Best U.s. Fish And Wildlife Service Podcasts (2024)

Meet the spike-toothed salmon, a prehistoric Pacific salmon 8+ feet long. With similarities to modern-day sockeyes, this giant species in the genus Oncorhynchus used to spawn in the Pacific Northwest as recently as 4-5 million years ago. What were its spikes for? Why did it go extinct? And is there anything we can learn from past extinctions? Three…

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Blacktip Reef Shark 39:32

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16d ago39:32

39:32

Meet a "bendy" shark with beautiful features. Learn what it's like to photograph this striking and shy species, what it takes to catch/tag it for science, and what it needs to thrive. Our guests are Kydd Pollock (fisheries science manager for The Nature Conservancy's Palmyra Program) and Jenn Caselle (research biologist with UC Santa Barbara’s Mari…

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Smallmouth Buffalo! 36:53

23d ago36:53

36:53

Get to know one of North America's big and awesome native suckers: the Smallmouth Buffalo! Follow along as we learn about population trends and demographics and also what it's like to prepare and eat this delicious fish! Our guests Levi Solomon and Kris Maxson join from the Illinois River Biological Station.…

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Brown Trout! 38:47

1M ago38:47

38:47

Guy gets all gussied up in his best brown trout ensemble (again) for some banter with Katrina about how these fish made their way to the to the USA and how they are perceived. Maria Dosal joins from her Agdaagux homelands on the Alaska Peninsula to talk about fish regalia and respecting the whole fish.…

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Sacramento, Umpqua, and Northern Pikeminnows! 37:46

1M ago37:46

37:46

Get to know three West Coast pikeminnows! This compliments our Colorado Pikeminnow episode from season 3. Our guest, Stewart Reid, specializes in the biology and stewardship of Western fishes.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Mountain Mullet: Fish, Not Hairdo 29:08

1M ago29:08

29:08

On this episode we explore Mountain Mullets (the fish) with guest biologist Bonnie Myers. Get to know this strong-swimming jumper and the important role they play in Puerto Rico's native fish community.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Seahorses! 37:27

2M ago37:27

37:27

I have a face that resembles a horse, a prehensile tail like a monkey, a brood pouch like a kangaroo, and the ability to change color and move my eyes independently like a chameleon. I range from the size of a grain of rice to over a foot long. Get to know the genus Hippocampus: how they live, what threats they face, and how you can help. Our guest…

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Smalltooth Sawfish! 32:02

2M ago32:02

32:02

Meet the Smalltooth Sawfish! Learn all about its saw-like rostrum, the threats it faces, how NOT to take a photo with a sawfish, and what's being done to understand and conserve these incredibly cool critters. Our guest is John Carlson with NOAA Fisheries Service's Southeast Fisheries Science Center.…

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Pacific Sleeper Shark! 39:30

2M ago39:30

39:30

Get to know a huge, bendy, slow-moving shark that looks like a giant log, has cantaloupe-sized eyeballs, and loves a delicious whale fall. Our guests are Cindy Tribuzio and Beth Matta with NOAA. Beth is a research fisheries biologist in the Age and Growth Program at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Cindy is a research biologist with the Alas…

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Bumphead Parrotfish: Bulldozer of the Sea 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

You: running your hands through warm sand at the beach. Also you: finding out it might have passed through the anus of a fish. Meet the Bumphead Parrotfish: beach-making "bulldozer of the sea" and gargantuan coral-chomping champion. Our guests are Richard Hamilton with The Nature Conservancy and Alan Friedlander from the Hawaii Institute of Marine …

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Milkfish/Awa: A Hawaiian Perspective 44:39

3M ago44:39

44:39

Get to know the Milkfish, a big, shiny, powerful fish known locally in Hawaii as Awa. Our guest, Keli'i Kotubetey (Assistant Executive Director of Paepae o He'eia on the island of O'ahu) takes us to an 800 year old site of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture where this fish is being cared for and grown for the future.…

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The Migratory Trispot Darter 38:59

3M ago38:59

38:59

The Trispot Darter has a fascinating story of rediscovery, migration, and conservation teamwork. Three guests join the conversation: Fisheries Biologist Cal Johnson (Alabama Department of Environmental Management), Independent Researcher and author Pat O'Neil (formerly with the Geological Survey of Alabama); and biologist Lee Holt with our Alabama …

