KDWP District Wildlife Biologist, Vickie Cikanek, joins us to chat about working lands for wildlife in the southern Flint Hills and Chautauqua Hills. We get into fun things like blackjack oaks, where trees belong, soil composition, big deer, trailer backing-up, shy snakes, Habitat First, fire culture, passenger pigeons, losing meadowlarks, what people get wrong about quail and deer, Kansas' outstanding landowners and hunters, and much more!
Habitat First Program: https://ksoutdoors.com/Services/Private-Landowner-Assistance/Wildlife-Biologists/Habitat-First-Program
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
The Kansas fall turkey season was suspended--what does this mean? What data informed the decision? Listen as we chat with Kent Fricke about turkey declines, ongoing and upcoming research, and the future of turkeys in Kansas.
Kent was recently quoted in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/23/us/turkey-population-declines-oklahoma.html
Learn more about turkey seasons in Kansas here: https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Applications-and-Fees/Turkey
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Hey Flatlanders! We've missed you. Co-hosts Tanna, Lyndzee, Laura, and Nadia (and Megan) are back on the mics and catching up after a hiatus. We're getting back into the podcast groove and starting with a hosts episode!
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Tanna and Lyndzee are flying solo in this episode to talk about a program that is near and dear to their hearts. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is a workshop focused on the learning of outdoor skills - skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, but useful for many outdoor pursuits such as foraging, backpacking, camping, outdoor cooking, boating, and more!
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Kansas
BOW Events Notification Sign-up
International BOW
Follow the BOW Facebook page for event updates and information.
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
What's that...you haven't read the Kansas Water Plan yet? Fret not! Join us for an hour while we learn about Kansas reservoirs, irrigation, groundwater management districts, important meetings, local enhanced management areas, soil moisture probes, municipal water reuse, and some cool Kansans doing heroic things for water conservation. If you hunt, fish, eat food, or drink water in Kansas, this episode is for you!
Hosts
Laura Mendenhall, Nadia Marji
Sources
Kansas Water Office
Kansas Water Authority
The Kansas Water Plan
Book Recommendations
Running Out: In Search of Water on the High Plains
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants
Finding Trails in Kansas
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
The Kansas Wildscape Foundation (KWF) was established by the Kansas Legislature in 1990, in coordination with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. They are an independent, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt foundation dedicated to raising funds to benefit wildlife and outdoor recreation activities in Kansas.
Their mission, to create and promote outdoor opportunities in Kansas. Executive Director of KWF, Marc Murrell, visits us on Flatlander to tell us about the projects and programs that make up this amazing organization and how Kansans benefit.
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
The Kansas Wildscape Foundation
KWF Programs
KWF Projects
KWF Fundraisers
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
This episode is chock full of trivia night factoids: the defunct mussel button industry, 30 miles of hand-laid limestone fencing, 1800's style refrigeration, prescribed fires, bison wallows, and the secret Flint Hills pronghorn herd. Join Laura and Nadia as they chat Flint Hills ecology and history with Brian Obermeyer, Director of Protection and Stewardship at The Nature Conservancy in Kansas.
Hosts
Nadia Marji, Laura Mendenhall
Sources
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
The Nature Conservancy in Kansas
My Flint Hills by Jim Hoy
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks operates four fish hatcheries across the state located at Farlington, Meade, Milford, and Pratt. Each contributes in its own way to supply the varied needs of Kansas anglers. This system produces approximately 39.5 million fry, 3.5 million fingerling, and 385,000 intermediate fish for stocking in Kansas public waters annually.
Pratt Fish Hatchery manager, Brett Houdyshell, joins Lyndzee and Tanna to tell us about what goes on at Pratt's fish hatchery, how fry are artificially hatched, treated for disease, and readied for stocking or rearing ponds.
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
Learn more about KDWP's fish hatcheries
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Zebra mussels! Carp! Giant snails! Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are animals and plants not native to Kansas that cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health.
In this episode, Nadia and Laura, are joined by Vanessa Salazar, KDWP aquatic invasive species biologist, to talk about the aquatic invasive species currently found in Kansas, how they effect aquatic ecosystems, and what we should do to prevent or mitigate their spread.
Hosts
Nadia Marji, Laura Mendenhall
Sources
KDWP Aquatic Nuisance Species
Recognize Aquatic Nuisance Species
Clean. Drain. Dry.
Don't Let It Loose
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Audubon of Kansas (AOK) is an independent grassroots nonprofit organization that promotes appreciation and stewardship of natural ecosystems in Kansas and the central Great Plains, with special emphasis on conservation of prairies, birds, other wildlife, and their habitat. It is neither funded nor administered by the National Audubon Society.
