Quaking Bogs & Old Forests: Extraordinary Ecosystems with Nathan Herbert

Dive into the wild heart of northeast Indiana in this episode of The Lake Doctor Podcast, where we sit down with Nathan Herbert—a lifelong herpetology enthusiast turned Northeast Indiana Conservation Lands Manager for The Nature Conservancy. Nathan takes us on a captivating journey from his childhood days flipping rocks for snakes in Pennsylvania to his current role stewarding remarkable natural treasures.This episode explores The Nature Conservancy's properties in Kosciusko County, including Oppenheim Woods—a 62-acre mixed hardwood forest with trees over 200 years old—and a hidden bog not open to the public due to its fragility and rarity. Nathan highlights restoration efforts, invasive species management, and the unique biodiversity of bogs and fens, including carnivorous plants, rare turtles, and rediscovered species like arrow grass. With tales of massasauga rattlesnakes, quaking bogs, and community weed-wrangling events, this episode sparks awe for Indiana’s wild places and shows how everyone can play a role in helping to preserve them.Learn more about the Lilly Center's work at https://lakes.grace.edu/.Have a question we could answer on the podcast? Send an email to [email protected] or submit a comment below.Help us improve the podcast by filling out this short survey: https://forms.gle/MzGSXHcnkEQC8T74A.