National Parks Traveler Episode 40: Counting Cacti, An Off-Season Visit To Cumberland Island

By Kurt Repanshek - November 17th, 2019 7:00am

How is the health of saguaros at Saguaro National Park? While there's concern that one day Joshua trees might no longer grow in Joshua Tree National Park, or that Glacier National Park might lose its rivers of ice, what about Saguaro National Park and its iconic cacti? Kurt Repanshek travels to Saguaro National Park to discuss the decadal survey of saguaros with park biologist Don Swann. Erika Zambello heads to coastal Georgia for an off-season visit to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

:12 Show introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:18 Introduction to Saguaro Census discussion with Saguaro National Park biologist Don Swann
2:46 Interview with Don Swann
12:38 National Parks Traveler promotion
12:54 North Cascades Institute promotion
13:15 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
13:45 Friends of Acadia promotion
14:18 Interview with Don Swann continues
35:37 Yankee Freedom promotion
36:14 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
36:49 Washington's National Park Fund promotion
37:33 An off-season visit to Cumberland Island National Seashore
44:31 Show closing
44:54 Orange Tree Productions promotion

Saguaro National Park

Cumberland Island National Seashore

National Parks Traveler Podcast

By Kurt Repanshek - November 17th, 2019 7:00am

Comments

Permalink Submitted by Jackie on November 17, 2019 - 12:36pm.

I tuned into your podcast to do some research for an Environmental Creative Nonfiction writer‘s course I’m taking through Arizona State University. The interview was informative in the best ways! Thank you!

Permalink Submitted by Nancy Thompson on November 18, 2019 - 8:17am.

I think you should clarify that Cumberland island was not the home of THE Carnegies, but of Andrew's brother, Thomas' family. Also that horses are destructive, exotic animals, which have a very difficult time survinging on the island for our viewing pleasure.

Permalink Submitted by Jessica Howell-Edwards on November 18, 2019 - 10:32am.

I'm amazed you only had to hit the bathroom once at seven months pregnant! Kudos to you. However, I am dismayed that National Parks Traveler seems immune to the destructive nature of the feral horses on Cumberland Island, or its responsibility to educate the public in that regard. As romantic as the idea of 'wild horses' roaming the island can be - the truth is drastically different. The damage they have done to this particular ecosystem is tragic.

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