Rudy Mancke

Host
  • Rudy Mancke
    Rudy Mancke
    SCETV

Naturalist Rudy Mancke served as naturalist and co-host of South Carolina ETV's NatureScene which began it's long run in 1978. His field trips, broadcast nationwide, have earned him a legion of dedicated viewers. Rudy's knowledge of the complex inner-workings of different ecosystems and his great admiration for the natural world make him the perfect guide. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation and the Garden Club of America honored his commitment to resource conservation with special awards. Since retiring from SCETV, Rudy has gone on to teach at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

Before coming to television, Rudy served as the natural history curator at the South Carolina State Museum for 10 years, and was a high school biology and geology teacher. He earned a degree at Wofford College, attended graduate school at the University of South Carolina, and received honorary doctorate degrees from the College of Charleston, Winthrop College, and Wofford College.

Rudy Mancke currently hosts NatureNotes on both SCETV and South Carolina Public Radio.

Contact Rudy Mancke

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Ring Necked Pheasant

By • May 29, 2020
A Ring Necked Pheasant
Becky Matsubura [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

This Eurasian bird has been widely introduced to this country as a game bird.

Mystery Feather

By • May 28, 2020
Red Tailed Hawk
Peter K Burian [CC BY 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Listener's in Georgetown find a feather from a Red Tailed Hawk.

Brown-Headed Cowbird

By • May 27, 2020
A Brown-Headed Cowbird
naturespicsonline.com [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This bird is widespread in South Carolina.

Black and White Tegu

By • May 26, 2020
A Black and White Tegu.
Patricia Carabelli [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons

This large lizard, native to Central and South Amercia, was found on the loose in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Brown Pelicans on Lake Murray?

By • May 25, 2020
A Brown Pelican.
Ingrid Taylor [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

Usually, these birds are found on the coast, so, it's unusual to find them in the Midlands.

Green Horse Fly

By • May 22, 2020
Green Horse Fly (Chlorotabanus crepuscularis) on Spotted Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) Orlando Wetlands Park, Orange County, FL, July 2013.
Mary Keim [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] via Flickr

This horse fly is active at dusk or dawn.

Legless Lizards

By • May 21, 2020
The Eastern Glass Lizard is a common legless lizard.
Bert Cash/Flickr

Legless Lizards, unlike snakes, have eyelids and ears.

Eastern King Snake

By • May 20, 2020
An Eastern King Snake
Paul [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

The chain-like pattern on this non-venomous snake can help identify it.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

By • May 19, 2020
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - Boynton Beach, FL
Michael Klotz [CC BY-NC 2.0] via Flickr

The range for these birds has only recently expanded into South Carolina.

Scorpions in South Carolina?

By • May 18, 2020
Vaejovis carolinianus - Southern Unstriped Scorpion.
Glen Peterson [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] via Flickr

The Southern Unstripped Scorpion lives mostly in the mountains and Piedmont. The stripped scorpion can occasionally be found on the lower Coastal Plain.

Mating Luna Moths

By • May 15, 2020
Luna Moths, mating
Judy Gallagher [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

A listener spots two of these large moths that are mating.

Gray Catbird

By • May 14, 2020
A Gray Catbird.
Matthew Petroff [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr

The Gray Catbird is in the same family as the Mockingbird.

Mystery Caterpillar

By • May 13, 2020
NatureNotes
SC Public Radio

A listener finds a caterpillar he cannot identify...

Painted Bunting

By • May 12, 2020
A female Painted Bunting.
Dan Pancamo [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.

The range of this species on South Carolina is expanding.

Trees in Flower

By • May 11, 2020
NatureNotes
SC Public Radio

There are lots of trees flowering in South Carolina right now...

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