Wetland Wonders work, the snow goose and the least shrew

In this episode of the Wildtalk Podcast, we talk to Ryan Soulard and Pat Brickel about a long habitat project wrapping up at Fish Point. We follow that up with a chat about the snow goose, before diving into the tiny world of the least shrew. 

Episode Hosts: Rachel Lincoln and Eric Hilliard
Producer/editor: Eric Hilliard

• All things habitat
  • Fish Point State Wildlife Area
• All things feathers
  • Snow goose
  • Snow goose ID sheet
  • Michigan.gov/Waterfowl
  • Wetland Wonders
  • eBird
• All things fur
  • North American Least shrew

Questions or comments about the show? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453 (WILD) or email dnr-wildlife@michigan.gov.

Transcript

Speaker

You know what that sound means. It's time for the Michigan DNR WildTalk podcast. Welcome to the WildTalk podcast were representatives from the DNR Wildlife Division chew the fat and shoot the scat about all things habitat, feathers and fur. With insights, interviews and your questions answered on the air. You'll get a better picture of what's happening in the world of wildlife here in the great state of Michigan.

Rachel

Hello everyone, and welcome to the WildTalk Podcast. This is your host, Rachel Lincoln. And joining me this new year is Eric Hilliard.

Eric

Happy new year. It's 2026!

Rachel

Happy New Year and happy season nine. We're in a new season.

Eric

So season nine, this is the first episode of season nine, and it's going to be your last episode of season nine for a minute, isn't it?

Rachel

Yes it is. A bit of a exciting personal news here. I am heading out on maternity leave soon. I'm going to be out for a portion of this year, but we have a pretty killer set of guest hosts lined up to take my place over the next couple months, and I will be back with you in July.

Eric

Yeah, we got a very deep bullpen here in terms of podcast talent that we can call upon.

Rachel

We do. I'm pretty excited to have them on the podcast. Each of them bring just like a little bit of their own special sauce. So some of them are just so incredibly gifted in their specialties. Their expertise, and some of them are just really fun to chat with. So it should be a pretty stellar lineup of episodes.

Eric

That'll be very interesting being a co-host for somebody else. I'm just kind of interested to see how those on air dynamics play out in between each of the people over the coming months, so it'll be a lot of fun.

Rachel

Yes, not everyone can have as good chemistry as we do but hopefully...

Eric

It's true.

Rachel

They'll know your movie reference and pop culture references a little bit better than I would.

Eric

I certainly hope so. I was so excited when Keith actually got my Better Off Dead reference last month. It was like, finally somebody gets a movie reference.

Rachel

Finally seen! I was going to say, yeah, I got some time coming up in between naps and things. I could watch some movies. You should make me your list.

Eric

Oh, I should, yeah, I'll give you, like, Eric's top five, because there might be other people that also are like, Rachel, you need to watch. You need to watch this.

Rachel

Yes, I am open to any and all movie and show or easy to do hobby activities. Like I was thinking about getting into cross-stitching because that seems interesting.

Eric

What about miniatures?

Rachel

Miniatures? It would depend on the category of miniatures. We can't—we know it can't be movie related.

Eric

Well, what if you did like a little miniature deer check?

Rachel

Oh, I have spent a lot of time with those. Boy, this year we had those hunter appreciation days on Mondays, and there was always a couple weeks in between each one. And we had a couple folks who we are so thrilled they brought deer heads, and we wanted people to bring deer in so we could age them. Well, they harvested deer, you know, three weeks prior to these hunter appreciation days. And then they put it in a bag and they left in the backyard, and then they brought it in to me and asked me to age their deer. And I am heavily pregnant at this point.

Eric

So smells are probably...yeah.

Rachel

You can probably read between the lines. It was a bit of an experience, but we got through it.

Eric

Nice.

Rachel

Well, that's my exciting news. I catch you all back here in July. Super excited to welcome our daughter into the world here in February and take a couple months off.

Eric

Y'all have your name picked out. You keeping it a secret?

