Nature: Dope AF

Bonnie and Kenny are back to talk about the beautiful but dangerous snow phenomena of avalanches and blizzards. (Content warning: this episode contains several mentions of death, please listen at your own discretion.) Highlights include: 2:00 - Should you try to see an avalanche? Debatable 4:28 - Large avalanche in North America can equal football fields of snow 6:30 - Avalanche debris 8:15 - What to do if you're caught in an avalanche 11:28 - What criteria are needed to classify a storm as a blizzard 13:40 - The Long Winter 14:42 - The phone had been invented 16:13 - Deadliest blizzard in recorded history 19:17 - 5 Facts Digital Snow Museum Avalanche Links Avalanches Explained National Snow & Ice Data Center Avalanche Page The Deadly Hazard of Avalanches Blizzard Links Atmospheric Research Blizzards Deadliest Blizzard in History National Geographic Blizzards National Archives on the Dakota Territories The Hard Winter of 1880-1881 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

Bonnie and Kenny are back with a truly bonkers episode full of lots of laughing and weird tangents all around carnivorous plants, perfect for some Halloween listening. Highlights include: 2:27 - Different trap types 5:14 - Honey I Shrunk the Kids tangent 7:32 - Where they grow 11:27 - What pitcher plants eat (including the biggest thing) 13:00 - Carnivorous plants also like poop 15:06 - 5 Carnivorous plant facts w/many tangents 24:24 - Snacks, stevia, sparkling water chat Dope Carnivorous Plant Links: Carnivorous Plants Carnivorous Plant Facts 7 Wonders of the Carnivorous Plant World 20 Things You Didn't Know About Carnivorous Plants How to Help: International Carnivorous Plant Society Thanks again to Cal and Debbie for the topic suggestion! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

Gorillas, what's not to love? In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny chat all about these magnificent primates (and of course go on several tangents including Kenny's childhood gorilla stuffed animals and weird sock plan). Highlights include: 2:42 - Kenny's gorilla friends 3:11 - Gorilla species and subspecies 6:21 - Gorilla troops 7:30 - Gorillas = lounge goals 7:50 - Random tangent on socks aka "year of comfort" 10:46 - 5 Gorilla Facts 14:45 - Tangent about the perception of gorillas Dope Gorilla Links: 9 Gorilla Facts 5 Facts about Koko Cross River Gorilla Biggest Gorilla Ever Mountain Gorilla Facts Western Gorilla Facts Gorilla Family Structure Controversial Study on Gorilla Social Structure How to Help: The Gorilla Organization The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International WWF Gorilla --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

How good is your animal sound knowledge? Play along as Bonnie and Kenny have some fun by trying to guess a variety of different animal noises, along with sharing the usual facts and pondering if everything does make a sound. Highlights include: 2:08 - Let the animal sound guessing begin! 16:01 - Dump zone 16:15 - 5 Animal noise facts 20:30 - Does everything make a sound? Dope Animal Sound Links: (see Anchor page for easiest to read formatting) This is the sound Giraffes make The quietest animal - owls The world's loudest animal might surprise you Why do parrots talk? 5 Animals that make the craziest sound Admit it, you had no idea these 15 common animals made these noises 15 Things you might not know about Rhinos (including pooping in a particular spot) Do Jellyfish make a sound? Teddy Bear the Porcupine eating Animal Sounds Played: Koalas Walrus Elk Marmots Mice Lyrebird Porcupine Desert Rain Frog Rhino Puffin Alligator Great Bustard Brushtail Possum --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

August 25 is the birthday of our National Parks...and Kenny, what are the odds?! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny talk about the history of the parks (including the not great parts), delve into interesting park facts, and have a special guest chat! Our family loves the national parks, Kenny is trying to make it to all of them before he's 35, our mom taught about them and connected kids with park rangers as an elementary school teacher, and our famed Aunt Shannon, who we have mentioned in previous podcasts even worked in two of them. We have Shannon join us to talk about the parks and all things dope about nature. Highlights include: 2:07 - National Parks History 8:17 - Mentioning it all - including the racial disparities in parks/white supremacists in conservationist history 14:23 - 10 most visited parks in 2019 16:15 - 10 least visited parks 23:55 - 5 fun park facts 26:27 - Special guest Shannon 31:46 - How Shannon made a career in nature/parks 39:46 - Exploring in your own backyard 41:42 - Relationship test = boats 42:43 - National parks/monuments/spaces means education 44:15 - St. Louis Gateway Arch stories 46:40 - Future podcast topics (including Phenology = the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors) 52:18 - How to get into nature 53:53 - *Important thing to keep in mind living on the Earth* 55:10 - Favorite Bonnie & Kenny stories Dope Park Links: (see Anchor page for easiest to read formatting) General Info: Quick NPS History 59 Fun Facts National Geographic Park Facts Park Visitation Numbers Obama's Every Kid in a Park Program Racist roots, lack of diversity haunt national parks Historic Park Figures: Tina Short Women of the Park Service Spark Ranger Places Shannon Mentioned: Acadia National Park Gateway Arch National Park Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center How to help the parks: 6 Ways to Give to National Parks that Actually Make a Difference Get Involved with NPS --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

