Nature Guys

This is an easy tree to identify even in winter. Bill tells the tales of some amazing sycamores that he has known over the years. If you get lost this tree will lead you to water. Our sources for this episode include: Sycamores, Trees of Wonder http://biologicalthinking.blogspot.com/2013/03/sycamores-trees-of-wonder.html American Sycamore https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/platanaceae/platanus-occidentalis/american-sycamore-29 Sycamore Get No Respect http://www.eattheweeds.com/sycamores-not-just-another-plane-tree-2/ Sycamore Tree Care https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sycamore/sycamore-tree-care.htm  

Mosquitoes are the deadliest creatures on earth. Find out how to get along with these challenging insects. Our sources for this episode include: Birds Bats and mosquitoes https://www.thoughtco.com/birds-and-bats-no-help-with-mosquitos-3970964 Natural Mosquito Repellents https://www.thoughtco.com/natural-mosquito-repellents-602178 Do Bug Zappers Kill Mosquitoes? https://www.thoughtco.com/do-bug-zappers-kill-mosquitoes-1968054 Bobʼs Favorite Insect Repellent is Alpenglow https://www.alpenglowskincare.com/products/alaskas-best-insect-repellent  

Bill rarely sees this snake but it is one of his favorites. The hognose snake has some amazing behaviors. S Related episodes: Black Rat Snake (http://natureguys.org/black-rat-snake/), Red-shouldered or Red-wristed Hawk (http://natureguys.org/red-shouldered-hawk/) Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Hognose Snake http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Heterodon_platirhinos/ Eastern Hognose https://nhpbs.org/wild/easternhognosesnake.asp Hognose Snakes http://www.lihs.org/files/caresheets/Heterodon.htm

Mallards are a very common duck that are easy to find. Find out why Bill thinks they may be an invasive species.  Our sources for this episode include: Unflappable Facts About Mallards http://mentalfloss.com/article/78330/15-unflappable-facts-about-mallards Mallard duck facts http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/mallard_duck_facts/587/ Mallard https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/lifehistory

This is the most visited park in the United States. It is free and is amazing any month of the year. Related episodes: Through the Eyes of Nature Guys http://natureguys.org/travel/ Our sources for this episode include: Fightmaster Fly Fishing - Rob Fightmaster is a great fly fishing guide. Even Bob and Beth can catch fish with Rob at their side! https://fightmasterflyfishing.com A Wondrous Diversity of Life - Great Smokey Mountains https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/index.htm Do Cougars Roam the Smoky Mountains? https://gardenandgun.com/articles/cougars-roam-smoky-mountains/ 20 Facts to know about the Great Smoky Mountains https://www.cabinsforyou.com/blog/advice/20-facts-about-great-smoky-mountains.htm

If you see a bird on a tree with its head toward the ground chances are good you are looking at a nuthatch.  Our sources for this episode include: White-breasted Nuthatch (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/overview What is a Nuthatch? http://www.10000birds.com/nuthatches?doing_wp_cron=1550344848.9804060459136962890625 9 fun facts about nuthatches https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/04/27/9-funfacts-nuthatches/83551868/ How to Attract Nuthatches https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-attract-nuthatches-386249  

Bobʼs neighbor Wayne had a simple question. Why do you have clover in your yard? Bob and Bill decided to do a podcast to explain to Wayne why we both keep and even plant clover in our yards. Our sources for this episode include: Advantages and Disadvantages of Clover Lawns https://dengarden.com/gardening/Clover-Lawns Establishing White Clover in Lawns http://versicolor.ca/lawnsoldsite/docs/clover.html Blades of glory: America's love affair with lawns https://theweek.com/articles/483762/blades-glory-americas-love-affair-lawns

Bill and Bob explore a lizard that started showing up in Cincinnati in the 1950ʼs. Tune in for the fascinating story of how this lizard got to Cincinnati all the way from Italy. Our sources for this episode include: Revisiting Some Scaly Old Friends https://bygl.osu.edu/node/926 Bottlenecks and Microhabitat Preference in Invasive Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NOM10MP10_ETD_SUBIDM89321 They came from Italy. Now, they outnumber us all. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2017/08/31/they-came-italy-now-theyoutnumber-us-all/591532001/ Lazarus Lizards Rise in Cincinnati https://bygl.osu.edu/node/585 Ohio Division of Natural Resources (ODNR) Conservation Education Materials http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/education-and-outdoor-discovery/conservation-education-project-wild/education-materials

Rabbits are fun and sometimes confusing. Bob and Bill will cover everything from legend to fact about a very cool animal that everyone knows. Our sources for this episode include: 39 Most Famous Bunnies of All Time https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/03/28/39-most-famous-bunnies-of-all-time/ 14 Fascinating Facts About Rabbits http://mentalfloss.com/article/557234/facts-about-rabbits 20 Fascinating Facts About Rabbits https://www.care2.com/causes/20-fascinating-facts-about-rabbits.html Imago https://imagoearth.org/ La Soupe Cincinnati https://www.lasoupecincinnati.com/

