Wild Ideas...the Podcast - The Wilderness Center

What does Gordon mean every week when he ends the podcast with "The Wilderness Center is a nature center, land trust, and ecopreneurial organization?" Explore TWC's activities beyond the podcast.

Gary is thrilled with Spotted Sandpipers and Gordon enjoys cattails, which includes eating them. The interview is with Jane Lavino from the National Museum of Wildlife Art about the importance of art in the conservation movement.

Scorpions must have invaded Gordon’s dreams. Joann comments on comets. One of Gary’s favorite reptiles is the Blanding’s Turtle. Robert Thomas from Loyola University returns to talk about alligators.

Gordon updates us on his skunk hunt, including ideas about refugia. Joann remembers a Full Holly Moon Walk. Gary's planning a Spotted Turtle hunt. All of which leads us to an interview with our favorite entomological internet pundit, Bug Girl, about DEET.

Gordon has a skunk under his porch…will he get sprayed? Will he catch rabies? Gary saw Red-winged Blackbirds establishing territories. Joann found the ancient equator. The interview is with Ann Mattson on the geology of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Rocks are falling from the sky, oh my! Joann talks about near Earth objects. Gordon recalls seeing penguins. Gary loves Jefferson’s Salamanders. This leads to a discussion of the Red Queen Hypothesis, or why is there sex?

Gary's got water creatures on his mind, with info about foraminifera. Gordon's thinking about domestic cats. And Joann wonders if we had a "January Thaw" on our trip to Yellowstone. The interview is with Kyle Bagnall of Chippewa Nature Center about maple sugaring.

Alder and Willow Flycatcher, Big Brown Bat, Viruses, Listener questions answered

Part two of 51 things to do before you are 12 years old. Ken Finch from Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood joins Gordon, Joann and Gary as they discuss the importance of nature play.

51 things to do before you are 12 years old part one. Ken Finch from Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood joins Gordon, Joann and Gary to wax nostalgic about nature play.

Gary is NOT weeping for willows; he loves this large group of species in the genus Salix. Gordon explores another living fossil the Coelacanth, a lobe finned fish. Naturalist Clyde McMillan-Gamber talks about wintering Bald Eagles.

Gary answers a listener request to chat about Black-crowned Night Herons, Gordon talks about plant olfaction in goldenrods, and Joann reads snowdrifts. That leads us to a chat with Jean-Pierre Anderson of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Joann saw American Coots. Gary slipped on a periphyton community and Gordon loves American Bittersweet. The interview is with Brad Lepper of the Ohio Historical Society about the process of domestication of plants and animals.

Why does the new year start January 1? Joann tells us. Gary enjoys White-crowned Sparrows. Gordon talks about yet another living fossil—Gingko biloba. Drew Todd of Ohio Department Natural Resources explains the Emerald Ash Borer.

Joann explores the "Pineapple Express" atmospheric river. Gary finds an interesting relationship between alga, coral, and gobis. Gordon recalls Great Horned Owls. Our interview is with Audra Meinelt of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on gorillas.

Gordon tells the story of the greatest botanical discovery of the 20th century. Gary is totally amazed by extremophile bacteria in Antarctica. Joann explains the dazzling phenomena of sun pillars. Then the crew talks about hibernation.

Gordon is thinking about population dynamics and road kill! Then, Gary's talk on sea ice and Joann's review of Hurricane Sandy as related to climate change lead into an interview with Mark McCaffrey of the National Center for Science Education about climate.

This is a question show featuring Robert Michael Pyle explaining a caterpillar observation and Ed Bangs explaining Gray Wolf harvests. Gary explains leaf fall. Gordon like Box Elder trees and Joann explains hurricane Sandy.

Gary recalls Black-necked Stilts, a wonderful bird. Gordon talks about Ermine aka Short-tailed weasel aka Stoat. Joann explains the analemma. It’s Carl Sagan Day, so the podcast recalls Sagan’s contribution to science understanding.

Gary's thinking about rebellious slave ants, Gordon found some algae, and Joann's dog got a warble. Then, it's on to the question show!