AOK executive director, Jackie Augustine, joins Tanna and Lyndzee to talk more about the mission of AOK and the annual Kansas Lek Treks Prairie-Chicken Festival.
Hosts
Lyndzee Rhine, Tanna Wagner
Sources
Audubon of Kansas
Audubon of Kansas Facebook Page
AOK Kansas Lek Treks and Prairie-Chicken Festival
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
This year 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of Kansas' Hunter Education Program!
KDWP outdoor education supervisor and hunter education coordinator, Kent Barrett, sits down at the mic with Tanna and Lyndzee to tell us about the Hunter Education Program, its history, multiple learning environments, and how to get involved.
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
KDWP Hunter Education
Kansas Hunter Education Upcoming Courses
Become an Instructor
Hunter Education in our Schools
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4 – 12. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.
Flatlander host, Lyndzee Rhine, is our special guest in this episode! She coordinates the program for KDWP and shares what NASP is all about, how it's impacting students across the state, and how to get involved!
Host
Tanna Wagner
Sources
National Archery in the Schools Program
KDWP NASP
NASP Upcoming Classes
NASP Kansas Regional Coordinators
Gary Keehn – NE KS Regional Coordinator
Gary.Keehn@ks.gov
Dave Adams – SE KS Regional Coordinator
David.Adams@ks.gov
Joyce Ellis – NE KS Regional Coordinator
Joyce.Ellis@ks.gov
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Wildlife viewing is among the fastest growing outdoor recreation activities in the United States. Wildlife agencies, including KDWP, are interested in gathering data about wildlife viewers (those who intentionally observe, feed, or photograph wildlife; travel to parks, protected areas, or other natural spaces with the purpose of feeding, observing, or photographing wildlife, and those who maintain plantings or natural areas for the benefit of wildlife) behaviors, experiences, perceptions, needs, and preferences. This information is essential for more meaningful and substantive engagement for state agencies with this often underserved constituency.
KDWP wildlife diversity coordinator, Daren Riedle, shares with us a recent study that Kansas participated in to learn more about this significant group and how we can better serve them.
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
Kansas Results of the Wildlife Viewer Survey
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Wildlife Diversity - Facebook page
Learn More About Wildlife Watching
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
No stranger to the outdoors but rather new to hunting, Garrett Lyon shares his personal journey into becoming an adult on-set hunter. Join Tanna and Lyndzee as we learn about Garrett's perspective on how and why he chose to learn something new, what it's meant for him so far, and as he recounts his first hunting experiences.
Hosts
Tanna Wagner, Lyndzee Rhine
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Today we're talking about big cats, and not the feline variety, with Ernesto Flores, KDWP Fisheries Biologist stationed in Emporia, Kan. Originally native to three rivers in Kansas, blue catfish now inhabit much of the water found in sunflower state. Blue catfish have the potential to reach “River Monster” status and are a great angling opportunity for those fishing in Kansas! Flatlander hosts, Nadia and Laura, learn about the big blue cat, their biology, and how KDWP manages populations.
Hosts
Nadia Marji, Laura Mendenhall
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Vamos a Pescar is a national grant-based program focused on introducing Hispanic families to fishing and providing resources for recreation. Today, hosts Laura and Nadia sit down with Patricia Saenz-Reyes and Phil Taunton, Vamos a Pescar organizers in Emporia, Kan. who tell us about their experience with the program and why it's an important resource for families in our state.
Hosts
Nadia Marji, Laura Mendenhall
Sources
Vamos a Pescar National Website/Resources - Spanish
Take me Fishing Website/Resources - English
Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow (HOTT)
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Favorite duck hunting spot dry this year? Increased hunting pressure got you down? Learn about the state of waterfowl conservation in Kansas, what more needs to be done, and how you can help. Get informed, share your knowledge, and make a difference.
Hosts
Laura Menhenhall, Nadia Marji
Sources
Become a Member of Ducks Unlimited
DU Events List
Climate Change and Waterfowl
Climate Change Projections for Kansas
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
True stewards of the land, Keith and Eva Yearout, managers of Z-Bar Ranch in western southcentral Kansas, have spent more than 20 years ranching with the goal of bringing the land back to its native state while managing a sizable herd of bison.
Hosts Laura and Lyndzee get an in-depth glimpse of life on the ranch and how consistent and evolving management practices have helped Z-Bar Ranch become a healthy habitat for their livestock and wildlife alike.
Hosts
Laura Mendenhall, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
Z-Bar Ranch
Reintroducing Bison Results in Long-running and Resilient Increases in Grassland Diversity
Tree Encroachment on the Prairie
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Hey Flatlanders! Join us today as we learn about the many species of birds that call Cheyenne Bottoms home. Tanna and Lyndzee are joined on location at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center by Dr. Robert Penner, The Nature Conservancy, and Jason Wagner, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, to talk about shorebirds and migratory birds.
