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NaturallyScott

Scott

At least once a week, I’ll bring you the very best of America’s spectacular world of nature — from birds to mammals, to reptiles and amphibians. From soaring mountains to endless plains, from rugged coastlines to rivers and streams.

Each episode will feature an expert guest — a ranger, a researcher, a birder, or an adventurer — someone who has seen what we want to see and been where we want to go.

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25 episodes
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Avg 36 min
English

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S2 · E78
Thursday · 36 min
E78 Jane Rodgers – Joshua Tree: Protecting a Desert in a Changing World 🌵🏜️
Send us Fan Mail Joshua Tree National Park sits at the meeting point of two deserts, welcomes roughly three million visitors a year, and protects a landscape filled with Joshua trees, desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, tortoises, bats—and some of the darkest skies within reach of Southern California. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Jane Rodgers, superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park, to talk about what it takes to protect one of America’s most recognizable desert landscapes. Jane began her National Park Service career as a biologist working in restoration ecology and ecosystem stewardship. Today, she oversees a park confronting everything from rapidly growing visitation to invasive plants, changing fire regimes, hotter and drier conditions, and a dramatic decline in desert tortoises. In this episode: 🌵 What makes a Joshua tree a Joshua tree—and its remarkable relationship with the yucca moth 🏜️ How the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet inside the park 🐏 Desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, badgers, bats, and more than 250 species of birds 🐢 Why desert tortoise numbers have fallen so dramatically 🔥 How invasive grasses are changing the desert’s natural fire regime 🌡️ What hotter, drier conditions mean for the future of Joshua trees 🌱 How scientists are identifying potential refuges and preserving Joshua tree genetics 🥾 How the park has adapted as visitation climbed from roughly 1.5 million to 3 million ⛏️ The hundreds of abandoned mines scattered across the landscape 🦇 How old mine openings are being made safe for people while remaining accessible to bats 🌌 Why Joshua Tree’s night skies have become part of the park’s appeal Jane also gives Scott her itinerary for someone with just one day at Joshua Tree—from entering through the west side and exploring the Joshua tree forests and famous rock formations to Keys View and the drive toward Twentynine Palms. It’s a conversation about a spectacular desert, the wildlife that depends on it, and the scientists and park staff working to ensure it remains wild for generations to come.
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S2 · E77
September 10 · 21 min
E77 Naturally Scott Adventures – Wild Burros of Oatman: Where Burros Rule Route 66 🫏🏜️
Send us Fan Mail Along historic Route 66 in the Arizona desert sits the tiny town of Oatman—a former gold-mining community where the most famous residents have four legs. In this edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, Scott Harris visits the wild burros of Oatman, Arizona, descendants of the animals that once worked the region’s mines. When mining faded, the burros were left behind. They adapted to the brutal desert, survived, and generations later still roam the Black Mountains. But Oatman’s “town burros” have discovered an easier way to make a living. Each morning they wander into town, stroll down Main Street, climb onto sidewalks, poke their heads into shops, and happily accept treats from visitors. If a burro decides to lie down in the road, nobody moves it—locals simply put out traffic cones and everyone drives around. In this episode: 🫏 How Oatman’s mining burros became wild desert animals ⛏️ The gold-rush history behind this unusual Route 66 town 🏜️ How burros survive extreme heat, scarce food, and limited water 👑 Why Oatman’s town burros really do seem to run the place 💪 The surprising strength and toughness of wild burros 💧 How jacks protect their groups and defend precious water 🐴 The challenge of managing America’s wild burro populations 🍦 Scott’s childhood memories of Oatman and Thrifty Ice Cream Scott also heads outside town to see the more independent desert burros and shares other places to find them, including Lake Mead, Death Valley, and Custer State Park. It’s a wildlife adventure, a Route 66 road trip, and a visit to one of the wonderfully strange places that could only exist in the American West.
