is a Land Manager with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He joins us to talk about land management with coyotes, the benefits they bring to the area he manages and how people should act when they see a coyote. 

Episode 121: Song Dog — Urban Studies

Geoff Miller, a Ph.D. student working with the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project joins us to talk about the research he is doing to shed light on what coyotes are doing in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Having found coyotes everywhere in the cities, from completely urban to city parks, he explains how the project works, why it is being done, some preliminary discoveries and how our listeners can participate in the study. 

February 2022: Fur Trade to Today

Episode 116: Fur Trade to Today — The Bonga Legacy

Join us as Joel Brown, a professional historic interpreter, talks to us about the legacy of George Bonga and the rest of his family. One of the first African Americans born in what became Minnesota, George Bonga's involvement in the fur trade and participation in several treaties helped create the Minnesota we live in today.

Episode 117: Fur Trade to Today — Understanding Barriers to Park Access

PeggySue Imihy Bean and Heidi Lee, employees for Hopkins and Edina respectively, help us explore why barriers created in the past impact park usage today. Heidi Lee shares how Edina has worked to acknowledge and remove these barriers in Edina parks.

Episode 118: Fur Trade to Today — A Personal Story

Quantina Beck-Jones joins us about her personal experiences in nature, from the time she was a kid to today. Nature has been important to her since she was a child and she shares what it means to her, why seagulls helped her connect with birds in Minnesota, and her work with Urban Bird Collective to help people overcome barriers to getting into parks.

January 2022: Bird is the Word

Episode 112: Bird is the Word — Introduction to the Big Year of Birds

Kick off Season 4 as Brandon and Angela discuss what birding means to them, talk to Kim Nowicki of Eastman Nature Center and John Moriarty, Senior Manager of Wildlife, about Three Rivers Park District's Big Year of Birds, and they discuss why birds are a good gateway to the outdoors.

Episode 113: Bird is the Word — Birding Before Minnesota was a State

Zack Mohlis from the Three Rivers History Team joins us to talk about the history of birding in Minnesota, why a state geologist led the research on birds in the 1800s, how dead birds in the mail helped science, and his favorite lines of poetry, we mean scientific writing, from the state birds report.

Episode 114: Bird is the Word — Dr. Sushma Reddy and Bird Evolution

Dr. Sushma Reddy, Bell Museum's Breckenridge Chair of Ornithology, discusses what it is like managing the Bell Museum's 46,000+ bird specimens, new advances in science that has allowed the relationships between bird species to be better understood, and why the dinosaurs are not actually extinct.

Episode 115:  Bird is the Word — The Missing Winter Birds

In January and the rest of our long winter, many of our Minnesota birds are not here... Where do they go and what are they doing? To give us some perspective on our missing birds of the winter season, Leonal Chavez, a coffee farmer in Honduras, talks with Angela and Brandon about dedicating his land to bird conservation.

Learn more about our Big Year of Birds and how you can celebrate with us all year long!

December 2021: The Final Frontier

Episode 108: The Final Frontier — Animals at Night

Join Angela and Brandon as they explore how the final frontier — space — impacts the animals in Three Rivers Parks. From moths orbiting the light outside your house, to dung beetles setting course with the Milky Way, open your hailing frequencies, set your course for the second star on the right, and engage the podcast as we explore the night sky.

Episode 109:  The Final Frontier — Lights at Night

Jessica Heim has a Master's in the field of Cultural Astronomy. She joins us to discuss her Master's Thesis on light pollution, what causes it and how we can work together to reduce it.

Episode 110: The Final Frontier — A Native Perspective on the Night Sky

We often think of Greek constellations when we look at the sky, but every culture had their own constellations and stories. James Knutson-Kolodzne and Jessica Heim of Native Skywatchers join us to share Indigenous star and earth knowledge, explain what Native Skywatchers is, and give resources so you can learn more about Dakota and Ojibwe constellations and stories.

Episode 111: The Final Frontier — NASA Ambassador

Nadia Abuisnaineh is a NASA Solar System Ambassador. She joins us to talk about what a Solar System Ambassador is, why the night sky is so important, and a Citizen Science Project you can do to help scientists determine the impacts of light pollution using constellations.

November 2021: Neighbors

Episode 105 — Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Switzerland

Jayne Becker, from our history interpretation team, starts our conversation on neighbors by telling us about immigrants from Switzerland who settled in what is now Elm Creek Park Reserve. Their immigration story starts in the 1850s, after Native Americans were forced from the land and the U.S. Government made it available for purchase. She shares details on who these Swiss immigrants were and what their relationship was with the land.

Episode 106 — Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Croatia

Professor Dalma Martinovic immigrated to Minnesota from Croatia in 1996. Join us as she shares why she moved to Minnesota, her experiences here, and how our parks differ from parks back in Croatia. A special thank you to Green Card Voices for connecting us with Professor Martinovic.

