Nature Boost

Mar 20 2025 63 ep. 24 mins 118
Nature Boost Podcast artwork

Join host Jill Pritchard from the Missouri Department of Conservation as she explores everything nature has to offer – from health benefits and wildlife viewing, to outdoor recreation and unbelievable conservation stories. Subscribe and get your own Nature Boost!

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Growing the Future – Inside Missouri’s State Forest Nursery

Mar 20 2025 22 mins  
Tree seedling nurseries are the unsung heroes of reforestation, conservation, and even urban greening projects. This episode takes you behind the scenes of George O. White State Forest Nursery in Licking, Missouri, which has been providing tree seedlings for more than 90 years! Learn how the nursery came to be, hear about the tremendous work it takes to grow numerous species of tre

Mini Boost: Lunar Labels

Feb 28 2025 8 mins  
Need a mini boost? You’re in luck! Nature Boost is bringing back its bite-sized episodes to give you another dose of the outdoors. In this mini boost, we’re learning about the unique names of full moons throughout the year. Why is the full moon in March referred to as the “Worm Moon”? And is April’s “Pink Moon” actually pink? Listen and learn the history of these name

Dam Good Builders

Feb 20 2025 24 mins  
In our February episode, we’re discussing nature’s ultimate engineers – beavers! From their impressive dams to their ability to shape entire ecosystems, beavers play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their habitats. MDC Furbearer Biologist Nate Bowersock is back again to shed light on these industrious rodents, how they shape the landscape and help wildlife thrive

Groundhog Day: How a Large Rodent Became an Unqualified Weatherman

Jan 16 2025 11 mins  
Don’t hit snooze on our first episode of 2025! We’re kicking off the new year by looking into the quirky history of Groundhog Day. From its ancient European roots to its evolution into a beloved American tradition, Nature Boost explores how this strange holiday came to be. MDC Naturalist Austin Lambert also gives insight into one of Missouri’s most well-known rodents. Learn m

A Nature Boost Holiday Countdown

Dec 20 2024 8 mins  
Take break from the holiday frenzy and learn what natural events occur during these last days of 2024. Need last-minute gifts? There are many options for nature lovers in the MDC Nature Shop! Order nature guides, cookbooks, and our popular Natural Events Calendar at mdcnatureshop.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Spirit of Gratitude with Heather Feeler

Nov 21 2024 57 mins  
The outdoors has a special way of bringing peace and erasing stress, and November is a time we reflect on the things we’re thankful for. MDC Communications Branch Chief Heather Feeler discusses how her program, The Spirit of Gratitude, can help us increase energy and inspiration, foster self-improvement, and regain the spark and joy in living out our mission. Learn more about yo

The Legend of Mo Mo the Missouri Monster

Oct 17 2024 24 mins  
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Mo Mo? In celebration of Halloween, Nature Boost is looking into the story of Mo Mo the Missouri Monster. Sightings of the creature date back to the early 1970s in the small town of Louisiana. Telling us more about this monstrous history is Louisiana Historical Museum President Brent Engel. Are you a Mo Mo skeptic? This episode may just turn you into a belie

Did You Thank a Stream Teamer Today?

Sep 19 2024 26 mins  
Thousands of volunteers dedicate their free time to conserving Missouri’s blue spaces. Since 1989, Missouri Stream Teams have worked to remove trash from waterways, plant trees along streams, remove invasive plants, and more. MDC Volunteer Programs Manager Rebecca O’Hearn and Volunteer Engagement Specialist Brian Waldrop highlight the important work Stream Teams has completed i

A Snake-Like Fish That Breathes Air is Causing Big Problems in Missouri

Aug 15 2024 26 mins  
A fish with cobra-like coloring, a set of teeth, and the capability to live on land for several days has made its way into Missouri. MDC has confirmed numerous reports of the northern snakehead in the state and needs your help to track it. Invasive Species Ecologist Angela Sokolowski and Fisheries Program Angler Outreach Specialist Andrew Branson tell us more about this unique fish

Black Bears & BearWise with Nate Bowersock and Josh Wisdom

Jul 18 2024 28 mins  
When temperatures warm up, black bears move across the landscape … once again reminding us that Missouri is bear country! As part of MDC’s black bear research, biologists trap and study bears in the summer to assess survival, habitat, and movements. Black Bear Biologist Nate Bowersock explains what happens during these research trips and what his team does with the data. Later,