Episode 42 - The Rivers that Shape us… The Mississippi and How Geology Shaped its Use

FromThe Wandering Naturalist

Start listening View podcast show

Episode 42 - The Rivers that Shape us… The Mississippi and How Geology Shaped its Use

FromThe Wandering Naturalist

ratings:

Length:

19 minutes

Released:

Feb 5, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Matt Cassidy, Program Specialist with Minnesota Historical Society joins us to discuss how the geology of the Mississippi River has shaped the way humans have used the river for the past 10,000 years.

Released:

Feb 5, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Explore the history and present of over 27,000 acres of park land inside Minnesota's Hennepin County and surrounding areas. Hosts Angela (wildlife biologist) and Brandon (interpretive naturalist) guide you through this suburban wilderness managed by the Three Rivers Park District.

Skip carousel

Episode 3 - Snow and its History with Minnesota: How did humans interact with snow before the advent of modern heating and insulation amenities? Learn all about it as hosts Brandon and Angela talk with an expert on this issue from The Landing. by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 21 - Here there be Dragon(flies) - Cultural Fascination to Research Subjects: With over 149 dragonfly and damselfly species in Minnesota there is much to learn and observe. Dragonfly scientist Ami Thompson joins on this episode to talk about her study subject, the Common Green Darner, as she works towards a PhD in... by The Wandering Naturalist
26 min listen
Episode 15 - Flower Medicine and Taking Photos - April Showers, May Wildflowers: Wander with us as we talk with Pauline Bold from The Landing. She shares with us some of the ways people used early spring wildflowers, including uses as medicine and food. Disclaimer, do not try to use these as food or medicine yourself. Listen to... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 6 - Strange Calls in the Night - Owl Ambassadors: Join us as Interpretive Naturalist Adam Barnett explains why nature centers’ keep owls as ambassadors for their wild kin. He recounts his time working with the Raptor Center, shares some of the joys and challenges of working with captive... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 2 - Snow and its Relationship with Plants: In the second part of this series on snow, Angela and Brandon talk about the advantages and challenges snow brings to plant life. by The Wandering Naturalist
21 min listen
Episode 9 - Wandering the Sugar Bush - Cooking with Maple Syrup: Discover the secrets to cooking with maple syrup as Andi Anderson from Gale Woods Farm joins us to help us in the kitchen. We discuss how to substitute syrup for sugar in recipes. We also help you uncode the meaning of Grade A and Grade B syrup. by The Wandering Naturalist
19 min listen
Episode 13 - Growing While It's Snowing - April Showers, May Wildflowers: How can plant's grow while there is snow on the ground? Can a plant really produce its own heat? Tune in to this episode to find out as Angela and Brandon discuss the difference between a Spring Ephemeral and a Spring Wildflower, then investigate how... by The Wandering Naturalist
23 min listen
Episode 22 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - To Bumblebee be or to Honeybee?: Wander with us as Angela and Brandon investigate the differences between two different kinds of bees, bumblebees and honeybees. Though different, they both face many of the same challenges, and they both are important pollinators for our food. by The Wandering Naturalist
25 min listen
Episode 1 - Snow and its Relationship to Animals: In this first episode of The Wandering Naturalist, hosts Brandon and Angela provide some insight on the science of snow and how it impacts the animals who depend on the subnivean layer. by The Wandering Naturalist
22 min listen
Episode 8 - Wandering the Sugar Bush - The Science of Syruping: We talk with our Forestry Supervisor Dan Comerford about the unique structure of maple trees that allow us to turn its sap into syrup. Explore with us as we discover the science behind maple syruping and learn how climate change will impact our maple... by The Wandering Naturalist
24 min listen
Episode 10 - Calls of Spring – The Racket of Frogs: The signs of spring are near and you may be hearing the calls of frogs, even with snow still on the ground. Fresh out of hibernation, join Brandon and Angela, as they journey through the biology of frogs and toads to answer what is making all that... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 17 - A Day on the Water - Testing Our Watersheds: Join us as a member of our Water Quality department, John Hess, shares some of the challenges our waterways face, how he monitors them, and actions people can take at home to help keep our rivers and lakes healthy. by The Wandering Naturalist
22 min listen
Episode 5 - Strange Calls in the Night - Tracking Owl Nests: Do you know where owls nest? Hear how volunteer Paul Schlick coordinates a group of volunteers to track and document owl and other raptor nests in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Paul explains why this project is important, some of the challenges... by The Wandering Naturalist
18 min listen
Episode 31 - Nature of Zombies: Historical Fascination: Zach Mohlis from, The Landing – Minnesota River Heritage Park, will provide a historical perspective on where the idea of human zombies has come from. What is our cultural fascination with apocalyptic scenarios by The Wandering Naturalist
