The Michigan DNR's Wildtalk Podcast

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Kelsey and Eric have a conversation with Kristie Sitar about habitat work happening in the UP. That's followed up with an overview of the barred owl, before a lengthy discussion of Michigan's deer season with Samantha Courtney and Brent Rudolph. 

Episode Hosts: Kelsey Beatty and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan.gov/MiHunt
  • Deer wintering complexes
• All things feathers
  • Barred owl
• All things fur
  • Michigan.gov/Deer
  • EHD

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Kelsey and Eric start off with a conversation about the monarch butterfly migration. That's followed up with an overview of the ruffed grouse, before wrapping things up with a discussion about the porcupine. 

Episode Hosts: Kelsey Beatty and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan.gov/Monarchs
  • Growing milkweeds for monarch butterflies
• All things feathers
  • Ruffed grouse
  • Video: Ruffed grouse drumming
  • Grouse Enhanced Management Sites (GEMS)
• All things fur
  • North American porcupine

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Rachel and Eric talk fire with Jesse Lincoln. That's followed up with a discussion about the Carolina wren before we wrap things up chatting about the gray fox. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Prescribed fire
  • Kirtland's warbler
• All things feathers
  • Carolina wren
  • Merlin app
• All things fur
  • Gray fox
  • Submit a gray fox observation

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Katie Grzesiak talk invasive species, and Ryan Wheeler pops in for a bit to talk about nutria, armadillo and the invasive species watch list. 

Episode Hosts: Katie Grzesiak and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Stiltgrass
  • Michigan.gov/EGLE
  • Michigan.gov/MDARD
  • Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA)
  • Midwest Invasive Species Network (MISIN)
• All things feathers
  • Eastern Towhee
• All things fur
  • Michigan Invasive Species Watchlist
  • Nutria

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Melinda Cosgrove start off the show with a brief history of the wildlife disease laboratory. That's followed up with a chat about wildlife diseases affecting birds, before finally talking about wildlife diseases that affect mammals. 

Episode Hosts: Melinda Cosgrove and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Wildlife disease laboratory
• All things feathers
  • Wildlife Disease Manual
  • Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
  • West Nile Virus
  • Botulism
  • Report diseased wildlife
• All things fur
  • Rabies
  • Public health directory for rabies testing
  • Canine and feline distemper
  • Bovine tuberculosis

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Shelby Adams start off the show with a discussion of the impacts to wildlife habitat from the 2025 ice storm. That's followed up with a chat about the northern shrike, before finally talking about Michigan elk and changes to hunting regulations this year. 

Episode Hosts: Shelby Adams and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • 2025 Ice storm recovery
• All things feathers
  • Northern shrike
• All things fur
  • Michigan.gov/Elk

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Fahimeh Baziari start off the show with some background on costal plain marshes. That's followed up with a chat about the spruce grouse, before finally flying into the world of the Indiana bat. 

Episode Hosts: Fahimeh Baziari and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Costal plain marsh
  • Allegan State Game Area
  • Ross costal plain marsh preserve
• All things feathers
  • Spruce grouse
  • Ruffed grouse
  • Sharp-tailed grouse
• All things fur
  • Indiana bat
  • White-nose syndrome

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Caleb Eckloff start off the show with some background on commercial forest lands. That's followed up with a chat about the duck hunting regulations process. Finally, the show is wrapped up with some discussion about year two of the moose project. 

Episode Hosts: Caleb Eckloff and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Commercial forest program
• All things feathers
  • Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
  • Mississippi Flyway
• All things fur
  • Moose

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host John Darling talk about water control structures at Harsens Island. That's followed up with a chat about the mallard duck, before diving into the world of the muskrat. 

Episode Hosts: John Darling and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Harsens Island
• All things feathers
  • Mallards
  • Mississippi Flyway
• All things fur
  • Muskrats

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Ryan Soulard and Pat Brickel about a long habitat project wrapping up at Fish Point. We follow that up with a chat about the snow goose, before diving into the tiny world of the least shrew. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Fish Point State Wildlife Area
• All things feathers
  • Snow goose
  • Snow goose ID sheet
  • Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
  • Wetland Wonders
  • eBird
• All things fur
  • North American Least shrew

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email [email protected].