If you are not a birder you might think the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a crazy made up name from some movie. Join us a we explore the world of this wonderful woodpecker. Photos thanks to Mark Applebaum.

Our sources for this episode include:

• All About Birds
• Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Natures 7-11
• Audubon Guide To North American Birds

Opossums are really cute or really ugly. It all depends on your point of view. They are great at killing ticks. So they might be a good thing to see in your neighborhood.

Our sources for this episode include:

• 10 things you didnʼt know about opossums
• All About Opossums
• Opossums – killers of ticks
• The ‘Possum Pages: FAQs
• Facts on Opossums Playing Dead

This is a tree that may show up in your neighborhood as a volunteer. It is a great food source for birds. You might even have an old pencil made from this tree. The photo is from Bob’s back yard.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Eastern Redcedar
• Juniperus virginiana
• Eastern Redcedar in the Landscape
• Go Botany Juniperus Virginiana

Carol emails Nature Guys about a problem with fox. Bill and Bob struggle to come up with an answer but are inspired to do a show on foxes. This is an animal that you can occasionally see in the daytime. You might even see a gray fox in a tree!  Photos are of two young red fox in Bob’s back yard.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Are Red Fox Native?
• What Kind of Foxes Live in Ohio?
• Fox and Surplus Prey
• Fox
• Sarcoptic Mange In Red Foxes
• You Tube Video on Mange

This is a bird that Bill thinks should have a new name. When Bob moved into his neighborhood hawks were a big topic of conversation. Tune in to learn more about the red-shouldered hawk. Photos thanks to John Howard.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Protective Hawks go on Attack
• Red-shouldered vs Red tailed Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk from BioKIDS
• Red-shouldered Hawk from National Geographic

Bob looks outside and notices that all the birds are suddenly gone from his bird feeders. He soon discovers the reason. A Cooper’s Hawk is on the ground right next to the feeders. Learn all about this amazing bird in this episode.  Photos thanks to Mark Applebaum.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Kids’ Inquiry of Diverse Species
• 8 Interesting Facts about the Cooper’s Hawk
• The Raptor Trust Accipiters
• Cooper’s Hawk Life History
• Predator Management for small and backyard poultry flocks
• Hawk Mountain

Bobʼs grandson, Drew is excited to be dressed up as an eagle for Halloween. He did not want to paint his shoes yellow so we have the very special Blue Footed Bald Eagle. Tune in to find out all about this unique bird.

Our sources for this episode include:

• How did the bald eagle become Americaʼs national bird?
• How a young birder started
• Cincinnati Zooʼs Bald Eagle (including video of Sam flying at the Red’s game)
• Bald Eagle at the National Zoo
• Bald Eagle ODNR
• Lewis and Clark Trail

House Centipede

Even a naturalist can be a bit afraid of centipedes. There are plenty of reasons to welcome centipedes in your house. Bill can deal with them as long as they stay in the basement. Find out what bothers Bill about house centipedes and what these creatures are doing both inside and outside.

Our sources for this episode include:

• House Centipedes
• How to Tell the Difference Between a Centipede and a Millipede
• Sowbugs, millipedes, and centipedes in the home
• What Eats Centipedes and Millipedes?

The paw paw has the largest fruit of any native tree in the United States. Learn how to identify this tree and when you should go looking for the paw paw fruit. For most people paw paw is the best food that they have never eaten. Find out what parts of the paw paw you want to eat and those to leave alone. Spoiler alert! Do not eat the seeds they will make you throw up.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Paw Paw In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit by Andrew Moore
• Picking up Paw Paws
• What is Paw Paw?
• America’s Forgotten Fruit Tree: The Appalachian Banana | Appalachian Magazine
• Paw Paws, A Uniquely American Fruit by Earthy Delights
• Paw Paws: America’s Best Secret Fruit by Serious Eats