Rachel

Ooh, so I didn't realize how hard it is to name a child until you actually have to do it. It's way more challenging than I thought. We have three names picked out, and I think we'll just wait until she arrives to actually give her that name. Because if you choose and they don't look like that name.

Eric

That's true.

Rachel

Then it's odd. And one of them. Yeah, we've got a couple options. I think we're just going to wait and see what happens.

Eric

Yep. Smidgy, Schermmel and...

Rachel

Rufus.

Eric

Yeah. Goofus get with a G.

Rachel

Yeah. You stay tuned. We will update you on which of those three names we chose to name her daughter. But exciting times are ahead.

Eric

So what do we have lined up? I mean, this is your last show.

Rachel

I chose two species that I just like. I think they're super cool. Especially this time of year. You can see them or you can see signs of them. So first off, we do have our Southeast region staff coming on the show. They'll be talking about a cool project that has been in the works for quite some time in their area. And so they give us the details and how you can enjoy some of the work that's happening for wildlife in the southeast corner of the state. Then we're going to talk about Snow geese, because they're just really cool. And then we'll wrap it with the Least shrew, the tiniest of the critters we've got here.

Eric

So in this case we would say last but not least, but it is last and it is least so yeah. Make go figure that.

Rachel

Got it. Yes. So we got to get episode for you. Of course we will have the opportunity to win a mug at the end of this episode. But first you'll want to stick around and we'll hear a word from our warblers.

Speaker

Hey, Michigan drivers, a little bird told me your license plate can do more than just tag your car. The wildlife habitat plate featuring the iconic Kirtland's warbler helps protect Michigan's non-game fish and wildlife through the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. But hurry, this plate is changing soon. Want to keep the warbler flying? You can even get one as a collector's item, no car required. Support Michigan's wildlife and get your plate before this bird flies away. Visit michigan.gov/SOS.

*Transition music

Rachel

Joining us on the phone today is Pat Brickle and Ryan Soulard from the Southeast region. Tell us about a cool project they have been working on for wildlife. Pat and Ryan, thank you for joining the show. Why don't you just take a minute and tell us about your positions and to introduce yourself?

Ryan

Sure. I'll go first so that I'm Ryan Soulard, wildlife biologist. I work out of the Fish Point State Wildlife Area covering duties there. Quanicassee down the road there along Saginaw Bay and then Pearl Island in the Saginaw River. And been with the department 17 going on 18 years this year.

Pat

So yeah, I work for the Cass City field office and the temporary biologists up here. Charge of this year. If you're on Sanilac and Tuscola County, all state lands sure is a lot of fun, for sure.

Rachel

Tell us about a project you've been working on and why it is important for the Southeast region.

Pat

Yeah, we got a couple cool projects. The Gaede Marsh rebuild. We started back in 2016, and then there was a lot of cool. I guess starting to this project was kind of wild. We started we figured we're going to try to take care of the invasives that were in this impoundment. There's a north and the south side of the Gaede Marsh, and it's just right down the road from Fish Point. This marsh used to be actually part of the draw. So we ended up deciding between the assistant and the biologist and myself that we were going to take and start kind of revamp that to kind of bring it back up to speed. And so we started by doing a little bit of draining and then we went to go reflood we found out that we had a huge issue. We had a really big hole in one of the tubes, and we couldn't keep water manipulation as part of our regime on this impoundment. So we stepped back a step and reconvened with the Fish Point wildlife association, and we expressed their need for a new pumping structure on the north and south side. And tNayanquing Point. And then we had we worked with FRD staff and then we also ended up working through the process with the DU to try to get some matching funds, to redo some of the dike infrastructure. The local staff did maybe about half of it and DU pulled together the rest of the funding and engineered the rest of the project for all the infrastructure to bring it back up to snuff. So we have now installed water control structures and new pumps. We have all new infrastructure all the way around this. So it's a really, really neat it's it's been a process ever since 2016. And so it's been a lot of fun.

