Marty Stouffer's Wild America

Wyoming has more wildlife -- both in broad diversity of species and also in sheer numbers -- than any other state south of the Canadian border. It is also blessed with more exploitable resources than any state except Alaska. Conflicts between the two are developing. Wyoming's untamed beauty is seen to be all the more precious in light of the controversy it raises.

Did you ever wonder why a predator's eyes are right in the front of its head, while its prey's eyes are on either side? How can an Insect have as many as 30,000 separate eyes? How do a Frog's eyes help it swallow? Why are some animals color-blind? Come along as we look at how Nature has given each species its own unique way of looking at the world.

Last but surely not least, tails are a vital and intriguing part of any creature's anatomy. Animal's tails come in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes. Used as hands, rudders and shovels, their form and function are as varied as the creatures to which they are linked. This exciting tale takes us behind the beast as we examine one hundred and one different kinds of tails.

Even those as bold as the Bobcat know it's not very bright to pick a fight with a Badger. The quarrelsome Badger remains ready to challenge any opponent, whether to defend itself or to steal a meal. Come meet the pugnacious Badger, and see how its enormous curved claws and array of sharp teeth help it to frighten away potential predators and also to excavate its elaborate den.

The aptly-named Largemouth Bass is the top game fish in America and, as a result, Big Business to fishermen. Marty Stouffer takes us on an exciting excursion into the bizarre world of Bass fishing. Along the way, we also examine the complete life history of this fascinating member of the Perch family. Ultimately, we also see its enormous economic importance.

The Whitebark pine tree has wingless seeds that do not disperse in the wind. How does this stout member of the Evergreen family reproduce? The Clark's Nutcracker, a Crow-sized bird that removes the seeds from the cones and buries them in the ground, allows the Whitebark pine to renew itself. It's an essential food source for many creatures from Red Squirrel to Grizzly Bear.

Like a well equipped soldier, the Armadillo of our southern states is always dressed for battle. Its lizard-like skin and bony-plated shell give it a perfect defense against predators. Named "little armored one" by Spanish Conquistadors, this surprisingly agile swimmer and powerful digger has proven itself a true pioneer in the fastest known migration of any animal.

One of the few creatures that can afford to turn its back on an enemy, the Porcupine has approximately 30,000 good reasons for doing so. Barbed quills on back and tail insure that it has few enemies in the first place, so this large Rodent confidently goes about its business at an extremely relaxed pace. As we see, however, it can be destructive and sometimes controversial.

They were here even before the Dinosaurs appeared, and they remain with us today -- tough and adaptable, patient and persistent. Their unique design includes an armored shelter that enables the Turtle to prosper in deserts, forests, swamps, rivers, and seas. This program highlights the casual lifestyles of several noteworthy North American species of Turtles.

A decade of North America's fascinating and varied creatures, spectacular locations, and imaginative filmmaking have combined to make "Wild America" one of the highest-rated programs on TV and a favorite for millions of viewers. Marty Stouffer proudly hosts a retrospect of "Wild America"s first ten years. He also presents a peek at the future of the Series.

A Bird does not need a house to make itself a happy home. They can be cup-shaped, or long and hollow, like gourds. They can be coarsely made of sticks and mud, or exquisitely woven of spider web and down. They can be found anywhere, deftly hidden or dangerously exposed. Even the eggs that fill them are not always egg-shaped. This program shows that Birds do not need a house to make a home.

Birds are distinguished from other animals by their feathers. Few of Nature's creations surpass the feather's function, beauty and design. These delicate, yet complex, structures insulate, waterproof, camouflage, and adorn. But the most notable function of feathers is flight. Join Marty Stouffer as we learn how feathers give Birds a powerful edge in the struggle to survive.

From branch to branch leaps a lithe hunter, alert in its pursuit of Squirrels, Birds and other prey. Its rich golden fur blends with the trunks of the Spruce trees in our northern forests; its bright eyes shine as it hunts and forages at night. We follow a young Marten from early spring into winter and see how this most solitary member of the Weasel family earns the right to survive.

A savage little beast eats constantly to support its high metabolism. Of the more than 4000 species of Mammals on earth, the tiny Shrew has earned a reputation for being the most voracious. It devours almost anything in its path, including creatures much larger than itself. Its heart is hardly malicious, but beats at a rate of 1000 times a minute. This reflects a metabolism which requires the Shrew to consume several times its body weight daily.

With their proud bearing and stately crown of antlers, Elk are admired by many as the most elegant member of the Deer family. Years ago, herds of them roamed freely across our land. Today, confined to western mountains, they depend increasingly on management by man. We investigate the controversial situation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, site of the National Elk Refuge.

