Natural Resources University

40:53

How to Tell if Your Pond is Too Old | Fins, Fur, &...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/10/06

Much like terrestrial landscapes, ponds and aquatic environments change over time. Management plans can help support and drive how many of the processes in the pond play out over time. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss changes that occur in a pond over time, how to identify if these changes are occurring, and what you can do to help manage your pond for long-term success. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise

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01:12:51

Cool Season Food Plots | Deer University #619

Natural Resources University ·

2026/10/06

Jacob and Eric catch up with Luke Resop, PhD student in the MSU Deer Lab, to discuss food plots. They cover the basics of cool-season food plots and what you can do to increase your chances of success. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our

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01:14:00

Offspring sex ratio in birds | Wild Turkey Science #618

Natural Resources University ·

2026/10/05

We deep dive into the complex mechanisms of sex determination in birds, focusing on how environmental and physiological factors influence sex ratios. Resources: Aslam, M. A., et al. (2014). Effect of corticosterone and hen body mass on primary sex ratio in laying hen (Gallus gallus), using unincubated eggs. Biology of Reproduction, 90(4). Curry, J., et al. (2023). Dietary fat supplements influence weight gain and egg production, but not offspring sex ratios in Japanese quail, Coturnix

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01:07:01

At the River's Edge: Agriculture, Flood Risk and...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/10/05

What happens when floods, fish and farms all connect? Flooding is a natural process, but it can cause major problems for farms and residential areas alike. Joining us this week is Mitch Paine, Flood Risk Policy and Planning Specialist with the Washington Department of Ecology and lecturer for University of Washington's Urban Planning program, to walk us through how conservation, agriculture and flooding can all work together. From the history of flood policy in the US to modern approaches, we

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01:17:03

Summer Recap | Deer University #616

Natural Resources University ·

2026/10/03

Jacob and Eric chat about what summer looked like for the Deer Lab and some of the less discussed aspects of academia. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series (here) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)

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53:38

Which Oaks Should You Cut? | Wild Turkey Science #615

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/28

To kick off Oaktober, we break down the genetics behind why some oak trees are reliable acorn producers and others aren't, and how you as a landowner can use that variation to guide forest stand improvement decisions that benefit both turkeys and deer. Resources: Boggess, C. M., Strickland, B., Alexander, H. D., & Lashley, M. A. (2019). Mast Seeding in Oaks: A Strategy to Satiate Predators or Strengthen Apparent Competition?. In American Fisheries Society & The Wildlife Society 2019 Joint Annual

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37:17

How to Pay for Wildlife Habitat Improvements on...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/23

Implementing a wildlife management plan is not cheap and the associated costs may be a barrier for many landowners to start improving their land for wildlife. Fortunately, there are a number of resources and financial assistance programs that can substantially reduce the technical and cost barriers that many landowners encounter. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss sources of technical assistance, cost-share programs, and the advantages of some of these programs that are available to landowners

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26:01

Where is the line between anecdote and research? |...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/21

In this episode, we discuss the difference between anecdote and research in wildlife science, limitations with unreplicated site-specific studies, how meta-analyses narrow the direction of an effect, and why seemingly conflicting results can each be right within their own context. Resources: Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830. Wann, G. T., et al. (2020). The influence of

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01:09:39

How to transform fields into brooding cover | Wild...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/14

We break down native early successional (old field) management for turkeys — how to identify the plants that really matter, when and why to use fire versus spot-spraying, and how to keep a field cycling through the diverse structure that makes great brooding cover. Resources: iNaturalist Seek App We manage DEER food plots for TURKEYS (video) Enter our raffle for a chance to win a Wild Turkey Science hunt with Dr. Will Gulsby and Dr. Marcus Lashley at the historic Westervelt Hunting

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30:03

Fish Kills: My Fish are Dead – Now What?!? | Fins,...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/08

Fish kills can result in detrimental losses in ponds but dead fish are just part of the bigger story. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss how to identify a fish kill, common fish kill causes, and how to prevent fish kills in your pond. 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

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01:27:57

What we've learned in four years of turkey science |...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/07

We step back to synthesize what's changed in wild turkey science since the show began and where the biggest open questions still remain. Resources: Huang, M. H., Demarais, S., Brookshire, W. C., & Strickland, B. K. (2022). Analysis of supplemental wildlife feeding in Mississippi and environmental gastrointestinal parasite load. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 995437. Huang, M. H., Demarais, S., Strickland, B. K., & Brookshire, W. C. (2022). Identifying aflatoxin exposure risk from