Rachel

And how does this work impact wildlife?

Ryan

Yeah. So with the replacement of the control structures and the impacts of the wildlife and so forth with the updated infrastructure, what that really does is allow managers like myself and Pat to look at what options are available for being able to manipulate water levels to encourage a high biodiversity of plants, animals, insects. We're able to have a much more control on when we would add water or in a lot of cases, remove water and the timing of it can become a kind of all year round, destination for far more than just hunting in the springtime, it would be a tremendous stopover spot for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. We also have a lot of other hunting opportunities, such as pheasant, deer, and various other small game. And really, with having that updated infrastructure allows our various technicians and assistants to have a lot more time to focus on other habitat projects. When you have updated and working infrastructure that you're not constantly trying to repair or limp along. So really, it's 

Pat

Some of the other great things, too. I mean, when you're able to manipulate these, you're able to minimize your non-native species. Also, as far as like plants, you can keep your Phragmites out of them. You I mean, we have a major problem on the Saginaw Bay with Phragmites as well as some of the other states. But yeah, this is a big, big thing. Water manipulation is the key component and in addition to herbicide treatments. But to keep that out of there. So to keep a good quality wetland for nesting habitat and spring and fall migrations for sure.

Rachel

And is this project in its final phase or are there any upcoming next steps that you're particularly excited about?

Ryan

Yeah, I would say overall it's kind of at the finish line as far as what the core work that had been done in the springtime and the summer when the contractors and so forth were working on finishing up that project. And along with the guidance from Ducks Unlimited that had done the engineering on it, but essentially at that point when they said, yeah, all clear, we basically were given a property, with fully working infrastructure that was dry and just waiting to be pumped on. So at that point, some of our staff went in with one of our marsh master machines. They mowed all sorts of paths through the cattails to allow for foot, canoe, kayak, boat access, walk in access and then from there as soon as that was done, they began putting water on it. And now, essentially, now that we're post hunting season and it's frozen, we will be working to kind of lay out the plan of how fast or slow we want to de-water it, being careful not to potentially de-water too much, especially amidst historic droughts in the watershethe benefit is then the last few months of hearing how many memories were made already this fall was hunters that found it along with the ducks found it. And yeah, it'll be a lot of fun to watch it evolve as time goes on.

Rachel

Well, thank you both for joining us on the podcast and giving us an update on the great work happening for wildlife across the southeast. All right, folks, don't fly off now. We'll be talking all things feathers right after this break.

Speaker

A base license for $11 is a fair, fare to go hunt hare or even a squirrel or two if you care. You hunt a deer last month? The license is already there, so no more money from your pocket or your billfold square. To get your share of squirrel or hare, to eat yourself, or share with flair and fanfare with a nice set of flatware at a table, you prepare. Just bundle up warm with something to wear and don't miss when you shoot, or you're liable to swear and possibly despair if you see no more signs of hide nor hare. So happy hunting to all and y'all, take care.

*Transition music

Rachel

Today we are talking about the Snow goose, a medium sized goose with a fairly long neck and a chunky round body that you can see during this time of year in some of our wetlands. Now Snow goose, well obviously...

Eric

Snow geese?

Rachel

Snow goose. The Snow geese true to their name. Snow geese love snow. So they spend a good portion of their year in some of the harshest real estate in the world, up in northern Canada and northern Alaska, where most of the time it's an Arctic tundra and the survivability is low. But these birds seem to persist.

Eric

So yes, do they—do they like nest in the snow? Are they they build little, little snow nests?

Rachel

Well, they do build nests and have their offspring in those cold conditions. But in Michigan we see them during their migration. So from spring to fall, a typical spring and fall migration, we've got snow geese that are moving across Michigan because we have one of those great migratory pathways, and they end up in our state because of the large amounts of water that we have. Right? So we see these birds in various wetlands across our state. But in particular right now you can see them across northern Michigan and during these snowy winter conditions. And they are really cool to see because they're only in Michigan for a short amount of time.

