The Michigan DNR's Wildtalk Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we have a lengthy conversation with Sara Thompson, Wildlife Division chief, and Keith Kintigh, Wildlife Division assistant chief, about where the division has been this year and where it is going in 2026.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Karner blue butterflies 
• All things feathers
  • Wilson's snipe
• All things fur
  • Michigan.gov/Deer
  • Report your harvest
  • Disease and testing info

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Michael MacEachron about the work going on in southwest Michigan. We follow that up with a chat about the Wilson's snipe. Finally, we have a lengthy talk with Brent Rudolph about all things deer here in Michigan. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Karner blue butterflies
• All things feathers
  • Wilson's snipe
• All things fur
  • Michigan.gov/Deer
  • Report your harvest
  • Disease and testing info

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Mike Kowalski about habitat work happening in Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about black-capped chickadees, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the elusive bobcat.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Prescribed fire explained
• All things feathers
  • Black-capped chickadee
  • Avian influenza
• All things fur
  • Bobcat

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Olivia Triltsch about MUCC's on the ground program, fly away with a discussion about snow geese, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the coyote.

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Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • MUCC's on the ground calendar
• All things feathers
  • Snow goose
  • Winter waterfowl identification webinar
• All things fur
  • Coyote
  • Video: coyote and badger

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Pete Kailing about all things habitat in the Southwest Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about the great horned owl, and we wrap up the episode with a lengthy chat about Michigan short-tailed weasel. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Hemlock wooly adelgid
  • Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development email
  • Prescribed burns
• All things feathers
  • Great horned owl
  • Christmas bird count
• All things fur
  • Short-tailed weasel

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Scott Eggeman about all things habitat in the Northern Lower Peninsula region of the state, fly away with a discussion about northern pintails, and we wrap up the episode with a lengthy chat about Michigan deer and deer management. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan.gov/elk
  • Michigan.gov/bovinetb
  • Michigan.gov/cwd
  • Prescribed burns
  • American marten
• All things feathers
  • Northern pintails
  • Federal duck stamps
  • Wildlife refuge system
  • Wetland wonders
• All things fur
  • White-tailed deer
  • Deer Management Initiative
  • Natural Resources Commission
  • Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)
  • Current deer harvest reporting numbers

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Terry McFadden about all things habitat in the Southeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan, fly away with eastern screech-owls as we talk all things feathers, and we discuss the odorous, striped skunk in our all things fur segment. Pete Kailing also chimes in with hunting and trapping opportunities during the month of October. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
  • Michigan.gov/WetlandWonders
• All things feathers
  • Eastern screech-owl (All about birds)
• All things fur
  • Striped skunk (iNaturalist)
  • Nuisance wildlife information
• Hunting season calendar

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk with Ashley Cole-Wick from Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) about the work they do for Michigan's rare species. Then, we fly away with a discussion about the trumpeter swan, and wrap up the episode with a chat about the northern long-eared bat. Pete Kailing also stops in to talk about hunting and trapping opportunities and more that are available in the month of September. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI)
  • Michigan threatened and endangered species list
  • Report a rare species
  • Karner blue butterfly
• All things feathers
  • Trumpeter swan
• All things fur
  • Northern long-eared bat
  • Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan
  • Nuisance wildlife information
• Hunting season calendar

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Heather Shaw and Tom Seablom about habitat work on GEMS in the Upper Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about the ruffed grouse, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the eastern and least chipmunk. Pete Kailing also stops in to talk about hunting and trapping opportunities and more that are available in the month of August. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • GEMS maps
  • MiHunt hunting lands locators
  • State Forest Management Plan info
• All things feathers
  • Ruffed grouse
  • Drumming grouse video
• All things fur
  • Eastern chipmunk
  • Least chipmunk
• Mug me
  • Spiny softshell turtle

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the award-winning Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Greg Hochstetler about turtle conservation work, fly away with a discussion about the ring-billed gull, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the Virginia opossum. Pete Kailing also stops in to talk about hunting and trapping opportunities and more that are available in the month of July. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Muskegon State Game Area map
  • Spotted turtle
  • Wood turtle
  • Michigan Natural Features Inventory
• All things feathers
  • Ring-billed gull
  • Avian influenza info
  • Eyes in the field
• All things fur
  • Virginia opossum

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.