Episode 107 — Old Neighbors and New Neighbors: Neighbors from Colombia

Raul Velasquez joins us to share his immigration story. Originally from Colombia, he came to Minnesota to study engineering. He now works for the Minnesota Department of Transportation to design better roads. Hear how his connections to the land influenced his choices. A special thank you to Green Card Voices for connecting us with Dr. Raul Velasquez.

October 2021: Fear of Nature

Episode 102 — Removed from Nature, A Real Fear: A Historical Perspective

Bill Walker, Historical Programs Supervisor, joins us to give a European historical perspective on fear of nature. Why did early American settlers fear the wilderness? Was Henry David Thoreau talking about wilderness at Walden's Pond, or something else? How did Manifest Destiny play into American's fear of nature? 

Episode 103 — Removed from Nature, A Real Fear: Fear in Our Parks?

John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager, talks to us about whether we have anything to fear in our parks. We discuss what, if any, animals pose threats to us in Three Rivers Parks; how perceived lack of control makes humans pretty bad at judging potential threats; and steps you can take in our parks to remain safe.

Episode 104 — Removed from Nature, A Real Fear: The Only Thing to Fear is… Yourself?

Grant Armour, Recreation Program Specialist from our Outdoor Recreation School, talks to us about how the greatest threat in nature is ourselves. Grant discusses the importance of knowing your boundaries and recognizing when you are in a growth state or panic state when trying recreational activities. He gives tips on how to evaluate activities in nature to make sure you are safe and prepared.

September 2021: Trees

Episode 99 — Fall Colors to Spring Buds: What's Happening?

Join Angela and Brandon as they discover what trees do in the winter. Learn what causes fall colors, how trees produce the colors, and what goes on inside trees before they start growing in the spring.

Episode 100 — Fall Colors to Spring Buds: The Tree Nursery

Hear from Shawn Howard, Nursery Operations Supervisor, and Paul Kortebein, Senior Manager of Horticulture and Forestry, as they discuss how Three Rivers raises and plants thousands of native trees and shrubs each year. Learn about the challenges of starting a native nursery back in 1970 and how it is still helping to restore forests in all of our parks.

Episode 101 — Fall Colors to Spring Buds: Maples and Climate Change

Dr. Rachel Putnam joins us to talk about how climate change is impacting forests in North America. Hear about her own research on how different sugar maple populations may adapt to climate change.

Want to learn more about trees? Check out past blog posts on why trees change color in the fall and why some keep their leaves in the winter.

August 2021: Mussels

Episode 96 — Mussels Matter: What Is A Mussel?

Alan Holzer from Mississippi Gateway Regional Park joins us to talk about what mussels are, their unique life story and survival strategies, and why mussels are now one of the most endangered groups of animals.

Episode 97 — Mussels Matter: Restoring Mussels

Hear from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a Clemson University graduate student about their studies of mussels. Learn how they are affected by humans and what successes they have had restoring some species, including endangered ones.

Episode 98 — Mussels Matter: A Trip To The Zoo

Liz Gilles from the Minnesota Zoo discusses the zoo's Show Us Your Mussels Challenge. Learn about the work the zoo is doing to educate people about mussels and what research is being done to figure out how to reintroduce mussels.

July 2021: The Crow River

Episode 93 — The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow — Keeping it Clean

In this episode, we explore the third river in Three Rivers: the Crow River. Dan Nadeu from Wright Soil and Water Conservation District explains why the Crow River used to be called "the armpit of the Mississippi" and how the partnering with farmers in the area is crucial to improving the river's water quality.

Episode 94 — The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow — Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program

Brad Redlin, manager of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, shares more about the team effort between the Department of Agriculture and farmers to improve water quality in Minnesota. Learn how water quality certification works and how it leads to more sustainable farming.

Episode 95 — The Rivers That Shape Us: The Crow — A Farmers Perspective

Jerry Jennissen's farmland includes the ditch that is the official start of the Crow River. Any action he takes on his farm has a direct impact on the entire river. Hear about his experience with the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program and why sustainable farming matters to him.

June 2021: Fishing

Episode 90 — Casting a Line: Fish Habitats

Join us as we dive under the water to explore fishing habitats with Brian Vlach, Senior Manager of Water Resources at Three Rivers.  Diverse aquatic habitats throughout Minnesota support a huge range of fishes, not all lakes are the same. We also discuss how climate change is impacting fish populations in Minnesota.

Episode 91 — Casting a Line: Local Fishing Tips

Nick Sacco from Three River's Outdoor Recreation School and Janine Kohn from the Minnesota DNR drop us a line to go over fishing basics such as how to get started, what equipment you might need, where to go, and proper fishing etiquette. 

Episode 92 — Casting a Line: Fishing in Our Parks

Park Service Assistant Thao Vang talks to us about fishing in Three Rivers Park District, how fishing has changed over time for Hmong culture in Minnesota, and how to create a welcoming environment for people new to fishing.