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.

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.

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!

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.

If you walk through a forest anywhere in North America, you're likely to hear the scolding chatter of a tree Squirrel. These lively creatures are among our most popular and visible wild animals. We watch Squirrels, in city parks or in our backyards, collecting nuts and acorns to store for the Winter. But how much do we really know about their life in the wild? From the tiny Red Squirrel to the handsome husky Fox Squirrel, these tree-top acrobats come in a wide range of sizes and colors. Let's take a look at the unusual and often unseen behavior of these "BUSHYTAILS."

Our most common wild feline is a perfectly designed predator -- quick and clever enough to capture a tiny Meadow Mouse, yet formidable enough to bring down a full-grown Deer. Prey can become play, for this solitary hunter sometimes pesters its captured quarry to death. Easily confused with its cousin, the Lynx, the Bobcat flourishes in close proximity to humans.

The most widely distributed mammal in North America, is the Muskrat. This medium sized rodent lives anywhere it can find plant food and still water. A diligent worker, it's always swimming, digging, or eating. Beady eyed and all business, it can be quarrelsome. The Muskrat reminds me of a grouchy old man. But it's very well dressed. Its waterproof suit of dense, glistening fur makes it North America's most valuable fur bearer. Let's pay a visit to "OLD MAN MUSKRAT."

Mollusks are among the oldest living organisms, their fossils dating back 600 million years. And to this day, wherever there's water -- fresh or salty -- you'll find at least one of these fascinating Invertebrates. The second largest group in the Animal Kingdom, they come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and surroundings, from high-mountain Snail to deep-ocean Squid.

In French, the Fox is called "Reynard", meaning "unconquerable through his cleverness". Is this charming canid as crafty as the fables portray? Does it deserve its reputation as henhouse bandit? We'll find out as we meet these cunning hunters: the Arctic Fox, the Swift and Kit Foxes of our Southwest, the wide-ranging Gray Fox and the well-renowned Red Fox.

Montana's Glacier National Park, with its breathtaking scenic vistas and sheer cliffs, is the cloud-scraping home of the Rocky Mountain Goat. Here Marty Stouffer examines the whole life story of this unique snow-white animal. We watch breathlessly as we see how the growing young kids learn to challenge gravity in a vertical world of harsh seasons, rugged crags and sudden avalanches.

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.

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.

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.

This episode concentrates on the color blue in nature. It shows many plants and animals that are blue in color or has blue on them; everything from blue lobsters and crabs, to blue flowers, to blue birds, etc, etc. It demonstrates the uniqueness of these particular living things in the USA.

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.

If I were a wild animal, I'd be a River Otter. Now, some of you would probably be a Grizzly Bear, big and powerful. Or a Bald Eagle, beautiful and free. But as far as I'm concerned, a River Otter is the one animal that really knows how to live. This fun loving member of the weasel family finds a good time wherever it goes. It plays every chance it gets, it makes a game out of practically everything it does. It's a streamlined swimmer with a passion for downhill sliding, and it will climb up and slide down a river bank for hours on end. But the Otter has a serious side, too. It's a skilled hunter and a faithful parent. Both mother and father share in raising the young. So let's take a look at my favorite animal. We follow a family as their young grow up in these wild mountains of upstate New York, for this animal portrait "OTTERS OF THE ADIRONDACKS".

Two hundred years ago, unbroken prairie stretched over 1000 miles of America's heartland. Today, little remains of that vast expanse, where not only Deer and Antelope, but also Elk, Bison, Bears and Wolves, once roamed. Can we afford to protect a portion of our remaining National Grassland heritage, or must all of our birthright disappear under the plows of progress?

Each summer, as Salmon make their spawning run, a gathering of the largest carnivores in North America also takes place. Up to a hundred huge Brown Bears line up along the McNeil River in Alaska. Each Bear stakes out and defends its fishing territory. The cast of characters includes sows with playful cubs, battle-scarred boars, and juveniles, with comical fishing styles.

In a confrontation with a Rattlesnake, this snake will win. Unharmed because it is immune to the venom, it swallows its victim whole. This amazing serpent is the Kingsnake. Reigning monarch among Reptiles, it is a world-class beauty, with a medley of patterns and colors. We see combat, mating, egg-hatching and feeding behavior in several kinds of Kingsnakes.

The White-tailed Deer is our most familiar large Mammal -- and our number one big-game animal. In states like Pennsylvania, its popularity makes it one of the most controversial creatures. The abundance of Whitetail here proves that certain wildlife can thrive in man's world. In following this lovely Deer, we learn how it now epitomizes the history of game management.

