The Michigan DNR's Wildtalk Podcast

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Kelsey and Eric have a conversation with Stephen Griffith and Michael Kowalski about habitat work happening in the Northern Lower Peninsula. That's followed up with an overview of the belted kingfisher, before diving into a discussion about the mighty mink.

Episode Hosts: Kelsey Beatty and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Michigan.gov/MiHunt

• All things feathers

• Belted Kingfisher

• All things fur

• American Mink
• https://www.michigan.gov/trapping

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Kelsey and Eric have a conversation with Kristie Sitar about habitat work happening in the UP. That's followed up with an overview of the barred owl, before a lengthy discussion of Michigan's deer season with Samantha Courtney and Brent Rudolph.

Episode Hosts: Kelsey Beatty and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Michigan.gov/MiHunt
• Deer wintering complexes

• All things feathers

• Barred owl

• All things fur

• Michigan.gov/Deer
• EHD

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Kelsey and Eric start off with a conversation about the monarch butterfly migration. That's followed up with an overview of the ruffed grouse, before wrapping things up with a discussion about the porcupine.

Episode Hosts: Kelsey Beatty and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• https://www.michigan.gov/monarchs
• Growing milkweeds for monarch butterflies

• All things feathers

• Ruffed grouse
• Video: Ruffed grouse drumming
• Grouse Enhanced Management Sites (GEMS)

• All things fur

• North American porcupine

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Rachel and Eric talk fire with Jesse Lincoln. That's followed up with a discussion about the Carolina wren before we wrap things up chatting about the gray fox.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Prescribed fire
• Kirtland's warbler

• All things feathers

• Carolina wren
• Merlin app

• All things fur

• Gray fox
• Submit a gray fox observation

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Katie Grzesiak talk invasive species, and Ryan Wheeler pops in for a bit to talk about nutria, armadillo and the invasive species watch list.

Episode Hosts: Katie Grzesiak and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Stiltgrass
• https://www.michigan.gov/egle
• https://www.michigan.gov/mdard
• Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA)
• Midwest Invasive Species Network (MISIN)

• All things feathers

• Eastern Towhee

• All things fur

• Michigan Invasive Species Watchlist
• Nutria

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Melinda Cosgrove start off the show with a brief history of the wildlife disease laboratory. That's followed up with a chat about wildlife diseases affecting birds, before finally talking about wildlife diseases that affect mammals.

Episode Hosts: Melinda Cosgrove and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Wildlife disease laboratory

• All things feathers

• Wildlife Disease Manual
• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• West Nile Virus
• Botulism
• Report diseased wildlife

• All things fur

• Rabies
• Public health directory for rabies testing
• Canine and feline distemper
• Bovine tuberculosis

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Shelby Adams start off the show with a discussion of the impacts to wildlife habitat from the 2025 ice storm. That's followed up with a chat about the northern shrike, before finally talking about Michigan elk and changes to hunting regulations this year.

Episode Hosts: Shelby Adams and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• 2025 Ice storm recovery

• All things feathers

• Northern shrike

• All things fur

• https://www.michigan.gov/elk

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Fahimeh Baziari start off the show with some background on costal plain marshes. That's followed up with a chat about the spruce grouse, before finally flying into the world of the Indiana bat.

Episode Hosts: Fahimeh Baziari and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Costal plain marsh
• Allegan State Game Area
• Ross costal plain marsh preserve

• All things feathers

• Spruce grouse
• Ruffed grouse
• Sharp-tailed grouse

• All things fur

• Indiana bat
• White-nose syndrome

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host Caleb Eckloff start off the show with some background on commercial forest lands. That's followed up with a chat about the duck hunting regulations process. Finally, the show is wrapped up with some discussion about year two of the moose project.

Episode Hosts: Caleb Eckloff and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Commercial forest program

• All things feathers

• Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
• Mississippi Flyway

• All things fur

• Moose

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, Eric and guest host John Darling talk about water control structures at Harsens Island. That's followed up with a chat about the mallard duck, before diving into the world of the muskrat.

Episode Hosts: John Darling and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Harsens Island

• All things feathers

• Mallards
• Mississippi Flyway

• All things fur

• Muskrats

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Ryan Soulard and Pat Brickel about a long habitat project wrapping up at Fish Point. We follow that up with a chat about the snow goose, before diving into the tiny world of the least shrew.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Fish Point State Wildlife Area

• All things feathers

• Snow goose
• Snow goose ID sheet
• https://www.michigan.gov/waterfowl
• Wetland Wonders
• eBird

• All things fur

• North American Least shrew

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we have a lengthy conversation with Sara Thompson, Wildlife Division chief, and Keith Kintigh, Wildlife Division assistant chief, about where the division has been this year and where it is going in 2026.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Karner blue butterflies

• All things feathers

• Wilson's snipe

• All things fur

• Michigan.gov/Deer
• Report your harvest
• Disease and testing info

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Michael MacEachron about the work going on in southwest Michigan. We follow that up with a chat about the Wilson's snipe. Finally, we have a lengthy talk with Brent Rudolph about all things deer here in Michigan.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Karner blue butterflies

• All things feathers

• Wilson's snipe

• All things fur

• Michigan.gov/Deer
• Report your harvest
• Disease and testing info

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk briefly to Joe Presgrove about the Hunters Feeding Michigan program. We follow that up with a robust chat about Upper Peninsula black bears with Don Brown. Finally, we wrap things up talking about wood ducks and the striped skunk.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

Hunters Feeding Michigan

• All things habitat

• Michigan.gov/Bears

• All things feathers

• Wood ducks
• https://www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders

• All things fur

• Striped skunk
• Nuisance wildlife information

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, In this episode, we talk to Erin Victory about work being done to manage Kirtland’s warbler habitat. We follow that up with a discussion about blue-winged teal and the cap things off with a chat about the mighty, Michigan elk!

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Kirtland's warbler
• Brown-headed cowbird
• Donate to nongame fund

• All things feathers

• Blue-winged teal
• https://www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders

• All things fur

• American Elk

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Chris Hoving about how Michigan's wacky weather affects habitat and wildlife, fly away with a discussion about peregrine falcons, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about badgers.

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• Michigan State Game and Wildlife Areas
• Michigan's Wetland Wonders
• Dams
• Bat roosting survey info

• All things feathers

• Peregrine falcon

• All things fur

• American badger
• https://www.michigan.gov/trapping

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Nate Levitte about habitat working going on in southeast Michigan, fly away with a discussion about the eastern common nighthawk, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about black bears.

Turkey brood survey — Invasive species surveyhttps://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0c0-Kge3EOpKjPZjXT4kCBRURFBCSjFIMUdVN0gxSk1CSkE3Qk1YVUxaUy4u
Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• https://www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders
• Nuisance wildlife information

• All things feathers

• Common nighthawks

• All things fur

• Black bears
• Nuisance wildlife information

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Tony Henehan about habitat working going on in southwest Michigan, fly away with a discussion about the eastern wild turkey, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the humble muskrat.

Licensed wildlife rehabilitator directoryhttps://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0c0-Kge3EOpKjPZjXT4kCBRURFBCSjFIMUdVN0gxSk1CSkE3Qk1YVUxaUy4u
Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• State Wildlife Action Plan
• iNaturalist
• Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival

• All things feathers

• Bluebirds

• All things fur

• https://www.michigan.gov/bats
• Bat roosting survey info

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Rachel Kanaziz about habitat working going on in southwest Michigan, fly away with a discussion about the eastern wild turkey, and we wrap up the episode with a chat about the humble muskrat.https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0c0-Kge3EOpKjPZjXT4kCBRURFBCSjFIMUdVN0gxSk1CSkE3Qk1YVUxaUy4u
Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• https://www.michigan.gov/invasives
• MISIN
• Hemlock wooly adelgid

• All things feathers

• https://www.michigan.gov/turkey
• Eastern Wild Turkey

• All things fur

• https://www.michigan.gov/trapping
• Muskrat

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Katie Grzesiak about invasive species and their impact on Michigan habitat, fly away with a discussion about the bufflehead, and we wrap up the episode with a lengthy chat with Brian Roell about the cougar kittens recently spotted in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0c0-Kge3EOpKjPZjXT4kCBRURFBCSjFIMUdVN0gxSk1CSkE3Qk1YVUxaUy4u
Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat

• https://www.michigan.gov/invasives
• MISIN
• Lesser Celandine

• All things feathers

• Bufflehead
• Spring birding tour at Nayanquing Point
• Spring birding tour at Portage Marsh

• All things fur

• Michigan.gov/Cougar
• Cougar dashboard
• Cougar kitten press release

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.