See some of our favorite spots to fish from shore on the blog!

May 2021: Coffee for Birds

Episode 86 — Coffee for Birds: What's a Bird Got To Do With It?

Many migratory birds that spend summers in Minnesota live on coffee farms in the winter. Learn how coffee farms affect birds and how they can help support a wide array of bird species. 

Episode 87 — Coffee for Birds: Supporting Local Communities

Amanda Eastwood of Westrock Coffee Company talks about what it's like buying coffee from farmers, how the process can support local economies and improve the health of farmers, and why that is important in the coffee trade. She also shares tips on how to tell if your coffee supports coffee farming communities.

Episode 88 — Coffee for Birds: Coffee Farmers' Perspectives

Three coffee farmers share their perspective on farming everyone's favorite morning drink. Ashley Prentice in Guatemala, Gabriel Miari in Brazil and Mario Palomo in Honduras discuss their approaches to growing coffee and steps they have taken to be environmentally friendly. Translation is done by Giannina Posner.

Episode 89 — Coffee for Birds: Minnesota Roasting

Anne Costello of Peace Coffee Company in Minnesota discusses how coffee is roasted, the environmental impacts of roasting coffee, and best practices in the coffee industry. Julia Holiday, a historical interpreter from Three Rivers, coffee substitutes of the past.

Want to learn more? Read Brandon's reflection on why he drinks bird-friendly coffee on the Three Rivers blog.

April 2021: Accessible Outdoors

Episode 83 — Accessible Outdoors: An AuSM Partnership

Hear how Three Rivers and The Autism Society of Minnesota have partnered to provide programming specifically designed for people with autism spectrum disorder. Learn what autism is and how programming can be adjusted to create a welcoming environment for participants with autism. Cristina Palmisano, interpretive naturalist at Lowry Nature Center, explains how she started the partnership and how programming at Three Rivers has grown. 

Episode 84 — Accessible Outdoors: Adapted Programming

At Three Rivers, we want everybody, of any ability, to participate in programs and enjoy experiences outdoors. Sam and Tracy Tabaka from Three Rivers' Outdoor Recreation School talk to us about adapted programming and equipment offered at Three Rivers. Learn how programs are adapted, why this is important, and some etiquette on the trail when someone is using adapted equipment.

Episode 85 — Accessible Outdoors: Planning for Everyone

At Three Rivers, we believe you belong here. Making sure that "you" applies to everyone is a continual job that requires a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure our parks are accessible. Hear form Chris Boyer, executive director of Three Rivers Park District Foundation, about what the Foundation is and how it helps make our parks more accessible. Then, Lynn Stoltzmann, Director of Facility Services, and Designer Nate Straka, talk to us about how we evaluate the accessibility of our parks and makes necessary changes.

On the blog, learn about Three Rivers' unique relationship with We Can Ride, an organization that provides equine assisted activities and therapy (EAAT) out of Baker Park Reserve.

March 2021: Healing In Nature

Episode 80 — Healing in Nature: Get the Prescription

Mayo Clinic's Dr. Brent A. Bauer shares the science behind how parks and greenspaces improve physical and emotional well-being. 

Episode 81 — Healing in Nature: Soap for the Soul

Listen in as Angela and Brandon immerse themselves in Minnesota's first certified forest-bathing trail at Silverwood Park with a certified ANFT Shinrin Yoku guide.

Episode 82 — Healing in Nature: Opt Outside

Retired biologist and current Three Rivers volunteer, Mike Sweet, shares his goal to get outdoors every day to enjoy the benefits of interacting with nature.  He describes the welcomed surprises that evoke both feelings of relaxation and energization.

Find more ways to practice mindfulness in nature on the blog!

February 2021: Nature of Love

Episode 77 — Nature of Love: "Weird" Mating Habits in the Animal World

We're celebrating the most romantic month of the year by exploring the weird — at least to us — mating habits of animals. From fencing flatworms to snails that shoot love darts, learn about some of our favorite animal reproductive strategies.

Episode 78 — Nature of Love: The Love Life of Plants

Missy Anderson, propagation specialist at Three Rivers Park District Nursery, tells us all about the love life of plants. Do trees really alternate their forms every generation like ferns do? Why does plant reproduction make you sneeze? Listen to find out!

Episode 79 — Nature of Love: The Language of Flowers

Why do we give flowers on Valentine's Day and other celebratory times? It has something to do with the language of flowers, a tradition at least as old as Shakespeare where certain flowers carried specific messages. Learn about the history of this tradition and the meaning of a few flowers from Jayne Becker, Three Rivers cultural heritage interpreter.

Learn all about the unique mating ritual of the American woodcock on the Three Rivers blog!