16 min listen
Episode 4 - Strange Calls in the Night - Super Ears and Keen Eyes: Join Brandon and Angela as they explore how owls can not only survive the winter, but raise their young when the rest of us are hunkered inside waiting for spring. Find out if owls have super-hearing like superman, how their eyes help them see at... by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 24 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - Native Bee Atlas: Britt Forsberg from the University of Minnesota Native Bee Atlas shares with us how the university is discovering what native bees live in Minnesota. She also gives advice on how to provide a home for native bees around your home, and Angela and... by The Wandering Naturalist
25 min listen
Episode 11 - Calls of Spring – Start of a Journey by The Wandering Naturalist
20 min listen
Episode 27 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: Planting Restored Prairie: Listen in as Brandon and Angela journey to 1969 to explore Crow-Hassan Park Reserve and the first planting of restored prairie. Joined by Senior Wildlife Manager, John Moriarty, they dig deeper to discover the challenges faced that have now... by The Wandering Naturalist
25 min listen
Episode 16 - A Day on the Water - Too Many Vitamins: Wander with us as we dive into water and the issues that face it. How are nitrates and phosphates like vitamins? What is the difference between blue green algae and algae? What impacts does this have on our lakes? Do polar bear livers really have any... by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 26 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: Lowry Nature Center: The first nature center was built in 1969, Lowry Nature Center. Tag along as hosts Brandon and Angela interview Tom McDowell, retired park employee of 40 years, to explore the story of how outdoor education molded our mission of promoting... by The Wandering Naturalist
32 min listen
Episode 25 - 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship: The Need for Parks: To celebrate the past 50 years, Brandon and Angela are talking to special guest Bill Walker, Cultural Resources Manager of Three Rivers Park District, to discuss the how and why Three Rivers was created. 2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of... by The Wandering Naturalist
32 min listen
Episode 7 - Wandering the Sugar Bush - A Native Perspective on Maple Syrup: Join us as we talk with Ojibwe students about their personal perspective and experience with maple syrup. We discuss how they maple syrup today both on a reservation and in the middle of the cities; how today's techniques differ from their ancestors;... by The Wandering Naturalist
35 min listen
Episode 35 - Winter Strategies: Should I Stay or Should I Go - Getting MADD: Wander with us as we explore how animals survive the winter. Angela and Brandon investigate three strategies that animals use to survive the winter, Migrating, Adapting, and going Dormant. Learn how these strategies work as we dig into the winter... by The Wandering Naturalist
33 min listen
Episode 14 - Earthworms, Buckthorn, and Flowers, Oh My - April Showers, May Wildflowers: Do earthworms help or hinder flowers in the forest? How are invasive species like buckthorn impacting spring wildflowers? Join us as we talk to Missy Anderson, the Invasive Species Coordinator for Three Rivers Park District, and Alex Roth from Friends... by The Wandering Naturalist
25 min listen
Episode 37 - Winter Strategies: Turtle Habits and Human Clothes: Join us as John Moriarty shares new research Three Rivers has participated in to find out what turtles do in the winter. It turns out it is a lot more complicated than just sleeping in the mud. Heather Gordon from the Outdoor School of Recreation... by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 20 - Here there be Dragon(flies) - Creatures of Aquatic Habitats: Dragonflies are usually found around or near water such as lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Join us as we talk with Mitch Haag, a Wildlife Operations Specialist at Three Rivers Park... by The Wandering Naturalist
21 min listen
Episode 18 - A Day on the Water - 1800's and Today: We are joined by Zach Mohlis, from The Landing-Minnesota River Heritage Park, who shares with us how people used the Minnesota River when Europeans first settled the area. We discuss how farming practices have changed since them, their impact on the... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 12 - Calls of Spring – Monitoring Frogs in the Dark: To determine status, distribution, and long-term population trends of frogs, citizen scientists participate in surveys in which they listen and record calling frogs. In this episode we are joined by a current volunteer, Dianne Rowse, to shed some... by The Wandering Naturalist
22 min listen
Episode 32 - Buck-ing the Trend: Deer 101: Join us as we explore the history of deer management, why it was needed, and Disney's impact on deer populations. We discuss deer habits and why we believe controlled hunts in our parks are important. by The Wandering Naturalist
26 min listen
Episode 23 - Bees, Cows, and your Lunch - Farmer Tim and the Bees: Tim Reese, Director of Gale Woods Farm, talks with us about his experience raising bees, how bee keeping has changed over the past 9 years, and how Gale Woods Farm manages to be a working farm while still using bee friendly practices. by The Wandering Naturalist
18 min listen

