Do wolves decimate deer populations or is the survival of deer fawns just low no matter what? And meet the Solifuge aka Camel Spider, Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion - spoiler alert: not a spider and also not a scorpion, so what is it? Find out on this Dirt Dispatch! Become a patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Email me or donate via PayPal: di…

By listener request I'm talking about those dumpster diving little bandits: raccoons! Do they really wash their hands or their food? Find out the answer to this question and more! Support the podcast by becoming a Patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Send your suggestions, questions or comments or make a donation via PayPal! Dispatchesfromth…

Pelican update, pronghorn babies and a long-tailed weasel! Hear what I've been up to and what I've been seeing here at Dispatches HQ! Become a patron: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Donate via PayPal or email me! Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Check out the merch store! Cafepress.com/shop/dispatchesfromtheforest…

Coyotes are one of the largest predators most of us are likely to encounter. They're also one of the most misunderstood animals around. Join me as I deconstruct the myths and misconceptions about coyotes. Support the Podcast by becoming a Patron: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Send me an email or donate via PayPal: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmai…

Pelicans, Pronghorn and the prodigious Miller moths. Check out the happenings here at Dispatches HQ! Support the podcast by becoming a Patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Get some sweet merch at the Merch Store! Cafepress.com/shop/dispatchesfromtheforest Send me an email or donate via PayPal: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com…

This episode is a little shorter than normal since it was a busy week here at Dispatches HQ, but I want to introduce you to two birds who could win awards with their acting abilities: the Killdeer and the American Avocet. And it just so happens that I've seen both recently! Tune in to find out more about how these bold little birds employ their inn…

Pelican update, more coyotes, moth season and a thorn pig sighting! Tune in to see what I've been up to! Patreon: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest PayPay/email address: dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Merch store! cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforestBy Dispatchesfromtheforest

This year we're witnessing an event that hasn't happened since 1803 - when Thomas Jefferson was president. The dual emergence of a 13 year species of cicada and a 17 year species of cicada. So in honor of that we're revisiting cicadas - and learning some cool new things about them! We're also revisiting cicada killer wasps and cicada zombie butt fu…

Pelican update, coyotes out during the daytime, a possible crow's nest and becoming a Certified Interpretive Guide. Become patron to support the Podcast! (C'mon, it's as low as $5 a month!) Patreon.com/Dispatchesfromtheforest PayPal a donation or send me a message (reach out, let me know you care!): dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Get some sweet …

Learn about some snakes native to Wyoming: The Prairie Rattlesnake, the Midget Faded Rattlesnake and Bull Snake - and why misinformation and not reading closely are more dangerous than venomous snakes. Got comments? Questions? Suggestions? PayPal donations? Send them to me at Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Want to support the podcast with a mont…

In this dispatch I'll give you a Pelican update, share "who" I heard the other day and tell you what I learned about Turkey Vultures in the state of Wyoming. Tune in and give it a listen, then: 1. Consider becoming a patron: patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest 2. Send a message or make a donation via PayPal: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com 3. Get…

We hear a lot about air pollution and water pollution, but what about light pollution? I mean, it's not real pollution right? It's just an inconvenience for stargazers. Actually light pollution can have some very real impacts on plants, insects, animals, human health and even water quality. Learn more about why the night should be dark on this epis…

Welcome to Dirt Dispatch #1! These are designed to be short and informal - a place for me to talk about what nature-related shenanigans I've been up to, what I've been seeing, my opinions on various topics, updates on things I've talked about before - basically things that might not fit into an episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast. It …

A wonderful bird is the Pelican, Its bill can hold more than his belican It can take in its beak Enough food for a week But damned if I know how the helican! Lean more about American White Pelican and Brown Pelicans in this episode! Email/PayPal address: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Patreon: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Merch! Cafepress…

Red-winged Blackbirds and Meadowlarks are both very vocal, both migratory in my area, and both members of the Icteridae family. In this episode we'll learn more about these heralds of Spring! Check out our Patreon page: patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Also our merch store: cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Send an email, donate via PayPal: …

Spring is here! (At least in the Northern Hemisphere). A time celebrated by many cultures as a time of rebirth and renewal. Rabbits are often a symbol of spring, given their propensity for....reproducing. Learn more about the members of the order Lagomorpha - Rabbits, hares, and Pika. Check out our Patreon page: Patreon.com/dispatchestheforest PayP…

