BUSHYTAILS
America’s Tree Squirrels are always on the alert. They swing through the woods
with the greatest of ease, often leaping astonishing distances from branch to
branch. Much of their graceful agility is due to their long, bushy, balancing
tails. These tree-top acrobats use their tails as signal flags, umbrellas,
blankets, and parachutes, as they go about their industrious and amusing lives.
COTTONTAILS AND KIN
Of all wild animals, Rabbits are among the most familiar and best loved. With
their soft fur and appealing eyes, they represent the vulnerable side of Nature.
Though preyed upon, the Rabbit Family boasts surprising assets in the fight for
survival, and its members — from the Eastern Cottontail to the Swamp Rabbit —
are widespread, and as successful as any other American Mammal.
BIRDS OF PEACE
Since ancient times, the faithful, home-loving Dove has been a universal sign of
peace. The billing and cooing of a courting pair suggests true love. This
program examines the intimate lives of our six wild and three domestic species
of Pigeons and Doves: their displays, courtship, family life and migration — as
well as the irony that these graceful Birds are the most hunted on earth.
BIRDS OF PREY
Symbols of noble power and unsurpassed freedom —Falcons, Hawks and Eagles still
arouse in us a centuries-old mystique. From the tiny Shrike to the majestic
Eagle, they come in all sizes, populate every habitat and are each specifically
designed for the prey they hunt. Some of the most impressive animals on earth
are these expert, legendary hunters — aristocrats of the air.
WEASELS: SLEEK & SAVAGE – PART 1
Among our least known, and yet most intriguing, Mammals are the Weasels. They
are probably the most beneficial of our predators, and they are definitely the
quickest — their movements being almost too fast to follow. Audacity is the most
appropriate word for these deadly little carnivores. A three-inch-high Weasel
will actually attack a man who attempts to block it from its captured prey!
WEASELS: SLEEK & SAVAGE – PART 2
The many members of the Weasel Family are known
for their luxurious fur and for their often-aggressive dispositions. While the
Sea and River Otters are highly playful, the Wolverine, Badger and Mink are
fierce hunters which rarely back down and run. This unique family also includes
smelly Skunks, arboreal Marten and Fisher, and rare Black-footed Ferret.
OLYMPIC ODYSSEY
From fern-filled rain forests to towering, glaciered peaks, the lush beauty of
our Pacific Northwest has many levels. Starting on a wave-beaten shore, Marty
Stouffer leads us upward through the life zones of Washington’s Olympic National
Park, where we meet the wealth of wildlife. Roosevelt Elk, Black-tailed Deer and
Mountain Beaver enrich this unique wilderness sanctuary.
BADLANDS
With ravaged rocks and grotesque patterns of erosion, South Dakota’s Badlands
National Park looks as empty and desolate as the back side of the moon. But
interspersed among its spires and castles are rich grasslands and lush gullies
which provide for sizeable populations of large grazing and small burrowing
animals. Birdlife is abundant and Mammals range from Bison to Badger.
SHENANDOAH SPRINGTIME
One of America’s loveliest National Parks is at its most spectacular when
Dogwood and Rhododendron burst into bloom. We witness this special season of
change and beauty, and learn Nature’s secrets of precise timing, as the forested
Virginia hillsides unfold. From flowering forest floor to greening treetop, we
see a complex interaction of a myriad of living things.
ATTRACTING WILDLIFE
If you can’t go to see all the wildlife you’d like, then maybe you can attract
more of it to your own backyard or window sill. It’s easier than you think.
Creating habitat for wildlife also enhances the beauty and value of your entire
neighborhood. This program outlines easy steps to provide food and shelter for a
variety of Birds, Mammals and other fascinating creatures.