Eric

Well, what do Snow geese look like?

Rachel

So the best and fastest way to tell the difference between a Snow goose and a Canada goose is the obvious bright white head. So Snow geese look like they belong in conditions where there is a lot of snow. They're generally very white in color. But if you think about like Jemima are not just a little duck, what's that of him is like mother goose or like a porch goose. If you're like my subdivision, everybody's got a porch goose. You can picture a very charismatic white goose.

Eric

Never heard of a porch goose.

Rachel

You don't know what a porch goose is?

Eric

No.

Rachel

Neither did I, until I moved to this subdivision. And it seems every other house has one that you dress up in festive clothing, depending on the season or holiday.

Eric

So I'm taking it, this is not a live goose.

Rachel

No, unless you live on a wetland complex.

Eric

Because I was picturing somebody, you know, like in a rocking swing on their covered porch, petting a goose that just happened to be there. And that was their porch goose.

Rachel

We don't touch wild waterfowl.

Eric

Well, I mean, what I was thinking, a porch goose was being a domesticated goose. Not like, you know, not a Snow goose, per se.

Rachel

Not a porch porcelain statue of a goose dressed in lions gear or festive New Year's Eve sparkles like my neighbor's goose. Now is.

Eric

Yeah.

Rachel

Now. Well, Google it sometime. There's a shocking amount of Facebook pages out there, or Nextdoor pages for porch geese and how to get new outfits for them. It's a whole thing, but for the wild Snow goose, there are a couple different ways you can identify these birds depending on what they look like. So there are actually two color morphs of the Snow goose. There's a white morph and there is a blue morph. So the white morph, which is basically just genetics being different in these birds. So the white morph is bright white overall it's very white plumage and they have black wingtips that really stand out in flight. So if you happen to catch one flying overhead you can see this full white body with these black wingtips when they're flying overhead. Those black-winged tips will create a really strong visual against the body. And that's how you can easily identify the bird species you're looking at. They also have pink so they have a pink bill and pink legs. Porch geese have orange legs. How you can tell the d

Rachel

If you're close enough to see the bill clearly, you'll also notice that there is a dark line along the bill. It's called its grinning patch, so it actually looks like the goose is smiling, and it's one of the best field markers for telling Snow geese, apart from some other white birds that are here in Michigan during the winter time. Now, I mentioned the blue morph. So this is a second color form that snow geese can have and it can throw people off. It's called a blue morph, but it's more of like a dark gray to deep bluish body that the birds can have, but they will retain the white head of the iconic white head of the Snow goose.

Eric

And this is probably similar to what we've talked about with blue and bird feathers anyways, right? It's not really blue.

Rachel

There is no such thing as blue colored birds. There's no bluebirds.

Eric

It's just gray in the way it looks. It comes across as blue.

Rachel

Yeah. It's refracted light through their feathers. It's very scientific. But yes, I suppose these birds will look more darkish grayish. Opposed to an actual vibrant blue like a bluebird would.

Eric

Gotcha. But a Bluebird technically has the similar gray.

Rachel

Blue birds are actually gray. Yes. Blue jays, bluebirds not actually blue. That's a real mindbender. Now, here in Michigan, Snow geese are pretty often confused with Ross's geese or, at a quick glance, even Tundra swans, which are currently in Michigan, another super cool migratory species that comes to Michigan from farther north. They also are large white birds, but have some pretty distinct differences between the Snow geese, in particular, the color of their bills and the color of their legs. Tundra swans have black bills, black legs, and these Snow geese have pink bills, pink legs, but they're still kind of relatively the same size, and they'll hang out in the same wetland areas as well. So easy to see them together.

Eric

It's really kind of easy to see how birders pick up birding as a hobby. With these little minor changes and differences in between species and how it's kind of like.