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S2 · E76
September 3 · 44 min
E76 Amy Tan – Backyard Birds, Art & Finding Wonder Close to Home 🐦🎨
Send us Fan Mail Amy Tan is best known as the bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club. But in recent years, another passion has taken over much of her attention: the birds in her own backyard. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with Amy to talk about The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a deeply personal collection of observations, sketches, questions, and encounters that grew out of her return to nature during a difficult period in her life. What began as a private journal eventually became a book filled with Amy’s own artwork and the intimate stories of the birds she came to know just outside her window. In this episode: 🐦 How birding helped Amy rediscover beauty and curiosity 🎨 Returning to drawing and learning the art of nature journaling 🏡 Discovering more than 70 bird species in her own yard 🦉 Living alongside a mother Great Horned Owl and her young son 💧 The daily ritual of feeders, hummingbird nectar, mealworms, and fresh water 💔 The heartbreak of seeing sick birds—and why Amy sometimes takes her feeders down 🧠 What birds reveal about intelligence, behavior, play, and even emotion ✍️ Why nature journaling is less about making perfect art and more about asking better questions Amy also explains why she has little interest in chasing only rare birds. For her, the real joy comes from watching familiar birds closely enough to notice how their behavior changes from day to day. It’s a conversation about birds, art, curiosity, attention—and the extraordinary things that can happen when we slow down and truly look at what’s right outside our door.
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S2 · E75
August 27 · 27 min
E75 Naturally Scott Adventures – California Condors: Giants of the Grand Canyon 🦅🏜️
Send us Fan Mail With a wingspan approaching 10 feet, the California Condor is a bird you don't simply see—you experience. In this edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, Scott Harris travels to Navajo Bridge in Arizona, where the Colorado River cuts through Marble Canyon and one of the rarest birds in North America has found an extraordinary place to roost. Scott considers it the best place in the world to experience California Condors, with birds sometimes resting on the bridge girders almost directly beneath you. Scott follows the condors through their day: waking slowly as the canyon warms, spreading enormous wings in the morning sun, riding the developing thermals into the sky, traveling tremendous distances in search of carrion, and eventually soaring back into Marble Canyon to roost for the night. In this episode: 🦅 What it's like to stand just feet away from a California Condor 🌄 Seeing condors at Navajo Bridge and Marble Canyon 📏 Just how enormous a nearly 10-foot wingspan looks in the wild ☀️ How condors use thermals to travel incredible distances 🏷️ Why wild condors carry numbered wing tags—and how those tags let you learn the story of an individual bird 🥚 The extraordinary effort required to raise a young condor ⚠️ How California Condors came terrifyingly close to extinction ❤️ The captive-breeding program that brought them back 🎯 Why lead ammunition remains one of the greatest threats to their survival Scott also shares other places to search for California Condors, including Pinnacles National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park, and explains why seeing one of these enormous birds soaring through a canyon is a wildlife experience that's difficult to forget. This is the story of an ancient bird that fell to fewer than two dozen individuals—and the extraordinary effort to give these giants of the sky another chance.
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S2 · E74
August 22 · 37 min
E74 John Koprowski – Squirrels: Tiny Athletes, Brilliant Survivors & Backyard Geniuses 🐿️🌳
Send us Fan Mail Squirrels raid our bird feeders, bury thousands of nuts, leap between trees, and somehow seem to outsmart nearly every obstacle we put in their way. But just how remarkable are they? In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with squirrel expert John Koprowski of the University of Wyoming to explore an animal nearly everyone knows—but few of us truly appreciate. John has spent much of his career studying squirrels, a family that includes more than 300 species spread across much of the world. Their extraordinary success comes from an impressive combination of intelligence, memory, athleticism, adaptability, and senses finely tuned to finding food and avoiding becoming somebody else's dinner. In this episode: 🐿️ Why squirrels make such great gateways into the natural world 🥜 How squirrels remember where they've buried thousands of nuts 👃 The astonishing role smell plays in finding food—and other squirrels 🌳 How squirrels can leap 20 feet between branches and survive enormous falls 🦅 The constant battle to avoid hawks, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and other predators 👶 How mother squirrels carry their babies—and John's unforgettable encounter with one protective mom 🏡 Why squirrels have become so successful living alongside humans Scott also confesses something that may get him thrown out of the birding community: he actually enjoys watching squirrels raid his feeders. And John explains why those seemingly impossible squirrel-proofing challenges reveal just how perfectly adapted these little mammals really are. Funny, fascinating, and filled with stories, this conversation might just convince you to stop fighting your backyard squirrels and start watching them.
