A Talk on the Wild Side

Sandra and Alynn chat with Dr. Jim Loughry of Valdosta State University about armadillos in this episode.  You'll hear lots of fun facts and even a scientific scoop about the 9-banded armadillo species! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.valdosta.edu/biology/faculty-staff/william-loughry.php https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We visit with Dr. Nicolette Cagle of Duke University, and two of her former graduate students, Annabelle White and Rory Kuczek, about cave salamanders in the Texas Hill Country in this episode. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/cagle https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/  

Sandra and Andrew visit with Ashley Morgan Olvera of the Texas Invasive Species Institute about a variety of invasive species that are affecting Texas' economy and wild places. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://tsusinvasives.org/home/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we hear from Dr. Debbie Saunders of Wildlife Drones about some incredible uses of drones in wildlife research and conservation.  Catch all the buzz here! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://wildlifedrones.net/debbie-saunders/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Wizzie Brown with Texas A&M Agrilife joins us for a discussion of dragonflies and damselflies.  We learn lots of fun facts about both and how to tell the difference.     Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://entomology.tamu.edu/people/brown-wizzie/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Lou Griffin and Sarah Bird answer all our questions about the snow monkey troop in Texas.  Why are they here? How did they get here? What is their history? What is their future?     Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpVIvljWK20 https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Calling all fishing enthusiasts!  We have Natalie Goldstrohm from the Toyota Sharelunker program on the show this time.  And, we're talking about all the amazing bass and fantastic fishing lakes across Texas!     Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://texassharelunker.com/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

It's been a hot summer, and we're ready for fall!  We're gearing up for deer season in this episode!  We talk with Jacob Dykes of Texas A&M Agrilife Extension about food plots, the hunting forecast for this year, and much more!    Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://rwfm.tamu.edu/people/dykes-jacob/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we hear from Drake Rangel about his masters' thesis research on Spot-Tailed Earless Lizards—what they are, where they live, how to find them, and who's eating whom out there.    Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drake-rangel-570921157/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

This is our second compilation of Biology Blunders from our interviews, and you might hear some interesting AI voices as well…  Anyway, have a laugh along with us in this light-hearted episode! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/  

Did you know the Texas State Aquarium is actively involved in wildlife rescue and rehab?  Learn more about it along with us as we talk with Dr. Carrie Ullmer, Head Veterinarian at the Texas State Aquarium. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.texasstateaquarium.org/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dinosaur Valley State Park Lead Interpreter, Zach Riggs, joins us for a conversation about the dinosaur tracks in the park, what dinosaurs made them, how they were discovered, and so much more!    Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We chat with Danielle Belleny about birding, writing books, and including people of color in wildlife management in this episode.  Learn about birding in cemeteries, Black Birders Week, and more! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.audubon.org/black-birders-week https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/danielle-belleny/this-is-a-book-for-people-who-love-birds/9780762475971/?lens=running-press https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We're officially into year 3 of the podcasting game!  And, we're kicking off this new season with Aplomado Falcons.  Brian Mutch of The Peregrine Fund joins us for a discussion of the falcons in southern Texas and efforts to restore their populations.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.peregrinefund.org/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we hear from Captain Chuck Naiser of FlatsWorthy about respect for the resource, respect for other anglers, and changes to the Corpus Christi bay area because of hurricanes and human activity. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://flatsworthy.com/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dr. Samantha Leivers from the Carnivore Ecology Lab at Texas A&M University joins us this time for a discussion of scavengers.  We learn about facultative and obligate scavengers, the ecosystem services they provide, and the difficulties of rappelling into a cave for work! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://samanthaleivers.weebly.com/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/  

We chat with Dr. John Young of the Texas Department of Transportation in this episode.  Dr. Young gives us the latest scoop on wildlife crossings built to keep ocelots and other wildlife safe from vehicle collisions in South Texas.  You'll be amazed at all the things TXDOT has its hands in! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://static.tti.tamu.edu/conferences/envr19/presentations/bos20c-hot-topics.pdf https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We've compiled a montage of Biology Blunders from scientists and alumni of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville for this episode.  Have a laugh on us! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Join us for a chat with Alison Tarter of the Southern Regional Climate Center at Texas A&M University.  We talk about freshwater mussels, the impacts of extreme weather events on them, and their role in the aquatic environment.  We also hear some really mind-blowing stuff about how they reproduce! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.srcc.tamu.edu/about_us/personnel/   https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-sde-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Steven Hummel of the Dark Skies Initiative at the McDonald Observatory chats with Andrew and Alynn about the importance of keeping the Texas skies dark, how we can all contribute to conserving night-time darkness, and some pretty cool phenomena that can be seen in dark skies. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.bigbendliterary.com/issues/issue-one/mcdonald-observatory-photographs-by-stephen-hummel https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/  

