Australia, animals down under by Paul ScottTake a journey to Australia and learn about some of the most well known animals found in this diverse country.
Call Number: DVD QL338.N38 2013 Discs 1 & 2
Publication Date: 2013
Clash: encounters of bears and wolves by Bob LandisThe grizzly bear and the wolf are the two dominant predators of Yellowstone Park, who contend with each other for control of the food supply.
Call Number: DVD QH546.3.C563 2010
Publication Date: 2010
Journey to Planet Earth: The State of the Planet's Wildlife by Marilyn WeinerAn investigation of what scientists call 'the sixth great extinction' of the world's animals. Ultimately, the program is about why we should care that nearly half the world's wildlife may face extinction over the next fifty years.
Call Number: DVD QH541.J68 EPISODE 9
Publication Date: 2009
Leave It to Beavers by Jari OsborneA growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and world-wide water shortages. Once valued for their fur or hunted as pests, these industrious rodents are seen in a new light through the eyes of beaver enthusiasts who reveal the ways in which the presence of beavers can transform and revive landscapes.
Call Number: DVD QL737.R632L43 2014
Publication Date: 2014
The Life of Mammals by David AttenboroughIntroduces viewers to the most diverse group of animals ever to live on this planet. From the smallest to the largest, from the slowest to the fastest, from the least attractive to the most irresistible. Looks at 4,000 species, including ones that have outlived the dinosaurs and conquered the farthest places on Earth. Examine how their adaptations for finding food have had an effect on the way they socialize, mate and live.
Call Number: DVD QL706.L54 2007 (4 discs)
Publication Date: 2007
Meet the Coywolf by Susan FlemingThe coywolf, a mixture of western coyote and eastern wolf, is a carnivore found increasingly on the streets of North American cities. Its appearance was very recent -- within the last 90 years -- in evolutionary terms, a blip in time. The story of how it came to be begins in Canada but by no means ends there.
Call Number: DVD QL737.C22M44 2014
Publication Date: 2014
Nature's Most Amazing Events by Karen BassEach season, as the ever-thinning Arctic ice recedes, polar bears face a daunting challenge; Grizzly bears in British Columbia must use ingenuity and fancy footwork to collect their catch; The annual rains of the Serengeti draw in the greatest concentration of large animals on Earth; Each year, billions of sardines flood South Africa's east coast creating an action-packed feeding frenzy; Thousands of animals make the long trek toward the life saving annual flood of Botswana's Okavango Delta; The annual plankton boom of Alaska's coastal waters attracts humpback whales and sea lions, who must avoid predatory killer whales.
Call Number: DVD QL751.N38 2009
Publication Date: 2009
The Private Life of Deer by Howard McGillinFrom kitchen windows, they are spotted, nibbling away at gardens and shrubs. Once they retreat from view, where do the white-tailed deer go? Scientists outfit deer with night vision cameras and GPS tracking equipment that reveal the hidden world of white-tailed deer in a whole new light, allowing to see them not as common backyard creatures, but as intelligent, affectionate family members.
Call Number: DVD QL737.U55N38 2013
Publication Date: 2013
Radioactive wolves by Klaus FeichtenbergerIn anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the historic nuclear accident at Chernobyl, filmmakers and scientists set out to document the lives and genetics of packs of wolves and other wildlife thriving in the 'dead zone' which still surrounds the remains of the reactor.
Call Number: DVD QP82.2.R3R33 2011
Publication Date: 2011
Seeking Refuge by Bruce ReichertExploration of six national refuges in Idaho : Deer Flat, Kootenai, Minidoka, Bear Lake, Grays Lake, and Camas.
Hosted by Bruce Reichert.
BatsBats have colonized remote corners of the planet to become one of most widespread mammals on Earth. Chris Packham explores their incredible anatomy, physiology, and senses to understand what enables them to thrive in some surprising places. Tiny hairs on their wings give them a detailed air-flow map during flight, heat sensors on the nose of vampire bats means they can sense the most blood-rich areas of a prey's body, and iron oxide particles in the bat brain may act as a compass allowing them to find the most direct route back to the roost. A BBC Production.
BearsBears can live in practically every habitat on Earth, from tropical jungles to the Arctic Ocean. Wherever they are found, they are capable of surviving extreme conditions and extracting the highest-quality food. Detailing the latest research, Chris Packham explores the specialized adaptations that have enabled bears to thrive, including how a polar bear's hollow fur allows it to feed throughout the gruelling Arctic winter, whilst a state of 'walking hibernation' sees it through the summer months. A BBC Production.
A Bear's Eye View of YellowstoneThis interactive feature from National Geographic invites visitors to explore Yellowstone National Park and imagine what it might be like to experience the park from the point of view of a bear. The team behind this project strapped tracking cameras to two grizzly bears and two black bears. What's at the center of these bear's lives? Without a doubt, food. As this feature highlights, these "opportunistic omnivores" travel from habitat to habitat in order to find nourishment. As visitors watch footage from these four bear cameras (accompanied by a map that charts each bear's travels), they will see bears forage for berries, interact with other bears (not always peacefully), and devour carcasses. This camera footage is accompanied by photographs, texts, and recorded commentary from biologists, providing context to this footage.
