David R. Johnson

North Woods Naturalist

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist. She lives in the Hovland area and keeps close tabs on daily changes happening in the great outdoors. She shares her insights with WTIP listeners every Tuesday during North Shore Morning.

Arts, cultural and history features on WTIP are made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

View Archive
March 12, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Signs of Spring

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

March 5, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Woodchucks

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder February 27, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Warm Winter & Plant Dormancy

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

A male pine grosbeak perched in a tree. February 13, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Birds Caching

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

February 6, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Unusual Winter Weather

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

January 23, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Brown fat

Have you ever wondered why the first 30 and 40-degree days in the fall feel so much colder than a day with the same temperature in March? In this edition of North Woods Naturalist, Chel Anderson explains how brown fat helps to keep us warm in the winter.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

January 16, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Winter birds

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

January 11, 2024
North Woods Naturalist: Snow at last!

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

December 26, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Boreal Chickadees

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder December 19, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Yo-yo weather & Chickadees

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder November 28, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Wind in Trees

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder November 14, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Tracks In Snow, Thermocline, Bark

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder November 7, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Autumn Beauty

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

October 31, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Autumn

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder October 10, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Fall Migration Records

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder September 26, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Infrasonic Waves & Migrating Birds

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

September 18, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Signs of Fall’s Approach

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

September 12, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Ghost Pipes

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder September 5, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Seasonal In-betweeness

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

August 29, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Crab spiders

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder August 22, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Composite flowers

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

August 8, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Painted turtles

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder August 1, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Abundant fruit

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

July 25, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Ferns

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder June 27, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Rain, bugs, and birds

It finally rained!

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder June 20, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Early Summer flowers & Spruce Bud Worm

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder June 13, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Pollen

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

June 6, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Service Berries to Mosquitoes

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

May 30, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Seed bank vs bud bank

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

May 23, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: How plant sap moves

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now. In this edition, Chel shares details of a recent Pelican sighting and explains the science of how sap moves and how that helps plants emerge above the ground in the spring–one of the primary sources of energy on the planet!

North Woods Naturalist is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder May 16, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Spring has arrived

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder May 2, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: White Feathers

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

April 25, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Weather whiplash

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder March 21, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Spring equinox

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

March 15, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Maples

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.  In this episode, Chel talks about spring sap production, the Chinook winds that occur this time of year along the North Shore, and more.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

February 28, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Grey Jays

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder February 21, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Springtails

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now. In this episode, Chel describes her recent encounters with Springtails, known also as snow fleas, on snow packs up the Gunflint Trail.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder February 7, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Daphnia & Algae Under The Ice

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now. In this episode, she takes us deep under the ice, and into the realm of daphnia and algae, two tiny life forms that contribute to the freshwater ecosystems of our inland lakes and streams.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder January 31, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Grouse

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder January 24, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Mild January

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder January 3, 2023
North Woods Naturalist: Blizzard

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder December 20, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Winter Storm

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder December 6, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Wind & snow

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

November 29, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Bobcats

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Photo via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters on Flickr / Creative Commons.

November 22, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Record snowfall & subnivean

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder November 15, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Magpies

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

November 8, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Feathers

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

November 1, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Fall and moon phases

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

October 11, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Letting go

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

October 4, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Snow geese

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

September 27, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Trumpeter swans

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

September 20, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Conifer seeds and dragonflies

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

September 13, 2022
North Woods Naturalist September 13

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder August 30, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Whirligig Beetles

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder August 23, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: August 23

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder August 16, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Water striders

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder July 25, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Mid-July

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder July 5, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Frog Ears

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

June 28, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Spittlebugs

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

June 21, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Dragonflies

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Photo by André Karwath via Creative Commons.

June 15, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Aspen Fluff and Black Flies

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

June 8, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Trees In Bloom & Signs Of Spring

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder May 20, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Major Spring Changes

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder May 10, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Flickers

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

May 2, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Spring observations

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

April 26, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: “Sp-inter”

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Placeholder March 29, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Aurora

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

March 21, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Early spring

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

March 8, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Late winter

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Photo by Eli Sagor via Flickr and Creative Commons (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)

February 22, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Foxes

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

February 2, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Ice colors

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

January 18, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Wintering

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

A male pine grosbeak perched in a tree. January 4, 2022
North Woods Naturalist: Birds catching food

Chel Anderson is a botanist and plant ecologist and she joins us periodically to report on what she’s seeing in our woods and waters right now.

In this edition, Chel describes how different birds find and cache food to survive the winter.

This project is supported in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS via Flickr.