To close out Women's History month we have a montage of selected clips from our interviews over the past year with various women in Natural Sciences.  Hear from Dr. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Dr. Alynn Martin, Ms. Marianna Treviño Wright, Dr. Keisha Bahr, Ms. Brianna Slothower, Dr. Juliana Rangel, Ms. Mary Pearl Meuth, Ms. Ashley Wahlberg, Dr. Amanda Adams, Ms. Katie Spurgin, and Dr. Stacy Hines.   Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu   For more information:   https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/  

Sandra and Alynn talk with the Texas State Climatologist, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, about the changing climate and its effects on the people of Texas.  If you're still trying to figure out how a climate changes and what it all means, just pull up a chair.   Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu   For more information:   https://atmo.tamu.edu/people/profiles/faculty/nielsen-gammonjohn.html   https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Extension Specialist, Dr. Stacy Hines, joins us for a chat about an upcoming app for indentifying Texas plants, careers in extension, advice for young professionals, and much more! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://ccag.tamu.edu/extension/rangeland-habitat-management/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast   https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Our co-hosts, Sandra Rideout-Hanzak and Alynn Martin, discuss ticks and tick-borne illnesses in this episode.  Do you know what kinds of ticks we have in Texas, what they carry, and what to do if you are bitten? Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.txlda.com/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Our guest, Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, is a wild plant foraging enthusiast.  He shares his best advice for foragers and great tips for beginners who are interested in learning how to forage wild plants and mushrooms for food.  Learn what your ancestors knew! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.foragingtexas.com/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Sandra and Andrew talk with Jesse Griffiths about his wild life as a game chef and hunting guide, his restaurant, Dai Due, and his books.  Join us for some inside scoop on preparing and cooking wild game! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://thehogbook.com/team https://www.daidue.com/home https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Join us as we learn all about Alligator Gar from Dan Daugherty, Research Biologist at TPWD's Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center.  Gar fishing, gar biology, gar fun facts, Gargantuan! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/research/inland/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we get an update from Dr. Hunter Reed, Wildlife Veterinarian with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, about the current status of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) within the state of Texas.  We also talk about recently-enacted testing protocols and other new regulations for detecting and controlling CWD in wild deer populations. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dr. Vikram Baliga, creator of the Planthropology podcast of Texas Tech University, joins us to talk about multipurpose landscapes, ridiculous videos about seed germination hacks, and podcasting about your passions.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information https://www.planthropologypod.com/ https://www.npr.org/podcasts/957328815/in-the-grow https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We chat with Katie Spurgin of the state's unique Stewards of the Wild program.  Hear all about the work the Stewards program is conducting and how you can get involved.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information  https://www.tpwf.org/sotw/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Long version of Dear Me! No, Deer U! S2E12.  Joint episode with Bronson Strickland of Deer U podcast.  This is our whole conversation, and we talk quite a bit about using fire for deer habitat.  Some of the fire conversation was removed for the short version.   Take your pick!   Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/about/michael-j-cherry-phd https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Joint episode with Deer U podcast—We ask Dr. Mike Cherry about managing white-tailed deer in the South Texas brush country, and how it may compare or contrast to managing deer in the forests of the coastal plain in the southeastern U.S. or the Appalachians.  Co-hosted by Dr. Bronson Strickland of Deer U.  This is a short version focused on deer.  We have a long version with a discussion of prescribed fire effects on deer habitat as a bonus.  Take your pick! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/about/michael-j-cherry-phd https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We hear from Dr. Amanda Adams, Director of Research Coordination for Bat Conservation International.  We learn about ecosystem services that bats provide, the growing problem of White-Nose Syndrome, and vampire bats too! Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information https://www.batcon.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukIZRD1mzLg https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we talk to Ashley Wahlberg about some of the East Texas spiders she studies, and the invasive brown widow spider.  We hear about the impacts of the brown widow on the ecosystems it's invading.  We recorded this episode on Zoom also; you can find it here on our YouTube channel!  https://youtu.be/GOdMXJLKprs Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.sfasu.edu/sawdust/issue-22-spring/spider-lady-of-nacogdoches https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/texas-spider-lady-black-widows/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We hear from Mary Pearl Meuth, who is the Assistant State Coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist program.  She tells us what it means to be a Master Naturalist, how to become one, and some of the great benefits of this state-wide program. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://txmn.tamu.edu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFw9iMBfj2o https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Ben Masters joins us in this episode for a discussion of wildlife filmmaking, and some stories from his latest film, Deep in the Heart.  He also shares a project near and dear to his heart—improving state regulations for more humane and ethical mountain lion trapping.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.finandfurfilms.com/ https://www.texansformountainlions.org/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We get the current scoop on the pronghorn populations in Texas from Shawn Gray, the Mule Deer and Pronghorn Program Leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Learn all about this wild west icon's natural history and more!

