The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 710: MeatEater Radio Live! Noodle the Morel Dog and Kayak Bassing
May 30, 2025
Steve Rinella, host and outdoor enthusiast, joins a lively discussion featuring Ellen and her mushroom-hunting dog, Noodle. They dive into the art of mushroom foraging and share humorous anecdotes. The crew spices things up with a game of Meat Poll, testing knowledge of outdoor trivia. Fishing takes center stage as they engage in a one-minute kayak fishing challenge for conservation funds. Wrapping up with parenting tips, they tackle the joys and challenges of outdoor adventures with kids, all sprinkled with humor and nostalgia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Proper Morel Harvesting
- You can pull morel mushrooms out without harming future growth because the mycelium remains underground.
- Leaving stumps also indicates others have harvested there, sharing foraging information.
Mushroom-Hunting Dog Training
- Ellen trained her dog Noodle to find morel mushrooms using fetch as a reward in about 15 minutes.
- Noodle also learned to find other mushroom varieties and alerts by crouching and tapping with her nose.
Pronghorn Habitat Challenges
- Pronghorn populations decline due to harsh winters made worse by habitat barriers and degradation.
- Losing over a million acres of sagebrush yearly severely impacts their nutrition and survival.