There are 15 species of crane worldwide, but only 2 are native to North America: The Sandhill Crane and the Whooping Crane. The Sandhill Crane's spring migration staging is considered to be one of the top wildlife spectacles in the world. Whooping Cranes were once nearly extinct - with fewer than 28 individuals left in the wild. Learn more about th…

Magpies are one of the smartest animals on the planet - they make tools, play and hold "funerals" for their dead. Learn more about this amazing member of the Corvid family in this episode! Become a patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Check out our Merch store! cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Email/PayPal: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail…

Several stories hit the news recently that relate - either directly or indirectly - to things I've talked about in the last few episodes of this podcast. I'll update you on stories relating to wolverines, wolves and other efforts to reintroduce native species in their historic range. Paypal/Email address: DispatchesFromTheForest@gmail.com Patreon: …

Lemmings are another small, artic tundra dwelling mammal - and they have a very interesting relationship with Snowy Owls. Learn more about both - and how Walt Disney shamefully contributed to lemming myths - in this episode! Become a patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Visit our merch store! Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Sent us an …

Last episode I told you about a "Golden Mole" which, as it turns out, is not actually a mole. So what IS a mole? And what's the difference between a Mole and Vole? And what's a shrew and can it be tamed? All these questions will be answered in this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! Check out our Patreon Page: Patreon.com/dispatches…

We finish off 2023 by looking at some of the notable news from the past year, including new species discovered, old species re-discovered and species re-introduced into the wild. We've got insects, spiders, monotremes, a snake named Harrison Ford and more! Check it out! Email/PayPal: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com Patreon: Patreon.com/Dispatches…

Today I'm talking about more mustelids! You've probably heard of a wolverine - whether it's the superhero or the University of Michigan mascot - but what do you really know about wolverines? Probably not much (I know I didn't!) so join me to learn more about the mighty wolverine and his little cousin the fisher. Send a message or donate via PayPal:…

"Wild Horses" aka Mustangs in America are a surprisingly complex and controversial issue. Ride along as we explore the history of horses in North America and venture into the controversy surrounding one of the iconic animals of the American West - the Mustang. Then check out our Patreon and become a patron! Patreon.com/Dispatchesfromtheforest Or ma…

Timberdoodle, Labrador Twister, Bogsucker, Hokumpoke and Fiddle Squeak are just a few of the nicknames for a gamebird whose real name is the American Woodcock. They aren't flashy, but Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks would be proud. Learn more on this episode! Patreon: Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Merch Store: cafepress.com/dispatchesf…

Common loons are anything but common - unless you count their drab winter plumage, but HEY - who among us DOESN'T look a bit drab in the winter? Discounting their winter look, they are amazing birds - divers who carry their chicks on their backs and whose calls are among my list of "Top 10 sounds of Wilderness". Learn all about the common loon on t…

Otters are arguably some of the cutest members of the Mustelid, or Weasel, family. Learn about North America's two native otter species: Sea otters and River otters on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! Check out our Patreon! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Check out our Merch Store! Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Se…

In our continuing celebration of hitting 10k downloads I give you some of the best from 2022! Turtle Rabbits, Thorn Pigs, Iron Snails, Foxes, Mantis Shrimp and much more! If you've already heard those episodes hopefully this will remind you of some cool stuff - and if you haven't listened to those episodes hopefully it will inspire you to go back a…

In celebration of passing 10,000 downloads we're going back to the beginning and recapping the first 12 episodes. Hear some of my favorite facts from those episodes. If you listened to those already, I'll bet I can make you go "oh yeah - I forgot about that!" at least once. If you didn't listen to those, hopefully it will make you want to! Either w…

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of my favorite places - and someday will be the permanent home of Dispatches from the Forest World Headquarters. Learn more about this region that was once described as a "sterile region on the shores of Lake Superior destined by soil and climate to remain forever a wilderness." (Please note: this episode was …

Inspired by being back in prairie dog country we're taking a look at some animals that tend to live in close proximity to them, and in some cases, depend on them for their very survival. Learn about the decorating prowess of burrowing owls, how Shep the ranch dog helped save black footed ferrets from extinction and the amazing partnership that badg…

Common Grackles and Brown Headed Cowbirds are two birds that don't get a lot of love. They're not brightly colored, they don't have pretty songs and they do some things that many humans don't like. But to be fair, judging them against human standards is unfair, and these birds are actually pretty darn interesting! Listen and learn why you, "never g…

