Welcome to The Wild Life
WONDER + WILDNESS
Chase curiosity on an awe-inspiring adventure that unravels the wonders and interconnectedness of life, the universe, and the natural world. The Wild Life is a place for discovery, a place for questions, and a place where captivating stories of creatures and passionate experts unite to celebrate our planet’s diversity and inspire action.
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The Forest Tent Caterpillar
Species: Malacosoma disstria Chrissy Bowker of Texas asks, “What’s this animal?” The caterpillar in the picture above is none other than the Forest Tent Caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria. They are commonplace in the eastern regions of US and Canada. Down in Texas, populations are sure to be booming this spring due to the warmer than average… Read more
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Eco-Break S1E2: The History of Life on Earth, Part 1
14 billion years ago, the universe as we know it didn’t exist. It was smaller than an atom and more hot and dense than anything we could imagine and then…BANG! The Big Bang, in less than a second, the most fantastic mess of all time was made, expanding outward to create the wonders of the… Read more
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The Northern Cardinal
Species: Cardinalis cardinalis Order: Passeriformes Chrissy Bowker of Texas asks, “What’s this animal?” The bird in the picture above is none other than a young Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. This one in particular is very young, presumably a recent fledgling from the nest. Hatchlings leave the… Read more
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The Spotted Apatelodes
That’s the Spotted Apatelodes, Apatelodes torrefacta, a beautiful moth of the Bombycidae (Silkworm Moths) family which is commonly mistaken for the somewhat similar looking Sphinx Moth. Read more
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How To: “Life-Size” Eagle Nest Display
Sometimes understanding something is as simple as putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, or in this case, nest. I spent a summer working as a Park Ranger for Gull Lake Recreation Area in Brainerd, Minnesota for the US Army Corps of Engineers. While there, I did weekly interpretive programs as any park ranger does, but… Read more
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The Ultimate Minnesota Waterfall Roadtrip
Minnesota’s glacially carved landscape is marked with countless remarkable natural features, including some of the best waterfalls in the country. No matter the season, it is worth the trip. You can do this road trip in two ways: 1) Start south of Minneapolis at Vermillion Falls in Hastings, or 2) Start at Wolf Creek Falls… Read more
ABOUT ME
AND THE SHOW
My name is Devon Bowker. I’m a naturalist, high school science teacher, father, podcaster, writer, and geek of all trades. This is my passion project.
The Wild Life blog + podcast is my place of exploration, and I hope it can be for you, too. I started this in 2017 and, for years, I’ve had a hard time landing. It’s only recently I decided it’s okay to fly. To create, to seek, to adventure, to find yourself immersed in wonder and oneness with the natural world–that’s what I hope to do with this blog and podcast. Anything and everything from answering small questions to diving deep into the science. The Wild Life blog + podcast follows the threads that connect us all, no matter how thin or how small. I appreciate you being here.
Devon and The Wild Life in the Media
Today: High school teacher goes viral for his spot-on impression of Keurig coffee maker
KNSI: Teacher of the Year Candidates Released
Men’s Health: Your Monthly Guide to Making 2024 the Healthiest Year Ever
KVSC: THE UNTOLD STORY OF DISTANCE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 WITH ISD742’S DEVON BOWKER, SCIENCE TEACHER, NATURALIST, AND BLOGGER
SCSU: Biology teacher with viral videos looks to inspire critical thinking in his students
What Listeners Are Saying
The Nagging Naturalist.
This is a wonderful podcast that really helps combine a passion for the natural world with storytelling and the human experience. A big part of conservation is about connecting people with the natural world and inspiring them to care about it, and the hosts have done a great job of doing that.
Juleen Moreno
I really like this podcast I love nature the host convo was very natural and entertaining. Keep up the good work
Vikram Baliga
I’ve really enjoyed getting into The Wild Life. The hosts bring an earnestness and kindness to the show that is incredibly endearing. It’s funny and informative and a great learning experience for the whole family.
Let’s chat
Questions, comments or requests?
Feel free to reach out, I’d love to hear from you!