Natural Resources University

Ducks and geese are fun to watch and provide exciting hunting opportunities at your pond or stream - but are they okay for your water quality? Join Drew and Joe as they discuss waterfowl ecology, life history patterns, and what to do if you have too many geese waddling around your property.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

In this episode, we delve into the ecological significance of the American chestnut tree with Sara Fitzsimmons, Chief Conservation Officer for The American Chestnut Foundation. Join as we explore its history, ecological importance, challenges faced due to habitat change and disease, on-going conservation efforts, and how you can get involved in its ecological restoration. 

Resources:

Diamond, S. J., et al. (2000). Hard mast production before and after the chestnut blight. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 24(4), 196-201.

The American Chestnut Foundation

The American Chestnut Foundation: Growing Chestnuts

Tree Snapp App

Varner, J. M., et al. (2021). Litter flammability of 50 southeastern north American tree species: evidence for mesophication gradients across multiple ecosystems. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, 727042.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!

Sara Fitzsimmons [email protected], Website

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

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Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount  at Grounded Brand by using the code ‘TurkeyScience’ at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

In this episode we speak with Dr. Kevin Boston from the University of Arkansas at Monticello to discuss a recent landmark Supreme Court decision Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) that overturned a long-standing precedent for federal agency authority on interpreting intent of Congressional legislation. 

Dr. Boston received a Ph.D. In Forest Engineering at Oregon State University (1996) and has a JD, from the Northwest School of Law at Lewis and Clark College (2016). Dr. Boston has been working in the field of forestry as a registered forester across the globe since the early 80s and has submitted an Amicus Curiae to the Supreme Court for Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center case from 2012-2013.

For questions or comments, email us at [email protected].

In this episode, we review the available research on wild pig competition for acorns and their impact on competing wildlife species. We discuss the concept of competitive exclusion, the role of acorns in the diets of various species, the implications of pig removal on ecosystem dynamics, and what this means for turkeys.

Resources:

Anderson, W. M., et al. (2018). Using DNA metabarcoding to examine wild pig (Sus scrofa) diets in a subtropical agro-ecosystem. In Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference (Vol. 28, No. 28).

Bieber, C., & Ruf, T. (2005). Population dynamics in wild boar Sus scrofa: ecology, elasticity of growth rate and implications for the management of pulsed resource consumers. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42(6), 1203-1213.

Cutini, A., et al. (2013). Mast seeding in deciduous forests of the northern Apennines (Italy) and its influence on wild boar population dynamics. Annals of forest science, 70, 493-502.

Dykstra, A. M., et al. (2023). Biological invasions disrupt activity patterns of native wildlife: An example from wild pigs. Food Webs, 34, e00270.

Fay, A. S., et al. (2023). Impacts of wild pigs on acorn availability as a food source for native wildlife. Wildlife Research, 50(12), 1123-1130.

How pig removal affects turkeys | #97

Shimada, T., Iijima, H., & Kotaka, N. (2024). Wild boar population fluctuations in a subtropical forest: the crucial role of mast seeding in Ryukyu Islands, Japan. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70(3), 1-11. 

USDA Feral Swine Population Distribution

Wood, G. W., & Roark, D. N. (1980). Food habits of feral hogs in coastal South Carolina. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 44(2), 506-511.

Wentworth, J. M., Johnson, A. S., & Hale, P. E. (1989). Influence of acorn abundance on whitetailed deer in the Southern Appalachians. In Proceedings of Workshop Southern Appalachian Mountain Range (pp. 2-6). Knoxville: University of Tennesee.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount  at Grounded Brand by using the code ‘TurkeyScience’ at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

In this episode, James and Brian talk with Dr. Mike Schummer (waterfowl professor at the State University of New York and host of the Fowl Weather podcast) to discuss the intricate relationship between weather patterns and duck migration, particularly focusing on mallards. The discussion covers key weather variables that influence migration, the adaptability of ducks to changing climates, and the impact of food resources on their movement. The conversation also touches on the implications of game farm mallards on wild populations and the importance of understanding these dynamics for effective wildlife management and hunting success. 

Armadillos are a relative newcomer to much of the Great Plains, and can be an aggravating species because of the damage that they frequently cause to lawns and landscaping. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the history of armadillos in the Great Plains, the recent discovery of new species of armadillos, biology and management of damage caused by this mammal.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html 

You asked and we listened. In this episode, we are joined by Luke Garver, Wild Turkey Project Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to discuss the current state of the wild turkey in Illinois. We dive into long-term population trends, environmental factors impacting reproduction, predator-prey dynamics, habitat challenges posed by invasive species, on-going research initiatives, and more. 

Resources:

IL DNR Wild Turkey Survey

IDNR Turkey Survey App

huntillinois.org/turkey

Parker, C., et al. (2021). Pyrodiversity matters: wild turkey habitat selection in a fire managed landscape. Forest Ecology and Management, 493, 119227.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!

Luke Garver Illinois.gov/wildlifestaff

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount  at Grounded Brand by using the code ‘TurkeyScience’ at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

This month we are joined by Mr. Bob Bettger, a fifth-generation Nebraska landowner and producer, to tell his story – both the benefits and challenges – of integrating conservation practices into his operation. 

Resources:

• Federal Conservation Programs (Farm Service Agency)

Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc]

Nathan Pflueger [website]

AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab]

Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]

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If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!

Music by Humans Win

Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

In this episode, we dive into the available literature on wildlife preferences for acorns. We review the dietary composition of turkeys, factors influencing acorn consumption, how various wildlife species select for specific acorns, and highlight the complex interconnectedness of these ecological processes. 

Resources:

Barras, S. C., et al. (1996). Acorn selection by female wood ducks. The Journal of wildlife management, 592-602.

Boggess, C. M., et al. (2022). Exposure to fire affects acorn removal by altering consumer preference. Forest Ecology and Management, 508, 120044.

Oak Forest Ecosystems

Pérez-Ramos, I. M., et al. (2007). Acorn removal and dispersal by the dung beetle Thorectes lusitanicus: ecological implications. Ecological Entomology, 32(4), 349-356.

Pyare, S., et al. (1993). Acorn preference and habitat use in eastern chipmunks. American Midland Naturalist, 173

Richardson, K. B., et al. (2013). Acorn-foraging preferences of four species of free-ranging avian seed predators in eastern deciduous forests. The Condor, 115(4), 863-873.

Wakeling, B. F., & Rogers, T. D. (1994). Characteristics of pinon-juniper habitats selected for feeding by wintering Merriam's turkey. Desired Future Conditions for Pinon-Juniper Ecosystems, 74.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount  at Grounded Brand by using the code ‘TurkeyScience’ at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Fishing has become a game of technology. Some of it is finding fish, like with GPS and sonar, and some of it is catching fish, like electronic lures and synthetic scents. But there’s tool in the bass fishing word that is engineered to help you decide when and how to fish. The application is called BassForecast and it is the #1 bass fishing app in the world, boasting about 1 million subscribers. Research on BassForecast suggests that its fishing predictions can significantly increase the likelihood of success on the water. To discuss the app, Wes interviews avid angler and the app’s founder, Mike Mehlmann. Mike and Wes discuss how and why app works, gives some examples of its efficacy, and go off on some pretty interesting tangents. Tune in and decide if this app is for you!

Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes!