Natural North Dakota

Apr 26 2024 36

Natural North Dakota Podcast artwork

Hosted by Chuck Lura, a biology professor at Dakota College in Bottineau. Chuck has a broad knowledge of “Natural North Dakota” and loves sharing that knowledge with others. Since 2005, he has written a weekly column, “Naturalist at Large,” for the Lake Metigoshe Mirror. His columns also appear under “The Naturalist” in several other weekly newspapers across North Dakota. Natural North Dakota is supported by NDSU Central Grasslands Research Extension Center and Dakota College at Bottineau, and by the members of Prairie Public. Thanks to Sunny 101.9 in Bottineau for their recording services. Hear Natural North Dakota on Prairie Public on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:35am CT.

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Trees are declaring spring

Apr 26 2024 2 mins

One of the common signs of spring is when we look up at the trees and see something different up there. The trees must be leafing out! Spring is officially here! But much of what we see up there is more likely flowers.

Saving native grasslands and grassland birds

Apr 19 2024 2 mins

Both grasslands and birds are rapidly decreasing in Canada — less than 15% of the native grasslands remain. To address the issue, Birds Canada has developed the Bird-Friendliness Index.

Lyrids and Eta Aquarids Meteor Showers

Apr 12 2024 3 mins

If you like to watch falling stars, this next month or so is a good time to see them. The Lyrids meteor shower will start soon, and it overlaps with the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Between the two, the show will run to the end of May.

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

Apr 05 2024 2 mins

Shortly after beginning their journey down the Missouri River in April of 1805 after spending the winter at Fort Mandan, Meriwether Lewis wrote in his journal about an animal that Captain Clark had recently observed: “Captain Clark walked on shore today and informed on his return, that passing through the prairie he had seen an animal that precisely resembled the burrowing squirr

Get out and enjoy spring!

Mar 29 2024 2 mins

It seems that every year when spring comes around, we are ready to go outdoors. Nature has much to offer, but all too often summer arrives, and we realize we did not get to enjoy the spring like we had hoped.

The Coteau Slope

Mar 22 2024 2 mins

The next time you travel on Highway 83 between Minot and Bismarck, or other areas along the east side of the Missouri River, take a closer look at the landscape of the Coteau Slope.

Spring is (almost) here!

Mar 15 2024 2 mins

The short days of winter are starting to fade away as the days continue to lengthen. And next Wednesday, March 20, is the spring equinox.

North Dakota's Petrified Forest

Mar 08 2024 2 mins

If you have never been to the petrified forest in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit, you might want to consider doing so this year. And even if you have been there before, another visit to see these remnants of another time is a worthwhile experience.

Red River Watershed

Mar 01 2024 2 mins

I recently happened upon the above map of the Red River Watershed. I suspect that the watershed is much larger than most of us would think.

Marbled Godwits in North Dakota

Feb 23 2024 2 mins

One of Prairie Public’s more popular television shows is Nature. Some of you may have seen the episode a few weeks ago on shorebird migrations. The show addressed how shorebirds navigate the trip, the risks of migration, and how human activity is creating problems for the birds. One of the shorebirds featured was the marbled godwit on its migration from Panama to the Dakotas.