Big CatsChris Packham delves beneath the skin of the big cats to explore what makes them such good hunters, and he reveals that it is not all about brawn. New scientific research shows how subtle adaptations in their anatomy and physiology contribute to the success of all stages of a big cat hunt: the stalk, the capture, and the kill. Leg hairs help the leopard to stalk and intricate muscle fibres drive the snow leopard to capture its prey. For the jaguar, jaw muscles and whiskers combine to give it a precision bite that can take down a caiman, and an enlarged area of the lioness's brain gives it the edge over all their big cat cousins. A BBC Production.
Biodiversity Under Threat: The Sundarbans and the Bengal TigerConservationists have called the tiger “the guardian of biodiversity,” but degradation of tiger habitats has led residents of Bangladesh’s Sundarbans mangrove region to regard the animal more as dangerous predator than treasured endangered species. This program examines environmental threats to the Sundarbans and studies ways in which its human residents are learning to live with the tigers and even protect their habitats. The video also explains the functioning of this ecosystem—the largest of its kind in the world—and how a tiger conservation project, ecotourism, and government initiates are aiding in its preservation.
Chisellers: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsRodents like rats, mice and squirrels are the most numerous mammals on the planet. In this documentary, David Attenborough reveals how their chisel-sharp front teeth help them to make homes, live underground, store food, and breed prolifically. He looks at agouti, desert kangaroo rat, grey squirrel, and naked mole-rat food collection techniques; marmot hibernation; beaver dam construction; porcupine and ground squirrel defense strategies; mouse reproduction; Patagonian mara social behavior; and capybara water adaptation features. A BBC Production.
ElephantsChris Packham explores the anatomy and physiology of the largest land animal on the planet—the elephant. Their size seems ill-suited to surviving the most arid regions of Africa, but their inner workings allow them to defy the extreme heat of the desert and find food and water in seemingly barren landscapes, while their extraordinary memory enables them to repel predators. Chris reveals how hairs on the skin help keep elephants cool, how sensors in their feet may be able to guide them towards rain, and how a unique pouch in their mouths stores water. Recent research has even discovered that elephants can distinguish between the voices of human friend and foe. A BBC Production.
Food for Thought: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsIn this program, David Attenborough learns about our closest animal relatives, intelligent great apes, and how their large brains enabled one species to dominate the planet. David meets an orangutan with a passion for DIY and rowing boats in Borneo. In Africa, he takes part in a nut-cracking lesson with a group of chimps learning survival skills. Filmed for the first time, Ngogo chimps hunt monkeys to supplement their vegetarian diet. David meets an extraordinary group of wading chimps that give us a unique window into our past, the moment when we took a step towards humanity. David travels to the Tikal ruins to trace the rise and fall of the Maya people. A BBC Production.
FoxesAcross the planet carnivores are struggling to compete in a world with a rocketing human population, but one predator is bucking the trend—the fox. Its numbers are increasing and its geographical range expanding. Chris Packham explores the secrets to its success—its senses, its intelligence, and its flexibility. New research reveals how its slit pupils enable it to hunt in the bright desert day; how it may be using the Earth's magnetic field to determine the location of prey during a pounce; and how regular exposure to rotting food is improving the health of the red fox, enabling it to hold its own in an increasingly urban landscape. A BBC Production
Great ApesChris Packham explores the evolution of the great ape's brain to reveal how different parts have been adapted over time by its anatomy, ingenuity, and sociability, culminating in one of the most complex brains on the planet. Chris examines how the ability to use two hands asymmetrically sets the great ape apart from other tool-using animals and how social living is linked to the evolution of the amygdala in both humans and our ape cousins. New research reveals how bonobos' peace-loving reputation may have developed through a similar domestication process to that undergone by our pet dogs. Please note: This film shows primates engaged in mating behavior. A BBC Production
The Greatest BondAn inspirational documentary, highlighting the journey of disabled veterans whose lives are changed through the unconditional love of service dogs that have been trained by female prison inmates. Join three veterans as they meet their service dog and work with the inmates in a Texas women’s prison. Witness these men’s transformation, as each dog expands the veteran’s world and heals their hearts.
Insect Hunters: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsIn this documentary, David Attenborough examines descendants of the first mammals to develop during the dinosaur age. By eating insects, they were able to extend their territory and adapt to water and flight habitats. Shrews closely resemble their ancestors, and imitate their foraging hunting techniques. Moles have moved underground, and elephant shrews evade predators by sprinting through a well maintained trail network. Insect hunters that grew too big to hide developed armor and spines, such as the hedge hog, armadillo, and pangolin. David visits a giant anteater in Brazil to learn about its termite harvesting strategy, and observes bats using sonar to detect prey in flight. Finally, he meets a New Zealand bat species that has taken to foraging on the ground as its shrew ancestors once did—suggesting evolution is reversing itself. A BBC Production.
