Natural Resources University

Jacob and Eric sit down with Dr. Levi Heffelfinger of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to discuss their work evaluating how dietary energy affects antler and body size of white-tailed deer. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

Wisconsin gamebird ecologist Taylor Finger joins us to breakdown the status of wild turkeys in the state. Join as he shares details on how Wisconsin has achieved successful turkey populations unlike any other state in the country.    Resources:   Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased female survival may explain wild turkey decline. bioRxiv, 2025-05.   Legends of turkey research | #50   Pollentier, C. D., et al. (2021). Gobbling across landscapes: Eastern wild turkey distribution and occupancy–habitat associations. Ecology and Evolution, 11(24), 18248-18270.   Ogawa, R., et al. (2025). Is wild turkey habitat selection spatially consistent? A three‐decade meta‐analysis in Mississippi. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e70000.   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!   Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak  

Dr. Esben Kjaer joins the Blazin' Grazin' hosts to talk fire, forage, and the fine art of managing rangelands for both cattle and wildlife. His work from Kansas to North Dakota reveals how prescribed fire and strategic grazing shape biodiversity - from plant and insect communities to nesting birds. He shares what happens when conservation meets production, and how landowners can use grazing without losing habitat. The conversation also dives into fire aversion, Kentucky bluegrass invasions, and why fire still beats grazing when it comes to restoring native prairies. From the challenges of burning in the frozen north to bringing new fire science to Oklahoma, Dr. Kjaer offers both research and real-world lessons for anyone who loves the land, livestock, and a good burn plan. Resources: - OkState Department of Natural Resource Ecology Management - Esben Kjaer Ph.D.

Deer have many benefits to ecosystems and society, but they can also be a cause of human-wildlife conflict. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the impact deer can have on agricultural production, property, the spread of disease, and humans.  Learn more about deer resistant ornamental plants at: https://extension.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants  Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife   

Sometimes you just need to follow your dreams. Eric Mayo is a Mississippi pond owner with a small 1.5-acre pond. After complete renovation, Eric wanted something different. So, he did everything we preach against in pond management. He stocked different species, collected them from the wild, and just threw in as many unusual species as possible. The results? Eric holds nine Mississippi rod-and-reel and fly rod records, many of which came from his small pond. If you want to hear about managing for trophy redspotted sunfish and longear sunfish, well hold my beer and watch this! Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes! Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Kristy McAndrew from Mississippi State University. Dr. McAndrew will walk us through the ins and outs of Brown spot needle blight, a fungal disease that infects pine needles, leading to premature needle loss, stunted growth, and long-term stress that increases a tree's vulnerability to other pests and pathogens, and provide an update on Emerald Ash Borer presence in the region.  Dr. McAndrew is a forest health specialist at Mississippi State University in the Forestry Department. Kristy has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Wildlife, both from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, and also completed a Master's and PhD at Mississippi State University in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology.  For more on brown spot needle blight, see this recent article and publication from the Arkansas Division of Agriculture. www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2025/august/08-18-2025-ark-UAM-needle-blight.aspx If you have questions, feel free to contact us at timberuniversity@gmail.com

Dr. Ben Jones, CEO of RGS & AWS, joins us to explore how active forest stewardship - from prescribed fire to targeted timber harvests and new wood markets - can restore age-class diversity and habitat for ruffed grouse and wild turkey across eastern forests.   Resources: EQUIP Food Plots, Feed or Fire: The Real Costs Per Pound of Deer Forage (NDA article) Ruffed Grouse Society   Dr. Ben Jones benj@ruffedgrousesociety.org   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   We've launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!   Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak  

Jacob and Eric sit down with MSU Assistant Research Professor Dr. Melanie Boudrou to discuss the results of a recent project that used GPS collars to study deer-pig interactions. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

In this episode, we return to the mailbag to answer listener questions. Brady covers the current status of brownspot needle blight and thinning pines with herbicide applications as an alternative to commercial thinning in light of depressed markets. Shaun covers a combo question on replanting costs and how to treat those costs for tax purposes and how that may or may not affect a timber owners basis account. 

Strap in for a philosophical episode as we sit with Dr. Dwayne Elmore and explore the complex nature of critically evaluating information in an age of information overload.   Resources: Pre-Print: Lashley et al. (2025) Female Wild turkey survival meta-analysis   Dr. Dwayne Elmore - Tall Timbers, Publications   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   We've launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!   Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak  

AI generated wildlife videos are common on the internet and it can be hard to distinguish what is real and what isn't. For this episode, Drew and Joe are joined by Danny to discuss the kinds of AI generated videos that frequently feature wildlife, the ways artificially generated videos can alter expectations of real-world interactions with wildlife, and some ways to identify AI generated content online. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife 

We've launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up here!   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak  

This month we are joined by Dr. Jordan Giese, Research Assistant Professor at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, to talk about prairie strips and his research on bird responses to prairie strips in row crop acres. From songbirds to Ring-necked pheasants, Dr. Giese shares how prairie strips can be beneficial for a range of wildlife within agricultural landscapes. Whether you are interested in birding, hunting, wildflowers, or soil health, prairie strips offer immense benefits for farmers across the Midwest.  Resources: Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) Prairie Strips farmer and landowner testimonials   Dr. Jordan Giese [website, @birdnbiologist] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne]   Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us!   We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/   Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, Noble County rancher Grady Parmley joins the team to share how prescribed burn associations empower landowners to use fire as a powerful tool for grassland management. Grady recounts his own journey from being intimidated by fire to leading burns on thousands of acres through the North Central Range Improvement Association. With insights from OSU Extension experts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner, the episode explores how local PBAs foster neighborly cooperation, reduce wildfire risks, and improve both livestock and wildlife habitat. Listeners will hear practical tips on equipment, safety, burn planning, and navigating the challenges of leadership and liability. Whether you're curious about how to join a burn association or want to improve your pasture management, this episode offers a blend of storytelling and expert advice that's as educational as it is inspiring. Resources: Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association

