Name: Wild America
Uploaded: 1982-01-01T00:00:00.000Z
Description: This classic two-time Emmy winning PBS Series explores the variety of wildlife found throughout the United States.

This classic two-time Emmy winning PBS Series explores the variety of wildlife found throughout the United States.

North America hosts a striking and varied panorama of wild creatures found nowhere else on earth. Some of them have ancient claims to being original citizens, while others are recent imports.

All-American Animals

Delight in the joyful, yet brief, lives of these winged marvels.  Few of creatures thrill us more than the Butterfly.  We'll follow the Monarch's thousand-mile trek to its huge wintering colonies.

The Beauty of Butterflies

The many unique ways of looking at the world need different designs.  Come along as we look at how Nature has given each species its own unique way of looking at the world.

The Eyes have It

Wild animals have sibling rivalries These family conflicts can be fatal when it comes to the crucial concerns of food, territory, or affection.

Family Feud

Adaptable alpine animals endure mountain heights and hardships.  Alpine animals are truly the kings of survival.

Mountain Monarchs

The Seals and Sea Lions come ashore to battle and breed.  January to July is when enormous Elephant Seals clash in battle, California Sea Lions frolic, and baby Harbor Seals learn to dare the waves.

Season of the Seals

Nature has designed an amazingly wide array of fascinating feet.  Did you know that feet do much more than just move animals from place to place?

Some Feet have Noses

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.

Swamp Bear - Part 1

Marty studies many amazing creatures in the teeming swamp.  Continuing to search the wild heart of bayou country, Marty finds and follows more clues, meeting creatures both friendly and deadly.

Swamp Bear - Part 2

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.

A Tale about Tails

Whether it chisels, pecks or cracks, the bill always rules the roost.  Whether a Bird chisels, cracks, probes, snaps, or pecks around for a living, its bill plays a big part in what unique Ecological

The Bill makes the Bird

The fabulous feather gives Birds a powerful survival edge.  Birds are distinguished from other animals by their feathers. Few of Nature's creations surpass the feather's function, beauty and design. T

Birds of a Feather

Symbols of power and freedom, these are aristocrats of the air.  Symbols of noble power and unsurpassed freedom 'Falcons, Hawks and Eagles still arouse in us a centuries-old mystique. From the tiny Sh

Birds of Prey

The seasonal melodies and trills, colors and behaviors of Birds.  As spring unfolds, the sweet melodies of Birds provide a welcome break from the stillness of winter. The trills and eye-catching displ

Call to Courtship

Hummingbirds sparkle and dazzle in high-speed cinematography.  The fifteen species of Hummingbirds that nest north of Mexico are exquisitely beautiful in their multi-colored iridescence. All are uniqu

Feathered Jewels

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 

A Nest is Best

Remarkable and legendary are the night hunters on silent wings.  The Owl's incredible sight and hearing are second to none in the animal world, and its ability to fly with utter soundlessness is nothi

Owls: Lords of Darkness

Birds come in all shapes and sizes and share the power of flight.  America's Birds come in all shapes and sizes, and they range from homely to breathtaking. But they share one thing in common ' the aw

Wild Wings

Amusing events result when females lay eggs in each other's nests.  Two of the world's most beautiful ducks are North American natives. The Wood Duck, or 'Woody,' dabbles on plant life. The Hooded Mer

Woodies and Hoodies

Using their heads with extraordinary force helps their quest for food.  The ancients believed these Birds were gods that could bring forth rain by tapping their bills. Woodpeckers cannot perform mirac

Woodpeckers: Nature's Hammerheads

Explore the roles of our majestic Deer, Caribou, Moose and Elk.  The Deer Family is best known for its headgear  its beautifully shaped antlers. Their kingdom includes the lovely Whitetail, Mule and K

Antlered Kingdom

Wild Sheep are observed and we see their impressive mating clashes.  A band of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep is observed through the seasons. When springtime splashes the mountain meadows with color.

Bighorn!

The fastest animal living in America is the Pronghorn of our prairies.  What animal is the fastest in North America? What animal is best known inaccurately as an Antelope? What animal, less than a wee

Born to Run

In a vertical rocky realm, we see Mountain Goats challenge gravity.  Montana�s Glacier National Park, with its breathtaking scenic vistas and sheer cliffs, is the cloud-scraping home of the Rocky Moun

Cliffhangers

See why there is an ancient human fascination with horns and antlers.  Horns are permanent, while antlers are shed annually. The forked horns of the Pronghorn Antelope may prove to be the missing link

Headgear

Our southern forests reveal some truly odd characters, the wild swine.  Many thousands of these intelligent creatures roam the woods from Georgia to California. Some, bristling Boars with huge tusks, 

Hog Wild!