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S2 · E73
August 13 · 22 min
E73 Naturally Scott Adventures – Burrowing Owls: Florida’s Tiny Underground Raptors 🦉🌴
Send us Fan Mail Owls are usually creatures of forests, trees, and darkness. Burrowing Owls break just about every one of those rules. In this edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, Scott Harris heads to Cape Coral, Florida, a city that calls itself the “Burrowing Owl Capital of the World”—and makes a pretty convincing case. Unlike most owls, these tiny raptors live underground, spend much of their day out in the open, and have become remarkably comfortable sharing their neighborhoods with people. One of Scott’s favorite places to watch them is the Pelican Baseball Complex, where roughly 20 burrows sit just beyond the center-field fence. Around Cape Coral, their burrows are protected by simple PVC markers, allowing people to watch and photograph the owls while giving the birds space to go about their lives. In this episode: 🦉 Why Burrowing Owls are unlike any other American owl ⚾ Watching owls from the outfield of a baseball game 🌴 Why Cape Coral may be the best place in America to see them 🪲 How they hunt everything from beetles and grasshoppers to reptiles and rodents ☀️ Why male Burrowing Owls can become bleached by the Florida sun 🐣 The irresistible experience of watching an owl family outside its burrow 🐍 How baby Burrowing Owls can produce a remarkably convincing rattlesnake-like sound Scott also shares other places to find Burrowing Owls around the country and explains why Cape Coral offers such an unusual opportunity to spend time at eye level with one of America’s most charismatic little raptors.
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S2 · E72
August 8 · 35 min
E72 John Ford – The Secret Cultures of Killer Whales 🐋
Send us Fan Mail Killer whales—or orcas—are among the most recognizable animals on Earth. But beneath those black-and-white markings are remarkably complex societies, with different diets, dialects, traditions, and even cultures passed from one generation to the next. This week on Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with renowned killer whale researcher John Ford, who has spent more than four decades studying these extraordinary animals, primarily along the coast of British Columbia. His fascination began as a child watching killer whales pass his family's fishing boat and eventually led to work as a whale trainer before he devoted his career to understanding them in the wild. John takes us inside the very different worlds of resident, Bigg's, and offshore killer whales. Some specialize in salmon, others hunt marine mammals, and still others target sharks—and those food preferences and hunting techniques are learned traditions that can persist across generations. Along the way, Scott and John explore some of the strangest and most fascinating killer whale behaviors ever documented: attacking great white sharks for their livers, breaking the rudders of sailboats, wearing salmon on their heads, rubbing against pebble beaches, and intentionally stranding themselves along Patagonia to capture young sea lions. In this episode: 🐋 The remarkable cultures of killer whales 🐟 Why some populations eat salmon while others won't touch fish 🦈 Orcas hunting sharks—and why great whites flee ⛵ What's really happening with orcas and sailboats 🐟 The wonderfully bizarre phenomenon of “salmon hats” 👵 Why killer whale societies are led by older matriarchs 🗣️ Dialects, family groups, and knowledge passed through generations 🌊 John's unforgettable honeymoon watching orcas hunt sea lions in Patagonia It's a fascinating look at intelligence, culture, family, specialization, and one of the ocean's most extraordinary predators.