January 2021: The Landing

Episode 75 — Landing into History: Archelogy 

Listen as Anne Ketz, co-founder of 106 Group, discusses how archeology has revealed human use in the area of The Landing going back 3,000 years. Learn about the award-winning archeology project 106 Group did in partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community on the village of Tinta Otunwe, and the importance of working with American Indian communities as an archeologist. 

Episode 76 — Landing into History: Modern Management 

It takes cooperation between education and natural resource management to interpret a historic village. Listen as Steven Hogg, natural resources supervisor, and Bill Walker, historical programs supervisor, discuss how nature and history are managed at The Landing.

Learn more about The Landing.

December 2020: At-Risk and Vulnerable Species

Episode 72 — Discovering at-Risk and Vulnerable Species  

Three Rivers Wildlife Supervisor, Steven Hogg, joins hosts Brandon and Angela to discuss at-risk species that live in Three Rivers. Learn which species we've introduced and which have found their own way to our restored habitat.   

Episode 73 — Protecting at-Risk and Vulnerable Species  

The Twin Cities area is home to more than half the citizens of Minnesota. Despite this, the area still has diverse wildlife thanks in part to progressive open space planning. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Nongame Specialist, Erica Hoaglund, joins to share what makes this central region unique and the challenges of conservation.   

Episode 74 — Volunteering for at-Risk and Vulnerable Species 

Hear from Three Rivers volunteer Allison Weyer who is making a difference with the Blanding's turtle, threatened species in Minnesota. Learn how monitoring during nesting season can lead to nighttime missions to protect nests from predators. 

On the Three Rivers blog, learn about the regal fritillary butterfly — a species of special concern in Minnesota that is now thriving in Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.

November 2020: Prairies

Episode 69 — Fire to Frost: A Prairie Story of Seasons

Minnesota once was home to 18 million acres of prairie; today just over 1 percent is left. Protecting and recreating grassland is one of the most critical environmental challenges facing Minnesota. Listen as Brandon and Angela explore the seasons of the most endangered ecosystem: the tallgrass prairie.   

Episode 70 — Fire to Frost: A Prairie Story of Restoration

Three Rivers Wildlife staff members Brian Fredlund and Mitch Haag discuss how controlled help a prairie ecosystem.

Episode 71 — Fire to Frost: A Prairie Story Across Minnesota

Guest Megan Benage with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shares her connection to prairies and how it's all about balance and diversity.

Learn about some of the most unique plants in the Crow-Hassan prairie on the Three Rivers blog. 

October 2020: Spiders

Episode 66 — It Came From the Bottom of the Web: Spiders 101

Angela and Brandon share stories of getting up close and personal with spiders. Monica Rauchwarter from Richardson Nature Center talks about spider basics and clears up common misconceptions. 

Episode 67 — It Came From the Bottom of the Web: Spider Webs and Spider Brains 

Larry Weber, author of A Guide to Webs and the Spiders that Make Them, joins us to discuss why he loves spiders, their webs and even spiders that live through winter. Dr. Anthony Aletta discusses his research on spider brains. 

Episode 68 — It Came From the Bottom of the Web: Spider Research and You 

Chad Heins, professor at Bethany Lutheran College tells us how many spiders are in Minnesota thanks to help from citizen scientists and iNaturalist. Learn how you can contribute to his research.

Uncover more spider myths and facts on the Three Rivers blog!

September 2020: Fungi

Episode 63 — Fungi are The Life of the Party: Exploring a Kingdom

Listen in as we discover what makes fungi so unique — from acting as nature's recyclers to infecting hosts to connecting trees in a wood-wide web.

Episode 64 — Fungi are The Life of the Party: Fungal Invaders

Angie Smith, Director of Natural Resources, and Dan Commerford, Forestry Supervisor, explain why we discourage harvesting wild mushrooms in Three Rivers. Learn about fungi that negatively affect our parks, and how we are fighting oak wilt and Dutch elm disease.

Episode 65 — Fungi are The Life of the Party: Grow Your Own!

Learn why Gale Woods Farm has a mushroom forest and get tips for growing your own edible mushrooms at home.

Learn more about foraging in Three Rivers on the blog.

August 2020: Monarch Migration

Episode 60 — Mexico to Minnesota: Piecing Together the Monarch Migration

Learn how and why monarchs make the long journey back and forth between Mexico and Minnesota

Episode 61 — Mexico to Minnesota: Tagging and Planting

Listen in as naturalist Jim Gilbert tells the story of how a monarch his students tagged confirmed where Minnesota's monarchs migrated. Learn what you can plant in your garden to help monarchs and other pollinators.

Episode 62 — Mexico to Minnesota: Monarchs from a Chicano Point of View

Chicana professor Karen Mary Davalos shares how Chicano, Chicana and Chicanx artists are inspired by the monarch butterfly. Jesus Ramirez explains how his Chicano culture and the monarch helped him go through a metamorphosis in life, from gang member to educator.