An age-old story of survival, set in the remote wilds of Alaska.  Ridiculed for its awkward appearance and homely face, this largest member of the Deer family is actually one of the most graceful. It 

Magnificent as a Moose

The abundance of the Whitetail is a game management success story.  The White-tailed Deer is our most familiar large Mammal  and our number one big-game animal. In states like Pennsylvania, its popula

Pennsylvania Whitetail

An elegant member of the Deer family in its Jackson Hole home.  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,

Valley of the Elk

These creepy flying mammals are among our most valuable creatures.  Long the misunderstood subject of myth and legend, Bats are hardly a favorite form of wildlife.  Yet they are among our most valuabl

Beneficial Bats

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 devour

The Incredible Shrew

This is a world-class beauty which will bravely battle a Rattlesnake.  In a confrontation with a Rattlesnake, this snake will win. Unharmed because it is immune to the venom, it swallows its victim wh

King of Snakes

Invertebrates are among the most varied, and oldest, living organisms.  Mollusks are among the oldest living organisms, their fossils dating back 600 million years. And to this day, wherever there�s w

A Multitude of Mollusks

Frogs are certainly the reigning royalty in their wet kingdom.  You may not be able to turn one into a prince, but Frogs are certainly royal in their ability to adapt to many types of habitat. Commonl

Prince of the Pond

Cold-blooded creatures, Snakes and kin thrive in almost every habitat.  Until 65 million years ago, giant Reptiles ruled the Earth. Dinosaurs have disappeared, but their multitude of descendants thriv

Remarkable Reptiles

Diamondback Rattlesnakes engage in an extraordinary combat dance.  While investigating life in an Oklahoma cave, Marty Stouffer discovers a pair of male Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes engaged in an 

Snakedance

Before the Dinosaurs appeared, these bony warriors were here.  They were here even before the Dinosaurs appeared, and they remain with us today  tough and adaptable, patient and persistent. Their uniq

The Truth about Turtles

These deadly little Carnivores are both intriguing and beneficial.  Among our least known, and yet most intriguing, Mammals are the Weasels. They are probably the most beneficial of our predators, and

Weasels: Sleek & Savage Part 1

These are the other aggressive members of the Weasel family.  The many members of the Weasel Family are known for their luxurious fur and for their often-aggressive dispositions. While the Sea and Riv

Weasels: Sleek & Savage Part 2

A lyrical look at the gentle color Blue in the Wild Kingdom.  From Bluebells to Bluebirds to Blue Whales  Nature abounds in examples of this primary hue. And in this wildlife programming departure, we

Beautiful Blues

We meet six species of Chipmunk, each living at a different altitude.  Yosemite, one of our most spectacular National Parks, is home to six species of Chipmunks. Each is found at a different altitude,

Chipmunks of Yosemite

Hannah and Luke Stouffer narrate a romp with cute baby Bears.  Marty and Diane Stouffer�s children, Hannah and Luke, narrate a charming romp. Grizzly, Polar, and Black Bear cubs learn how to fish and 

Cute as a Cub

Marty's family rescues an orphaned pair of rambunctious wild babies.  The slender, luxuriously-furred Fisher is misnamed  it does not catch fish. Cat-sized members of the Weasel family, Fishers are ra

Fishers in the Family Part 1

Marty teaches and then returns the growing Fishers back to the wild.  The growing Fishers need to learn how to survive on their own before they can be released into the forest. Marty takes them on reg

Fishers in the Family Part 2

The Stouffer family shares the great outdoors with daughter Hannah.  Family camping trips take on added interest now that Marty and Diane Stouffer�s daughter Hannah is old enough to keep up with them.