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S2 · E71
July 30 · 26 min
E71 Naturally Scott Adventures – 20 Million Bats: The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth 🦇🌅e
Send us Fan Mail What could possibly draw someone to Texas in the middle of summer? Twenty million bats. In this edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, Scott Harris travels to Bracken Cave Preserve just outside San Antonio—home to the largest bat colony on Earth. Every summer evening, millions of Mexican free-tailed bats pour from a single cave in one of the greatest wildlife spectacles anywhere in the world. Scott shares what it's like to witness the breathtaking "batnado," explains why these tiny mammals are so important to agriculture, and explores the incredible adaptations that allow them to survive among predators, navigate by echolocation, and consume hundreds of tons of insects every night. In this episode: 🦇 Witnessing the world's largest bat colony 🌪️ The spectacular "batnado" and river of bats 🐍 Snakes, owls, hawks, coyotes, and the predators waiting outside the cave 🚜 Why farmers love bats 🌎 Inside Bracken Cave Preserve near San Antonio 📸 Tips for planning your own visit ✨ One of the greatest wildlife spectacles in North America Whether you're a bat enthusiast or simply love unforgettable wildlife experiences, Bracken Cave is a destination unlike any other. 👉 Stay connected with Naturally Scott: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E70
July 23 · 35 min
E70 Jason Bittel – Grizzlies, Porcupines & the Animals You Thought You Knew 🐻🦔
Send us Fan Mail What if everything you thought you knew about some of North America's most familiar animals was wrong? In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris welcomes science writer and author Jason Bittel, whose new book Grizzled shines a spotlight on 50 of North America's most misunderstood animals. From grizzly bears and white-tailed deer to porcupines, daddy longlegs, yellow jackets, and ringtails, Jason shares the fascinating stories hiding in plain sight. Together, Scott and Jason explore the surprising biology, remarkable adaptations, and evolutionary history of creatures many of us see every day—but rarely truly understand. In this episode: 🐻 Why grizzly bears and black bears require completely different survival strategies 🦌 The incredible hidden biology of white-tailed deer 🦔 Why porcupine quills are even more remarkable than you think 🕷️ The truth about daddy longlegs 🐝 Why yellow jackets deserve a second look 📚 Behind the scenes of writing for National Geographic 🦝 Meet the adorable ringtail—an animal most Americans have never even heard of Whether you're a lifelong naturalist or simply curious about the wildlife around your own backyard, this conversation will leave you looking at familiar animals in an entirely new way.
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S2 · E69
July 16 · 27 min
E69 Naturally Scott Adventures – Wild Mustangs of Nevada: The Spirit of the American West 🐎🏜️
Send us Fan Mail There may be no animal more closely tied to the spirit of the American West than the wild Mustang. In this edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, Scott Harris travels to Nevada in search of one of North America's most iconic animals—wild Mustangs. From the shores of Washoe Lake State Park to the open sagebrush country outside Reno, Scott explores the history, biology, and enduring romance of these remarkable horses. Along the way, he shares unforgettable encounters with bachelor bands racing across the desert, solitary stallions standing watch over their territory, playful colts discovering the world, and the ongoing conservation challenges surrounding America's free-roaming horse populations. In this episode: 🐎 The remarkable history of America's wild Mustangs 🏜️ Why Nevada is home to nearly half of the nation's free-roaming horses 🌅 Exploring Washoe Lake State Park at sunrise ⚔️ Bachelor bands, dominant stallions, and family life 📸 The best places to photograph wild horses near Reno 🌎 The ongoing balance between conservation and land management ✨ Why few wildlife experiences capture the romance of the American West quite like wild horses Whether you've dreamed of seeing Mustangs your entire life or are planning your first trip to Nevada, this episode celebrates one of America's most enduring wildlife icons. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E68
July 9 · 33 min
E68 Dr. Virginia Edgcomb – Hydrothermal Vents, Ocean Microbes & Life in Earth’s Most Extreme Places 🌋🌊