Jacob and Eric catch up to discuss the rut. They cover everything from what triggers the rut to phases of the rut, changes in buck behavior, and hunting strategies. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

We dive into Will's recent research assessing the effects and prevalence of Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys in Alabama.   Resources:   Alger, K., et al. (2017). Risk factors for and spatial distribution of lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV) in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in New York State, USA. Journal of wildlife diseases, 53(3), 499-508.   Goodwin, C. C., et al. (2024). Experimental infection of domestic turkeys with lymphoproliferative disease virus of North American origin. Veterinary Pathology.   Shea, S. A. (2021). Retroviral infection dynamics in Maine's wild turkeys. The University of Maine.   Thomas, J. M., et al. (2015). Molecular surveillance for lymphoproliferative disease virus in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from the eastern United States. PLoS One, 10(4), e0122644.   Ostrander, K. N., et al. (2025). Histomonosis and Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus in Male Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Alabama, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases.   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak  

What do grasshoppers, prescribed fire, and peer pressure have in common?  In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jason Harmon, the new head of Oklahoma State University's Natural Resource Ecology and Management department, to find out.  From his early days counting insects in Wisconsin to leading research on pollinators and rangelands in North Dakota, Dr. Harmon brings a wide-lens perspective to land management - one that blends ecology, culture, and community. Hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner chat with Dr. Harmon about everything from cattle grazing and monarch migration to how landowners manage for appearances rather than outcomes.  They also explore how Oklahoma's ecological diversity - and its people - are shaping the future of conservation.  Whether you're passionate about prescribed fire, curious about critters, or just love hearing smart folks talk about working landscapes, this one's for you. Takeaways Dr. Jason Harmon's background blends insect ecology with rangeland research. Cultural perceptions influence landowners' willingness to adopt ecologically diverse pastures. Fire remains an unmatched tool for managing range health and reducing woody encroachment. Oklahoma and North Dakota face different stages of similar land challenges. Pollinators are not just bees-grasslands can host hundreds of native insect species. Milkweed interactions with cattle are species-specific and under-researched. Oklahoma's ecological range-from alligators to bighorn sheep-mirrors the diversity of its management needs. Interdisciplinary collaboration enhances natural resource problem-solving. Prescribed burning is a proactive solution that prevents larger wildfire disasters. OSU's natural resource programs offer versatile career pathways through specialized tracks. Timestamps 00:02:05 – Meet Dr. Jason Harmon and his journey to OSU |00:04:01 – Insect ecology and critter-counting origins 00:06:06 – Cultural peer pressure in land aesthetics 00:13:25 – Comparing North Dakota and Oklahoma land management 00:14:59 – Prescribed fire vs. grazing for ecosystem management 00:22:00 – Calf decomposition and surprising pollinator behavior 00:27:12 – Regal fritillaries and pollinator diversity 00:29:44 – Cattle interaction with milkweed species 00:33:39 – Adjusting to Oklahoma and its colorful town names 00:36:25 – Oklahoma's ecological diversity and wild inhabitants 00:42:29 – Dr. Harmon's vision for the department 00:49:00 – Promoting collaboration and public understanding 00:52:53 – Overview of OSU's undergraduate options in natural resources Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com

he State of Arkansas is well known for its quality fishing opportunities, particularly its tailrace trout fisheries. Although Fish University has spent several episodes discussing the self-sustaining brown trout in the Little Red River, the majority of these fisheries are supported with catchable size, hatchery produced trout. Unfortunately, the two biggest hatcheries in Arkansas experienced major issues this past spring and summer, resulting in the loss of more than a million trout. With less trout available, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had to take drastic measures. In this episode, Wes has a conversation with Trout Biologist Christy Graham to learn about what happened at the hatcheries, what it means for the rivers, and what the future of trout fishing in Arkansas will look like.  Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes! Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!

Waterfowl and other birds often migrate long distances to optimize habitats for feeding and meeting. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss what triggers migration, how far species travel, and the cost and benefits associated with these long distance movements. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife

In this episode, we discuss our recent paper quantifying turkey abundance, highlighting the Florida Wildlife Corridor and exploring how this project preserves turkey habitat amidst increasing development pressures. Paper will be linked as soon as it is released.   Resources:    Citizen science for turkeys Episode 119  eBird https://ebird.org/home Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation https://floridawildlifecorridor.org/ FWC Summer Brood Survey https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/brood-survey/ iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/ Merlin Bird ID https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ Snapshot USA https://www.snapshot-usa.org/   00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 01:23 Exploring Turkey Management and Habitat 02:48 The Impact of Human Population on Turkey Habitats 05:47 Florida Wildlife Corridor: A Case Study 11:38 Quantifying the Effects of the Corridor on Turkeys 20:47 Characterizing the Landscape for Turkeys 22:49 Understanding Turkey Occupancy and Abundance 25:09 The Impact of Human Population on Turkey Habitats 28:42 The Role of the Wildlife Corridor 31:19 Challenges Facing Osceola Turkey Populations 37:33 Management Strategies for Turkey Habitats 41:47 The Importance of Collaborative Conservation Efforts   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab   We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now!    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak