Creature Comforts

Armadillos are not listed among the six Mississippi nuisance animals but some home owners would say different.If unchecked Armadillos can cause serious damage to a yard or home, but most often these nocturnal creatures are seen as roadkill.Today on the show we talk with Dr. Cathy Shropshire about this unusual mammal and try to answer the question:Why did the armadillo cross the Mississippi River?

The weather is warmer and now those charming bio-luminescent creatures are lighting up the night’s sky.No matter if you call them lightning bugs or fireflies’ people are reporting seeing them around the state.Today we talk with Lynn Faust who literary wrote the book on Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning Bugs.We talk about what is happening with these bugs this time of year and an upcoming event where you can watch their wondrous light show up-close.

Herpetologist Terry Vandeventer is very passionate about Mississippi snakes and joins us to talk and answer your snake questions. No stranger to the program Terry always brings a great perspective about the proper way to interact with snakes. Education is the key, but there are a few tips to remember when you see a snake in nature.

On April 20th State Lakes and State Park Lakes were reopened to fishing and boating.But social distancing should still be practiced.Today on the show we have Larry Bull, Assistant Director of the Fisheries Bureau, at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.He will talk about how anglers should handle fishing during the coronavirus pandemic and how his office is helping to make sure everyone is lawful and safe.

Kris Godwin has been engrossed with nature since the television show, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. Now as the state Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services she and her office help when nature and wildlife gets a little too close for comfort. Canada geese are starting to hatch and vultures are often causing damage to property, but play an critical role in the ecosystem. Kris talks about how to legally and ethically deal with these problems and ways to greet nature on your terms.

Today on the show we welcome Dr. Richard Brown, Director of the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State.With a love for insects that has spanned over 6 decades, Dr. Brown has plenty to share about the bugs found in Mississippi.We will talk about what he is seeing right now and highlight the role of the Moth in our ecosystem.Also Dr. Majure answers your pet questions.