Send us Fan Mail What if the most important life in the ocean is almost completely invisible? In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with marine microbiologist Dr. Ginny Edgcomb of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for a fascinating journey into the hidden world beneath the waves. From hydrothermal vents and hypersaline lakes at the bottom of the Mediterranean to deep-sea drilling expeditions in the Indian Ocean, Ginny studies microscopic organisms that thrive where most life simply cannot. Along the way, she explains how these remarkable microbes recycle nutrients, fuel entire ocean ecosystems, and may even help scientists search for life beyond Earth. The conversation explores: 🔬 Why microbes are the foundation of nearly every marine food web 🌋 Hydrothermal vents and the extraordinary life they support 🧂 Mysterious hypersaline “lakes” hidden on the Mediterranean seafloor 🌍 What Earth’s most extreme environments can teach us about alien life 🚢 Life aboard research vessels—from flying fish and whales to pirate drills 🌊 How climate change is reshaping the world’s oceans Equal parts adventure, exploration, and science, this episode reveals an unseen world that quietly supports nearly every living thing in the sea. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E67
July 3 · 26 min
E67 Naturally Scott Adventures – Florida Manatees: Gentle Giants of Crystal River 🐋🌿
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, where Scott Harris takes you into the field to experience some of North America's most remarkable wildlife and wild places. In this episode, Scott visits Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Gulf Coast to meet one of the state's most beloved residents—the Florida manatee. These gentle marine mammals, often called "sea cows," can weigh well over 1,000 pounds, yet they're among the most peaceful animals you'll ever encounter. Scott explores the biology, behavior, and conservation of Florida manatees, explaining why they gather each winter in Florida's warm springs, how boat strikes became their greatest threat, and why Crystal River has become one of the best places in the world to observe them responsibly. The episode also celebrates one of America's great wildlife success stories, as Florida's manatee population has rebounded dramatically thanks to conservation efforts, public awareness, and protected habitat. In this episode: 🐋 Why manatees are called "sea cows" 🌿 Exploring Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge 💙 Swimming and kayaking with manatees (responsibly) 👶 Mothers, calves, and manatee family life 🚤 The dangers of boat strikes 🌡️ Why warm springs are critical for survival 📈 The remarkable recovery of Florida's manatee population Whether you're planning a Florida adventure or simply love wildlife, this episode offers an unforgettable look at one of North America's gentlest giants. 👉 Subscribe for updates and bonus content: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E66
June 25 · 33 min
E66 Scott Weidensaul – The Return of the Oystercatcher & Stories of Hope for Birds 🐦🌎
Send us Fan Mail Award-winning author, ornithologist, and conservationist Scott Weidensaul returns to Naturally Scott to discuss his inspiring new book, The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save Ourselves. Rather than focusing solely on declining bird populations and environmental challenges, Scott shares something equally important: hope. podcast-scott-weidensaul.txt From the remarkable comeback of Bald Eagles and Canada Geese to the recovery of American Oystercatchers, Scott highlights conservation victories that prove people can make an extraordinary difference when science, persistence, and collaboration come together. podcast-scott-weidensaul.txt The conversation also explores Indigenous-led conservation efforts protecting millions of acres of Canada's boreal forest, one of the world's most important breeding grounds for migratory birds. These stories demonstrate that successful conservation isn't just possible—it's happening today. podcast-scott-weidensaul.txt In this episode: 🦅 The incredible recovery of Bald Eagles 🪿 Why Canada Geese are one of conservation's greatest success stories 🐦 How American Oystercatchers reversed decades of decline 🌲 Indigenous communities protecting Canada's boreal forest 🌎 Why optimism matters in conservation 📖 The stories behind The Return of the Oystercatcher If you've ever wondered whether conservation success stories still exist, this episode is full of reasons to believe they do. 👉 Subscribe for updates and bonus content: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E65
June 18 · 28 min
E65 Naturally Scott Adventures – Alligators, Big Cypress & Florida’s Living Dinosaurs 🐊🌿
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, where Scott Harris takes you into the field to experience some of North America's greatest wildlife spectacles, iconic species, and wild places. In this episode, Scott heads deep into Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve in search of one of America's most ancient and awe-inspiring predators: the American alligator. What follows is a journey into a landscape that feels frozen in time, where cypress swamps, sawgrass wetlands, and sun-soaked canals are home to hundreds of alligators and countless other wild creatures. Scott shares stories from years of encounters with alligators, including a heart-stopping close encounter with a massive 13-foot gator in South Carolina and why these reptiles inspire a uniquely primal reaction unlike almost any other animal in North America. Along the way, he explores why Big Cypress may be the best place in America to see alligators in the wild and what makes these prehistoric predators so successful after more than 100 million years. In this episode: 🐊 Why alligators are nature's perfected predators 🌿 Exploring Big Cypress National Preserve 🚗 Driving the famous Loop Road 🦅 Red-shouldered hawks, wood storks, deer, and other wildlife 🐻 The surprising connection between gators, bears, and Florida panthers 📸 Tips for finding and photographing alligators 🦖 Why seeing a giant alligator feels like stepping back in time From ancient reptiles to unforgettable wildlife encounters, this episode celebrates one of the most fascinating animals in North America. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E64
