Brown Water Banter
Brown Water Banter
Brown Water Banter
#362 — Inside Grand Bay: Mississippi's Hidden Coastal Reserve
50 minutes Posted Jul 23, 2026 at 1:30 pm.
Intro and sponsors03:25 What a NERR is07:00 Trails, hours, and the dorms09:58 Marsh turtles, caterpillars, osprey18:10 Terrapin threats and tagging27:04 Protecting a turtle nest29:52 Turtles in the road, and brumation33:58 Turtle harvest and rescues42:17 Pine savanna work and events
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Show notes
Grand Bay NERR is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, it sits right on the Mississippi-Alabama line, and most people on this coast have never set foot on it. 🐢
Biologist Andrew Heaton and stewardship assistant Ashley Bosarge from the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve came into the studio to walk us through what's out there — and what you can do on it.
🥾 Nature trails open every day during daylight hours, free🐢 Tagging diamondback terrapins with acoustic receivers borrowed from MSU🐛 Live caterpillar displays in the interpretive center🔥 Prescribed fire and pine savanna restoration as the day-to-day work🚤 A public boat ramp, a fishing pier, and dorms you can book cheap
Plus the answer to something every one of us has faced on a back road: what to actually do when you find a turtle crossing in front of you.
CHAPTERS
Grand Bay NERR is a NOAA partnership funded 70% federally and 30% through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. It overlaps the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is named for the watershed, not the Alabama city. Trails are open daily during daylight hours; the interpretive center is open 9 to 3 daily except holidays. Off Highway 90, down Franklin Creek Road to Bayou Heron Road in Jackson County.
Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Ensured Roofing Company for the support!
🎵 From the dock to the deck — the fish rap nobody asked for but everybody needs. Listen to “Here Fishy Fishy”
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