Wild horses, buckle up for some controversy! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are chatting all about the hotly contested history and management of these majestic creatures. As usual, hot takes and potentially depressing facts abound! *apologies for the background cat noises, she also had horse opinions* Highlights include: 1:50 - Kenny witnessed a wild horse fight 3:28 - Theory that horses were introduced by Columbus is false?? 5:40 - Theories challenged again saying Native Americans have always had relationships with horses 8:16 - A federal law was passed to protect "living symbols of the American west" 10:07 - Livestock grazing vs wild horses 16:00 - Recent historic horse amendment 18:35 - 5 fun horse facts Dope Horse Links: (see Anchor page for easiest to read formatting) General: Facts About America's Wild Horses Myths and Facts about Wild Horses and Burros Wild Horses, Wilder Controversy Assateague's Wild Horses History: Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife Horse Teeth Evolution People of the Horse Yes world, there were horses in Native culture before the settlers came Evolution of the Horse Legislation: American Wild Horse Campaign Public Lands Grazing Info House Passes Historic Wild Horse Protection Amendment HR 7806 Film: Unbranded --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

Moss, boring right? No way! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are chatting all about the splendors of moss. Join us to go on, well, quite a journey! CW: There are mentions of dead bodies and possible murders, so skip this one or avoid 5:40-6:50 Highlights include: 1:07 - Moss - not just on the North sides of trees 3:00 - Moss is antibacterial and was used for bandages in WWI 5:40 - Peat moss bogs preserve bodies 7:35 - Interesting moss names 10:25 - Haircap moss will NOT dissolve your gall bladder 12:18 - 5 mossy facts 16:02 - bonus conversation about pigeons, bird clothes, and animals with people names Dope Moss Links: (see Anchor page for easiest to read formatting) General: 8 Surprising Moss Facts 7 Interesting Things About Moss Moss Facts Common Haircap Moss Brittanica Moss Page Moss Myth: It Doesn't Only Grow On North Side of Trees How Humble Moss Healed the Wounds of Thousands in World War I Effects on Climate: First Land Plants Plunged Earth Into Ice Age Scattering Moss Can Restore Key Carbon Sink This Desert Moss has Developed the Ultimate Water Collection Toolkit Extras: How To Make Moss Graffiti Graphic Images Warning! List of Bog Bodies Pigeon in Overalls --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

The topic that inspired it all! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are chatting about geological wonders, Hoodoo and Tokangawhā (Split Apple Rock). Join us to learn just what the heck a hoodoo is! Highlights include: 1:41 - The many meanings of hoodoo 4:20 - How tall is a story? 7:35 - Probably incorrect pronunciation of Tokangawhā 8:50 - Kenny thinks it looks more like Pac man than an apple 10:45 - 5 fast rock formation facts Dope Rock Formation Links: General: The World Weirdest Geological Formations Giant's Causeway Sailing Stones Mystery Solved Turkey's Fairy Chimneys Eye Of The Sahara Ha Long Bay Hoodoo: Hoodoo Definition Bryce Canyon Hoodoos Hoodoo Wiki What And Where Is A Hoodoo Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock: Atlas Obscura Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock Geology Page How to Help: National Park Foundation NZ National Parks and Conservation Foundation Preserve UNESCO World Heritage Sites --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

There's something fishy going on! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of different fish, highlighting Salmon and Eel. Join us for the fourth and final episode in a series on migration where we chat about a few fun points about these epic fish journeys. Highlights include: 2:43 - Salmon learn the scent of their home streams?! 5:25 - The tragic tale of eel migration 5:39 - Kenny's bad eel vibes start 6:49 - He's still creeped out by eels 9:34 - Yep, still not about eels 10:50 - 5 fast fish migration facts Dope Fish Migration Links: General: 10 Fun Facts About Migratory Fish 21 Migratory Fish Facts That'll Make You Say, "I Never Knew That!" Fish Migration Salmon: The How And Why Of Salmon Migration Eel: Bringing Back American Eels In The Susquehanna River Epic Eel Migration Mapped for the First Time Eel Migration Study Tells 'Romantic' Tale Study Shows European Eel Migration Not As Uniform And Simple As Thought How to Help: Wild Salmon Center The Wildlife Trusts - Eel Potomac Conservancy - Why Eels Are Important Films Mentioned: DamNation Fishpeople --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

