Brown Water Banter

Grand Bay NERR is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, it sits right on the Mississippi-Alabama line, and most people on this coast have never set foot on it. 🐢
Biologist Andrew Heaton and stewardship assistant Ashley Bosarge from the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve came into the studio to walk us through what's out there — and what you can do on it.
🥾 Nature trails open every day during daylight hours, free🐢 Tagging diamondback terrapins with acoustic receivers borrowed from MSU🐛 Live caterpillar displays in the interpretive center🔥 Prescribed fire and pine savanna restoration as the day-to-day work🚤 A public boat ramp, a fishing pier, and dorms you can book cheap
Plus the answer to something every one of us has faced on a back road: what to actually do when you find a turtle crossing in front of you.
CHAPTERS00:00 Intro and sponsors03:25 What a NERR is07:00 Trails, hours, and the dorms09:58 Marsh turtles, caterpillars, osprey18:10 Terrapin threats and tagging27:04 Protecting a turtle nest29:52 Turtles in the road, and brumation33:58 Turtle harvest and rescues42:17 Pine savanna work and events
Grand Bay NERR is a NOAA partnership funded 70% federally and 30% through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. It overlaps the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is named for the watershed, not the Alabama city. Trails are open daily during daylight hours; the interpretive center is open 9 to 3 daily except holidays. Off Highway 90, down Franklin Creek Road to Bayou Heron Road in Jackson County.
Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Ensured Roofing Company for the support!
🎵 From the dock to the deck — the fish rap nobody asked for but everybody needs. Listen to “Here Fishy Fishy”
Want to be a part of the Pelican Gang?
Check out our merch Here.
Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here
All our links: Here
Subscribe to Brown Water Banter for more on Gulf Coast wildlife, conservation, fishing, hunting, and the people working to protect the outdoors.
#GrandBayNERR #DiamondbackTerrapin #MississippiGulfCoast #GulfCoastOutdoors #WildlifeConservation #BrownWaterBanter

Show Notes

Grand Bay NERR is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, it sits right on the Mississippi-Alabama line, and most people on this coast have never set foot on it. 🐢

Biologist Andrew Heaton and stewardship assistant Ashley Bosarge from the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve came into the studio to walk us through what's out there — and what you can do on it.

🥾 Nature trails open every day during daylight hours, free
🐢 Tagging diamondback terrapins with acoustic receivers borrowed from MSU
🐛 Live caterpillar displays in the interpretive center
🔥 Prescribed fire and pine savanna restoration as the day-to-day work
🚤 A public boat ramp, a fishing pier, and dorms you can book cheap

Plus the answer to something every one of us has faced on a back road: what to actually do when you find a turtle crossing in front of you.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro and sponsors
03:25 What a NERR is
07:00 Trails, hours, and the dorms
09:58 Marsh turtles, caterpillars, osprey
18:10 Terrapin threats and tagging
27:04 Protecting a turtle nest
29:52 Turtles in the road, and brumation
33:58 Turtle harvest and rescues
42:17 Pine savanna work and events

Grand Bay NERR is a NOAA partnership funded 70% federally and 30% through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. It overlaps the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is named for the watershed, not the Alabama city. Trails are open daily during daylight hours; the interpretive center is open 9 to 3 daily except holidays. Off Highway 90, down Franklin Creek Road to Bayou Heron Road in Jackson County.

Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Ensured Roofing Company for the support!

🎵 From the dock to the deck — the fish rap nobody asked for but everybody needs. Listen to “Here Fishy Fishy”

Want to be a part of the Pelican Gang?

Check out our merch Here.

Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here

All our links: Here

Subscribe to Brown Water Banter for more on Gulf Coast wildlife, conservation, fishing, hunting, and the people working to protect the outdoors.

#GrandBayNERR #DiamondbackTerrapin #MississippiGulfCoast #GulfCoastOutdoors #WildlifeConservation #BrownWaterBanter

What is Brown Water Banter?

Fishing, hunting, and life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Brown Water Banter is a long-form conversation with the charter captains, biologists, business owners, and local characters who actually work these waters — from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula, and everywhere between. Snapper season and DMR regs one week, the guy who built a music venue inside a church the next. No script, no polish, just people worth listening to. Hosted by Jared Seymour and Joey Cates. 360+ episodes since 2018.

Pull up a chair and pour one.