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Introducing the Bizarre Knifefishes 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Meet the knifefishes! From the Clown Knifefish to the to the Electric Eel, Katrina and Guy take a broad brush look at this bizarre group of fascinating fishes.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Southern Flounder: Both Sides of the Fish 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Meet the Southern Flounder, a temperature-sensitive fish that's one-third of the "Texas Slam” with Redfish (Red Drum) and Speckled Trout. Learn about their transformation from regular fish with two matching sides to amazing flatfish, how they hunt tidal creeks and saltmarsh wetlands, and how to safely and sustainably catch and eat them. Texas A&M U…

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Razorback Suckers of Palisade High 33:28

4M ago33:28

33:28

Hear how Palisade High School in Colorado is helping a huge, cool Colorado native: the Razorback Sucker! Teacher Pat Steele and student Kiera Stephen share their connections to this fish, take us on a tour of the Palisade High School Fish Hatchery, and celebrate their 1000th Razorback Sucker released.…

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White Sucker: Rodney Dangerfield of Fish 37:57

4M ago37:57

37:57

Meet a very important native fish that gets no respect: the White Sucker! Turns out this fish is a total catch! Kids love 'em. Walleyes and muskies love 'em. Eagles love 'em. Otters love 'em. Fishermen and fisherwomen love 'em. Katrina and Guy are joined by guests Tyler Winter (Native Fish for Tomorrow) and Rick Bruesewitz (Minnesota Department of …

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Green Sunfish: Aggressive Big Mouth 27:37

4M ago27:37

27:37

Meet big-gaped Green Sunfish! This beefy, bass-like sunfish is fun to catch and beautiful to behold. Learn about its habits, where it's found, how to catch it, where it fits in the fish family tree, and more.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Key Cave's Alabama Cavefish! 35:05

4M ago35:05

35:05

Put on your spelunking gear and get ready to head to Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alabama. Key Cave is the only place in the entire world where the bizarre-looking Alabama Cavefish is known to exist. By the time you finish listening you'll either be glad or jealous you didn't soil your pants sliding down gray bat guano to meet this…

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The Unassuming Bony-eared Assfish! 31:47

5M ago31:47

31:47

Meet a soft and flabby wonder with the smallest brain-to-body weight ratio of any vertebrate and a name that's bound to stimulate conversation. Two guests deep dive into assfish territory with us: Peter Auster from Mystic Aquarium and the University of Connecticut, and Brittany Petersen from our National Conservation Training Center (and formerly w…

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Fly Fishing for Shoal Bass 37:38

5M ago37:38

37:38

You’ll be hooked when you meet this shoal habitat specialist and Apalachicola-Flint-Chattahoochee River native. Learn how to think like a shoalie, understand the importance of knowing its prey, and pursue it safely in class 3 rapids on foot or from a raft. Fly tier extraordinaire Fletcher Sams and Shoal Bass enthusiast Jay Shelton are our guests.…

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Alaska's Capelin/Seabird Story 33:51

5M ago33:51

33:51

Meet a cucumber-scented fish that feeds the masses and sometimes crashes. Our guests are Yumi Arimitsu with the USGS Alaska Science Center Seabird and Forage Fish Ecology Program and Seabird Biologist Robb Kaler with the Marine Birds Section of our Alaska Division of Migratory Bird Management.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Truchas Mexicanas/Mexico's native trout 35:34

5M ago35:34

35:34

Come on an adventure into high elevation and rugged terrain to find Mexico's diverse native trout. Illustrator and Mexican native trout enthusiast Joe Tomelleri takes us on a journey of discovery and art inspired by stunningly beautiful fishes.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Invasive Carp 34:46

6M ago34:46

34:46

Hey, you guys! One distinguishing feature of invasive carp is eye placement at or below the mouth opening. They also have a very particular set of skills that makes them so successful at outcompeting the native fish you love. Fish Biologists Mark Fritts and Tyler Gross join the conversation from our Lacrosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in…

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Puerto Rico's Bigmouth Sleeper 34:42

6M ago34:42

34:42

Anglers take note...this fish is a sleeper, not a snooze! Meet the Bigmouth Sleeper, the natural "top dog" in Puerto Rico's streams. The name tells you all you need to know about the appearance and behavior of this underappreciated fish. Augustin (Gus) Engman from the University of Tennessee joins us again to dig further into the native fishes that…