June 11 · 32 min
E64 George Archibald – Dancing with Whooping Cranes & Saving the World's Rarest Birds 🏗️🦩
Send us Fan Mail Few people have done more to save cranes than George Archibald. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation for a remarkable conversation spanning decades of conservation, adventure, and hope. George shares the incredible story of helping rescue the Whooping Crane from the brink of extinction, including his famous partnership with a crane named Tex and the unexpected journey that led from a Wisconsin field to Johnny Carson's stage. The conversation also explores the migration of more than a million Sandhill Cranes through Nebraska's Platte River Valley, conservation work across Africa and Asia, and the challenge of protecting cranes while improving the lives of the people who share their landscapes. In this episode: 🏗️ The story of Tex, the world's most famous Whooping Crane 🦩 How dancing helped save a species from extinction 🌎 The International Crane Foundation's work across the globe 🕊️ One million Sandhill Cranes on Nebraska's Platte River 🌍 Conservation projects in Africa, Korea, and beyond 👨‍🌾 Why successful conservation must benefit local communities ✨ Hope for some of the world's rarest birds George's life story is a reminder that one person truly can make a difference—and that saving wildlife often begins with relationships, persistence, and a willingness to think differently. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E63
June 4 · 22 min
E63 Naturally Scott Adventures – Colonial Spanish Mustangs & the Wild Horses of Corolla 🐎🌊
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another edition of Naturally Scott Adventures, where Scott Harris takes you into the field to experience some of North America's greatest wildlife spectacles, iconic species, and wild places. In this episode, Scott heads to the remote beaches of Corolla in North Carolina's Outer Banks to spend time with one of the most fascinating populations of wild horses in America: the Colonial Spanish Mustangs. For more than 500 years, legend holds that these remarkable horses have survived along this isolated stretch of coastline after Spanish ships wrecked offshore. Whether every detail of the story is true or not, the horses themselves are very real—and absolutely unforgettable. Scott shares stories from multiple visits to the Outer Banks, including close encounters with stallions, mares, and foals, sunrise moments on empty beaches, and why these horses have become one of his favorite wildlife experiences anywhere in North America. In this episode: 🐎 The legend of the Colonial Spanish Mustangs 🌊 Wild horses living along the beaches of the Outer Banks ☀️ Sunrise encounters in Corolla and Carova 📸 The best ways to experience the horses responsibly 🐻 Nearby wildlife opportunities at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge 🦅 Osprey, bald eagles, dolphins, and other coastal wildlife ✨ Why some wildlife experiences stay with us for a lifetime Part history, part adventure, and part wildlife story, this episode explores one of the most unique natural experiences on the East Coast. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E62
May 28 · 31 min
E62 Jessica Ware – Dragonflies, Ancient Flight & the Secret World of Insects! 🪰🌎
Send us Fan Mail Dragonflies are older than dinosaurs, can migrate across oceans, and spend most of their lives underwater. In this fascinating and surprisingly fun episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with entomologist and evolutionary biologist Jessica Ware of the American Museum of Natural History to explore the incredible world of dragonflies, damselflies, insect evolution, and why insects deserve far more attention than they get. Jessica explains how dragonflies were among the first animals ever to fly, how some species migrate over 11,000 kilometers across oceans, and why these ancient aerial predators are among the greatest hunters on Earth. Along the way, the conversation dives into: 🪰 The difference between dragonflies and damselflies 🌎 Dragonfly migrations across oceans ❄️ Dragonfly nymphs freezing solid in Arctic winters 👀 Why dragonflies have some of the best vision in the insect world 🦟 How dragonflies help control mosquitoes and other pests 🦖 Giant prehistoric “dragonflies” from hundreds of millions of years ago 🐛 Why insects may be the most overlooked animals on Earth Jessica also shares how childhood curiosity led her into science and why she believes insects deserve the same wonder and attention we often reserve for birds and mammals. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E61