We're talking wild pigs in this episode.  Our guest, Dr. John Tomeček, is an Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Texas A&M University.   We get into the mud with all the dirty details of wild pigs, the damages they cause to ecosystems, health concerns they bring, and methods of control.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://rwfm.tamu.edu/people/tomecek-john/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tome%C4%8Dek-8415ab73/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We're bringing you another bonus episode!  This time we hear from Tyler Herrmann, alternative fuels expert, about vehicle fuel alternatives with the potential to make positive impacts for wildlife, habitat, wild places, and people too!  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://open.spotify.com/show/3r0q4vMfjnRZkEiuLKxHl9 https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Getting antsy for quail season?  We got you covered.  We talk to Dr. Abe Woodard of the East Foundation about quail hunting, setting harvest limits, and much more in this episode.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.eastfoundation.net https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this bonus episode, Sandra talks with Aaric Eisenstein, the Avian Rebbe.  Aaric shares his thoughts about how birdwatching can bring us comfort during hard times and how nature can teach us that we are more alike than we are different. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.avianrebbe.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Avian-Rebbe-Takes-Flight-Central/dp/B09K1WVHZQ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dr. Michael Wetz at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Kiersten Stanzel of the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program join us to discuss their Bringing Back Baffin project.  We talk about challenges associated with restoring an entire watershed.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.cbbep.org/ https://www.harte.org/people/michael-wetz https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We get the latest scoop on wild turkeys from Jason Hardin, the Wild Turkey Program Leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Hear about turkey population restoration and hunting in Texas.  Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriam's—we talk about them all.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFW1G8tREhs https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

In this episode we talk doves with Owen Fitzsimmons, the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Owen discusses dove hunting, ecology and more.   Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dr. Juliana Rangel of Texas A&M teaches us about honeybees and native bees in Texas.  We discuss the mite that is causing colony collapse and ways to support bees in our own backyards.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://honeybeelab.tamu.edu/people/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Join us for a discussion with Dr. Clay Green from Texas State about reddish egrets.  We talk about their natural history, the phenomenon of different color morphs within the same species of bird, and much more. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.bio.txstate.edu/about/Faculty---Staff/faculty/Clay-Green.html https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Brianna Slothower's swan song on ATOTWS.  She and her master's advisor, Dr. David Wester, discuss their work researching the best ways to restore rangelands affected by energy pipelines in Texas.  And, we learn the worst way to try to straighten cattle panel. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/research-programs/habitat-management-restoration-research https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Dive into the fascinating world of coral reefs with us as we interview Dr. Keisha Bahr of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.  Learn about the role of coral reefs in marine ecosystems, the causes of coral bleaching, reef restoration, and more.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: http://www.bahrlab.com/people https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Go west with us in this episode!  Froylan Hernandez of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shares his wisdom about Desert Bighorn Sheep of the West Texas mountains.  We cover adaptations for surviving in the desert, traversing the mountains, threats to their populations, fun facts, and Biology Blunders.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froylan-hernandez-55872623/ https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

We interview Dr. Cord Eversole of Texas A&M International University about his work with alligators in Texas.  He discusses nesting ecology, clutch quantity and quality, hatchling sex determination, Biology Blunders and more. Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://facultyprofiles.tamiu.edu/faculty.aspx?email=cord.eversole@tamiu.edu https://www.amazon.com/American-Alligators-Habitats-Behaviors-Threats/dp/1536133515/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V4305A078L86&keywords=American+alligators+Henke+Eversole&qid=1648508278&s=books&sprefix=american+alligators+henke+eversole%2Cstripbooks%2C93&sr=1-1 https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/

Our host, Dr. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, shares some insights into the current wildfire situation in Texas.  We talk about weather impacts, preparing for wildfires on your property, and effects of wildfires on plant communities and wildlife.  Email us at wildpodcast@tamuk.edu For more information: https://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/media/talk-wild-side-podcast https://www.rotarycc.com/harvey-weil/