Rachel

Yeah, you can. There is one time I think you were there. Our team went to Muskegon's Muskegon's Wetland complex, especially this time of year. Those places have such huge flocks of white colored birds. And if you stare at it long enough, then you start to see the differences and how many different species are within those flocks. Interestingly, someone just sent me a picture of some birds that were on open water and it's been so cold here, right? All of the lakes have frozen over southwest Michigan got like, I don't know, 20 inches of snow and it got freezing cold. Well, there's this little patch on a lake with some birds on it. And they were concerned that these birds might have been stranded, but it was a Tundra swan, a Trumpeter swan, a Mute swan, and maybe a Snow goose, a goose of some sort. But it was kind of pixelated and grainy on the edges, so I couldn't quite tell what it was.

Eric

A goose of unusual size.

Rachel

It was. But it was so cool because you don't really see, especially Mute swans and Trumpeter swans. They rarely do overlap because Mute swans are quite aggressive and Trumpeter swans are quite shy, so you don't see them in the same little watering hole. But given there was not much open water left for them to be on, they were all in an overlapping spot. Well, as we mentioned, Michigan is an extremely important stopover place and habitat for Snow geese, as well as many of the other winter migratory species that come south. And these wetlands that we have here in Michigan provide just a really wonderful place for these birds to rest. And we have, when combined with agricultural fields and the kinds of really great wetland complexes that we have, it offers pretty high energy food sources paired next to wetlands for them to be able to refuel for their next leg of the journey, or to spend a couple of months here in Michigan before heading back up to the icy conditions of the Arctic.

Rachel

Now, Snow geese in particular, you can find in really large, noisy groups. And so often that's how people find Snow geese. It's either all or nothing when it comes to Snow geese, they're either in these cacophonous large groupings with lots of geese that are just honking away. They're making a lot of noise, which makes them hard to miss. Or there are none at all. So large flocks. They're very loud. They call constantly, especially when they're feeding or when they're getting ready to take flight, which is a phenomenon to see when these several hundred geese take off from the ground and turn to fly. It's really spectacular. If you want to learn how to identify Snow geese, we do have an identification page on our website, and we'll link to that in our show notes. It'll show you the difference between the two color morphs, which is pretty cool. And also if you're interested in and wanting to see Snow goose in real life, a really good way to find where some good bird spots are around you is to check out sighting

Eric

Just be sure you dress nice and warm. If you've got some winter bibs. A nice winter coat. Definitely a good idea to put those on. Get some nice warm winter boots. It's fun to be out in the cold when you're warm. Not so much when you're cold.

Rachel

Especially birding because you're just kind of standing there.

Eric

Yeah.

Rachel

Looking around. So if you can get some of those. Oh I got a pair of electric gloves.

Eric

Oh nice.

Rachel

And with that go see if you can find some Snow geese this winter. Stick around folks. Up next we're talking shrews.

Speaker

3,300 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. 11,000 inland lakes, 56,000 miles of rivers and streams. Fish? Too many to count. All you need to do is grab your gear, buy your fishing license and get out there. Get your Michigan fishing license in store in the Michigan DNR hunt fish app or online at michigan.gov/dnrlicenses.

*Transition music

Rachel

Today we're talking about the Least shrew. The Least shrew is one of Michigan's tiniest and most overlooked mammals, though tends to be around us pretty frequently. Now, even though the least shrew is only a few inches long and weighs just a few grams, these shrews are incredibly active predators. They feed on insects and other invertebrates largely under the ground, and because of their extremely high metabolism, they have to eat almost constantly to survive. So they're constantly eating almost more than their entire body weight, just to keep enough energy to stay alive and awake and to keep hunting.

Eric

I can picture them grabbing a grasshopper or a cricket and just going to town.

Rachel

Mhm. Teeny tiny teeth. But they will eviscerate a grasshopper in a matter of seconds. And actually, you can see these teeny tiny teeth pretty routinely if you know where an owl nest is. And underneath the owl nest, there will be owl pellets, which are it's regurgitated food scraps that it can't digest. And frequently in those owl pellets there are shrew skulls as well as mice skulls, and you can pick them apart and find these teeny tiny little teeth and jaws. It's really cool to see, and you can tell different shrew species and mouse species based on their teeth patterns, their dentition. And so if you get a microscope, you can like full on wildlife detective, figure out what these owls are eating. It's very cool.