May 21 · 26 min
E61 Naturally Scott Adventures – One Million Snow Geese! 🕊️❄️
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the very first edition of Naturally Scott Adventures — a new series where Scott Harris takes you directly into the field to experience some of nature’s greatest spectacles, species, and wild places. And for Episode 61, we begin with one of the most breathtaking wildlife gatherings on Earth: one million snow geese at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. Each March, hundreds of thousands — and sometimes more than a million — snow geese converge on this Missouri refuge during migration. The sound is overwhelming. The sky turns white with birds. Bald eagles patrol the edges. Coyotes wait in the darkness. And for a few weeks, one corner of the Midwest becomes one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in North America. In this episode: 🕊️ What it feels like to stand beside a million snow geese 🦅 Bald eagles hunting over massive flocks 🌨️ Watching snow geese land during a snowstorm 📸 Why sunrise and sunset matter most for wildlife viewing 🦢 Trumpeter swans, muskrats, coyotes & red-winged blackbirds 🚗 How to visit Loess Bluffs yourself Scott also reflects on why this experience became one of his personal “perfect moments” in nature — alongside music, memory, and the feeling of being completely immersed in the wild. Upcoming Naturally Scott Adventures episodes include: 🐊 Alligators 🦉 Burrowing Owls 🦅 California Condors 🐎 Wild Horses of Nevada 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E60
May 14 · 32 min
E60 Zach Steinhauser – One Million Purple Martins & South Carolina’s Greatest Wildlife SpectacleUntitled Episode
Send us Fan Mail What does it feel like to sit beneath a sky filled with a million birds? In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris is joined by naturalist, filmmaker, and Carolina Safari Co. founder Zach Steinhauser for a conversation about one of America’s most overlooked wildlife spectacles—the gathering of over a million Purple Martins at Bomb Island on South Carolina’s Lake Murray. Zach shares the remarkable story behind his documentary Purple Haze and explains how these tiny swallows became almost entirely dependent on humans for nesting sites. The conversation moves from South Carolina to the deserts of Arizona and even the Amazon rainforest, following Zach’s journey to uncover the hidden story of Purple Martins across the Americas. Along the way, they discuss: The surreal experience of watching a million birds spiral overhead Why Purple Martins rely on human-made housing The search for naturally nesting martins in giant saguaro cacti Filming in the Amazon rainforest South Carolina wildlife spectacles most people never experience This episode is a celebration of wonder, migration, storytelling, and the wild places still hiding in plain sight. This episode, like all Naturally Scott episodes, is dedicated to Scott’s mother — an incredible mind, an incredible woman, and a shatterer of many glass ceilings. She was a force, but never quiet. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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S2 · E59
May 7 · 1 hr 1 min
E59 Matt Forister – Butterflies, Climate Change & the Hidden Crisis Facing Insects
Send us Fan Mail Butterflies are beautiful. They are also disappearing. In this episode of Naturally Scott, Scott Harris sits down with University of Nevada, Reno biology professor Matt Forister for a fascinating and surprisingly urgent conversation about butterflies, insect declines, climate change, pesticides, and why these tiny creatures may tell us more about the health of our planet than almost anything else. Matt explains how a decades-long butterfly monitoring project in California revealed dramatic declines in both butterfly abundance and species diversity, and why modern pesticide use may be playing a major role. But this conversation is not all doom and gloom. It is also about wonder. From tiny butterflies no larger than a fingernail to massive monarch migrations stretching across North America, Matt shares why butterflies captivate so many people and how anyone can begin exploring the incredible diversity of the insect world. Topics include: 🦋 Why butterflies are declining across North America 🌎 Climate change and shifting migration patterns ☠️ The hidden dangers of modern pesticides 🐛 Why caterpillars and moths matter more than most people realize 📚 The surprising book that led Matt into science 🔬 How 53 years of butterfly data became one of the longest-running insect studies in America This episode is dedicated to Scott’s mother — an incredible mind, an incredible woman, and a shatterer of many glass ceilings. She was a force, but never quiet. 👉 Stay up to date and get bonus content here: https://naturallyscott.kit.com/5fd12c6752
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