Dispatches from the Forest

Episode 8: Talking (Wild) Turkey

Founding father Benjamin Franklin was a big fan of wild turkeys - and not just because they taste good.  Listen to this special Thanksgiving episode to find out why Mr. Franklin was so enamored with this remarkable (and delicious) bird.

Episode 7: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Wait!  Don't squash that spider!  Did you know that spiders can create 7 different kinds of web for different uses?  Or that some spiders use water just like a web?  Sure they give you the “creepie-crawlies” but spiders are also incredibly interesting!  Listen and learn more about these amazing critters that are all around you - whether you like them or not!

Episode 6: Bats in the Belfry

Did you know that bats fly with their hands?  In fact, their Latin name "Chiroptera" literally translates to "hand wing".  Often misunderstood, bats can perform some amazing feats – including eating 600 insects per hour!  Learn about all the adaptations that have made bats masters of the night and why you shouldn't fear them, as we explore the amazing world of the bat!

Episode 5: The Carrion Crew

Meet the organisms that do the dirty work in the forest: getting rid of dead bodies!  It may be gross but they perform a very important function - and without them, the world would be a much smellier place!

Episode 4: Spotlight on Coyotes

Few things are as wild sounding as the howls of coyotes, but even if you live in a big city, there's a good chance that there are coyotes nearby.  People think that they should fear coyotes, but in reality, coyotes are not as fearsome as most people make them out to be.

Episode 3: Overlooked and Underappreciated

Opossum, geese, squirrels and robins aren’t the “sexiest” animals around, but these critters are more interesting than most people think. And what you think you know about them, may not be entirely accurate…let's see if I can surprise you!

Episode 2: Bird Brained Corvids

“Bird brain” is an age-old insult, but as it turns out, there are some pretty smart birds out there - particularly those in the Corvid family which includes Crows, Ravens, Jays and Magpies.  Join me and find out just how clever some of our feathered friends can be!

Episode 1: Spotlight on Cicadas

Every year annual cicadas emerge to provide the background sounds of summer.  But every 13 or 17 years different periodic "broods" emerge by the million and 2021 was the year of brood X (that's roman numeral 10) in parts of the Midwest and Eastern states.  Learn more about these loud insects that spend most of their lives underground!
Includes an interview with Jody Green, an Urban Entomologist with the University of Nebraska Extension Office.