Hosts
Tanna Fanshier, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
KDWP Waterfowl Report
Pocket Guide - Shorebirds and Migratory Birds
eBird
Cheyenne Bottoms
Kansas Wetlands Education Center
Kansas Birding Facebook Group
Sandhill Crane Identification Test
Sandhill Crane Regulations
Duck Stamp
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
In Kansas, the term "furbearers" encompasses a number of species, including badger, bobcat, beaver, gray fox, red fox, swift fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, striped skunk, and weasel. With abundant furbearer populations throughout most of Kansas, furharvesting opportunities abound. In fact, furbearers are probably one of our most under-utilized natural resources, and the benefits of their harvest are numerous. Regulated furharvesting during the legal seasons serves as the primary means of furbearer population and damage control.
Flatlander hosts Tanna and Lyndzee sit down with James Svaty, KDWP wildlife biologist, to talk about the biological impact of trapping as well as the cultural and social importance of furharvesting in the lifestyles of many participants.
Hosts
Tanna Fanshier, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
KDWP Furharvesting Information
- Kansas Furharvesting Licenses and Permits
- Regulations
- Kansas Furbearers
- Best Management Practices
Furharvester Education Certificate
KDWP Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary
KDWP Commission Meetings
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Spiders! They're typically misunderstood and tend get a bad rap but spiders serve a huge importance to an ecosystem and maintaining balance. Join Tanna and Lyndzee as we explore Kansas' eight-legged insects with Dustin Wilgers, Associate Professor of Biology at McPherson College, author, and spider expert.
Hosts
Tanna Fanshier, Lyndzee Rhine
Sources
Savannah Spider Book Series
Chickadee Checkoff
8-Leg Education Facebook Page
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
The ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, and two species of prairie grouse (greater and lesser prairie chicken) make up Kansas' coveted upland birds. In this episode, we're joined by Jeff Prendergast, KDWP small game specialist, to learn about these beautiful birds of the grasslands, their habitats, populations, management practices, and more. Jeff also gives us a sneak peek into this years Kansas Upland Bird Forecast for hunters.
Hosts
Laura Mendenhall, Tanna Fanshier
Sources
KDWP Upland Birds
Kansas Upland Bird Forecast
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Wander Woman of Kansas is a diverse women's outdoor group who are engaged in the enjoyment of adventuring and exploring the outdoors. Founded in 2018, Wander Woman Kansas was developed to bring women together in a tough outdoor industry that can be difficult to navigate. Founder Jessica White joins us in the Flatlands to discuss her personal journey, the ins and outs of Wander Woman, and how women everywhere can participate in these unique outdoor opportunities.
Whether you are an expert in outdoor sports, or have not had an opportunity, Wander Woman is here to make those outdoor bucket lists a possibility.
Hosts
Laura Mendenhall, Nadia Marji
Sources
Wander Woman of Kansas
Wander Woman Facebook Page
Wander Woman Instagram Page
Follow the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Follow the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Facebook and Instagram.
Episode 60: Grasslands & Woodlands
48:30
Episode 59: Wild Turkey Management in Kansas
58:00
Episode 58: WE'RE BACK! Let's catch up.
50:55
Episode 57: Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop
1:01:48
Episode 56: The Kansas Water Plan
1:09:49
Episode 55: Learning about Kansas Trails
51:08
Episode 54: The Kansas Wildscape Foundation
50:17
Episode 53: Ecology of the Flint Hills
56:22
Episode 52: KDWP Pratt Fish Hatchery
1:01:37
Episode 51: What are Aquatic Invasive Species?
1:01:03
Episode 50: Audubon of Kansas and Prairie Chicken Lek Treks
40:03
Episode 49: Kansas Hunter Education
1:12:04
Episode 48: National Archery in the Schools Program
58:00
Episode 47: Wildlife Viewing Survey
1:00:05
Episode 46: A Journey into Hunting
1:08:28
Episode 45: Blue Catfish Biology
57:57
Episode 44: Vamos A Pescar! (Let's Go Fishing!)
43:21
Episode 43: Waterfowl Conservation with Jim Pitman, Ducks Unlimited
40:10
Episode 42: Catching up with our Hosts
55:38
Episode 41: Ranching and Wildlife
1:05:40
Episode 40: Migratory and Shorebirds at Cheyenne Bottoms
1:02:51
Episode 39: Furharvesting and Trapping
1:06:20
Episode 38: Spiders!
1:36:22
Episode 37: Upland Birds
1:10:13
Episode 36: Wander Woman Kansas
49:32