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Lancetfish: Solving Sea Mysteries 35:46

6M ago35:46

35:46

If you happen to be an unfortunate men’s size 7 Nike shoe, one of 50+ species of octopus, a big shard of plastic or rope, or any number of reef, oceanic, and deep sea fish, you might find yourself undigested in a Longnose Lancetfish’s stomach! That’s after you’ve been trapped between cage-like teeth with no get-out-of-jail-free card. That said, we’…

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Bringin' Bloater Back! 36:14

6M ago36:14

36:14

We're bringing bloater back...Go ahead and tell them skinny fishes that...'Cause every inch of bloater's perfect from the bottom to the top (sha-wop, wop). We've got a great episode for you about an amazing fish with a rich history in the Great Lakes: the Bloater! Brian Weidel with the U.S. Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center and Dimitry…

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Lake Trout: Lacustrine Lunker! 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

Explore the past, present and future of the Lake Trout that inhabit North America's Great Lakes. Larry Miller with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Allegheny National Fish Hatchery is our guest. On deck: Bloater (another Great Lakes native)!By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Greatest Rock Basses of All Time 24:36

7M ago24:36

24:36

If you've come here for music, all we've got is fish (sorry no John Paul Jones or Flea). Special back stage pass to meet the four members of Ambloplites, a somewhat undervalued yet beautiful group of fishes in the sunfish family.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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C'waam: Lost River Sucker 36:28

7M ago36:28

36:28

Get to know the endangered Klamath C'waam (Lost River Sucker) with guests Don Gentry (a Natural Resources Specialist with the Klamath Tribes) and Jane Spangler (a Sucker Recovery Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Swordfish: Lessons From Sea 35:38

7M ago35:38

35:38

Meet a ridiculously strong and fast fish who can warm its eyes and slash its prey. Swordfish boat captain and best-selling author Linda Greenlaw shares her insights about fishing, life at sea, and leadership.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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All Aboard! Season 4 50:39

8M ago50:39

50:39

It's a new year, and we have no shortage of new fish and guests! Jump on board as we reflect on Season 3 and go behind the scenes, cast our line towards ALL THE FISH we plan to cover in Season 4, and continue our week-by-week tour of interesting ichthyofauna with guests from all walks of life. On deck: Swordfish with Linda Greenlaw!…

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Snowflake Moray Eel! 31:47

8M ago31:47

31:47

Meet a fascinating fish that can swallow its prey on land! From California to Hawaii and beyond, Snowflake Morays are an important player in both the marine and intertidal zones. Dr. Rita Mehta, an evolutionary biologist from the University of California Santa Cruz, is our guest.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Bonytail Chub: Pencil-Peduncled Piscine! 32:25

8M ago32:25

32:25

Meet the Bonytail Chub: an Endangered Colorado River fish with a pencil-thin peduncle and a penchant for wetlands. Zane Olson with our Ouray National Fish Hatchery and Chris Smith with our Green River Basin Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Utah join our conversation about all the fish.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Cabezon: Through the Photographer's Lens 35:47

8M ago35:47

35:47

Meet the Cabezon! This large "introverted" sculpin is found along the Pacific Coast of North America. National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yuyan brings his multi-cultural perspective to a discussion about Cabezon, underwater photography, and storytelling.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Texas' Fountain Darter 34:56

8M ago34:56

34:56

Whether you're on campus or tubing or just curious about fish, get to know the Fountain Darter, a little Endangered fish found only in Texas's San Marcos and Comal rivers. Two guests join from our San Marcus Aquatic Resources Center: Dave Britton (Center Director) and Dr. Katie Bockrath (a geneticist and research lead for the Edwards Aquifer Refugi…

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Atlantic Tarpon: Silver King 34:10

9M ago34:10

34:10

From the Florida Keys to the Sistine Chapel, this prized saltwater fish has been getting into people's heads for centuries. Author and tarpon fly fishing enthusiast Monte Burke joins the conversation to help dig into the allure of the "silver king."By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Lahontan Cutthroat Trout of Pyramid Lake 39:40

9M ago39:40

39:40

Visit Kooyooe Pa'a Panunadu (also known as Pyramid Lake) and get to know the Agi/Lahontan Cutthroat Trout! Whether it's a big or small one on the end of your line, there's much to appreciate and celebrate about this remarkable fish and place that the Numu/Northern Paiute people call home. Our guests are Autumn Harry, a Numu & Diné fishing guide, an…

