Southern Appalachian Wild

Everyone has been talking about the 17-year cicadas, but what about our annual visitor. They are just as fascinating.

From devastating weather events to immigration, life is going to be different for us in the next 20-40 years if we don't change our ways.

Garder Snakes, Black Ratsnakes, and the Common Water Snakes are the focus of this episode. Just watch where you put hands!

We have nothing to fear from most of these creatures. Just make sure you know before you grab!

This is an introduction to three common weeds that are nutritional and ecologically important.

How do you know it's spring---the spring peepers will tell you with their loud vocalizations. This episode explains the biology of these little frogs and the their freezing and thawing process that could some day save your life.

"The coyote--flexible in his habits, cooperation with his kind, opportunistic by nature, catholic in his taste, capable of observational learning, suspicious, tough, and ingenious. Many claim he is the smartest animal in North America." This quote is from Hope Ryden in the book God's Dog: The North American Coyote.

Although very common, eastern grey squirrels have an interesting life course and history. I also tell you about some  experiences I had with them including $5,000 worth of house damages, hunting squirrels as a kid, and being bitten by a squirrel. Listen to this nutty episode.

The Eastern Red Cedar has been used for many things in Southern Appalachia including pencil making, wildlife habitat enhancement, fence posts, and cough medicine, but what's really interesting is its spiritual meaning. From Cherokee ancestor to nightmare banishment, cedars are both family and friends.

November is Native American Heritage Month. What was our relationship really like? I have written a timeline of activities that shows things were not like they seemed in old textbooks.