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01:27:44

Partners on the Land: An Inside Conversation | Wild...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/07

Implementing conservation practices like prairie strips or cover crops on your farm might feel like an overwhelming or confusing process. But private lands biologists and other conservation professionals are an invaluable resource to help farmers and landowners navigate the process and choose the best options. This month, we are joined by longtime Nebraska farmer Ed Olson along with Rob Peterson, a Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever. From decision-making and motivations to mishaps

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59:24

Chemical Thinning and Mixed-Species Forestry in the...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/09/05

Forest management decisions are made under biological, financial, and market conditions that can change considerably during the life of a stand. In this episode of Timber University, Dr. Adam Polinko, formerly of Mississippi State University (now at Northern Arizona University), joins us to discuss two applied research projects examining how landowners and foresters can respond to those challenges: chemical thinning in overstocked pine stands and the long-term development of mixed cherrybark oak and

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01:03:48

What Affects Jake Survival? | Wild Turkey Science #607

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/31

Dr. Craig Harper of the University of Tennessee rejoins us to share results from recent research assessing annual survival and resource selection of juvenile males in Tennessee. Resources: Bones, J. T., et al. (2026). Vegetation response varies by season of burning in pine woodlands across the southeastern US. Fire Ecology, 22(1), 19. Pollentier, C. D., et al. (2014). Survival and productivity of eastern wild turkey females in contrasting landscapes in Wisconsin. The Journal of Wildlife

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36:13

Mourning Doves | Fins, Fur, & Feathers #606

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/25

Mourning doves are a popular migratory game bird to hunt in Kansas and many other states in the U.S. Kansas alone accounts for about 630,000 harvested mourning doves per year. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss population trends, diet, habitat, and hunting of doves. 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

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53:48

We're talking about sperm, folks | Wild Turkey...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/24

In this episode, we dive into turkey reproductive physiology, focusing on how photostimulation and photorefractoriness influence turkey breeding cycles. Resources: Dawson, A., et al. (2001). Photoperiodic control of seasonality in birds. Journal of biological rhythms, 16(4), 365-380. Turkey Predators | Ep 06 Enter our raffle for a chance to win a Wild Turkey Science hunt with Dr. Will Gulsby and Dr. Marcus Lashley at the historic Westervelt Hunting Lodge:

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01:20:09

100 Years of Pheasants: The Making of a Game Bird |...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/21

Join us in celebrating the 100th year of pheasant hunting in Nebraska! In this episode of the WildAg Podcast, we welcome Lonnie Shafer, hunter and author of Shafer's Nebraska Pheasant Hunting Almanac, to explore the history of the Ring-necked pheasant in Nebraska and across the United States. Schafer traces the bird's origins in Asia, its introduction to North America, and the events that led to its establishment as one of the nation's most iconic game birds. The conversation also examines the

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01:10:45

Are we losing the hardwoods that turkeys depend on? |...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/17

We're bringing back the episode where we dig into decades-old crop-content studies to quantify exactly how much of a turkey's diet is acorns, and what the trends in declining oak forests mean for the future of wild turkeys. Resources: Alexander et al. (2021). Mesophication of oak landscapes: Evidence, knowledge gaps, and future research. BioScience, 71(5), 531-542. Burk et al. (1990). Wild turkey use of streamside management zones in loblolly pine plantations. In Proceedings of the National

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28:54

Pond Misinformation | Fins, Fur, & Feathers #602

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/11

With information more accessible than ever, it can be hard to know what's actually good advice for your pond. In this episode, Joe and Drew talk through common sources of misinformation, examples of good spirited bad advice, and how to determine if the guidance you hear is worth listening to. 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

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01:03:16

How much turkey predation is actually avian? | Wild...

Natural Resources University ·

2026/08/10

Will leads us through a deep dive of the scientific literature on the relative contribution of avian predators to wild turkey predation. Resources: Hughes, T. W., et al. (2005). The impacts of predation on wild turkeys. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2005, 117-126. Palmer, W. E., et al. (2005). Effect of field borders and nest‐predator reduction on abundance of northern bobwhites. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 33(4), 1398-1405. Speake, D. W., et al. (1985). Mortality of wild turkey poults in

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