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Cui-ui: Pyramid Lake Suckers 35:45

9M ago35:45

35:45

Meet a beautiful, long-lived sucker found nowhere else on Earth except Nevada's Pyramid Lake (known also as Kooyooe Pa’a Panunadu/"Cui-ui Standing Water" by the Northern Paiute people) and the lower Truckee River. We deep dive into the changes this system has seen and what's being done to conserve this endangered fish. Our guest is U.S. Fish and Wi…

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Pacific Herring: Haida/Tlingít Perspective 31:37

9M ago31:37

31:37

When it's herring egg weather, a snow flurry may usher in blue skies that quickly cloud up and cast down rain or snow. Boats are readied and hemlock branches cut. Birds, whales and sea lions converge while the herring stage to spawn. Marina Anderson from Prince of Wales Island, Alaska is our guest.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Hagfish: DIY Slime Machine! 35:33

10M ago35:33

35:33

Meet the Hagfishes! Their superpower is producing a ridiculous amount of slime in just a fraction of a second. Dr. Douglas Fudge from Chapman University's Comparative Biomaterials Lab and Dr. Dean Grubbs from Florida State University's Coastal and Marine Laboratory join Katrina and Guy to talk about the importance of hagfish and their very special …

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Wolf Eel: "Grandpa" Fish 37:41

10M ago37:41

37:41

Meet the Wolf Eel: an extraordinary fish with a face resembling that of an old man. An aquarist, museum curator, and diver bring their perspectives about this monogamous (mostly), snaggletoothed ocean-dweller.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Marvelous Midwest Muskies (Muskellunge) 37:28

10M ago37:28

37:28

Meet the Muskellunge, a so-called "green railroad tie with fins" that might inspire you to cast a ridiculously huge lure ten thousand times. Jordan Weeks from the Wisconsin DNR and Brian Herwig from Minnesota DNR bring their midwestern perspectives about musky size, genetics, behavior and more!By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Humphead (Napoleon) Wrasse! 35:24

10M ago35:24

35:24

We’d like to welcome you to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and introduce you to an enormous coral reef fish: the Humphead (AKA Napoleon/Māori) Wrasse! Dr. Amanda Pollock helps bring to the surface the story of these fascinating fish that change sex throughout their lives and the amazing places they call home.…

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Atlantic Cod! 31:26

11M ago31:26

31:26

Award-winning author Mark Kurlansky joins Katrina and Guy to celebrate the Atlantic Cod, a "down to earth" fish that once reached sizes rivaling the men who braved dangerous seas to catch them. From blessing the Vikings with strong bones to influencing the settlement patterns of New England and more, this fish has a storied past and future yet to b…

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Arapaima: Astronomical Air-Breathing Fish 34:19

11M ago34:19

34:19

Get to know the largest freshwater scaled fish with a face that looks like a topographical map of Mars: the Arapaima. Wait, there's more! Their swim bladder has lung-like tissue and they excrete a milk-like substance from their head. An ichthyologist who works at the Field Museum in conservation science, Dr. Lesley de Souza, takes us to the Amazon …

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Puerto Rico's Spectacular Sicydium Gobies 35:14

11M ago35:14

35:14

Get to know Puerto Rico’s migratory and waterfall-climbing Sicydium gobies! These amphidromous fishes are an essential part of Caribbean streams and artisanal fisheries. They also have a built-in suction cup! Guest Augustin Engman brings his perspectives about this special place and its native fishes.…

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Beautiful Brook Trout 34:29

11M ago34:29

34:29

From its vermiculated dorsum all the way to its vermillion ventrum, the Brook Trout is a most charming fish! Guests Emily Hill and Tom Hoffman are here to help us appreciate and conserve one of nature's most amazing piscine color palettes.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Fishing Adventures: Special Episode! 27:38

12M ago27:38

27:38

For one week and one week only Katrina and Guy discuss some of their recent best fishing adventures and what they learned. Come along as they continue their quest to get to know ALL THE FISH!By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Atlantic Sturgeon: Humongous Among Us 34:55

12M ago34:55

34:55

Like dinosaurs? Aerial acrobats? Sensitive barbeled snoots? Get to know the Atlantic Sturgeon with special guests Albert Spells and Steve Minkkinen. This humongous Endangered fish has an incredible story to tell.By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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