Walkin' on the Wild Side

It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side!  It's hard to believe, but we've never really explored the amazing alligator.  An incredibly well adapted species that hasn't changed much from its ancestor over 200 million years ago, the American Alligator has survived two extinction events and human persecution to once again survive and thrive.  Join Marvin and Gabrielle as they chat about this marvel of evolution, their biology, adaptations, and some great questions from Gabrielle!

Check out these websites for more info:

https://www.evergladesfoundation.org/post/9-amazing-things-you-didn-t-know-about-alligators

https://interestingengineering.com/science/crocodiles-secret-200-million-year-survival

https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/herps/alligator.html

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator

https://enviroliteracy.org/animals/what-problems-do-alligators-face/#:~:text=While%20their%20populations%20have%20rebounded%20from%20near%20extinction,impacts%2C%20and%20the%20continued%20threat%20of%20illegal%20killing.

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

Hey everyone, it's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side Podcast!  For this episode, we're ringing in Spring with the bells, the OCONEE BELLS (Shortia galacifolia)!  Spring has sprung, as you learned from our last episode.  However, it wouldn't be spring without the Oconee Bells!  This beautiful but small wildflower is one of the earliest blooming spring ephemerals in the Appalachians, is quite rare but locally abundant, and has a very interesting discovery story.  It was actually discovered, lost, and re-discovered a CENTURY later, but not by a famous naturalist of the day.  Join Marvin and Gabrielle Bouknight on the back porch "studio" and learn more about this beautiful "corolla of the Carolinas", where it can be seen, and why it was discovered... twice!

Here are a couple of websites for more information:

https://scnps.org/the-oconee-bells-history-homage-hobby-legacy/

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2021/04/18/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-wildflowers-types-oconee-bells/7228734002/

https://saveplants.org/plant-profile/?CPCNum=3950

https://southcarolinaparks.com/devils-fork/trails

https://visitoconeesc.com/foj-bellfest/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

Spring has sprung here in the Southeast and the chan changes are all around us!  Have you ever stopped to think why spring even happens?  What are the changes happening and what triggers these changes around us?  Join Marvin and Gabrielle on the back porch as they talk about the changes around them and what causes the blooming, frogs calling, birds singing, and more as spring is, well, springing!

Here are some websites for more information:

https://www.livescience.com/24728-spring.html

https://ecals.cals.wisc.edu/2017/05/01/for-some-plants-winter-carries-the-keys-to-spring-flowering/

https://www.willyswilderness.org/post/how-do-plants-and-animals-know-it-s-spring#:~:text=Seasonal%20surprises,of%20our%20Will%20County%20critters.

https://www.wingscapes.com/blog/on-the-move-how-birds-prepare-for-spring/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side!  This time, we're chatting about good ol' Ricky Raccoon.  These little mammals are probably one of the most recognizable mammals in North America and most people either love 'em or hate 'em!  These little masked bandits are fun to watch and it's easy to be amazed at their ability to open almost any trashcan and figure out latches, locks, and gates.  Of course, this is also the reason why many get so frustrated with the little masked bandits!  Join Marvin and Gabrielle for a fun chat to learn more about these amazing critters and maybe even appreciate them a little, even though they can be frustratingly clever!

**We apologize for the quality of this episode and the slight "echo-y" sound.**

Here's a few websites for more information:

https://www.treehugger.com/raccoon-facts-5073585

More about the raccoon's hands: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432898000679

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/527175/10-clever-facts-about-raccoons

https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/species/raccoon.html

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side Podcast and this one is special because it marks a milestone for Gabrielle Bouknight and me...it marks the trip to Minnesota and we FINALLY saw great gray owls!  Not only great grays, but two other species as well, a verifiable "HOOTAPALOOZA"!  Come with us  on our trip in this special episode from northern Minnesota and share our amazing experience!

Here's some websites from our episode:
https://saxzim.org
https://wtip.org/owl-irruption-hits-northern-minnesota-rehab-centers-see-rise-in-injured-birds/]\https://www.riverviewlodgemn.com/
https://www.blocknorthbrewpub.com/
https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2024/08/26/birding-the-north-shore-from-duluth-to-two-harbors/

Contact our guide, Mike Hendrickson thought this website:  https://saxzim.org/about-sax-zim-bog/


Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side!  This last podcast of the year follows Marvin and Gabrielle on a mission.  When a group of soldiers are sent on a specific mission, it is called a sortie, and that's what we are doing.  We are on a mission to find short-eared owls and our "sortie" takes us to northeast Ohio to ring in the New Year with family!  This year, short-eared owls have descended upon a few places in Ohio and this one place did not disappoint!  Join us from an amazing restaurant called Thyme 2 in Medina, Ohio as we summarize this incredible and surreal experience!