Eric

Sounds like a very fascinating weekend project.

Rachel

Yes. Do it. Go do it. Go find some owl puke. Dissect it. See what you learn.

Eric

Yummy!

Rachel

These little critters need to eat so often that even if they miss a short window of feeding, it can be very dangerous for them. Now that is not even one of the most fascinating things about shrews. I think the most fascinating thing about shrews is how they survive winter. So a lot of times in Michigan, our mammals hibernate, whether they're true hibernators or if they just kind of go into a state of sleep to wait out the winter. But not these guys. They're unlike many of the mammals that we have here. And they do not hibernate. In fact, they stay extremely active even during the winter months. And they do this by relying on the subnivean zone.

Eric

What is this subnivean zone?

Rachel

I'm so glad you asked. It's fascinating. Buckle up. You've probably seen evidence of a subnivean zone before and maybe wondered what it was. And if not, now, you're going to be on the lookout for it. So this subnivean zone translates to shelter beneath the snow. So there is this space that forms between the ground and the bottom layer of the snow. And as the snow builds up, it actually creates this insulating blanket. And you can picture critters making little highways above the ground, but under the snow that protects them from inclement weather or fast changing weather patterns, snow accumulation, and it actually retains enough of a temperature that they can stay active without getting too cold and basically make these little, like New York City subway stations under the snow.

Eric

Interesting. I imagine that probably keeps them away from those owls, too.

Rachel

Most certainly. Yeah. So it helps them to evade predation. As I mentioned, the temperature stays much more stable than above air, and so it protects really tiny critters that already burn through energy when they're just being active. But now they don't have to try to, you know, maintain an ever changing body temperature.

Eric

I could see coyotes sniffing out and digging up those tunnels, though.

Rachel

Yes, precisely. So you actually can see these tunnels pretty regularly. You'll see, like a small line of snow that is raised, and it'll look like a little highway system. And what you're seeing is the path that a shrew or a vole or a mouse has made under the snow. And you can see exactly where these critters have gone to and from. And, yes, canines do you find them. My dog in particular loves the wintertime because she loves the snow, but also she's border collie. She's got a good snout, she loves to sniff things out. And you can definitely tell there's something under the snow. And she will go on the hunt for it. I'm sure wild canines are doing the same. And actually, I think owls can hear animals in the subnivean zones, I'm pretty sure.

Eric

Can they snag them out?

Rachel

They can hear where they're at. Raptors can. Some raptors certainly owls. And so then they're just able to like pinpoint that location and grab them with their talons and pull them on out.

Eric

Interesting. I don't picture owls as really having great hearing.

Rachel

Oh, they have supreme hearing. So the owls actually have a head shape that's like a satellite dish. And so it focuses and can kind of triangulate sound. And so they can pick up really intensely. And that's why they're such good nighttime predators. They'd be hearing things.

Eric

Guess so.

Rachel

So these least shrews will spend much of their winter moving through this hidden world under the snow. And they use those existing tunnels. Or sometimes they'll create these little small runways through vegetation, or take advantages of space left behind by other animals. And sometimes they will not only use those for transportation. So to get from place to place, but also as storage so they can collect food and kind of storm these little snowy coves for later consumption. If they're able to find, you know, a stash of good food somewhere under that snow, they'll also continue to hunt. They'll hunt insects, spiders or other invertebrates that also seek shelter in this subnivean zone.

Eric

Subnivean! I just wanted to say subnivean for everything.

Rachel

It's a good word, subnivean.

Eric

When I go to bed at night, I cover up with my blankets and I create a small subnivean zone above the surface of my bed, but below the blankets.

Rachel

Do you also have a snack snack stash?

Eric

I don't like to eat in bed.

