Nature Boost
Join host Jill Pritchard from the Missouri Department of Conservation as she explores everything nature has to offer – from health benefits and wildlife viewing, to outdoor recreation and unbelievable conservation stories. Subscribe and get your own Nature Boost!
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Winter Herp Survival
29 min
27
Let’s Go on a Winter Hike
16 min
28
Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Celebrate our birds this holiday season through the Christmas Bird Count. US Fish and Wildlife Migratory Bird Biologist Sarah Kendrick tells us the history of the bird census, how to join, and how the data helps declining bird populations....
27 min
29
Talkin’ Thanksgiving Turkey
Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by learning more about the wild turkey. Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley gives some fun facts about this gamebird you can bring to your dinner table.
17 min
30
Bats of Missouri
Feeling batty this month? Learn all about one of Halloween’s most iconic mascots in October’s episode. Jill speaks with MDC Bat Ecologist Jordan Meyer about types of bats found in Missouri, what they’re up to this time of year, and what...
47 min
31
The Twins of Cape Girardeau Nature Center
It’s getting close to Halloween season, and what better way to celebrate than learning about one of Missouri’s most unique snakes? Join Jill as she speaks with MDC Naturalist Alex Holmes about the two-headed black ratsnake at the Cape Girardeau...
24 min
32
Monarch Mania
Butterflies are insects, but many of us think of them as something “more.” Perhaps it’s their beauty or the
fact that they don’t bite or sting that makes people like them so much! Learn about the iconic monarch butterfly, their
impressive...
7 min
33
Geese Banding
Tag along on geese banding efforts in mid-Missouri and learn why and how MDC biologists place waterfowl identification bands on Canada geese.
10 min
34
Revisiting Paddlefest
In June’s episode, we’re revisiting a Paddlefest event held at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary near St. Louis. We talk to multiple participants, re-learn some basic paddling techniques, and even hear the history of the area from...
10 min
35
Itchy & Scratchy Summer
In this episode of Nature Boost, we’re discussing deterrents many people face when it comes to a Missouri summer – poison ivy, mosquitos, and ticks. Jill speaks with Runge Nature Center Manager Kevin Lohraff for tips on how to enjoy the...
43 min
36
Forest Park Owl Prowl
Nature is everywhere – including in downtown St. Louis! Join Jill as she takes an owl prowl with Naturalist Mark Glenshaw, who has been observing a Great-Horned Owl in Forest Park since 2005! Learn all about this species, and even how to...
41 min
37
Plant Natives for Spring!
Get your yard spring-ready and plant natives! Get tips from MDC Native Landscape Specialists Alix Daniel and Cydney
Ross and watch your yard bloom with color and wildlife this year!
34 min
38
The Ancient Sport of Falconry
You ever see those hawks sitting along highways or atop the trees? Some people use them to hunt small game! Learn about this ancient way to hunt as Jill speaks with Master Falconer Meagan Duffee-Yates and accompanies her on a duck hunt...
33 min
39
Maple Sugaring
Got a sweet tooth? Then this episode is for you! January and February are great times to get outdoors and taste one of the forest’s sweetest gifts – maple syrup. Jill talks with Rockwoods Reservation’s Amy Wilkinson to learn how to tap...
22 min
40
Winter Eagle Watching
Discover nature this season through eagle watching! Join Jill as she speaks with MDC Resource Scientist Janet Haslerig about why winter is the best season to view bald eagles in Missouri. Jill also shares Christmas tree care tips and ways...
16 min
41
MDC K-9 Ride-Along
MDC’s Protection Unit recruited the help of five four-legged officers over the last year. Learn how these canine officers help conservation agents in investigations and outreach programs as Jill rides along with Agent Susan Swem and her...
36 min
42
Missouri's Fall Color
Fall is finally here, but have you ever wondered why leaves change color? Jill gets the scoop from MDC
Community Forester Ann Koenig, who explains how leaves turn and the best time to see fall foliage in Missouri. Be sure to check out...
13 min
43
Floating the Missouri and Mississippi Confluence
Floating Missouri’s streams is a fantastic way to unwind and get a nature boost. In this episode, Jill joins certified paddling instructors Bob Virag, Craig Heaton, and Perry Whitaker for a float on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers....
25 min
44
Fishing
Discover nature through fishing! Learn the basics from MDC’s wildlife artist and avid bass angler Alexis “AJ” Joyce. Learn about best times to wet a line, how to handle fish, and why MDC’s Mo Outdoors app is a great fishing companion!
27 min
45
Family Camping Tradition
Head out on a bluff trail and into the crystal-clear waters of the Huzzah with the Newenhaus family from St. Louis. Their camping tradition spans sixty years, and they are sharing their adventures, and what keeps the generations together...
11 min
46
Native Creatures: The Indigenous Mammals and Bi...
As Missouri celebrates its bicentennial in 2021, an art exhibition at the State Historical Society of Missouri is shining a light on the animals that inhabited the area at the time it became a state 200 years ago. Join Jill as she speaks...
23 min
47
Camping
Tune in and learn everything you need to know to prepare for your next camping trip! Jill speaks with Springfield Nature Center Manager Rudy Martinez, who gives listeners tips on gear, food, activities, and great places in Missouri to set...
33 min
48
Nature Photography
Tune in with Jill as she talks with one of MDC’s staff photographers, David Stonner about his journey into nature photography, how Missouri is blessed with so many incredible conservation areas, plus a few tips anyone can use to get out...
22 min
49
Nature Boost - Episode 14: Morel Hunting
Join Jill as she sets out on a quest to find the elusive morel mushroom. She’s joined by MDC State Botanist Malissa Briggler, who gives her expertise on when and where to find these tasty morsels as they pop up during early spring!
18 min
50
Nature Boost - Bonus Episode: Tracking Copperheads
Most people stay clear of snakes, but one team of researchers is on the hunt for one of Missouri’s most elusive species: the eastern copperhead! Jill interviews researchers at Powder Valley Nature Center and learns about their tracking...
16 min