Learn more about the great monarch migration on the Three Rivers blog.

July 2020: Farming

Episode 57 — Minnesota’s Agriculture From the Past to the Future: Learning from Native Elders

Brandon and Angela speak with Seneca Elder Hope Flannigan about Native farming practices before Europeans reached Minnesota. Hope explains the difference between wild and domestic plants, how Dream of Wild Health is using Native farming techniques today, and what we can learn from Native farming to make a more sustainable future.

Episode 58 — Minnesota’s Agriculture From the Past to the Future: The Rise of Dairy 

Elise Bushard of Lowry Nature Center and Historical Interpretation Supervisor Bill Walker tell the story of how one man started the Midwest dairy industry. Learn how Wendelin Grimm bred the first winter-hardy alfalfa, leading to profitable commercial dairy in the region.

Episode 59 — Minnesota’s Agriculture From the Past to the Future: Sustainability

Hear from Tim Reese and Melissa Hochstetler of Gale Woods Farm about what sustainable practices they use and how you as a consumer can help farmers transition to more climate-friendly practices.

Learn more about Wendelin Grimm and how farming and environmental stewardship go together on the Three Rivers blog. 

June 2020: Fireflies

Episode 54 —  A Light in the Dark: Fireflies 101

Listen as Miranda Jones, firefly expert at Eastman Nature Center, shares facts about firefly biology, why they glow and where you can find them.

Episode 55 — A Light in the Dark: You Can't Handle the Truth!

Professor Sara Lewis shares some of her knowledge from over 30 years of studying fireflies. We discuss a female firefly nicknamed a vampire that deceives male fireflies. Hear about Professor Lewis' latest research on firefly conservation and how you can help.

Episode 56 — A Light in the Dark: Citizen Science and Fireflies

Climate change may lead to more species of fireflies in Minnesota as our growing season gets longer, but habitat loss, pesticide use and light pollution are all decreasing the number of fireflies. Learn how to help scientists collect data as we discuss the citizen science project Firefly Watch with one of its founders, Don Salvatore.

Learn more about the magic of fireflies on the Three Rivers blog!

May 2020: Raising Children

Episode 50 — Are You My Mother? The Parental Spectrum of Nature

Listen in as Angela and Brandon celebrate Mother's Day by discussing the variety of parental care found in nature. Some animals are hardly involved in raising their offspring while others put in as much energy humans. It all depends on the species and their life strategy.  

Episode 51 — Are You My Mother? Farm Babies

Visit Gale Woods Farm with supervisor Tim Reese to learn all about farm babies. Learn about Lamb Watch, a volunteer project, and other farm babies you may encounter while at Gale Woods. 

Episode 52 — Are you my Mother? Historical and Cultural Ojibwe Childcare

Childcare among humans has differed throughout history and within many cultures, but it has never been easy. Listen as Michelle Defoe of the Red Cliff Ojibwe talks about traditions she has reclaimed after they were lost or suppressed during the Boarding School area and how she feels they have helped her in raising her children.

Episode 53 —  Are you my Mother? Historical and Cultural European Childcare

Listen as guest Jayne Becker from The Landing explained how early European settlers managed childcare. How was the diaper invented? What games were played? Tune in to find out! 

Learn more about the good, the bad and the ugly of raising farm babies on the Three Rivers Blog!

April 2020: Trumpeter Swans

Episode 47 — Swan Song to Trumpets of Success: Trumpeter Swan Basics

Get to know North America's largest waterfowl: the trumpeter swan. Discover fun facts and basic biology, and learn how to identify them from other swan species. 

Episode 48 — Swan Song to Trumpets of Success: A Historic Timeline

John Moriarty, senior wildlife manager at Three Rivers, explains a timeline of events that starts with the disappearance of trumpeter swans from Minnesota and ends in reintroduction success. Learn more on this historic rehabilitation and how Three Rivers started it all. 

Episode 49 — Swan Song to Trumpets of Success: Current Swan Research and Rehabilitation

Trumpeter Swans are now a common sight in the metro area but we still don't know that much about their movements and habitat choice. In this episode, hear from David Wolfson, a Ph. D. student at the University of Minnesota, and Dr. Renee Schott, Medical Director and Senior Veterinarian of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, about what we do know about their movements and how to rehabilitate them. 

Learn more about wildlife reintroduction on the Three Rivers blog!

March 2020: Urban Sprawl

Episode 44 — Under Pressure: Urban Sprawl - A Spectrum of Parks

Luke Skinner, Associate Superintendent of Three Rivers Park District, discusses how and why we have created a spectrum of parks — from parks primarily for recreation to parks with large tracts of recreated habitat.

Episode 45 — Under Pressure: Urban Sprawl - To Develop or Not to Develop?

Learn how we decide which areas of a park should be developed and which should be preserved from Associate Superintendent Jonathan Vlaming and Senior Wildlife Manager John Moriarty.

