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Season Watch

From the window, watch 'em all

By Charlie Mitchell,
Jennifer Barr
Published January 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM CST
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A lynx looks upward while licking its chops. Its eyes are green and it is very fluffy and cute.
Contributed
/
Marshall Helmberger via The Timberjay
A lynx licks its chops in Marshall Helmberger's backyard in northern St. Louis County on Jan. 8, 2026.

In this episode, co-hosts Charlie Mitchell and Jennifer Barr discuss the joys of being outdoors - or just seeing charismatic critters through a window.

Send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

There were no missing lynx in Marshall Helmberger's life last week, thanks to a roadkill deer he put in his backyard. This week's Season Watch co-hosts Jennifer Barr (host and producer, cat enthusiast) and Charlie Mitchell (phenology coordinator, aspiring wildcat watcher) marvel at all the majestic critters prowling (or flying) around Minnesota backyards.

Visit The Timberjay's article about the lynx (and check out the photos) here!

Attributions

  • Northern Cardinal recording by Jonathon Jongsma, XC125284. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/125284.
  • Red Fox recording by Paul Driver, XC1070195. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1070195.
  • John Latimer's phenology report, the Caledonia High School phenology report, and Marshall Helmberger's interview originally aired on KAXE/KBXE.

Love the podcast? Think Charlie should abandon their post in southern MN to head north? Let us know! Email us at seasonwatch@kaxe.org.

You can also send us a voice memo through Speak Pipe!

Tags
Season Watch KAXENorthern MinnesotaPhenologywinter phenology
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Charlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell (she/they) joined KAXE in February of 2022. Charlie creates the Season Watch Newsletter, produces the Phenology Talkbacks show, coordinates the Phenology in the Classroom program, and writes nature-related stories for KAXE's website. Essentailly, Charlie is John Latimer's faithful sidekick and makes sure all of KAXE's nature/phenology programs find a second life online and in podcast form.<br/><br/><br/>With a background in ecology and evolutionary biology, Charlie enjoys learning a little bit about everything, whether it's plants, mushrooms, or the star-nosed mole. (Fun fact: Moles store fat in their tails, so they don't outgrow their tunnels every time conditions are good.)
See stories by Charlie Mitchell
Jennifer Barr
Jennifer has worked at Northern Community Radio since 2006 and spent 17 years as Membership Manager. She shifted to a host/producer position in 2023. She hosts the Monday Morning Show and is the local host of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" a few days a week. She also writes public services announcements and creates web stories.
See stories by Jennifer Barr
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