More Episodes from The Wandering Naturalist

Skip carousel

Episode 201: Secrets of the Soil - Jumping Worms: Dr. Lee Frelich Director of the Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesota wanders with us as we discuss what makes forest soil healthy around the Twin Cities. We discuss the impacts invasive earthworms have had on soil, and how a new... by The Wandering Naturalist
31 min listen
Episode 202: Secrets of the Soil - Keepers of the Soil: Alex Romano from the Land Stewardship Project joins us to talk about how farmers are leading each other to sustainable practices and healthy soil. How can farmers teach each other sustainable soil practices and does it benefit them? Wander with us to... by The Wandering Naturalist
21 min listen
Episode 203: Secrets of the Soil - Bugs in the Soil: Sabrina Celis and Emily Althoff, graduate students at the University of Minnesota and members of Frenatae join us to learn about the bugs that keep soil healthy. From tiny springtails to animals with way too many legs, join us to learn about the... by The Wandering Naturalist
31 min listen
Episode 199: Talking Turkey - Managing Game Birds: Nate Huck, Resident Game Bird Specialist, and Timothy Lyon, Research Scientist and Upland Game Project Leader, both from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wander with us to discuss the history of the introduction of Wild Turkeys in... by The Wandering Naturalist
24 min listen
Episode 198: Talking Turkey - Dispelling Myths: Angela and Brandon go on their own hunt to figure out fact and fiction on the topic of turkeys. Can turkeys fly? How did they get their name? Did Benjamin Franklin really want them to be the national symbol of the United States? Tune in because... by The Wandering Naturalist
28 min listen
Episode 200: Talking Turkey - Hunting Wild Turkey: Meg Duhr, Three Rivers Invasive Species Supervisor and participant of Becoming an Outdoor Woman or BOW, and her BOW mentor Kathy Von Bank join us to discuss hunting Wild Turkeys, barriers to being able to hunt and how the DNR program BOW helps remove... by The Wandering Naturalist
30 min listen
Episode 197: Women and Wilderness – Land for Healing: Teaching and engaging with nature takes many forms, from film, writing, creative art, and much more. Local writer, organizer, and film producer, Erin Sharkey, joins to discuss the power of nature in unearthing black history and memory, how we... by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 196: Women and Wilderness – Sparks of Hope: Connecting everyone with the outdoors and wilderness continues to evolve, those stepping in to continue the legacy of outreach is changing, creating a spark of hope ahead to everyone feeling they belong. Interpretive naturalist, Katie Frias,... by The Wandering Naturalist
24 min listen
Episode 195: Women and Wilderness – Changing Outdoor Paths: Working in any aspect of the outdoors is rewarding to most, fresh air and endless curiosity. Join Angela, Brandon, and guest co-host Charity, as they talk with returning guest, Judy Voigt-Englund on her career working outdoors as a part of the... by The Wandering Naturalist
39 min listen
Episode 192: What's Love Got To Do With It - The Good, The Bad, and The Heartbroken: Brandon and Angela explore the spectrum of symbiotes. From mutualistic relationships that are like you and your friend making each other better, to that one friend that just takes and takes, a.k.a. the parasite, and everything in between wander... by The Wandering Naturalist
32 min listen
Episode 194: What's Love Got To Do With It - Symbiotes with The Land: Can humans and the land be in a mutualistic relationship? Jenna Grey-Eagle and Gabby Menomin from Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi share their thoughts on why we are, how approaching our relationship with the land as a mutualistic relationship... by The Wandering Naturalist
32 min listen
Episode 193: What's Love Got To Do With It - Cultural Bias in Science: Dr. Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum talks with us about how cultural biases impact how we study things like symbiotes. We discuss how the tools of science help us understand the world until they... by The Wandering Naturalist
33 min listen
Episode 190: Bugs are Friends - A Bug Library: Dr. Robin Thomson the curator for the University of Minnesota Insect Collection joins us to talk about what running a bug library is like. With insect collections from the late 1800's to today, the Insect Collection provides an invaluable resource for... by The Wandering Naturalist
22 min listen
Episode 191: Bugs are Friends - Even in Your House: Dr. Holly Menninger executive director of the Bell Museum wanders with us to discuss her research on the bugs found in your homes! Why are they there? What are they? Should you be worries? Learn all about the amazing variety of insects that share your... by The Wandering Naturalist
30 min listen
Episode 189: Bugs Are Friends - What is a Bug?: It is BYOB! Big Year of Bugs. The coordinator for the year, Bailey Kaul, joins us to discuss why Three Rivers is celebrating bugs for a year, the diversity of bugs, what bugs are, and why they are important. by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 186: TEK - What is TEK?: Dr. Deondre Smiles, member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Assistant Professor at the University Of Victoria, Canada and his graduate student Aidan Gowland wander with us as we learn what Traditional Ecological Knowledge is, Western history with... by The Wandering Naturalist
