Welcome to another exciting episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast! As spring blooms with vibrant life, Debbie and Laurie delve into the world of advanced bird feeding, exploring Bird Feeding 2.0. From the allure of black oil sunflower seeds to the strategic placement of multiple feeders near trees and bushes, this episode unlocks the secrets to attracting a diverse array of avian visitors to your backyard. Discover the allure of shelled peanuts for blue jays, the importance of live mealworms for baby birds, and the benefits of incorporating native plants and clean water sources into your bird-friendly oasis.

Tune in, and let's elevate your bird feeding game to new heights! And don't forget to share your thoughts with us - we're eager to hear where you're from and what keeps you coming back to The Backyard Naturalists podcast.

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, we dive into the many reasons why trees are invaluable to our health, environment, and economy. A recent study conducted by the University of Louisville shows that planting trees can significantly reduce heart disease markers, improve sleep quality, and encourage outdoor activities. Trees also offer environmental benefits like reducing flooding, improving air quality, and supporting the food chain for wildlife. Economically, they boost property values, tourism, and local programs.

Join us as we explore the critical role trees play in our daily lives and discuss how making informed decisions about planting can positively impact communities. Plus, learn about an upcoming TreesMatthews event in Matthews, North Carolina, and get inspired to plant more trees!

Debbie and Laurie return to the Matthews Community Farmer's Market to record an episode "live" and on location!

Summer is heating up across the Carolinas, and that means snakes are on the move — and stirring up plenty of conversation. In this episode, Debbie and Laurie bust myths and tackle misinformation about snake deterrents, exploring what truly works (and what absolutely doesn't) to keep these fascinating reptiles out of spaces where they aren't welcome.

From mothballs to marigolds, ultrasonic gadgets to sticky traps, the hosts share a science-based look at these so-called "solutions" and offer practical, humane advice for managing your yard in a way that discourages unwanted snake visits without harming them or other wildlife.

If you've ever wondered how to keep your backyard nature-friendly and less attractive to snakes, you'll love this timely, sometimes funny, always down-to-earth episode.

🎧 The Backyard Naturalists is the podcast about anything and everything connected with nature, heard in 125 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and throughout the Carolinas. Proudly named Best of the Weeklies Podcast by Matthews–Mint Hill Weekly two years running!

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome Allison Young, Director of Outreach Programs for iNaturalist, the global platform that's changing the way people experience nature. Whether you're snapping a photo of a butterfly in your backyard, spotting a rare bird on a hike, or identifying tracks in the mud, iNaturalist turns those moments into data that helps fuel research, conservation, and environmental education worldwide.

Allison takes us behind the scenes of iNaturalist, from its humble beginnings as a grad school project at UC Berkeley in 2008 to a thriving community of over 3.5 million users who have contributed 260+ million observations from more than 130 countries. She shares amazing success stories—like the rediscovery of species thought extinct, surprising range expansions, and new species discoveries—proving that every observation matters.

You'll also learn how easy it is to get started, why common species are just as valuable to document as rare ones, and how iNaturalist's unique mix of technology and community makes it "the friendliest place on the internet." Plus, Debbie and Laurie swap a few of their own backyard sightings and ideas for using iNaturalist in guided walks and local nature events.

Summer is STILL here, and if you've stepped outside lately, you've probably felt it too—sweltering heat, sticky air, and maybe even a few critters making themselves a little too comfortable in your backyard. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie (with Chris chiming in, of course!) share a lighthearted but practical guide to keeping your habitat healthy during the hottest stretch of the year.

• ☀️ Heat & Hydration – Creative ways to keep bird baths cool, from ice cubes to misters, plus why moving feeders into shade can make all the difference.

• 🐦 Summer Feeding Tips – When to swap out hummingbird nectar, how to keep suet from melting, and a freezer trick to protect birdseed from pests.

• 🌪️ Weather & Wildlife – Preparing your yard before storms, and what to do if you find a nest on the ground afterward.

• 🌱 Pests & Plants – Why spraying isn't the answer, how to handle Japanese beetles and mosquitoes naturally, and which invasive plants to watch out for.

• 🦝 Backyard Bullies – From raccoons and squirrels to starlings and outdoor cats, Debbie and Laurie share stories, laughs, and tried-and-true tricks to keep the peace.

This isn't just about surviving summer—it's about helping your backyard thrive. With practical tips, neighborly humor, and plenty of "whoa!" moments, you'll walk away ready to make your space a safe, welcoming spot for wildlife (and maybe a little cooler for yourself, too).

Don't miss this fun, informative episode of The Backyard Naturalists! Listen now, and be sure to subscribe, share with a friend, and leave us a review so more folks can discover how rewarding it is to care for the nature right outside their door.

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take a fun and fascinating leap into the world of frogs and toads—those small but mighty voices you hear rising from ponds, ditches, and backyards as spring turns into summer.

You'll learn how to spot (and hear!) some of North Carolina's most common amphibians, including the American Bullfrog, Southern Leopard Frog, Spring Peeper, American Toad, and the charmingly named Eastern Spadefoot Toad. The hosts break down what makes frogs different from toads, share the importance of ephemeral ponds for breeding, and encourage listeners to pay close attention to the nighttime chorus happening right outside their windows.

If you've ever wondered who's making all that noise after dark, or simply want to better understand your backyard's hidden wildlife, this episode is for you.

🌿 The Backyard Naturalists is the podcast about anything and everything connected with nature — heard in all 50 states, 125 countries, and right here in the Carolinas.

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie Foster, Laurie Horne, and Chris take a playful trip through the animal kingdom with a trivia-style episode all about the names for male and female animals. Some are familiar — like a buck and doe, bull and cow, or stallion and mare — while others are far less obvious, including cob and pen for swans, jack and jill for opossums, and even cock and hen for lobsters.

Along the way, the conversation wanders in true Backyard Naturalists fashion, from international listeners in places like Vietnam, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Zambia to jellyfish at the Tampa aquarium, a "passel of possums," and whether anyone could ever win a Jeopardy category devoted entirely to Young Sheldon, Tombstone, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? It's a lighthearted, funny, and surprisingly educational episode that proves nature vocabulary can be just as wild as the animals themselves.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Animal-name trivia for ants, bears, coyotes, deer, donkeys, elephants, foxes, goats, geese, horses, jellyfish, lobsters, mallards, opossums, pigs, seahorses, squirrels, swans, tigers, and zebras

The difference between familiar terms like boar and sow, drake and hen, and billy and nanny

Why some animals share naming patterns across species

A few surprising terms, including vixen, cob, pen, sea mare, and sea stallion

A fun detour into group names, including a passel of possums

The podcast's growing international audience and a warm invitation to visit Backyard Birds in Matthews, North Carolina

Whether you already know your ganders from your geese or you're just here for the laughs, this episode is a fun reminder that the natural world is full of curious details hiding in plain sight.