The Backyard Naturalists

This week, Debbie and Laurie welcome Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation and Research, for a glowing conversation all about one of nature’s most magical creatures — the firefly! ✨🐞 Or, depe…

Ever heard of a shrew with venomous saliva, a vulture that cools off by pooping on its own legs, or a bird that impales its prey on barbed wire? 🦨🦅🐦 This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie, Lau…

Summer is STILL here, and if you’ve stepped outside lately, you’ve probably felt it too—sweltering heat, sticky air, and maybe even a few critters making themselves a little too comfortable in your b…

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome Allison Young, Director of Outreach Programs for iNaturalist, the global platform that’s changing the way people experience nature. Wh…

Welcome back, nature lovers! After a few weeks of summer break, The Backyard Naturalists are back with another brand-new episode, and this one’s all about embracing the spontaneity that summer inspir…

What do you get when you cross a fast-growing, hard-to-kill, concrete-cracking plant with curious naturalists and a microphone? You get this week’s brand-new episode of The Backyard Naturalists! Debb…

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we’re diving nose-first into the world of foxes with Elizabeth Negron, Director of Foxtales Wildlife Rehab in Midland, Virginia. Elizabeth shares her journey fr…

We’re reaching back to one of our most popular episodes for this week’s encore—and trust us, it’s a fan favorite for a reason! If squirrels have ever turned your bird feeders into their personal buff…

Have you ever wondered what’s really going on with the skunks in your backyard? 🦨 In this fascinating encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists, hosts Debbie and Laurie sit down once again with fan-…

It’s pollinator season in full swing, and what better way to celebrate than by rolling out the red carpet for butterflies? In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie share …

Summer is heating up across the Carolinas, and that means snakes are on the move — and stirring up plenty of conversation. In this episode, Debbie and Laurie bust myths and tackle misinformation abou…

It’s time to catch up with The Backyard Naturalists, your weekly dose of everything wild and wonderful in the natural world! This week, Debbie and Laurie are taking a look back—and a hopeful step for…

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie take a fun and fascinating leap into the world of frogs and toads—those small but mighty voices you hear rising from ponds, ditches, and…

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we’re welcoming a cold-blooded guest — and we mean that in the best way possible.

Reptile educator Jay Bell joins Debbie and Laurie in the studio, bringing alon…

In this vibrant episode, hosts Debbie and Laurie take us on-location to one of North Carolina’s most cherished local gems: the Matthews Farmers Market. With the sun just rising and vendors setting up…

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.

If you have ideas for topics that you'd like us to pursue, send us a message either on our Fac…

This week, things get personal (and a little playful!) as Debbie, Laurie, and Chris go round-robin style in a fun backyard-themed Q&A game! 🎙️🌿 They dish on their dream features (hello, pond and bat …

Want to welcome butterflies to your yard and help them thrive? This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie dig into the magical role of host plants—the essential “nurseries” for butterfl…

We’re going back to our roots—literally! In one of our most popular topics to date, The Backyard Naturalists are revisiting how YOU can turn your outdoor space into a Certified Wildlife Habitat throu…

What really happens to your recyclables after they leave the curb? This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we sit down with Jeff Smithberger, Director of Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste Management P…