USFWS/NCTC Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center

About USFWS/NCTC Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center

Welcome to “Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center.” We’re located along the Potomac River in historic Shepherdstown, WV and are home to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking with experts, authors and a variety of other guests to bring you the most up-to-date information, events, and happenings here at the National Conservation Training Center. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy. For transcripts of our podcasts, go to https://ow.ly/gxll50PwHLN

Publisher

NCTC Podcasts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Apr 2021

Latest episode

16 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

1 of 32 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   16 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Managing Deer Populations at NCTC.

   In this episode of Thoughts from Home, host Cecilia Melton sits down with Rob Chapman, Natural Resources Management Biologist at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), to discuss the annual deer hunt and its vital role in ecosystem management. Rob explains the ecological challenges posed by high deer populations in Jefferson County, West Virginia, and how controlled hunting helps maintain biodiversity and forest regeneration. Listeners will learn about the logistics of participating in the hunt, including orientation, regulations, and biological data collection. Rob also shares insights from his previous experience at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge and recounts some memorable stories from past hunts. Whether you're a conservation enthusiast or a curious listener, this episode offers a fascinating look into wildlife management and the balance between nature and human stewardship.

2. 

   29 Sept 2025

   Insights into the National Fish Hatchery System.

   The National Fish Hatchery System was created by Congress on June 10th, 1872 to increase fish production and thus support commercial fisheries and feed families. Its goals and priorities changed over time and the system is now a global leader in conservation aquaculture, raising millions of fish and aquatic wildlife every year to support recreational fishing, tribal subsistence fisheries, and the recovery and restoration of imperiled species. Besides National Hatcheries, the system includes Fish Technology and Fish Health Centers, and, to achieve their goals, the teams work closely with partners like State and Tribal organizations. In this episode Taylor Lipscomb, the National Hatchery Operations Coordinator, shares his passion for the National Fish Hatchery System.

3. 

   13 Jun 2025

   Insights into the US Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Program.

   Earlier this year selected employees from the US FWS Fire Program came to NCTC for a leadership training. We met Ryan Williams and had a conversation about the program, which specializes on prescribed fires and contributes to 50% of all DOI (Department of Interior) prescribed fire acres. These fires are essential to maintain healthy ecosystems, including ecosystems in urban areas. Firefighters and support staff also contribute to fire suppression during fire season. We discussed the program, career paths and the support of collateral duty personnel, as well as the apprenticeship program that leads to a rewarding career as a USFWS firefighter.

Inside a recent episode

Managing Deer Populations at NCTC.

Published 16 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] So a lot of the plants that grow on the forest floor, they could eat a lot of those. So your overall floristic diversity is typically going to decline when you have high deer abundance. Even in our meto systems, invasive species aside, deer will hit a lot of our native plants in our meadows as well. And anybody that has landscaping and high deer populated areas, kind of understand how deer can really mess with your landscape plants. All our neighbors around us have pretty flowers that are eating. Yeah, yeah. So hostas don't stand up very well to high deer abundance. So deer can cause all kinds of problems with landscaping and with the ecosystem management and biodiversity. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

12,316,839

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

81

Contact USFWS/NCTC Thoughts From Home: Your Conservation Podcast from the National Conservation Training Center

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.