Creature Comforts

Wildlife Mississippi has been serving Mississippi's land and waters since 1997. At the head of this organization is James Cummins as Executive Director. Joining this edition of Creature Comforts, James talks about working close with politicians and people on the ground to move legislation forward to conserve Mississippi's natural wonders. Also we hear from our resident snake expert, Terry Vandeventer, about a viral video of two rattlesnakes battling for dominance in Wilkinson County. Article and Video of Rattlesnake Battle (Clarion Ledger) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Secretive marsh birds like the seaside sparrow and clapper rails are hard to study because of their elusive nature. They are heard more than seen and inhabit really dense marsh land areas which hide them from the eye. On this edition of Creature Comforts Jared Feura from the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center joins the show to talk about the different techniques he uses to research these birds and the role they play in our ecosystem.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Science Fest is one of the premiere events for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and involves all the museums of the LeFleur Museum District. This year the event will be all virtual and friend of the show, Nicole Smith, special events coordinator for the museum joins the show to share all the details. Also since late June the museum has reopened it doors to visitors and Nicole lets us know about new guidelines for visitors and new exhibits. Dr. Majure is also on hand and answers a few more cat centered pet questions, while Libby calls in an gives an update on her travels in the western part of the country. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Friend of the show, entomologist Audrey Harrison joins Creature Comforts to talk about the miracle of migration for the monarch butterfly. Milkweed is always in the conversation when talking of plants that help the monarch on their journey, but what about parsley? Throughout the show Audrey explains what people can do to help and enjoy butterfly migration. Also Dr. Majure gets an update about a pooch that is a very picky eater. News story discussed during episode: Look Up! Purple Martins Delight Downtown Nashville See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The bat may not one of the feature animals when thinking about Mississippi wildlife, such as the deer or catfish. But Mississippi is home to 15 types of bats that play a significant role in Mississippi’s ecosystem. Today we welcome Dr. Nicole Hodges , to talk about the role of the bat and how to even attract them t your home with bat boxes.. Also, Libby and Dr. Majure talk about one of the giant beetles that are making an appearance this time of year.Links discussed in this episode:.Natural Heritage ProgramBuild a Bat HouseNorth America’s largest scarab beetle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Creature Comforts we welcome Claire Graves from Pearl Riverkeeper. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the Pearl River watershed clean and healthy through advocacy and education. And on occasion they even get into the water do the dirty work. We hear from Claire about the work of they are doing and the upcoming Clean Sweep event happening on September 19th. Also Dr. Majure answers your pet questions, while Libby talks about the different types of animals she is seeing outside her Oregon window.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Caring for older pets can come with a particular set of struggles but can also be a joyous time for the owner and pet bond. On this all pet edition of Creature Comforts, Dr. Majure shares advice about caring for senior pets and his own account of what happens when younger animals with older ones occupy the same space. Also how do you know if your pet has allergies? These and other pet related topics are discussed on this episode of Creature Comforts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jason Hoeksema is a biology professor at the University of Mississippi and President of the Delta Wind Birds organization. As a long-serving advocate for shore birds, Jason is always looking to help create and preserve areas so they can thrive during their long migrations. On this episode of Creature Comforts we talk about the various shorebirds that visit Mississippi, where they can be found, and how citizens can help with their yearly journey. Also Dr. Majure answers pet questions about a cooked dog food and giving a cat an enema.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this edition of Creature Comforts our guest is Dr. Marcus Drymon, Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University and member of the Mississippi – Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Earlier this year he joined the show to talk about the sharks of the Gulf Coast (link). But today we focus on the red snapper and other reef fish found right here off the coast of Mississippi. Also we get an update from a caller about her troublesome cardinal who needs to a major behavior change. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bob Crosby has been fishing the Mississippi River for over 25 years and is always on the hunt for his next trophy fish. As the owner and operator of Blue Cat Guide Service, Bob wanted to understand the behavior and movements of the big catfish that swim the Mississippi River. In a cooperative program with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks he and his angler friends are tagging the catfish of the river in hopes of studying them more. Larry Bull, Assistant Director Of Fisheries, along with Bob talk about the work they have completed with the fish and how they need the help from the public tracking these fish. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It may seem like mid-summer to us humans but there are already signs in the natural world that we are entering late-summer. Today friend of the program, biologist Joe Magee joins the show to talk about how the birds and other creatures are reacting to these changes. Have you noticed the difference in the dawn chorus? Certain creature songs are missing this time of year. Also Dr. Majure talks about the importance of flea treatment on your pet cats. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The prothonotary warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. For many years the Jackson Audubon Society has maintained nesting box trails for these birds. They can be seen around the Lefleur’s Bluff State Park and the Fannye Cook Natural Area. Today we have Chralie Pfeifer from the Jackson Audubon Society to talk about these birds and their migration to these nesting sites. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pet Day is always an enjoyable episode on Creature Comforts. Dr. Troy Majure and Libby Hartfield answer your pet and wildlife questions, along with the latest happenings in nature. Tune in and send your pet questions to Animals@mpbonline.org. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today on the show we welcome back Dr. Brent Hendrixson, professor of biology at Millsaps College. He is back on the program to tell us about some of the scorpions and spiders found around the state. Not all of these creatures are venomous but we will talk about staying safe when these creatures are around. Also on we share some great news about the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today on the show we welcome Dr. Jim Franks. He is a senior research scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and studies some of the large fish of the gulf. The Bluefin Tuna and Tarpon are the subject of his latest research projects and he joins us to talk about their current situation. Also Dr. Majure and Libby Hartfield answer some of your summertime pet and wild animal questions.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today on the show we welcome Dr. Will Selman, Assistant Professor of Biology at Millsaps College to talk about the various turtles of Mississippi, especially the box turtle. He has conducted several studies of turtles around the state and will share some of his findings, talk about the endangered turtles of the state, and answer your questions about these cold-blooded reptiles. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Naturalist Joe McGee joins Creature Comforts to let us know what the frogs of Mississippi are up to this time of year. Since his last visit in January many things have changed and the summer frogs are here calling into the nights sky. From cricket frogs to fowler's toads Joe has a sharp ear and keen eye to help set these leapers apart. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Armadillos are not listed among the six Mississippi nuisance animals but some home owners would say different. If unchecked Armadillos can cause serious damage to a yard or home, but most often these nocturnal creatures are seen as roadkill. Today on the show we talk with Dr. Cathy Shropshire about this unusual mammal and try to answer the question: Why did the armadillo cross the Mississippi River?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The weather is warmer and now those charming bio-luminescent creatures are lighting up the night’s sky. No matter if you call them lightning bugs or fireflies’ people are reporting seeing them around the state. Today we talk with Lynn Faust who literary wrote the book on Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs. We talk about what is happening with these bugs this time of year and an upcoming event where you can watch their wondrous light show up-close. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Herpetologist Terry Vandeventer is very passionate about Mississippi snakes and joins us to talk and answer your snake questions. No stranger to the program Terry always brings a great perspective about the proper way to interact with snakes. Education is the key, but there are a few tips to remember when you see a snake in nature. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.