Episode 46 — Under Pressure: Urban Sprawl - 80/20

Steven Hogg explains Three Rivers' 80/20 policy, why it is so important for managing the habitat of our park reserves, and how we use GIS to track it.

February 2020: The Mississippi River

Episode 41 — The Rivers that Shape Us: The Mississippi and its Geology

Tune in as we discuss one of the rivers Three Rivers Park District is named after, the Mississippi River! Ashley Smith, interpretive naturalist at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, teaches us how earthquakes, glaciers, volcanoes and even a tropical vacation helped shape the Mississippi River. 

Episode 42 — The Rivers that Shape Us: The Mississippi and How Geology Shaped its Use

Hear from Matt Cassady, program specialist with Minnesota Historical Society, as he explains how the geology of the Mississippi River has influenced the way humans have used the river over the past 10,000 years.

Episode 43 — The Rivers that Shape Us: The Mississippi, Dams and Birds

Why does Three Rivers operate a dam and how is it used to stop invasive species? Find out from Elm Creek Park Reserve and Mississippi Gateway Regional Park maintenance chief Nick Beaufeaux. Listen in as National Park Service Ranger Sharon Stiteler explains why the portion of the Mississippi River that runs through Minneapolis is a National River and Recreation Area and why it is important to migrating birds.

Learn how the Mississippi helped build the Twin Cities on the Three Rivers blog!

January 2020: Life Under the Ice

Episode 38 — Ice, Ice, Nature: Life Under the Ice

Join us for the start of season two as Brandon and Angela dive into to a listener-requested topic: Life Under the Ice. Explore the murky depths of a lake in the winter, and learn which creatures stay active all winter and which go dormant. 

Episode 39 — Ice, Ice, Nature: Invasion of the Oxygen Snatchers

Learn how aquatic invasive species impact life under the ice and what you can do to help. Hear from Amy Timm, Three Rivers' Natural Resources Supervisor for Water Quality.

Episode 40 — Ice, Ice, Nature: From Ice Harvesting to Ice Fishing, How Humans Use Ice

Listen as park volunteer and ice harvest historian Tim Graff explains how and why people harvested ice in the 1800s and how you can experience ice harvesting today. Learn how to ice fish from Brent Hennen, Recreation Program Specialist at our Outdoor Recreation School,  and learn some tips for how to add as little stress to our winter fish as possible.

Learn more about the history of ice harvesting on the Three Rivers blog!

December 2019: Winter Strategies

Episode 35: Winter Strategies — Should I Stay or Should I Go (Getting MADD)

Angela and Brandon investigate three strategies that animals use to survive the winter: migrating, adapting, and going dormant. Learn how these strategies work as we dig into the winter habits of beavers, coyotes, birds, butterflies and ground squirrels.

Episode 36: Winter Strategies — Bird Banding and Winter Migration

Did you know that Minnesota birds have five types of migration habits? Hear from Ron Refsneider, retired biologist for the Minnesota DNR and Master Bird Bander, as he shares what his bird banding data indicates about Minnesota birds' winter habits.

Episode 37: Winter Strategies — Turtle Habits and Human Clothes

John Moriarty shares new research about what turtles do in the winter; it turns out it's a lot more complicated than just sleeping in the mud! Hear tips from Heather Gordon from the Outdoor Recreation School on how to dress for the cold.

Learn more about winter strategies on the Three Rivers blog, including how bats survive winter, what we learned from the Medicine Lake turtle study, and how to brave the cold and embrace winter.

November 2019: Deer Management

Episode 32: Buck-ing the Trend — Deer 101

Hear about the history of deer management, why it's necessary, and how Disney has impacted deer populations. Learn about deer habits and why controlled hunts in our parks are important.

Episode 33: Buck-ing the Trend — Managing Our Deer

Listen as Wildlife Supervisor Steven Hogg and Nursery Supervisor Shawn Howard discuss what steps we take to keep our parks healthy with a large deer population. Learn about the ups and downs of deer-management techniques, including hunting, exclusion fences and smells. 

Episode 34: Buck-ing the Trend — Hunters, The Next Generation

Ryan Barth, Outdoor Education Supervisor at Baker Near Wilderness Settlement, and Bill Vollbrecht, Golf Maintenance Supervisor at Eagle Lake Golf Course, discuss how they are mentoring children by teaching them about deer hunting. We discuss why it is important, the ethics of hunting amidst a growing human population, and youth-mentored deer hunts help promote a new generation of environmental stewards.

Learn more about deer management on the Three Rivers blog!

October 2019: Zombies

EPISODE 29: NATURE OF ZOMBIES — STRANGE WORLD OF ANIMAL ZOMBIES

Zombies are all around us! In fact, you may have even encountered zombies in your life, right in nature. Join Angela and Brandon to explore the creepy world of zombies in nature, including horse hair worms, fungi and cat parasites. 

