The word “jellyfish” may bring up a memory of an unpleasant beach experience, or of nostalgic childhood days watching Spongebob Squarepants. Often jellyfish don’t get the love that many other marine critters enjoy, but Spongebob certainly loved them, as fishing for jellyfish was his favorite pastime. Although jellyfish can be a nuisance and a hazar…

Flooding is often associated with negative consequences for humans, but did you know that floods can provide many benefits for wildlife? Join Joe and Drew as they discuss what a flood is, some reasons why flooding occurs, and give insight on how animals respond to flooding. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty …

In this episode, we discuss progress that we’re seeing on private lands management. Resources: Fundraising Banquet (to enter into the online raffles, click on ‘Get Tickets’ and then scroll down to the ‘Add-ons’) Has turkey habitat changed? | #21 Turner, M. A., et al. (2021). Mixture of triclopyr and imazapyr more effective than triclopyr alone for …

We’re bringing back our episode on indicator plants for evaluating successful brood field management. Resources: iNaturalist Seek Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants GeFellers, J. et al. (2020). Seeding is not always necessary to restore native early successional plant communities…

Snakes are a group of species that many people dislike or have a strong fear of. Join Drew and Joe in this episode as they discuss snake natural history, management, and how to stay safe around snakes - including venomous species. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterpri…

Dr. Zach Steele and Dorothy Dick, key creators for our online wild turkey training, join us to discuss the production of the course. Join as they share insights into the research and development, the expert contributors that shaped the course content, feedback received from constituents, challenges faced during filming, and the memorable moments th…

Wild Turkey Manager: Advanced Habitat features experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. This course is intended to be comprehensive, leading you through advanced concepts in habitat management, predator management, disease, and population management. The course offers con…

In this bittersweet episode Bronson visits with Steve as he reflects on his retirement from the MSU Deer Lab after a long and impactful career in wildlife management. Steve discusses some of the research that he considered very important in his career that impacted resource management. He reviews his research on forest management, prescribed fire, …

We're bringing back our episode discussing the multifaceted effects of fire on wild turkey survival and how a new approach could knock off two objectives with one flame. Resources: Boone, W. W., et al. (2024). Frequent prescribed burns reduce mammalian species richness and occurrence in longleaf pine sandhills. Forest Ecology and Management, 553, 1…

In this episode, Gabriella Scolio and Jacob Penner from The Nature Conservancy join us to talk about carbon markets and what it means for farmers in the Midwest. We learn about what a carbon credit is, why companies are interested in carbon credits and how they are measuring their emissions, and how and why farmers might want to get involved. Resou…

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner dig deep into the value of growing season burns. They discuss how summer fires, often underused due to misconceptions about safety, can be the most effective tool for land managers dealing with eastern redcedar, poor forage quality, and…

Parasites are commonly found in aquatic environments. Join Joe and Drew in this episode as they discuss common parasites found in fish and aquatic wildlife, some factors that influence parasite rates, and what you can do to reduce parasite loadings in your ponds or streams. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty …

Today’s conversation offers a unique window into the intricate world of poults. We are joined by Eva Noroski, Field Coordinator for the UF Game Lab, as she shares insights into poult development, growth rates, behavior, vocalization, social dynamics, social bonding, and more. WATCH this episode here! We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turke…

In this episode, Stephanie Boyles-Griffin, Jessica Tegt, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland discuss the complexities of urban deer management, exploring the challenges posed by growing deer populations in urban areas. While recreational hunting remains the most effective and practical tool for population control in most settings, an increasing …

We’re bringing back Dr. Craig Harper’s step-by-step guide on how to create quality brooding and nesting cover on your property. Resources: Gruchy, J. P. (2007). An evaluation of field management practices to improve bobwhite habitat. Gruchy, J. P., & Harper, C. A. (2014). Effects of field management practices on northern bobwhite habitat. Journal o…

Central Oklahoma’s public lands don’t manage themselves. In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, veteran wildlife manager Jeff Pennington explains how the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation stewards roughly 125,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) scattered from Kansas to Texas. He explains why deer now dominate…

Whether you call them groundhogs, woodchucks, or whistlepigs, these large squirrels - yes, they’re squirrels - are very interesting, but can also be a challenging critter to deal with when they cause property damage. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss groundhog biology, natural history, the property damage that they sometimes cause, and control opti…

In this episode, we review trending data across hunter age, hunter recruitment, decoy use, and reaping as Dr. Zach Steele, Post-doctoral associate and interdisciplinary ecologist specializing in human dimensions, walks us through his newest publication. Resources: Harris, A. (2006). Turkey hunting in 2006: an analysis of hunter demographics, trends…

In this episode, Josh Richardson from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation unpacks the challenges and triumphs of managing wildlife habitat on the state’s overwhelmingly privately owned lands. With a background in both private and migratory species work, Josh brings a wealth of experience to the table—from quail tracking with GPS to hel…

James and Mark are joined by Dr. Dwayne Elmore, Gamebird Program Director at Tall Timbers, for a deep dive into the vital role of thermal ecology in gamebird management—particularly for quail. Dr. Elmore explains how temperature shapes bird behavior, habitat selection, and the critical value of shrub cover in providing thermal refuge. The conversat…

In this episode, we explore the findings of a recent state of the bird report, highlighting the interconnectedness and decline of species across ecosystems. Resources: Merlin Bird ID Rosenberg, K. V., et al. (2019). Decline of the North American avifauna. Science, 366(6461), 120-124. Seek app (by iNaturalist) State of the Birds Report: United State…

Ponds can naturally separate with warm oxygenated water near the surface and a cooler, unoxygenated layer in deeper areas. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss pond stratification, summer fish kills, and how aeration may help maintain a thriving pond ecosystem. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the W…

In this episode, Marcus shares insights from his personal experience being imprinted upon by a brood of turkey poults. Join as he shares details of the imprinting process, critical factors affecting the survival and growth of poults, rapid behavioral changes as they grow, what has surprised him the most so far, and more. Check out the footage in th…

Joining us this month on the podcast is a local Nebraska landowner, Merlyn Nielsen, to talk about his experiences implementing conservation practices on his farmland. From creating habitat to hunt pheasants and improve sustainability to a tip for reduced land taxes, Merlyn shares the joys and benefits of his conservation projects as well as some of…

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we travel through the story of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve with Bob Hamilton from The Nature Conservancy. Bob shares how this iconic Oklahoma landscape transitioned from a failed federal park plan to a flagship private conservation project. He recounts the acquisition of the land, the rei…