North Woods Naturalist

This year, particularly the last few months have been dry in Northern Minnesota. Dry to the point of drought. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about the effects of drought especially in our streams and rivers.

They’re small, secretive, soft and they can fly – or at least glide a good distance.  Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about nocturnal flying squirrels.

The woods and wetlands are full of willow species. One of them keeps its catkins well into winter – and that’s a good way to identify them. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about distinctive autumn willows.

When Scandinavian immigrants came to the north shore, they brought with them remembrances of herring fishing in the oceans. Lake Superior herring are not the same fish, but they served the same purpose. Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about lake herring today and in history.

For years evening grosbeaks have been common at local birdfeeders. Not so much recently. Is the decline just a cycle or a major change for these colorful birds? Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about what we know -- or don’t know -- about this popular seed eater.

Fall moves toward winter – sometimes in slow motion, sometimes quickly.  Jay Andersen of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about snow buntings, shrikes and deer in the changing season.

Tiny bluish insects with skirts and millions of very small moths. It’s autumn on the North Shore. WTIP's Jay Andersen spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about these little bugs.

They’re small – even tiny – but bundles of energy and this time of year you can see them scurrying about in search of food. WTIPs Jay Andersen spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about migrating shrews.

Bears hibernate, but many don’t consider them true hibernators. We do have three mammals locally who truly hibernate. WTIPs Jay Andersen spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson about groundhogs, bats and jumping mice.

To use an intriguing metaphor – seasonal fruit as spaceship. Jay Andersen, of WTIP North Shore Community Radio spoke to local naturalist Chel Anderson why fruits resemble the human quest for space exploration.