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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt visits with Dr. Dana Morin and Dr. Jacob Dykes from Mississippi State University. Dana leads the Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab, where her research focuses on black bears, coyotes, and bobcats, while Jacob brings expertise from the MSU Deer Lab and extension work with landowners.
The discussion covers:
• The history and purpose of the Carnivore & Population Ecology Lab at MSU
• Black bear recovery in Mississippi and across North America
• How habitat loss influences predator–prey dynamics
• Coyotes, bobcats, and the role of predators in deer and turkey populations
• Why “predators are often scapegoated” and the importance of habitat diversity
• Genetics and population modeling used to study bears and other carnivores
• How collaboration between MSU’s labs benefits landowners, hunters, and conservation
Mississippi Outdoors