Growing up Wild

The magical combination of human children and baby animals.  In Spring, the wilderness is full of new baby animals. Unfortunately, some will lose track of their parents when exploring their new surrou

Kids and Critters

A heart-warming adventure begins when a man adopts a Bear cub.  Marty Stouffer is studying wildlife in a remote Colorado wilderness. One spring day, he comes across the tracks of a Grizzly Bear  thoug

The Man who loved Bears Part 1

Marty must teach Griz one last lesson to ensure a happy ending.  Over the summer, the adventurous cub encounters many other creatures, among them a hungry Cougar. As winter approaches, Marty digs a de

The Man who loved Bears Part 2

Growing up wild, where delight, discovery and fun are everywhere.  Childhood is the age of delight and discovery for wild animals. Lively baby Skunks, Flying Squirrels, Owls, Black Bears, Raccoons and

Wild Babies

Since ancient times, the Dove has been a lasting symbol 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 sug

Birds of Peace

The varied Prairie Grouse perform spectacular courtship rituals.  In springtime, in the mysterious hour before sunrise, feathered shadows gather on secluded display grounds, risking predation to perfo

Dancers of the Dawn

The shy and beautiful Quail are as resourceful as they are lovely.  With its shy habits, soft plumage, and alert dark eyes, it's no wonder the Bobwhite Quail of our southeastern states inspired this.

Pretty as a Quail

The Woodcock uses spectacular aerial displays for its courtship.  �Timberdoodle, Bogsucker, Twister�  the Woodcock and its nicknames are equally unusual. It flies as slowly as 5 mph, or becomes a blur

Timberdoodles of Moosehorn

Our four famous Flyways, home to millions of migrating Waterfowl.  Spring comes to our four flyways, heralding the arrival of millions of migrating Waterfowl. In marshlands from Canada to Mexico, Dive

Wings over the Marsh

The top game fish, a Perch family member, is loved by fishermen.  The aptly-named Largemouth Bass is the top game fish in America and, as a result, Big Business to fishermen. Marty Stouffer takes us o

Billion Dollar Bass

Yellowstone Lake has a vast underwater wilderness never seen by the two million annual visitors to this National Park. It is the realm of a creature that forms the cornerstone, the Cutthroat Trout.

Cutthroat: Yellowstone Lake Part 1

Dive into the underwater spawning ritual of Trout. Marty catches slippery Cutthroat to study them face-to-face, then dives into the turbulence to hand-feed a large school of Trout.

Cutthroat: Yellowstone River Part 2

Marty finds evidence of the big Bears presence and goes underwater to film the spawning ritual of the Cutthroat.

Cutthroat: Grizzly Creek Part 3

A Fish is a standard shape that we seldom think how ancient is this superbly successful design. Here we see huge, prehistoric Alligator Gar to the smallest the dazzlingly colorful Darters.

Fascinating Fishes

Wild creatures have evolved a variety of fascinating means for discouraging predators. Some of these methods of protection, such as the Porcupines quills, are built right into the animals anatomy

Designs for Defense

We meet a colony of Marmots and study their communal lifestyle. Amid the scenic springtime beauty of the wild Rockies

Marmot Mountain

From branch to branch leaps a lithe hunter. 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.

Meet the Marten

The beautiful and widespread Mink is both graceful and feisty.. But there is much more to a Mink than a fur coat. Its a fascinating member of the Weasel Family

Minnesota Mink

Sleek and graceful, these fresh water clowns find fun everywhere. Graceful, powerful, and above all playful is the endearing River Otter.

Otters of the Adirondacks

Haunting beauty and mystery characterize our southern swamps. They teem with an amazing and amusing a variety of creatures. Where land meets water is the richest nursery of life.

Swamp Critters

We all know domestic Cats. Yet we rarely see their wild cousins, the most elusive of all animals and the most deadly. This program explores the Jaguar, Mountain Lion, Lynx, Bobcat, and Margay.

Wild Cats

The domestic Dog has won affection granted no other animal. Today, we are fascinated by the social behavior of the Wild Dogs.

Wild Dogs

Spanish Conquistadors re-introduced the Horse to the Americas. A handful escaped and grew into vast. These Mestanos or Mustangs, inspired Native Americans to develop an elaborate horse culture

Year of the Mustang Pt 1

As our fascinating story of a band of Wild Mustangs continues, Raven, the Mustang stallion, and his son Diamond are released with what is left of their decimated band.

Year of the Mustang Pt 2

South Dakotas Badlands National Park looks as empty as the moon. But among its spires and castles are grasslands and lush gullies which provide for large grazing and small burrowing animals.

Badlands

Our most enduring trees are the Evergreens. These are truly trees for all seasons, symbols of the American wilderness.