Life in the Air (3 parts)Enter the skyworld and experience the lives of jumping, gliding and flying creatures like never before, thanks to this groundbreaking wildlife strand from the BBC’s renowned Natural History Unit. Flight is the ultimate superpower, an extraordinary ability most of us can only dream of. Yet an astonishing number of animals have mastered the skies. From squirrels to spiders, frogs to fish, and birds to bats – with exceptional skills and breathtaking design, these animals hunt, travel, sleep, live and die in the air. This world has always been a mystery, a place we humans could not enter or understand. But now we have the cutting-edge filming technology to follow these animals into the skies, and reveal their hidden world. This wondrous series allows us to ‘fly’ alongside the animals and see the world from their unique point of view as it captures extraordinary animal behaviour and reveals the amazing science of flight.
Life in the Trees: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsDavid Attenborough takes us up close, climbing high into the canopy himself, to meet mammals that have adapted to living in treetops. Meerkats regularly climb small trees to scout for danger, while gibbons live one hundred feet or more above the forest floor. "Life in the Trees" is full of strange and unfamiliar animals, such as the Indian slender loris and the fossa, Madagascar's largest arboreal predator, both filmed for the first time in the wild. A BBC production.
The Mammal Hothouse: Fossil Wonderlands—Nature’s Hidden TreasuresProfessor Richard Fortey investigates the remains of ancient volcanic lake in Germany where stunningly well-preserved fossils of early mammals, giant insects and even perhaps our oldest known ancestor have been found. Among the finds are bats as advanced and sophisticated as anything living today, 50 million years later; dog-sized 'Dawn' horses, the ancestor of the modern horse; and giant ants as large as a hummingbird.
Meat Eaters: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsIn this documentary, David Attenborough examines adaptations, lifestyles, and hunting strategies of the two main carnivore groups: cats and dogs. In the far north, the arctic fox hunts during summer and buries surplus food to survive the winter. In southern climates, leopards and tigers have become solitary hunters relying on stealth and surprise to catch their next meal. Wolves and lions work in teams and family groups to tackle larger prey and protect their young. Hyenas share domestic duties and “communicate” by marking their territory. Communal life is strictly controlled by alpha pairs to maintain hunting efficiency—crucial for group survival. A BBC Production.
Nature's Fear FactorA bold experiment to bring rare and fierce African Wild Dogs back to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique reveals how predators – and the fear they trigger – play a surprising and crucial role in keeping wild ecosystems healthy. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Opportunists: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsDavid Attenborough meets the omnivores - the opportunists. They are nature's generalists but each is equipped with specialized skills. North American raccoons use their sense of touch to find food in murky streams at night. The babirusa from Sulawesi uses its sense of smell to locate the smallest amount of fallen fruit in its dense forest habitat. Skunks descend into hostile cave environments to feed on baby bats that have fallen from the cave ceilings. David follows grizzly bears and explains how they manage to gain enough weight to survive half a year without food. Finally, he looks at the Kumbh Mela festival in central India as an example of the most successful omnivores of all—humans. A BBC Production. A BBC Production.
Plant Predators: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsHeavily armored, indigestible and even poisonous, plants pose problems for some of our biggest predators. David Attenborough explores why eating plants is one of the greatest challenges for the planet's mammals, and how herbivores have adapted to plant defenses. Learn how the tapir of the South American jungle visits secret clay licks in search of a natural antidote, the pika of the Canadian Rockies exploits poisons as a natural preservative, and underground elephants mine for salts deficient in their green diet. Meat eaters and rutting rituals also pose a danger to herbivores. A BBC Production. A BBC Production.
Return to the Water: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsFrom rough seas to crystal clear waters of the Florida springs, David Attenborough swims with sea otters and dives with manatees, as he follows those mammals that left dry land millions of years ago and returned to the water to feed. He sails in the Pacific Ocean to find the largest mammal that has ever lived on this planet, the blue whale, a hundred feet or thirty meters long. He also witnesses a pod of high-speed dolphins pursuing their fish dinner. Although some marine mammals, like seals and sea lions, still come ashore to breed, all porpoises, dolphins and whales have evolved to court, mate and give birth in the water. A BBC Production.
Rise of the MammalsA major discovery shows how life came back after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. With exclusive access to a fossil trove from the key first million years after impact, the film charts the rise of a new living world from the ashes.
The Secret Life of Dogs (3 parts)With nearly a billion estimated worldwide, it is surprising that only recently have we really begun to understand the lives of our beloved dogs, with scientists just starting to uncover their emotional and intellectual genius. Through their extraordinary powers to read our emotions, take our perspective, and exceed our physical ability, our closest companions have been able to join us in all walks of life—truly earning the name man's best friend.
A Winning Design: David Attenborough's Life of MammalsThe warm blooded, furry, milk producing mammalian body is a winning design. In this film, David Attenborough looks at why mammals are the most successful creatures on the planet. He journeys to Australia to study echidnas and platypus, rare egg-laying species. He looks at how marsupials have adapted to a range of habitats across the continent, highlighting kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies, as well as smaller species. Then he travels to the Amazon to learn about water opossums and canopy marsupials. Finally, he introduces placental mammals through a wildebeest birth on the African plains, and explains differences between womb and pouch development. A BBC Production.