Many species of Reptiles reside in the USA, their lives, their habitats, and what makes them remarkable are compared to other animals.

Through the night, a ravenous predator stalks its unwary prey. With a swift bite to the skull, it slays the victim, then throws back its head and howls. But this beast that hunts like a Weasel and howls like a Wolf is neither -- it's the five-inch Grasshopper Mouse of our western deserts and plains. It feasts on Tarantulas, Scorpions, and even other Rodents -- yet displays close family ties.

Dive into the underwater spawning ritual of Trout and related species. The crew's exploration takes them deeper into the northern wilderness along the magnificent Yellowstone River. At LeHardy Rapids, Marty catches slippery Cutthroat to study them face-to-face, then dives into the turbulence to hand-feed a large school of Trout with Salmonfly larvae. Back on the surface, we examine the reproductive cycle and all the other primary predators of the Salmonfly.

Wild animals have evolved a wide range of survival tactics. They must eat, and they must keep from being eaten. For predators, speed or stealth is essential, and it helps to have special equipment-sharp fangs or talons-to catch and hold prey. But nature is not all tooth and claw. Many animals have survived by being slow and steady-and by having some unique feature that protects them from enemies. Porcupines may not seem very fast or alert-but they don't need to be. For countless generations they have gone about their business secure in the instinctive knowledge that few creatures will threaten them - and those not for long. Many others have also developed strange-and remarkably successful strategies for dealing with predators. Such methods don't help the animal to gather food - but they do keep it from being fed upon. Let's take a closer look at these "DESIGNS FOR DEFENSE".

Elegant and graceful, the Lynx is one of Nature's finest physical specimens. Its primary quarry is the elusive Snowshoe Hare. It is seen that the numbers of predator and prey -- Lynx and Snowshoe Hare -- are intricately linked in a ten-year cycle that rises and falls in unison. This fascinating, unexplained phenomenon is only one of many mysteries in the Great North Woods.

The growing Fishers need to learn how to survive on their own before they can be released into the forest. Marty takes them on regular trips into the mountains that will some day be their home -- each time they go deeper into the wilderness. But the curious Fishers would rather explore and meet new wild friends -- like a Black Bear, Skunk and Mule Deer -- than continue their education.

From the first - and smallest - Refuge, created on Florida's 3-acre Pelican Island in 1902, to the 8,900,000 acres of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, our Refuge system is unmatched by any in the world. In areas from Maine to Arizona, millions of pristine acres have been set aside for native wildlife. We explore these Refuges, as well as many of the creatures that inhabit them.

I'm here in northwest Montana, not far from the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. These mountains are the home of a legendary creature, the Wolverine. It's been called a ravenous monster and a supernatural being. It's been nicknamed "skunk bear," because it smells like a skunk, looks like a bear, and has the short temper of both. The Eskimos called it "evil one," and the white fur trappers hated it. But, can one animal really be all that bad? We've never really had the chance to find out.

Why is it that animals with unusual markings seem to hold special significance for us? We're fascinated by the Jaguar's spots, the Skunk's stripes, and the Raccoon's mask and Ringtailed. Maybe it's because these characteristic markings enable us to identify them easier and they even add an extra dimension to their personalities. Most of us recognize a Raccoon when we see one. And because of its strange markings most of us think of it as fun-loving, or even mischievous. But what about the Raccoon's relatives the nosy Coatimundi which looks like a stretched out version of a raccoon, and the graceful little Ringtail it looks like a cross between a squirrel and a fox. These creatures are all closely related, and all of them are known for their distinctive markings. But the question is, are they all "RINGTAILED RASCALS"?

We all think of ourselves of as Americans, but what does that really mean? I'm part Norwegian, part Scotch Irish, and part Greek. But I was born here, and I would never want to live anywhere else, so I'm proud to call myself 'an American.' This land first belonged to the Indians, though, and to the wild creatures that roamed its forests, waters, and skies. The sight of a Bald Eagle gives many of us a feeling of pride in the strength and freedom of our country. But what makes a wild animal 'an American?' Some have ancient claims to being original citizens. Others though we think of them as belonging here are not natives, they're imports, just like most of us. I'd like to show you some of the fascinating creatures that I think of as "ALL AMERICAN ANIMALS".

Over the summer, the adventurous cub encounters many other creatures, among them a hungry Cougar. As winter approaches, Marty digs a den for Griz, and while she sleeps, he goes off to observe wildlife which does not hibernate. In April, Griz emerges from her den, and must learn one last lesson -- to fear humans, even Marty. This separates man and bear forever.

