The Michigan DNR's Wildtalk Podcast
The Wildtalk Podcast is a production of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. On the Wildtalk Podcast, representatives of the Wildlife Division chew the fat and shoot the scat about all things habitat, feathers, and fur. With insights, interviews, and listener questions answered on the air, you'll come away with a better picture of what's happening in the world of Michigan's wildlife. Thank you for listening.Email questions to: dnr-wildlife@michigan.govor call 517-284-9453
Episodes
76 episodes since 2021
Threatened and endangered
In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk with Ashley Cole-Wick from Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) about the work they do for Michigan's rare species. Then, we fly away with a discussion about the trumpeter swa...
September 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 9
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42:05
U.P. GEMS, grouse and the chipmunk
In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Heather Shaw and Tom Seablom about habitat work on GEMS in the Upper Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about the ruffed grouse, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about t...
August 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 8
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46:43
Turtles, opossums, ring-billed gulls and more
In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Greg Hochstetler about turtle conservation work, fly away with a discussion about the ring-billed gull, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the Virginia opossum. Pete Ka...
July 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 7
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38:29
June Loons, beavers and Northern Michigan habitat
In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Brian Mastenbrook about all things habitat in the Northern Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the common loon, and we wrap up the episode with ...
June 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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37:40
Baseball birds, red foxes and UP habitat work
In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Bill Scullon about all things habitat in the Upper Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the indigo bunting, and we wrap up the episode with a chat abou...
May 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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35:38
Flying deer, frogs, herons and Southeast Michigan habitat
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Nate Levitte about all things habitat in the Southeast Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the Great blue heron, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about ...
April 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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41:00
Southwest Lower Peninsula habitat, woodcock, the bear essentials and coy wolves?
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to James Miller about all things habitat in the Southwest Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the American woodcock, answer a question about the existence of c...
March 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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47:34
Crows, otters and Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Scott Eggeman about all things habitat in the Northern Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about crows, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about otters. Pete Ka...
February 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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40:51
UP habitat work, snowy owls, the bog lemming and a new year
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Bill Scullon about all things habitat in the Upper Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about snowy owls, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about bog lemmings. ...
January 01, 2024
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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34:27
Southwest Michigan habitat, pileated woodpeckers and the pine marten
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Mark Mills about all things habitat in the Southwest region of the state, fly away with a discussion about pileated woodpeckers, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the elusive pine...
December 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 12
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43:39
Michigan Natural Features Inventory, bird migration and the white-tailed deer
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Jesse Lincoln from Michigan Natural Features Inventory about all things habitat, fly away with a discussion about bird migration and die-offs from window collisions, and we wrap up the episode...
November 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 11
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38:55
Spooky season: Southeast Lower Peninsula habitat work, and nocturnal owls and skunks
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Joe Robison about all things habitat in the Southeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan, fly away with eastern screech-owls as we talk all things feathers, and we discuss the odorous, striped skunk ...
October 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 10
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37:20
Northern Lower Peninsula habitat work, sharp-tailed grouse and the Ursus americanus
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Mike Parker about all things habitat in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, fly away with sharp-tailed grouse as we talk all things feathers, and we discuss the Ursus americanus in our a...
September 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 9
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38:20
Southwest Michigan, piping plovers and huge squirrels
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Kristin Wildman about all things habitat in Southwest Michigan, fly away with piping plovers as we talk all things feathers, and talk about Michigan's largest squirrel in our all things fur se...
August 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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29:25
Wildlife adaptations to a changing climate
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we replay one of our popular interviews about the challenges a changing climate poses to wildlife. Episode Hosts: Rachel Leightner, Holly Vaughn and Hannah SchauerProducer/editor: Eric H...
July 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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23:27
Ticks, ticks, ticks!
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we replay one of our most popular interviews about one of everyone's least favorite woodland insects — the tick. Episode Hosts: Rachel LeightnerProducer/editor: Eric Hilliard...
June 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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34:53
Plan A: Leave Wildlife B
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we replay one of our most popular interviews on the importance of leaving wildlife in the wild. Episode Hosts: Rachel LeightnerProducer/editor: Eric Hilliard
May 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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44:17
The Northern Lower Peninsula, wild turkeys in the spring and the little brown bat
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk about habitat projects happening in Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about spring wild turkey behavior, and have a high-flying discussion about little brown bats.&n...
April 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 4
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21:25
UP habitat improvements, GEMS birding and preventing conflicts with bears
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk about habitat projects happening in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about birding on Grouse Enhanced Management Sites (GEMS), and dive into tips on avoiding conflicts with ...
March 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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25:52
Southwest Michigan habitat, bird declines and backyard predators
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to John Niewoonder about all things habitat in Southwest Michigan, fly away with a discussion about what can be done concerning bird population declines as we talk all things feathered, and dive ...
February 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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17:30
Southeast Michigan, snow buntings and more
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Terry McFadden about all things habitat in Southeast Michigan, fly away with Snow Buntings as we talk all things feathered, and dive into winter hunting and trapping opportunities in our all t...
January 01, 2023
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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19:56
Raccoons, elk and the Pure Michigan Hunt
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we’ll shine our wildlife spotlight on the dark-eyed junco, find out what habitat work is happening in the Southwest Lower Peninsula, hear listener questions answered in the mailbag segment and get a samp...
December 01, 2022
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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19:26
Juncos, Southwest Michigan and getting lost in the swamp
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we’ll shine our wildlife spotlight on the dark-eyed junco, find out what habitat work is happening in the Southwest Lower Peninsula, hear listener questions answered in the mailbag segment and get a samp...
November 01, 2022
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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29:04
Blue Jays, birding trails, white tails and enforcement tales
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we’ll shine our wildlife spotlight on the Blue Jay, find out what habitat work is happening in the Upper Peninsula, talk deer with Chad Stewart and Brian Frawley, hear listener questions answered in the ...
October 01, 2022
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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40:29
Elk, events, rescues and reporting
In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we’ll shine our wildlife spotlight on the elk, find out what habitat work is happening in the Southeastern Lower Peninsula, hear listener questions answered in the mailbag segment and get a sample of con...
September 01, 2022
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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28:37