SWAMP BEAR – PART 1
In the eerie backwater bayous of southern Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin, Marty
Stouffer poles a traditional pirogue to track the South’s largest animal, a
honey-loving legend. Clues lead to a Bobcat, Alligator, Snapping Turtle, and
other animals which share this mysterious realm with an elusive phantom — the
Black Bear. Though large, it is now rare in these hardwood bottomlands.
SWAMP BEAR – PART 2
Continuing to search the wild heart of bayou country, Marty finds and follows
more clues, meeting creatures both friendly and deadly, before locating the
Bear’s feeding ground: a pool of Catfish, a surprisingly tricky meal. When an
aggressive Alligator moves in during the night, the two legends compete and
clash to reveal which will be king of the Catfish pool and the swamp.
BEAUTIFUL BLUES
From Bluebells to Bluebirds to Blue Whales — Nature abounds in examples of this
primary hue. And in this wildlife programming departure, we take a lyrical look
at the color blue in both the Plant and Animal Kingdoms, explaining some of the
reasons why it exists. Some explanations are simple — others quite complex.
Beautiful and bold, this is a wild “Rhapsody in Blue”.
TIMBERDOODLES OF MOOSEHORN
“Timberdoodle, Bogsucker, Twister” — the Woodcock and its nicknames are equally
unusual. It flies as slowly as 5 mph, or becomes a blur of speed as it spirals
hundreds of feet into the air in a spectacular springtime courtship display. Its
life story, from downy young to fall migration, is filmed at Moosehorn Wildlife
Refuge in Maine. Moles and Moose also play a part in the story.
MINNESOTA MINK
It’s most widely known as a status symbol when its skin is fashioned into luxury
garments. But there’s much more to a Mink than a fur coat. It’s a fascinating
member of the Weasel Family — as graceful in water as an Otter, as feisty on
land as a Wolverine, and as pungent under stress as a Skunk. We follow a mother
Mink as she hunts, mates and rears a family near lovely Lake Superior.
SEASON OF THE SEALS
The Pacific Coast’s various species of Seals and Sea Lions spend most of their
lives roaming the ocean, coming ashore only to give birth and to breed. To best
utilize their time gathered on land, both events occur together. January to July
is the season when enormous Elephant Seals clash in battle, graceful California
Sea Lions frolic, and baby Harbor Seals learn to dare the waves.
WILD TURKEY – PART 1
By viewer request, we look at a Bird whose story is woven into our culture. Yet
this creature, the Pilgrim’s choice for the first Thanksgiving meal, soon became
a rarity. Our largest gamebird, with its flamboyant courtship, is a strong flier
that prefers to run. We meet the shy Gobblers of our eastern woodlands and their
lanky western kin — forebearers of all domestically raised stock.
WILD TURKEY – PART 2
Our traditional symbol of Nature’s abundance was once feared to be gone as a
gamebird due to overhunting by humans and a loss of their habitat. But today,
the Wild Turkey is one of game management’s greatest success stories. The many
who worked so hard for this comeback were perhaps too successful, for some
states now worry about having an over-abundance of these birds.
SNAKEDANCE
While investigating life in an Oklahoma cave, Marty Stouffer discovers a pair of
male Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes engaged in an extraordinary “combat
dance”. Sinuous bodies swaying upright, the intertwined serpents clench and
strain as they try to wrestle each other to the ground. All stages of this
hypnotizing Reptilian phenomenon are seen for the first time.
MANAGING WILDLIFE
Managing wildlife most often means managing humans — the primary predator in
virtually all our ecosystems. Through this complex, but vital, process, we
constantly try to balance our own conflicting interests with those of our native
wild creatures. This thought-provoking program examines some of the most
innovative and controversial plans currently operating across the country.
