Fall is in the air in the Great Plains, and the signs include shorter days, cooler mornings, brilliant yellow sunflowers and dispersing mammals. In this episode, Drew and Joe discuss sunflowers, the value that they provide to wildlife, why we see these beautiful plants in some places and not others. The conversation then takes a turn to focus on opossum biology and management.

Resources discussed in this episode:

KDWP 2023 Summer Roadside Survey Report: https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Research-Publications/Wildlife-Research-Surveys

Virginia Opossum Diet/Ecological Trap Studies:

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2009.1159?casa_token=XMw9PomAH2IAAAAA%3ABGDOWaXUul7IY_9cNhLG44Uontx_dM1zrPdmnWmUaacvYgb02Ucvw7A3OlCO3VSRbRvYusH5r11mk0TC

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cecilia-Hennessy/publication/353264681_Are_Virginia_opossums_really_ecological_traps_for_ticks_Groundtruthing_laboratory_observations/links/60f733642bf3553b29ffba62/Are-Virginia-opossums-really-ecological-traps-for-ticks-Groundtruthing-laboratory-observations.pdf?origin=journalDetail&_tp=eyJwYWdlIjoiam91cm5hbERldGFpbCJ9

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Aquatic invertebrates can be a great indicator of pond health and fill important roles in aquatic ecosystems. Join Joe and Drew for a discussion about the value of aquatic invertebrates and how these critters find their way into seemingly isolated water bodies.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Bats can be fascinating, frustrating, valuable, and spooky all at the same time. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss bat ecology, conservation concerns, disease risk, and steps to take if bats are entering your home or other buildings.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Summer is a great time of year to enjoy your pond but the warmer temperatures and increased sunlight can result in oxygen fluctuations and excessive plant growth. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss how pond ecology changes in warmer months, how animals in the pond react to these changes, and what management strategies you can implement to help ensure your pond stays happy and healthy.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Invasive plants outcompete native vegetation, destroying habitat for many species of wildlife, degrading native ecosystems, and reducing agricultural productivity. Join us as we discuss strategies and important considerations for invasive plant management.

Resources discussed in this episode:

KSRE Chemical Weed Control Guide: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/2024-chemical-weed-control-for-field-crops-pastures-rangeland-and-noncropland_CHEMWEEDGUIDE.pdf

Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants by Dr. Craig Harper: https://nocsopublishing.com/

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is reintroducing Alligator Snapping Turtles into Kansas. Join us as we discuss why these turtles need introduced, whether you should be concerned about turtles eating fish in your pond, and the many other roles that all turtles play in maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Plant and structural diversity is key when managing native grasslands for wildlife. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the process of promoting diversity and heterogeneity in native grasslands by using disturbances like fire and grazing as tools to manage wildlife habitat in native grasslands.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Cyanobacteria, commonly called Blue Green Algae, can rapidly reproduce when conditions are right causing potentially hazardous Harmful Algal Blooms. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss why blooms occur, the risks of toxins from Harmful Algal Blooms on wildlife and livestock, and what you can do to reduce your likelihood of experiencing a cyanobacteria bloom.

Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html