Bill has traveled the world in his long career. In this episode he shares some tips and tricks to help make sure you can enjoy the natural world no matter how close or far you travel from home.  Our sources for this episode include Bill’s list of tips and tricks.  Continue Reading …

Learn how and how not to pick up a snapping turtle. These turtles live a really long time. Find out the pros and cons of this strategy. This episode was recorded live at Roads, Rivers and Trails.

The turtle photo is from Drewʼs nature preschool graduation at the Cincinnati Nature Center. Peggy came dressed in a turtle t-shirt for the show!

Our sources for this episode include:

• To Help Snapping Turtles
• 10 Awesome Snapping Turtle Facts
• How would you help a snapping turtle cross the road
• Common Snapping Turtle Facts for Kids

Tune in to find out why deer will not eat ferns. Bill will explain the life cycle of this amazing plant. Bob takes you way back to the time when ferns were eaten by dinosaurs. Find out why the Victorians in Britain had fern fever.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Fern-mania: After the Victorians said they cured madness and boosted your love life – and explorers risked death to find them, the humble fern is sexy all over again
• Seeds and Spores – What Are the Differences
• What is a fern?
• A mouse that eats ferns like a dinosaur

 

Ticks can make you sick. However, if you take a few precautions they will not prevent you from being outside. Join us to find all about these challenging creatures.

Related episode: Opossums Like To Eat Ticks

Our sources for this episode include:

• What Purpose Do Ticks Serve in the Ecosystem?
• Create a Tick-Safe Zone Through Landscaping
• Deer Ticks: 7 Facts You Need to Know Now
• Ticks are getting worse

Bobʼs garden is invaded by voles. Tune in to find out why this little rodent is being studied by researchers.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
• What Can Rodents Tell Us About Why Humans Love?
• Voles: These Little Rodents Can do a Lot of Damage
• Facts on Voles
• Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat – Book and  Movie

Seems like everyone knows something about the Praying Mantis. Tune in to find out some interesting facts that you might not know.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Praying mantises released for pest control are hunting hummingbirds
• 11 wondrous facts about praying mantises
• 10 Fascinating Praying Mantis Facts

Who isnʼt happy to see butterflies? Bill loves to look for zebra and tiger butterflies in April and May.  Join us to find out how these butterflies get out so early.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Tiger Swallowtail Facts and Info
• Common Swallowtail Butterflies
• A Garden for Zebras and Tigers
• Top 10 Plants for Swallowtails

Bob is amazed to learn that tent caterpillars are native. He also learns that pregnant horses can be harmed by tent caterpillars. As usual Bill tells us when and where to find these gregarious creatures.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Interesting Behaviors and Traits of Tent Caterpillars
• 7 facts about tent caterpillars and why they’re all over N.J. this spring
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Bill has a very hard time dealing with the common starling. Bob does his best to bring up some interesting facts about the starling. Join us to see if Bill changes his mind about a bird that many people love to hate.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
• The Invasive Species We Can Blame On Shakespeare
• Even if we don’t love starlings, we should learn to live with them
• Fun Facts about European Starlings
• Why We Should all Love and Help the Humble Starling

Bob, Bill and Beth take a field trip out to Burtonʼs Bamboo Garden. Did you know that some bamboo is native to the US? Tune in to find out all the pros and cons of this very interesting plant.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Zak Burton at Burtonʼs Bamboo Garden
• Bamboo
• Americaʼs Native Bamboo
• Invasive bamboo frustrates Worthington coupleʼs neighbors
• Switch Cane, Giant Cane