Dispatches from the Forest

Wasps get a lot of hate - primarily because we are afraid of getting stung.  But did you know that of the 4000 species of wasp found in the United States, only 30 - less than 1% - are capable of stinging.  And in addition to being pollinators, wasps provide natural pest control.  Learn more about the fascinating world of wasps on this episode of the Dispatches from the Forest Podcast!

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I know I said I was going to talk about wasps, but I had another idea - come along with me as I take a hike at Crow's Nest Natural Preserve Area - a 2872-acre peninsula situated between two tidal creek tributaries of the Potomac River in Stafford County, Virginia.  This property has been used by humans for the last 11000 years and with its mature hardwood forests and freshwater marshes it has a fantastic amount of biodiversity!  What did I see?  Listen and find out!

About 80% of flowering plants rely on living pollinators to move their pollen between flowers.  In this episode I'll tell you about just a few of those - Honeybees, Bumblebees, Carpenter Bees and Mason Bees.  Fascinating insects that have incredibly important jobs!

What's this?  Bonus content?  That's right!  I had a chance to go on the radio "Town Talk" hosted by Ted Schubel last week (News Talk 1230 WFVA) here in Fredericksburg, VA with my friend and opossum rehabilitator Karen Brace (check her out at awesomepossumz.com and on Instagram @awesomepossumz1).  We talked about what's involved in becoming an animal rehabilitator and why wild animals should not be kept as pets.  Check it out!

Snakes are one of the most feared and misunderstood animals around.   But snakes, venomous or not, generally just want humans to leave them alone.  Over half of all bites from venomous snakes in the United States are completely avoidable.  Snakes occupy a very important place in the ecosystem.  In this episode I'll tell you why snakes - even the ones with medically significant venom - are not nearly as dangerous and scary as most people think - and why they are worthy of your respect.

When we think of deserts, we tend to think of them as being dry, hot and devoid of life.  But a surprising number of plants and animals are adapted to these harsh conditions.  Learn more about the deserts of the United States, and just a few of the amazing plants and animals that call them home.

Includes the song "Saguaro" by the Austin Lounge Lizards (used with permission).  Check them out at Austinloungelizards.com.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting future episodes by becoming a patron.  You can find our Patreon page at Patreon.com/dispatchesfromtheforest.

Nothing beats a perfect summer evening.  Learn more about 2 of the most iconic insects of summer nights: crickets and fireflies - including the dark side of fireflies!  

A micro-animal that can go into suspended animation and survive extreme conditions.  A venomous snail that hunts fish by smell using a poison harpoon.  Another snail with an iron shell.  A crustacean that can punch through aquarium glass.  Sounds like science fiction, but all these animals actually exist!  Come learn about some amazing animals with abilities that will blow your mind!

Turtles have long been associated with longevity due to their long life spans.  They are also the only animal whose pelvic girdle is on the inside of their ribcage.  Learn more about these heroes in a half-shell (turtle power!)

Birds of Prey, or raptors, and humans have a long history together.  Learn about 4 common species of hawk: Red-tailed hawks, Red-shoulder Hawks, Cooper's hawks and Sharp-shinned hawks.  I'll also tell you about the Sparrow hawk and the River hawk - common names for a couple of raptors that are not, in fact, hawks at all.