Creature Comforts

On April 20th State Lakes and State Park Lakes were reopened to fishing and boating. But social distancing should still be practiced. Today on the show we have Larry Bull, Assistant Director of the Fisheries Bureau, at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. He will talk about how anglers should handle fishing during the coronavirus pandemic and how his office is helping to make sure everyone is lawful and safe.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kris Godwin has been engrossed with nature since the television show, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. Now as the state Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services she and her office help when nature and wildlife gets a little too close for comfort. Canada geese are starting to hatch and vultures are often causing damage to property, but play an critical role in the ecosystem. Kris talks about how to legally and ethically deal with these problems and ways to greet nature on your terms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today on the show we welcome Dr. Richard Brown, Director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State. With a love for insects that has spanned over 6 decades, Dr. Brown has plenty to share about the bugs found in Mississippi. We will talk about what he is seeing right now and highlight the role of the Moth in our ecosystem. Also Dr. Majure answers your pet questions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As we are all spending more time at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the great outdoors and nature are still open for business. Spring is here and butterflies along with other spring creatures are here in Mississippi making their grand entrance. On this episode of Creature Comforts we talk with Paul Hartfield, biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service about what we could see if we were to get out in nature this time of year.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Creature Comforts we welcome William McKinley, biologist and White Tail Deer program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The chronic wasting disease is still plaguing our white tail deer population but there are ways hunters and outdoor enthusiast can help. Also Dr. Majure is here for answering pet questions and will talk about the stress you could be passing to your pet as we moving thorough the coronavirus pandemic.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mississippi has 63 different species of crawfish that call it home, including the smallest crawfish species in the world. Today on this episode of Creature Comforts we welcome Paul Hartfield, biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to talk about these crawfish. What are their role in the ecosystem, where are they found, and what to do if you find a straight tail crawfish at your crawfish boil. As we talk about great social distancing activities that will bring you closer to nature while staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic.Virtual Tours and Zoo Experiences Link See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our guest on this episode is the one and only Audrey Harrison. An entomologist that studies the insects around us and how they are helpful in our everyday lives. Today we will talk about what insects are making their spring appearance, the monarch butterflies, and of course marvelous mosquito. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The opossum is an often misunderstood animal that can be seen around trash cans and road sides throughout the country. As the only native marsupial in North America, it seems everyone has a story about the opossum. And today on the show we hear a bunch of them. Between all the opossum tales we talk with Dr. Cathy Shropshire about these animals and their role in the ecosystem. Also Dr. Majure talks about how you can not get the coronavirus from our furry friends at home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Creature Comforts we open the doors to the pet hospital. Dr. Troy Majure is here and ready to answer your pet questions. The entire show is dedicated to our furry friends and making sure they live their best life. Also, following the Pearl River flood we talk about having your emergency kit pet ready. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

According to Dr. Marcus Drymon the shark population of the gulf coast is healthy. But you should not be afraid to swim because the water is fine. Today on the show we welcome Dr. Drymon to talk about the sharks of Mississippi and their role in the ecosystem. Throughout the show we dispel some myths about sharks, talk about shark fishing, and the amazing bull shark that can often be seen swimming freshwater rivers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike McDowell, the Critter Catcher joins the show and lets us know what are the nuisance animals of the state. Just because your neighbors dog barks a lot at night does not make it a nuisance animal, but maybe a nuisance animal is the reason for all the noise. Mike goes through the list of nuisance animals provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks then gives tips on dealing with these animals around the home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Steve Peterson has been a Creature Comforts regular every time we want to look toward the skies and learn about the birds of the state. Eagles have been spotted around and Steve is back to let us know about the state of eagles here in Mississippi. All throughout the show listeners called in and talked about their latest brushes with nature and where eagles have been spotted in their area. Also Libby gives an update about various upcoming nature events. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For 41 years the paleontology program at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science has been discovering and recording fossils found around the state. George Phillips the current Curator of Paleontology is here to join the show and talk about the state of fossils around Mississippi. Also he brings in some of the most complete fossils we have ever seen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Freshwater mussels are hard to spot but the role they play in shaping ecosystems is crucial to freshwater life. There numbers are declining but with the help of scientist and researchers these mussels are on the way to a come back. Matt Wagner, Curator of Fishes at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, joins Creature Comforts today to talk about these mighty creatures and how to spot them the next time you are on the water. Also, we hear from an unidentified creature on the coast and Dr. Majure answers your pet questions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

January may not seem like the ideal time to go fishing, but there is no rule saying you can not. Today on Creature Comforts we have Larry Pugh, Chief of Fisheries for MS Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks. Larry joins Libby Hartfield and Dr. Majure to talk about the public waters that are ready to be fished and answers your questions about being legal when on the water. Also Dr. Majure answers some tough questions about lost pets and having to put an animal to sleep. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a holiday break Creature Comforts is back with one of our favorite guest, naturalist Joe Magee. We have had plenty of warm days this winter and the frogs are sounding off. Joe brings in some recordings of several frogs he observed and talks about what to expect if you see these amphibians in your area. Also, Dr. Troy Majure answers your pet questions and Libby Hatfield encourages everyone to enjoy nature during these warm days of winter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our favorite paleontologist George Phillips joins us for our last live show of 2019. As the Paleontology Curator at the Mississippi Museum of Science he is hands on with many of the fossils that come through the museum. And today he even brings in one of the people that inspired him and others to search under the Earth, Gerard Case. He is credited for bringing the fossil hotbed, the Red Hot Truck Stop, to the attention of the masses. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Creature Comforts Dr. Troy Majure is out so no pet talk but Libby is back in the studio from her travels. She also brought one of her favorite people to the show, Paul Hartfield, her husband. Paul is an Endangered Species Biologist with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and has been working on the Mississippi River for almost 20 years. We talk about its importance, the lower Mississippi region, and also the least tern who are now increasing in numbers but where once an endangered species. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There was not a live airing of Creature Comforts today, but here is a classic episode of that originally aired on June 6, 2019. Just in time for Thanksgiving we hear about the wild turkey population in Mississippi and how to handle an encounter with these birds.Original Podcast Description:Adam Butler from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks joins this edition of Creature Comforts to chat about the wild turkeys of the state. As the turkey program coordinator, Adam works closely with conservation efforts for wild turkey habitats and the management of wild turkey hunting season. We talk about the health of the Mississippi turkey population and answer listener questions about their recent turkey experiences. Also Dr. Majure answers a few pet questions about keeping pets cool and excessive scratching. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Creature Comforts we cover just about all the animals found in Mississippi and beyond. From bats to bears, salamanders, and even the ones that share our homes. Today is an all pet day and Dr. Troy Majure is helps out with a new round of pet questions. Also Kevin ask if dog owners should continue flea control measures during the winter months. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.