We all know domestic cats. We've seen them savagely attack a ball of yarn, contentedly purr on our laps, and instinctively sharpen their claws, probably on our best furniture. Yet, we rarely have the opportunity to see their secretive wild cousins, the most elusive of all animals - and the most deadly. It's hard to believe that the mountain lion is a not-too-distant relative of this tiny kitten. But these sharp claws are common characteristics of all felines-useful for catching and killing prey, retractable when the cat needs to move quickly. And these eyes-narrowed to a slit in daylight-can open wide in darkness, allowing the cats to be effective nocturnal hunters. In form and function, wild cats gracefully reach the peak of predatory evolution. But in order to fully understand the reasons for these sophisticate adaptations, we must look deeper into the hidden world of America's "WILD CATS".

Antlers are the peculiar property of the deer family. No other creature in the world has this special kind of structure on its head. Worn by the males, and females of some species, the most amazing thing about antlers is they fall off. They shed them in winter every year and grow new ones in time for the next autumn mating season. That's an amazing amount of growth! Mother Nature has graced few of her children with as stately a symbol of beauty and strength as this antlered crown. It's only one of their adaptations. Since they first crossed the Bering Sea land bridge to arrive in America from Asia three million years ago, the deer family has been adapting to a wide variety of habitats from Alaska all the way down to Florida. That's why there are so many kinds of them. The family of Deer, Elk, Moose and Caribou have only a few members which are endangered. Instead, we find our most commonly sighted and some of our most popular large animals within this "ANTLERED KINGDOM".

As the rising sun first brightens America's wildlife habitat, the morning sun moves across our continent. It will warm the wide range of the family of owls. There are 18 different species here in North America and they range in size from the tiny elf owl no bigger than a bluebird to the rare, great gray owl with a wingspread of five feet. The sun makes its way over the southern swamps of the barred owl, the central woodlands of the great horned owl, the western prairies of the burrowing owl, and finally sets beyond the northern tundra home of the snowy owl. The gathering dusk casts its magical spell, and life begins to stir in the deepening twilight. Gliding on hushed wings, and striking with lightning speed are the supreme hunters of the night, the "OWLS LORDS OF DARKNESS".

The strangest features of some creatures are the very elements which have allowed them to survive. Claymation of prehistoric species shows the ways in which odd shapes evolved into forms we know today. The Musk Ox's circle dance and the Armadillo's shell game are explained. Also seen are the one-in-a-million white Moose, and the confused courtship of a prairie Grouse hybrid.

Over millions of years, man has evolved into the dominant species on Earth. Throughout all this time, we've had a relationship with wild animals. We've hunted and killed them, tracked and studied them. We've feared and worshiped them, even named ourselves after them, hoping to take on some of their powers. Although we depend a great deal on modern technology, we continue to depend on our wildlife heritage. Wild animals still play important roles in our everyday lives. For recreation, we admire their freedom. For economics, we harvest their bounty. For science, we explore their mysteries. Each living thing shows us the success of the past and the promise of the future. We are all, in one way or another, "LIVING WITH WILDLIFE".

A band of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep is observed through the seasons. When springtime splashes the mountain meadows with color, a lamb is born and an old ram, the band's leader, dies. And so the cycle of life is completed. Portrayed are the mating battles of the huge rams, the seasonal migrations of the herd, and the never-ending search for food in the high mountains.

The Grizzly Bear is funny and ferocious, a quivering coward and a daring hero, easily tamed yet forever wild. This disappearing giant is one of the most contradictory and complex of all our animal ideas. In this program, the entire spectrum of our attitudes toward the Grizzly are examined as well as the animal itself. Rare footage reveals the birth of tiny cubs during the female's winter denning.

The domestic Dog has won affection granted no other animal. Surprisingly, "our best friend" closely resembles its wild cousins -- the Wolf, Coyote and Fox -- the most misunderstood and feared family of animals in North America. Today, we are fascinated by the social behavior of the Wild Dogs and are beginning to appreciate their roles as "Top Dogs" in various natural ecosystems.

Everyone has seen wildlife at one time or another... a squirrel darting up a tree... a deer bounding across the road. These chance sightings are always a pleasant surprise. The graceful beauty of wild animals makes us feel good, it lifts our spirits and leaves us wanting to see them more. Sometimes it even seems like they enjoy looking back at us. Over my years of watching wildlife, people have often asked me how I get close enough to film them. Well, luck has sometimes played a big part. Being in the right place at the right time - not just blind luck. A few simple steps will greatly improve your chances. You don't need a lot of fancy equipment. It's understanding the animals that's important. With this understanding and a little patience - you'll be ready to begin "WATCHING WILDLIFE."