EPISODE 30: NATURE OF ZOMBIES — ATTACK OF THE "ZOMBEES" AND PLANTS

Our guests, students Evie and AJ and Three Rivers Forestry Supervisor Dan Comerford, join us to investigate other real-life zombies. Learn about Evie and AJ's award-winning project, Zombees, and hear from Dan about how plants can become zombies.

EPISODE 31: NATURE OF ZOMBIES — HISTORICAL FASCINATION

Zach Molis from The Landing provides a historical perspective on how the idea of human zombies came to be. Why are we so fascinated with apocalyptic scenarios?

Want to learn about more creepy crawlies? Check out the Three Rivers blog for a look at the spiders of Minnesota.

September 2019: 50 Years of Stewardship

EPISODE 25: 50 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP —THE NEED FOR PARKS

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 26: 50 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP — LOWRY NATURE CENTER

The first nature center, Lowry Nature Center, was built in 1969. 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 27: 50 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP — PLANTING RESTORED PRAIRIE

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

EPISODE 28: 50 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP — LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Three Rivers has worked to make our parks home for surrounding communities and wildlife over the past 50-plus years. Building a foundation on educating others for a chance to nurture an interest in natural happenings in the outdoors led to many great things, including prairie restoration. Kirk Mona, interpretive naturalist, joins to discuss the present and future of Three Rivers' mission. 

Learn how prairie restoration in Three Rivers began and how it has evolved since 1969 on the blog.

August 2019: Bees

Episode 22: Bees, Cows, and your Lunch — To Bumblebee be or to Honeybee?

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

Episode 23: Bees, Cows, and your Lunch — Farmer Tim and the Bees

Tim Reese, supervisor of Gale Woods Farm, tells us about his experience raising bees, how bee keeping has changed in recent years, and how Gale Woods Farm manages to be a working farm while still using bee-friendly practices.

Episode 24: Bees, Cows, and your Lunch — Native Bee Atlas

Britt Forsberg from the University of Minnesota Native Bee Atlas discusses how the university is discovering which bees live in Minnesota. Learn how to make your yard bee friendly and get tips on planting for native bees. 

Want to learn more about bees? Read Honeybees, Bumblebees and the Case of the Collapsing Hive on the Three Rivers blog.

July 2019: Dragonflies

Episode 19: Here there be Dragon(flies)—The Transformational Journey

If you have spent time near water this summer, you have likely witnessed dragonflies buzzing by. But did you know that dragonflies live two lives? Wander with us and discover their unique life cycle that spans across land and water.  

Episode 20: Here there be Dragon(flies)—Creatures of Aquatic Habitats

Listen as we talk with Mitch Haag, a Wildlife Operations Specialist at Three Rivers Park District and founding board member of Minnesota Dragonfly Society to learn more on the importance of aquatic habitats and where you can find dragonflies.

Episode 21:  Here there be Dragon(flies)—Cultural Fascination to Research Subjects   

Hear dragonfly scientist Ami Thompson talk about her study subject, the fascinating, migrating, Common Green Darner.

Love dragonflies? Discover more fun facts on the Three Rivers blog!

June 2019: Water Quality

Episode 16: A Day on the Water—Too Many Vitamins

Wander with us as we dive into water and the issues it faces. How are phosphates and nitrates like vitamins? How are our lakes impacted? Are polar bear livers really connected to this? How is the Three Rivers' maintenance staff changing salt use in the winter to help our water? 

Episode 17: A Day on the Water—Testing Our Watersheds

Listen as John Hess, a member of our Water Quality department, shares some of the challenges our waterways face, how he monitors them, and what you can do at home to help keep our lakes and rivers healthy.

Episode 18: A Day on the Water—1800s and Today

Zach Mohlis from The Landing shares with us how people used the Minnesota River when Europeans first settled the area. Learn how farming practices have changed and their impact on the river. Nick Sacco from the Outdoor Recreation School talks to us about the water-based activities you do can in Three Rivers, and we debate whether log rolling is a paddle sport.

Learn more about water quality and why swimming beaches close on the Three Rivers blog.

May 2019: Wildflowers

Episode 13: April Showers, May Flowers—Growing While It's Snowing

Can plants really grow when there's snow on the ground? Tune in to find out as Angela and Brandon explain how tiny plants can grow and flower at a time when other plants dare not even show their leaves.

Episode 14: April Showers, May Flowers—Earthworms, Buckthorn, and Flowers, Oh My

Are earthworms good for forest flowers? How do invasive species like buckthorn affect them? Join us as we talk to Missy Anderson, the Invasive Species Coordinator for Three Rivers Park District, and Alex Roth from Friends of the Mississippi. Learn what you can do to help native flowers.