Evergreen

This poetic look at America's forests leads us into the shadowed depths of woodlands from Louisiana's steamy cypress swamps to the moody rain forests of Washington's Olympic National Park.

In the Forest

Marty Stouffer leads us upward through the life zones of Washington's Olympic National Park, where we meet the wealth of wildlife.

Olympic Odyssey

Two hundred years ago, unbroken prairie stretched over 1000 miles of America's heartland. Deer and Antelope, but also Elk, Bison, Bears and Wolves, once roamed.

A Prairie Park?

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 beauty in the forested Virginia hillsides

Shenandoah Springtime

The Whitebark pine tree has wingless seeds that do not disperse in the wind. The Clarks Nutcracker, a Crow-sized bird removes the seeds from the cones and buries them in the ground.

Whitebark

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..

Wild Refuge

For viewers accustomed to seeing the Lone Star State as a land of livestock and oil wells, this look at little-known wild areas promises many surprises.

Wild Texas

Wyoming has more wildlife both in broad diversity of species and in sheer numbers than any other state south of the Canadian border. It is blessed with more resources than any state except Alaska.

Wild Wyoming

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.

Bobcat

Most predators and prey have evolved in unison. Intimately linked together are two birds the speedy Goshawk and the alert Ruffed Grouse.

The Grouse and the Goshawk

But this beast that hunts like a Weasel and howls like a Wolf is five-inch Grasshopper Mouse of our western deserts and plains. It feasts on Tarantulas, Scorpions, and even other Rodents.

Killer Mice

The Lynx is one of Nature's finest physical specimens. Its primary quarry is the Snowshoe Hare. Lynx and Snowshoe Hare are intricately linked in a ten-year cycle that rises and falls in unison.

North Woods Lynx

In a frigid landscape, a Polar Bear emerges from her maternity den with cubs. 
Over two or three years, will protect and patiently teach her cubs how to survive in their beautiful Arctic home.

Queen of the Ice

Up to a hundred huge Brown Bears line up along the McNeil River in Alaska. Each Bear stakes out and defends its fishing territory.

River of the Bears

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.

Time of the Grizzly

On the Arctic tundra, predator and prey alike are aided by the color of snow. Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl, stay white year round; others, like Ptarmigan and Snowshoe Hare, turn white for winter. .

White on White

Witness the wondrous birth of tiny twin Deer fawns, and see wide-eyed Wolf pups emerge from their den. Both the Deer and the Wolf are followed through their age of innocence into maturity.

The Wolf and the Whitetail

The Wolverine is a rarely glimpsed, and thus much misunderstood, scavenger with tremendous strength. Here we see the real Wolverine in the rugged land it shares with Wolf, Red Fox and Snowshoe Hare.

Wolverine Country

Americas Tree Squirrels swing through the woods leaping astonishing distances from branch to branch as they use their tails as signal flags, umbrellas and parachutes as they go about their lives.

Bushytails

The Coyote is called by many names, not always complimentary. Today, their numbers are stronger than ever, but this proof of their versatility only heightens the controversy.

Controversial Coyote

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..

Cottontails and Kin

The Fox is crafty as the fables portray? We wll meet these cunning hunters, the Arctic Fox, the Swift and Kit Foxes of our Southwest, the Gray Fox and the Red Fox.

Family of Foxes

From the Arctic Ground Squirrel of Alaska and the Golden-mantled of the Rockies to the Prairie Dog, our cameras shed light on why these critters allow us to enjoy Nature's most magnificent species.

Just Little Varmints

We constantly try to balance our own interests with those of our native wild creatures. This program examines some of the most innovative and controversial plans operating across the country.

Managing Wildlife

North America's most widespread Mammal is a tenacious Rodent Watching a Muskrat bite a Moose on the nose and fight with neighbors, we see why it's been likened to a grouchy old man.

Old Man Muskrat

The Raccoon, Ringtail and Coatimundi combine the features of other animals. Using their bushy tails for balance, and their paws as tools, they are Fox-like, Cat-like and Monkey-like all at once.

Ringtailed Rascals

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.

Wild Turkey Part 1

The Wild Turkey is one of game managements greatest success stories. The many who worked so hard for this comeback were too successful, some states worry about having an over-abundance of these birds.

Wild Turkey Part 2

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.

Wild America

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