IRL Animal Crossing! In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of different mammals, highlighting Caribou and Wildebeest. Join us for the third in a series on migration where we chat about a few fun points about these epic mammal journeys. Highlights include: 00:34 - we hope you're *fighting* racism, climate, change, xenophobia - kinda sounds like voting on the track

The bird migration episode! This might just be our favorite type of creature in the series. In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of different birds, from little to big covering Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Sandhill Cranes. Join us for the second in a series on migration where we chat about a few points about these epic bird journeys. In light of recent events, we couldn't talk about bird-watching without taking time to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, specifically #BlackBirdersWeek in response to Black birder Christian Cooper being threatened in Central Park. Highlights include: 00:27 - Loving nature = climate justice = racial justice 1:30 - #BlackBirdersWeek 3:47 - How Kenny became a birder 7:48 - Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fly 18-20 hours across the Gulf of Mexico! 9:48 - Hummingbird swings are a thing 11:05 - 80% of Cranes on the PLANET migrate through Nebraska 14:12 - 5 fast bird migration facts Dope Bird Migration Links: #BlackBirdersWeek: Birds of North America YouTube Channel #BlackBirdersWeek Aims to Raise Awareness Black Nature Lovers Busting Stereotypes BlackAFInSTEM/Black Nature Experts to follow General: 9 Awesome Bird Facts About Migration The Basics Of Bird Migration The Cornell Lab of Ornithology BirdCast Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across A Map Of The Western Hemisphere Hummingbirds: Hummingbird Migration Basics Hummingbird Nests Cranes: Sandhill Crane Range Map 500,000 Cranes Head to Nebraska Migrating With The Sandhill Cranes Film Audubon Sandhill Crane Guide Help Birds: Minimizing Window Collisions Toolkit To Help Prevent Tower Collisions Bird-Friendly Window Solutions ACTION - Ask your rep to support and cosponsor the Migratory Bird Protection Act Episode cover: Bonnie and Kenny at the bird-watching cabin at Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

Little wings on little things! An almost invisible migration of insects takes place all around without us even noticing. In this episode, Bonnie and Kenny are discussing the migrations of these little cuties, namely Monarch butterflies and ladybugs, as well as being confused about scientific classifications. Join us for our first in a series on migration where we chat about a few fun points about these epic insect journeys. Highlights include: 0:03 - TMI from Kenny 2:09 - Four generations of Monarch live and die on the migration, leading to some contemplation on life 3:03 - How do Monarch butterflies know where they're going? Definitely not Google Maps or Waze 5:44 - Ladybugs are beetles and we have no idea what we're talking about 8:43 - Uncomfortable with Ladybug clumps 10:01 - Back on insects vs. bugs 11:20 - Kenny's brain melts 11:48 - Five fascinating insect migration facts Dope Insect Migration Links: White Monarch Butterfly Incredible Monarch Swarm Video NYT Science Insect Migration NWF Insect Migration Wind and Warmth Boost Insect Migration Using Radar and Blimps to Track Migration Ladybugs on Radar Lost Ladybug Project National Geography Ladybugs Why do Ladybugs Gather Massive Swarms *Note: as you may guess from the name of our podcast, there are a few swears in this episode --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message

It's the very first episode of Nature: Dope AF! Have you ever thought about the fact that we currently share a planet with the largest animal that has EVER lived?! In this episode Bonnie and Kenny are discussing whales (or talking over each other, bear with us while we work on our sibling tendencies to get into the podcasting groove). Join us as we touch down on a few fun points about these giant wondrous creatures. Highlights include: 0:54 - Bonnie reminisces about a childhood sponsored whale named Crystal and forgets that whale tales are called flukes 2:10 - Blue Whales are the biggest animal EVER - scary or cool? *We realized Kenny says the wrong weight in the metric system #american 5:28 - Baby and group names - why are there more than one baby animals called calves? Can we call a herd of cows a pod? 9:50 - There should be a whale census and Cardi B should do a save the whales commercial 10:50 - Whales help combat climate change with their poop! 12:17 - Flocculent fecal plumes, it's a thing 14:13 - Five fascinating whale facts Dope Whale Links: https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whales-keep-carbon-out-of-the-atmosphere/ https://www.oceana.ca/en/blog/seven-weird-facts-about-whales https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/giants-of-the-ocean-whale-facts https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/facts-about-whales https://www.wired.com/2012/08/blue-whale-poop/ *Note to parents and our mom: as you may guess from the name of our podcast, there are a few swears in this episode --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/naturedopeaf/message