Episode 15: April Showers, May Flowers—Flower Medicine and Taking Photos

Pauline Bold from The Landing shares how people historically used early spring wildflowers, including as medicine and food. Disclaimer: Do not try to use these as food or medicine yourself. Listen to learn why. Photographer Laura Jarriel shares tips for taking photos of spring wildflowers with our phones.

Learn how to identify six spring wildflowers and where to find them on the Three Rivers blog.

April 2019: Frogs

Episode 10: Calls of Spring — The Racket of Frogs

The frogs are fresh out of hibernation, a sure sign of spring. Have you heard them yet? Join Brandon and Angela as they discuss the biology of frogs and toads to explain all that racket they make. 

Episode 11: Calls of Spring — Start of a Journey

John Moriarty, Senior Manager of Wildlife for Three Rivers, talks about the creation of Minnesota's frog survey. With 14 species of frogs and toads in the state, there is much to learn about their calls, how to identify them and why we monitor them.

Episode 12: Calls of Spring — Monitoring Frogs in the Dark

Citizen scientists help conduct frog surveys by listening for and recording frog calls. The data they collect helps determine status, distribution and population trends of frogs. Hear from volunteer Dianne Rowse about this experience.

One of a frog's most well-known features is its tongue. Learn all about the myths and realities of frog tongues on the Three Rivers blog!

March 2019: Maple Syrup

Episode 7: Wandering the Sugar Bush — A Native Perspective on Maple Syrup

Join us as we talk with Ojibwe students about their experience with maple syrup. We discuss how they maple syrup today both on a reservation and in the middle of the cities; how today's techniques differ from their ancestors; and what maple syruping means to them. 

Episode 8: Wandering the Sugar Bush — The Science of Syruping

We talk with our Forestry Supervisor Dan Comerford about the unique structure of maple trees that allow us to turn its sap into syrup. Explore with us as we discover the science behind maple syruping and learn how climate change will impact our maple trees.

Episode 9: Wandering the Sugar Bush — Cooking with Maple Syrup

Discover the secrets to cooking with maple syrup as Andi Anderson from Gale Woods Farm joins us to help us in the kitchen. We discuss how to substitute syrup for sugar in recipes. We also help you decode the meaning of Grade A and Grade B syrup.

Sugar maples make maple syruping possible. Learn all about these iconic trees on the Three Rivers blog!

February 2019: Owls

Episode 4: Strange Calls in the Night—Super Ears and Keen Eyes

Join Brandon and Angela as they explore how owls can not only survive the winter, but raise their young when the rest of us are hunkered inside waiting for spring. Find out if owls have super-hearing like superman, how their eyes help them see at night, and what makes owl feathers special. Discover the adaptations that help these owls thrive in the cold.

Episode 5: Strange Calls in the Night—Tracking Owl Nests

Do you know where owls nest? Hear how volunteer Paul Schlick coordinates a group of volunteers to track and document owl and other raptor nests in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Paul explains why this project is important, some of the challenges they have faced, and the opportunities for partnership with the Raptor Center that his data has created.

Episode 6: Strange Calls in the Night—Owl Ambassadors

Join us as Interpretive Naturalist Adam Barnett explains why nature centers keep owls as ambassadors for their wild kin. He recounts his time working with the Raptor Center, shares some of the joys and challenges of working with captive owls, and shares with us what to do if an injured owl is found.

Get a hoot out of owls? Read more about them on the Three Rivers blog!

January 2019: Snow

Episode 1: Snow (and its relationship to animals)

In this first episode of The Wandering Naturalist, hosts Brandon and Angela provide some insight on the science of snow and how it impacts the animals who depend on the subnivean layer.

Episode 2: Snow (and its relationship with plants)

In the second part of this series on snow, Angela and Brandon talk about the advantages and challenges snow brings to plant life.

Episode 3: Snow (and its history with Minnesota) 

How did humans interact with snow before the advent of modern heating and insulation amenities? Learn all about it as hosts Brandon and Angela talk with an expert from The Landing.

Interested in learning even more about snow? Find out how snowmaking helps support winter activities on the Three Rivers blog!

Your Hosts

Brandon

a naturalist in a blue shirt and tan hat

Brandon Baker is an interpretive naturalist at Eastman Nature Center and has degrees in biology and environmental studies from St. John’s University. Brandon's passion is connecting people to the great outdoors. Each year he introduces thousands of children and adults to the natural world through innovative and informative interpretive programming. He enjoys learning how human history and the natural environment have combined to shape the world we live in.

Angela

a woman in a white shirt and pink ball cap smiling while holding a dragonfly.

Angela Grill graduated from Minnesota State University—Mankato with degrees in ecology and geography. She has a passion for being outdoors and ensuring conservation of the natural heritage of our lands. As a wildlife biologist at Three Rivers Park District, she enjoys working on a wide range of projects from restoring prairies to pollinator surveys. Outside of work she can be found in the garden where she is in the good company of wonder dog, Sid, and two rented chickens, Cersi Henister and Princess Leialot.

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