Rachel

No crumbs for no crumbs. Oh, I hate that feeling.

Eric

Yeah, I don't want any crumbs or anything like that in my bed. That would kind of gross me out.

Rachel

Yeah, it gross me out too. Until I became pregnant. And now eating snacks in bed is like the best...

Eric

The best for you?

Rachel

The best activity ever.

Eric

I mean, it's not that I haven't eaten snacks in bed before, it's just I have to be very selective. Like popcorn is very self-contained. You don't really get crumbs unless you're some sort of maniac when you tear into a bowl of popcorn.

Rachel

Yeah, you and I are not eating popcorn the same way.

Eric

No? Do you just like...

Rachel

Half of it ends up on the floor.

Eric

Are you one of those people that just you take out, like, a huge handful and you're just, like, shoveling it into your mouth?

Rachel

Do you only do one piece at a time?

Eric

No. Usually like 2 or 3. All right. What's your favorite kind of popcorn?

Rachel

I'm an old school girly. I like just the kernels that you pop on the top of your stove with olive oil, and then you make your own seasonings. And I like salt, pepper and paprika.

Eric

Nice. I like the tender white. It's got like, just enough buttery goodness to be good. But I've never been a fan of movie theater buttered popcorn. It's just too heavy.

Rachel

Yeah, I would agree it does for the vast quantities of popcorn that I love to eat. It has to be a little bit on the lighter butter side. Otherwise it's just a stomachache. Well, here in Michigan Least shrews are considered rare. We do not have a huge population of them, and many of the records that we do have are quite historical. Habitat loss and changes to grassland management have really contributed to the decline of Least shrews because they depend on open habitats with good ground cover, things like grassland restoration or really careful land management can make a difference for these species. And these little critters are a great example of why winter habitat matters. Snow cover itself can be critical for these small mammals because they need protection from cold temperatures and cold winter conditions, and that insulating barrier of the subnivean zone keeps these shrews safe during the cold winter months. So if you're outside this winter and everything seems, you know, very still and calm as winter 

Speaker

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Rachel

Now is your opportunity to win a WildTalk Podcast mug, as a thank you to our listeners will be giving away a mug or two every episode. Our December mug winners are Jerry Paige and Lori York. They answered the question; What Michigan mammal can rotate their hind feet 180 degrees to help them climb down trees headfirst? For that answer, you just needed to provide one of 11 species we have here in Michigan. Those species include fisher, martin, or any one of our 9 squirrel species. This adaptation is allowed by an extremely flexible ankle joint that all of those species have, where they can rotate their hind paws almost 180 degrees, and that lets them climb down trees headfirst, which is a great advantage when you are hunting or finding food in trees or escaping predators.

Rachel

To be entered into the drawing this month, test your wildlife knowledge and answer our wildlife quiz question. This month's question is; Some freshwater turtle species can breathe through their butts. This allows them to absorb oxygen underwater during winter hibernation beneath the ice. What is this physiological process called? Email your name and the answer to us at DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov to be entered for a chance to win a mug, make sure to include the subject line as 'Mug Me' and submit your answers by January 15th. We'll announce winners and the answers on next month's podcast, so be sure to listen and see if you've won and for the next quiz question. Good luck everyone!

Speaker

Michigan Conservation officers are working hard to protect and keep the outdoors safe for current and future generations. If you witness a natural resources violation, you can call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-292-7800, or fill out the complaint form available at Michigan.gov/RAP. If you would like more information and becoming a Conservation Officer, click on 'Become a CO' at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

Rachel

Well, thanks for joining us for another year of the WildTalk podcast. Remember, if you have questions about wildlife or hunting, you can call (517) 284-9453 or email us at DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov. We'll see you back here in February.

Speaker

This has been the WildTalk Podcast, your monthly podcast airing the first of each month and offering insights into the world of wildlife across the state of Michigan. You can reach the Wildlife Division at (517) 284-9453 or DNR-Wildlife@michigan.gov.