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

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 Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Jesse Lincoln from Michigan Natural Features Inventory about all things habitat, fly away with a discussion about bird migration and die-offs from window collisions, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about what is perhaps Michigan’s most iconic fall mammal, the white-tailed deer.                

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

• All things habitat
  • Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI)
  • Allegan State Game Area map (PDF)
• All things feathers
  • Merlin app
• All things fur
  • Michigan.gov/Deer

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 Joe Robison 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.

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

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 Parker about all things habitat in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, fly away with sharp-tailed grouse as we talk all things feathers, and we discuss the Ursus americanus in our all things fur segment.

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

• All things habitat
  • Michigan.gov/Hunting
  • Michigan.gov/Deer
• All things feathers
  • Sharp-tailed grouse
• All things fur
  • Black bears
  • Nuisance wildlife information

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 Kristin Wildman about all things habitat in Southwest Michigan, fly away with piping plovers as we talk all things feathers, and talk about Michigan's largest squirrel in our all things fur segment.

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

• All things habitat
  • About prescribed fire
  • Karner blue butterflies
• All things feathers
  • Piping plovers
  • Call Sleeping Bear Dunes Headquarters to volunteer to join the Piping Plover Patrol at 231-326-5134 
• All things fur
  • Woodchucks
  • Hunting information

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 replay one of our popular interviews about the challenges a changing climate poses to wildlife.  

Episode Hosts: Rachel Leightner, Holly Vaughn and Hannah Schauer
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• Managed Waterfowl Areas
• iNaturalist
• eBird
• Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
• Seek app
• Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessment 
• Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
• National Climate Assessment

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 replay one of our most popular interviews about one of everyone's least favorite woodland insects — the tick.  

Episode Hosts: Rachel Leightner
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• Michigan.gov/Lyme
• Radio Lab Podcast - Meat Allergy Episode
• The Tick App

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 replay one of our most popular interviews on the importance of leaving wildlife in the wild. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Leightner
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

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 about habitat projects happening in Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula, fly away with a discussion about spring wild turkey behavior, and have a high-flying discussion about little brown bats. 

Episode Hosts: Hannah Schauer and Rachel Leightner
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Michigan elk hunting information
  • Good neighbor authority
• All things feathers
  • Nuisance wildlife information
  • Michigan turkey hunting information 
• All things fur
  • Michigan bat information
  • Rabies information

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