Black Walnut trees are valuable for their beautiful wood. Bobʼs dad sold their big Black Walnuts when Bob was a kid. Tune in to find out all about this amazing tree! Related episode: Fall Webworms in Summer (http://natureguys.org/fall-webworms/) Our sources for this episode include: A Wild Crop and Backyard Harvest https://www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/a-wild-crop-and-backyard-harvest/ Eastern Black Walnut https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/juglandaceae/juglans-nigra/eastern-black-walnut-59 Black Walnut Tree https://www.wildernesscollege.com/black-walnut-tree.html Mast Tree Network http://www.mast-producing-trees.org/2009/11/native-walnuts-of-north-america/

If you like to kayak or canoe you can find these really cool turtles in streams.  Our sources for this episode include: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera) - Ohio's 12 Species of Turtles at a Glance https://trekohio.com/2012/07/19/ohios-12-species-of-turtles-at-a-glance/ Facts about Softshell Turtles https://animals.mom.me/softshell-turtles-3184.html Spiny Softshell Turtle - Diet https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Spiny-Softshell-Turtle

When Bill and Bob were kids they had sliders as pets. Tune is to find out where you can find these turtles today. Our sources for this episode include: Red-Eared Slider http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/red-eared_slider_712.html Red-Eared Slider, Map and Painted Turtles – Semi-Aquatic Turtle Care http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2012/03/06/red-eared-slider-map-and-painted-turtles-semi-aquatic-turtle-care/ Global invasive species list - 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/100_worst.php

Learn everything you need to know about this very beautiful turtle.  Our sources for this episode include: Five Facts You Probably Didn't Know about Painted Turtles https://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/2018/03/05/five-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-painted-turtles/ Painted Turtle https://www.warnernaturecenter.org/animals/paintedturtle

Bob runs into a snake in Florida that exhibits a behavior that he has never seen before. Tune in the hear all about this very fast snake. Our sources for this episode include: Black Racer https://www.acaquarium.com/animals/black-racer/ Black Racer – Deceiving Speed http://www.beaufortonline.com/black-racer-deceiving-speed/ North American Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) https://kysnakes.ca.uky.edu/snake/coluber-constrictor

In this edition of Through the Eyes of Nature Guys, Bill shares stories of trips to one of his top two destinations in the world - the Galapagos Islands. Related episodes: Bill's Travel Tips http://natureguys.org/bills-travel-tips/ Belize http://natureguys.org/belize/ Our sources for this episode include: The experiences of Bill on his trips to the Galapagos

The Mourning Dove is easy to find both by sight and by ear. Our sources for this episode include: Fun Mourning Dove Facts http://backyardbirdingblog.com/fun-mourning-dove-facts/ Mourning Dove https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/lifehistory The Secret Life of the Mourning Dove http://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/the-secret-life-of-the-mourning-dove

This is a bird that is so friendly it will eat out of your hand! Tune in to find out more about this cute little bird that is easy to find. Our sources for this episode include: Black-capped chickadees are amazing little birds - https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/thom-smith-naturewatch-black-capped-chickadees-are-amazing-little-birds,532813 10 Interesting Facts About Chickadees - https://www.backyardchirper.com/blog/10-interesting-facts-about-chickadees/ Carolina Chickadees - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Chickadee/overview

This is a bird that is easily identified. It will come to your feeder and is a year round resident in Cincinnati. Tune in to learn more about the little bird with the bad haircut. Our sources for this episode include: What is a Titmouse? - http://www.10000birds.com/titmouse.htm Titmouse - https://www.britannica.com/animal/titmouse Tufted Titmouse - https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/tufted-titmouse

Cordyceps is a fungus that can destroy ant colonies. Tune in to find out how cicadas found a way to use cordyceps to survive. Our sources for this episode include: Fungus turns ‘zombie antsʼ into booby traps https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/08/19/fungus-turns-zombie-ants-into-booby-traps/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.549321d845b5 6 Benefits of Cordyceps, All Backed by Science https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#section8 Cordyceps: The Most Terrifying Fungus Youʼve Ever Seen https://www.strangerdimensions.com/2013/05/28/cordyceps-the-most-terrifying-fungus-youve-ever-seen/ How to Tame a Zombie Fungus - Cicadas have repeatedly turned the infamous cordyceps fungi into indispensable allies. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/how-to-tame-a-zombie-fungus/562544/

Horsehair worms are easy to find. They are fascinating and harmless. Keep your eyes open when you are near water. Bill found one crawling out of a grasshopper. Our sources for this episode include: Horsehair Worms (https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/files/efpdf3/ef613.pdf) Iowa State Horsehair Worms (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/horsehair-worm) Wild Fact #752 – Bad Company – Nematomorpha (http://www.wild-facts.com/2010/wild-fact-752-bad-company-nematomorpha/) Zombie Fungus Enslaves Only Its Favorite Ant Brains (https://www.livescience.com/47751-zombie-fungus-picky-about-ant-brains.html)