Does Missouri have mountain lions? Yes and no. Many sightings of these large cats turn out to be a case of mistaken identity. Although mountain lions were once as common as deer in Missouri, they were eradicated in the 19th century. If that’s the case, why are we seeing these cats pop up now and again? Are they making a comeback? Is there cause for alarm? MDC’s Wildlife Management Coordinator Alan Leary answers these questions and more in this episode. And be sure to check out the MDC website to learn more about MDC’s Mountain Lion Response Team, a list of all confirmed mountain lion reports in the state, and more mountain lion facts. Visit mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/report-wildlife-sightings/mountain-lion-reports

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MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley is permanently out-of-office and retiring from the Department! Sara joins Nature Boost to look back on her time in conservation, the people who inspired her, and shares guidance for those interested in a conservation-related career.

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Missouri’s annual cicadas will be joined by their periodical friends this summer – prepare for a noisy season! What even are cicadas? Why do they spend most of their lives underground? What are the benefits of these little creatures? Learn the answers and dispel some cicada myths when Nature Boost is joined by MDC Forest Entomologist Robbie Doerhoff. Find more cool facts about annual and periodical cicadas on the MDC website at missouriconservation.org

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Nature Boost is celebrating 2024’s biggest celestial event – the solar eclipse slated for April 8 in southeast Missouri! We talk to MDC Media Specialist and self-proclaimed astronomy nerd Dan Zarlenga about how and why an eclipse happens, what to expect, and best ways to take pictures and videos of the event. We also speak to Urban Wildlife Biologist Erin Shank about what our native wildlife thinks of these events and the interesting ways they react when the moon blocks out the light of the sun.

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Missouri’s Ozark and eastern hellbender populations are endangered, but a special partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Saint Louis Zoo is helping these salamanders stage a comeback. In February’s episode, hear from Justin Elden, Curator of Herpetology and Aquatics at the Saint Louis Zoo, and Director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Ron and Karen Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation, as he shows us around the Zoo’s Herpetarium and talks about the challenges and success stories around this special breeding program.

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What the heck is a hellbender? Listen to this episode and find out! Missouri Herpetologist Dr. Jeff Briggler takes Nature Boost on an Ozark stream to check during breeding season for the eastern hellbender. This episode discusses the hellbender’s endangered status, the challenges both Ozark and eastern subspecies face, and MDC’s partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo to restore populations. Learn more about the hellbender by visiting mdc.mo.gov or stlzoo.org 

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Nature’s effect on our health is a topic we’ve discussed before, but it bears repeating! Primary Care Physician Dr. Jennifer Allen joins us to discuss why our bodies and minds need nature and why getting outside is especially important in the winter!

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MDC Naturalist Sarah Easton joins us again to answer common questions received during the fall and winter seasons. Topics include white-tailed deer, MDC’s Eagle Days, leaving the leaves, and how to recycle live Christmas trees for wildlife.

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Nature Boost learns the ropes this episode with Kevin McCarthy and Russell Errett from the BETA Fund. These two rock climbing enthusiasts helped establish the first rock climbing bluff offered on an MDC area at Rockwoods Reservation. Learn rock climbing basics, safety, how to get started, and hear about BETA Fund’s mission to conserve outdoor spaces in the Midwest for recreational rock climbing. Read more about the organization at betafund.org.

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Nature Boost meets up with MDC Conservation Educator Ginger Miller for a picnic lunch in Windsor. What’s on the menu? Listen and find out!

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