Here is some more information about the short-eared owl:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-eared_Owl/id
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/short-eared-owl
https://www.birdsauthority.com/do-owls-migrate/

Check out Marvin's photos on our Facebook pages listed below!

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

It's that time of year and Christmas is just around the corner!  One of the symbols of Christmas is mistletoe and it is actually a fascinating plant and it's pretty interesting how it became a symbol of Christmas.  Join Marvin and Gabrielle as they usher in the holidays and spread Christmas cheer with some interesting facts about this amazing little plant. 

Here's some websites for further reading:
https://blog.nwf.org/2012/12/12-things-to-know-about-mistletoe/
https://fwbg.org/newsletter-2/before-stealing-a-kiss-learn-the-mythology-and-history-of-mistletoe/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/biology-mistletoe-180976601/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

It's time for another episode of Walkin' on the Wild Side!  This time, Gabrielle and I are talking about the successful reintroduction of Elk in the Southeast.  Hunted into extinction in the 1700's and 1800's, this second largest member of the deer family has been reintroduced to North Carolina in the 2000's, but not without headaches and issues.  Join us as we chat about the successes, challenges, and essential collaborations that made the reintroduction of a majestic animal into a drastically changed ecosystem a success that now adds yet another facet to the gems of our national parks, refuges, and wild areas!

Here's some more information about the reintroduction of elk and where you can see them:

https://wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news-bulletin/march-2019/returning-elk-southeast-20-year-retrospective

https://www.biltmorebeacon.com/outdoor/dna-study-yields-new-estimate-of-smoky-mountain-elk-population/article_38a073e4-2f45-11ef-8fe6-1b27dce98991.html

https://ncwf.org/wildlife/elk/

Where to see them:
https://www.greatsmokies.com/elk-watching/

https://visithaywood.com/blog/elk-watching-101/

https://visitcherokeenc.com/blog/elk-viewing-101-your-guide-to-americas-historic-mammal/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

Our final two days in Iceland are packed adventures and experiences as we go from Selfloss to Keflavik.  We went through a National Park, experienced a few more waterfalls, geysers, and interesting history.  We also baked bread in volcanic soil, took in a few more spas, and got up close and personal at the historic fissure and lava eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula.  What a great trip and once in a lifetime experience Walkin' on the Wild Side!

Here's some great information:
The Yoda Cave - https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/yoda-cave
Gullfoss Waterfall - https://gullfoss.is/
Geysir - https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/strokkur
The Yerts!  https://valhallayurts.com/
Minniborgir Restaurant - https://www.is-southerniceland.com/en/property/minniborgir-cottages-restaurant.html
Laugervatn Spa and Bread Baking Experience - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-hot-springs-bread
Blue Lagoon - https://www.bluelagoon.com/topics/retreat-lagoon
Lava Flows Over Road - https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2024/06/08/lava_has_reached_grindavikurvegur_road_and_the_blue/
Froken Restaurants - https://www.frokenselfoss.is/
Rain Restaurant - https://rain.is/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!

Welcome back to Walkin' on the Wild Side!  We continue our adventure on the Ring Road in Iceland, from the northern area of Husavik to the southeastern town of Hofn.  We go from snowy fields to glaciers, icebergs, and volcanic beaches.  Join us to learn more about this beautiful country that truly is the land of ice and fire!  From hot geothermal fields, volcanic lava fields, and lava caves, to icy lagoons, glaciers, and icebergs.  Awesome geothermal spas, delicious ice cream, the amazing Iceland hotdog (trust me), and incredible views of northern lights.  Quite the diversity of land forms and experiences, but unbelievable trips around this great country from north to west, and more!

Here's some websites for more information:
https://www.northiceland.is/en/destinations/towns/
husavik
Awesome Geothermal Spa:  https://www.geosea.is/
Naustid Restaurant in Husavik:  https://icelandicfood.is/naustid/
Lava fields near Lake Myvatn: https://perlan.is/articles/dimmuborgir-lava-rock-formations-iceland
Hotdogs, really?:  https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/what-to-eat-in-iceland-the-ultimate-guide-to-the-famous-icelandic-hot-dogs
Best ice cream:  https://handpickediceland.is/tour/skutais-ice-cream/
https://icelandtravelguide.is/locations/the-diamond-beach/
https://fjallsarlon.is/

Interested in having Marvin and Gabrielle speak at your event?  Email us below for more information!

Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on our two webpages to see photos and blogs about our podcasts and nature in general:
Nature Nook Photography
Walkin' on the Wild Side

You can listen directly from our website at: https://walkinonthewildside.buzzsprout.com, or from any of the major podcast platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Stitcher, and more!
Subscribe to our podcasts on any of these platforms and leave us a review!
We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast and welcome your emails, comments, and feedback.  Hopefully, we will inspire you to get out there and start "Walkin' on the Wild Side"!

We'd love to hear from you with your questions and comments!