Golden State Naturalist is a love letter to California's ecological past, present, and future.
Come with Michelle Fullner as she climbs to the top of a beaver...
Have you ever wondered what little-known and mysterious beings are living among us, just out of sight? This episode is about one such creature that most Californians have no idea even exists.
Join me, Dave Wyatt, and Kristyn Schulte as we discuss clever little foxes, oak mistletoe, the floor is lava, dissolved poop, the smallest mountain range in the world, tasty taxidermy, classroom design, convergent evolution, weasel lemurs, and a whole lot more.
Links:
The California Ringtail Project
Mistletoe toxicity
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Episode cover photo by Dave Wyatt.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.
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1:19:46
Fire in Built Environments (Special Episode: LA Fires) with Alexandra Syphard
Join me and Dr. Alexandra Syphard as we discuss what makes some neighborhoods more fire prone than others, the Santa Ana Winds, defensible space, the massive differences between fires in forested Northern California and shrubby Southern California, the pendulum swing of public opinion, ways that climate change does and doesn’t contribute to wildfires, the WUI, positive uses of abandoned Fry's electronics buildings, waxy leaves, invasive plants, and so much more.
This episode is an attempt to add context for everyone struggling to comprehend the scale of the fires in Los Angeles, especially those impacted. I hope it helps. Sending love.
Links:
California Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.
Follow me on Instagram.
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.
Get podcast Merch.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.
Cover art by Raquel Raclette.
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1:12:12
Urban Canyons with Michelle Thompson
Flying over San Diego, you can see them: Fingers of green extending through neighborhoods all across the city.
San Diego’s urban canyon’s serve as refuges for people and wildlife alike, but they’re also often isolated islands of habitat. This can keep animals from accessing the resources they need to survive. And human neighbors aren’t always able to access these spaces, either.
In this episode, join me and Michelle Thompson as we search for reptiles in one of San Diego’s urban canyons, discuss what makes canyons special, and explore how the San Diego Natural History Museum is setting the foundation for the long-term health of these spaces.
Links:
Healthy Canyons Initiative
Go on a FREE hike with the Canyoneers
Want to help SD canyons? Email Michelle Thompson at: [email protected]
1988 Michael Soulé Study
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.
Follow me on Instagram.
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.
Get podcast Merch.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.
Episode cover photo provided by The San Diego Natural History Museum.
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43:59
Keystone Plants with Doug Tallamy
What do oak trees, goldenrod, willows, and ceanothus all have in common? They all belong to the group of roughly 14% of plants supporting 90% of caterpillar species.
In other words, they’re all keystone plants.
Join me and Doug Tallamy as we discuss the vital role these plants play in their native ecosystems and how we can bring them home to welcome hundreds of species into our own yards.
Helpful Links:
Doug’s books
Calscape by The California Native Plant Society
Keystone Plants in Mediterranean California (National Wildlife Federation Resource)
Homegrown National Park Map
Article: “The Illusion of a Trillion Trees”
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.
Follow me on Instagram.
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.
Get podcast Merch.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.Episode cover photo by Parker Sturdivant.
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58:18
Burrowing Owls with Phil Unitt
What do fake rattlesnakes, California ground squirrels, odd eye bones, bubonic plague, bizarre choices in home decor, and regurgitated mouse bones have to do with burrowing owls?
Join me and Phil Unitt as we venture into an urban canyon in San Diego to find out.
Helpful links:
Phil Unitt’s page
Rattlesnake owl noise
Urban Burrowing Owls piece by Clinton Abbott
Fish and Wildlife page on burrowing owls
Secretary Bird video
Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.
Follow me on Instagram.
My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.
Get podcast Merch.
The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.
Episode cover photo by Ray Hennessy
Golden State Naturalist is a love letter to California's ecological past, present, and future.
Come with Michelle Fullner as she climbs to the top of a beaver dam, descends into a tar pit, peers into the canopy of a giant sequoia, and basks in the glow of the Milky Way under the eerie silhouettes of Joshua trees.
Each episode, Michelle interviews captivating experts in their natural habitats across California to find out how the unique plants, animals, geology, and hydrology of this biodiversity hotspot make this state Golden.
USA