The C&O Canal stretches 185 miles from Washinton DC to Cumberland, MD. Built 200 years ago and abandoned nearly 100 years ago, the canal as it exists today is a 185 mile wetland that provides habitat for many species of wildlife. Learn more about the history of the canal and 3 species of heron that live there on this episode of the Dispatches from …

By special request we're going in-depth to learn more about tree frogs. Some can change color, some have super-jumping power and some don't live in trees at all. Learn more on this episode! Check out the merch store! Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Check out our Patreon! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest PayPal/Email Address: Dispatchesfrom…

Let's head back down to the tropics and I'll tell you about some of the other wildlife we saw on our trip to Costa Rica! Leaf cutter ants, hermit crabs and howler monkeys! Check out the Merch store! Cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Become a patron! Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest PayPal/Email: Dispatchesfromtheforest@gmail.com…

The Nature Nerd family got to spend a little time in the cloud forest of Costa Rica. Two of the animals we saw - the Central American Agouti and the White-nose Coati - are familiar sights...if you live in Costa Rica. But for us, they were exciting and new. Learn more about these two animals on this episode! Want to support the show? Here's how: Con…

With Memorial Day Weekend just passed summer has officially started - that means picnics and picnics mean ants - but did you know that ants have superpowers? Or that they can become zombie? Or that they take prisoners? Learn all about these amazing insects on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! Check out our merch store: cafepre…

In what may have been the first negative Yelp review in history, Ben Franklin said that the Bald Eagle had "bad moral character" and called it a "rank coward". "1 out of 5 stars: do not recommend". Ok maybe not that last one but still....This mostly had to do with the interaction between Bald Eagles and Osprey. Learn more about these two birds of p…

Truth be told, I don't much care for Ticks, but I have to admit that they ARE pretty interesting when you get to know them. Learn more about these vampiric little arachnids in this episode of the podcast! Follow us on FaceBook, Instagram and Tik Tok - and coming soon to YouTube! Check out our merch store at cafepress.com/dispatchesfromtheforest Che…

Snakes get a lot of hate - either because people are afraid of them or because they think they're creepy or icky. But just 7% of the 600 or so species of snake in the world have "medically significant" venom. Most snakes you are likely to encounter are harmless - especially if you just leave them alone. So let's learn about some of North America's …

Snot Otter is my favorite nickname for salamanders. There are over 700 species worldwide, and if there is a common theme to unite them, it's "variability". These wacky amphibians range in size from an inch to over 6 feet, they can regrow limbs and some are poisonous if you eat them (Don't eat them.) Learn more on this episode! Check out our Patreon…

Meet the largest species of deer in North America: The Elk and the Moose - although in other parts of the world, Moose are called Elk, and Elk are called deer - it's all very confusing - but you can find out how all this confusion came about by listening to this episode! Get yourself some Dispatches from the Forest Merch - it's OK to get it dirty! …

You ever feel like you're just bashing your head against a wall? Well, if you were a woodpecker, you'd do that all the time! But since you're not a woodpecker, doing that will hurt - a lot! Learn about how these head banging birds avoid long term memory loss in this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest podcast. Check out our merch store at Caf…

Prairie dogs are a keystone species of the Great Plains, and as it turns out, they are AMAZING! You may have FaceBook drama, but Prairie Dog social networking is almost as bad - and they have one of the most complicated vocal repertoires of any animal. Take a look UNDER the prairie and learn more on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Po…

"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play..." But there were not actually buffalo or antelope roaming or playing. You can learn more about bison and pronghorn - the ones that were roaming and playing with the deer on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! Also, we now have merch! Check out our me…

What's black and white and red all over? A penguin with a sunburn! Learn more about these flightless fowl of the south on this week's episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast! To support future episodes please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest. Individual donations are also accepted via PayPal at Dispatchesf…

Sea turtles are amazing creatures! The largest species, the Leatherback Sea Turtle can grow to be over 1000 pounds. Learn more about these ocean-dwelling reptiles on this episode!By Dispatchesfromtheforest

I know plenty of people that would hibernate through the winter if they could. For the last episode of the year, we take a closer look at those iconic hibernators (or are they?) black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears.By Dispatchesfromtheforest

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and all the rest, but do you know all the amazing features that make Reindeer the perfect animal to pull Santa's sleigh? Learn all about these amazing and unique members of the deer family!By Dispatchesfromtheforest

What's the difference between a native species, a non-native naturalized species and an invasive species? Good question! Listen to this week's episode and find out!By Dispatchesfromtheforest