46 min listen
Episode 187: TEK - Understand Native Minnesota: Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, Secretary/Treasurer of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and leader of the Understand Native Minnesota campaign joins us to discuss why the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is working with Minnesota teachers to... by The Wandering Naturalist
21 min listen
Episode 188: TEK - Bringing Back Fire?: White Earth Band of Chippewa member and Fond du Lac fire program manager Damon Panek as well as Rachel Olesiak, Research Plot Coordinator for the U of M Cloquet Forestry Center join us to talk about how the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa... by The Wandering Naturalist
45 min listen
Episode 183: Warm Winters - Minnesota's Climate Change: How is climate change affecting you? Brandon and Angela share stories of how the warmer winters are impacting their lives. Dr. Luigi Romolo, Minnesota State Climatologist, joins us to give specifics on how Minnesota's climate is changing, and some... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 185: Warm Winters - A Personal Story: Leslee Gutiérrez Carrillo is a local climate activist who joins us to share her personal story about why and how she has worked to combat climate change in Minnesota and how she deals with the stress and anxiety caused by climate change. by The Wandering Naturalist
29 min listen
Episode 184: Warm Winters - Managing Parks: As our climate changes, the ways we manage parks have to change as well. Dr. Heidi Roop, Director of the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership and Joshua Booker, Zone Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service join us to talk... by The Wandering Naturalist
28 min listen
Episode 182 – What Was That? - Rocky Lied to Me!: Nighttime can bring a lot of fears of the unknown, what we can't see but can hear. Our imagination gets the best of us...but there is likely a reasonable explanation behind the various noises. One often overlooked nocturnal species is the Flying... by The Wandering Naturalist
34 min listen
Episode 180 - What was That? - Bumps in the Night: The nights are getting longer, the aeolians of the wind creepier…What was that? Join Angela and Brandon for a night time excursion as they explore the sounds you can hear, and not hear, at night. by The Wandering Naturalist
38 min listen
Episode 181 - What was That? - Moth Magic: Kyle Johnson, Minnesota Biological Survey entomologist, wanders with us to discuss how moths in Minnesota are surveyed. How many moths are in Minnesota, Kyle is trying to find out. Are there new to science species in Minnesota. You Betcha! Can you... by The Wandering Naturalist
26 min listen
Episode 179 - Access Through Community - Urban Roots: David Woods, Conservation Program Director for Urban Roots, joins us to discuss how Urban Roots in St. Paul works to encourage youth to enter careers in the outdoor field. Often Urban roots is the student's first job and Urban Roots teaches them the... by The Wandering Naturalist
23 min listen
Episode 178 - Access Through Community - Birdability: Birdability was created to help everybody bird. Virginia Rose, founder, and Michael Hurben, Birdability's local representative join us to discuss what Birdability is, why it is important to people with disabilities, and how Birdability provides... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 177 - Access Through Community - How do Community Groups Help?: Asha Shoffner, founder of FIWYGIN (Fusion) Outdoors and BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities joins us to discuss the importance of having groups people can identify with to get them outside. She talks about why she created two different groups in the Twin... by The Wandering Naturalist
27 min listen
Episode 175 - It's Not A Carp - Minnesota's Fish: Tyler Winter, River Ecologist and Director of Native Fish for Tomorrow, joins us as we explore Minnesota's native fish. What are some things that make them special? Can you eat them? If, like Brandon you feel a little guilty fishing can you enjoy them... by The Wandering Naturalist
25 min listen
Episode 176 - It's Not A Carp - The Gar Guy: Did Brandon meet his match on puns? Find out as Dr. Solomon David, an aquatic biologist, assistant professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, one of the leading experts on gar, and punster extraordinaire joins us... by The Wandering Naturalist
28 min listen
Episode 174 - It's Not A Carp - Is it a Rough Fish?: Dr. Andrew Rypel, Professor at the University of California Davis and the Peter B. Moyle and California Trout Endowed Chair explores the underwater world of Minnesota and explains what a rough fish is. We push our knowledge upstream as we explore the... by The Wandering Naturalist
26 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Episode 42 - The Rivers that Shape us… The Mississippi and How Geology Shaped its Use

Episode 42 - The Rivers that Shape us… The Mississippi and How Geology Shaped its Use

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from The Wandering Naturalist