Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Season 1, Episode 5: Raising Hellbenders

Desert-Dwelling Tortoises

Peter and Rae travel to the Mojave Desert, North America’s driest region, to help conservationists save the Mojave desert tortoise. They explore a groundbreaking program that helps baby tortoises and ensures the survival of the entire species.

Puffin Island

Peter and Rae travel to the coast of Maine to witness the conservation program fighting to save puffins. While Peter travels to puffin habitats on remote coastal islands, Rae visits the original conservationist who brought this species back to Maine.

Sea Creatures of the Florida Coast

Peter ventures to Florida with naturalist David Mizejewski, where they meet the experts battling to protect endangered sea turtles and at-risk manatees, collect valuable data from sea turtle nests, help track down two vulnerable manatees, and more.

The Bats of Texas

Peter and Rae witness the nightly emergence of 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats and help release rehabilitated bats on Austin’s Congress Bridge. Peter joins bat rescue experts; Rae helps vaccinate bats against a disease wreaking havoc on the species.

The Lost Fox of the Channel Island

Peter and Rae sail to California’s Channel Islands to unravel the secrets of one of the smallest foxes on Earth and learn about the modern-day challenges to fox survival and the critical role that the bald eagle plays in their evolution.

Eager Beavers

Peter and Dr. Rae visit Washington state, where conservationists work with beavers to restore spawning grounds for endangered salmon. They learn how native tribes relocate beavers from dangerous situations and help build artificial beaver dams.

Winged Wonders

Peter and Dr. Rae discover that North American birds and bats are flying in the face of danger. They meet conservationists fighting to save the North Atlantic puffin, spot a bald eagle nest in California and witness millions of wild bats in Texas.

The Forest Beneath the Sea

Peter and Dr. Rae join conservationists in a desperate race to save kelp forests. Home to countless species, kelp forests form the biological backbone of the ocean food chain, but climate change has unbalanced this ecosystem.

Baby Animals

Peter and Dr. Rae explore triumphant stories of wildlife conservation with some of Earth’s newest, tiniest baby animals, including Florida sea turtle hatchlings, an adorable puffin off Maine’s coast, desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert and more.

Rescue, Rehab and Release

Peter and Dr. Rae visit a remarkable animal rehabilitation center in the Pacific Northwest and meet with the veterinarians, animal rescuers and residents dedicated to saving amazing creatures, including orphaned bear cubs and an injured bald eagle.

Into the Wolf Den

Dr. Rae and Peter demystify a misunderstood canine, the wolf. Peter spots an endangered red wolf in the wild and helps with a health checkup for a new litter. Dr. Rae learns about gray wolves during a visit to Minnesota’s Wildlife Science Center.

Pathway to Protection

Peter and Dr. Rae adventure through Florida to discover the results of a new wildlife corridor protecting animal migration and endangered species recovery, learning how vital it is to species like the Florida panther, black bear, alligator and more.

Secret Life of Sea Otters

Peter and Dr. Rae explore the many challenges facing the endangered sea otters off California’s coast. Peter cruises Monterey Bay to survey white sharks invading otter territory and Dr. Rae helps feed sea otter super moms at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Urban Wildlife

Peter and Dr. Rae explore an issue that hits close to home — protecting urban wildlife whose natural habitat puts them in conflict with humans, often in harm’s way. Peter learns the story of P-22, a Los Angeles mountain lion.

Science Superheroes

Peter and Dr. Rae meet real-life superheroes of science who are developing cutting-edge tools for protecting the wild. Dr. Rae visits a California marine laboratory growing an army of giant sea stars to try to save the giant kelp forests.

Innovation for Restoration

Peter and Dr. Rae see firsthand how forward-thinkers are using innovation for wildlife restoration. In Washington, Peter helps install artificial beaver dams designed to kick-start a ravaged ecosystem through a natural partnership with wild beavers.

The Pupfish of Death Valley

Peter and Dr. Rae travel to California’s Death Valley to see one of the most endangered fish species on Earth. Only a few hundred of these pupfish exist in Devils Hole, a deep-water cavern where conservationists carefully guard their population.

Mysteries of the Great White

Dr. Rae and Peter head to the California coast to get up close and personal with one of the wild’s most prolific predators, the great white shark. In Santa Barbara, they paddle out for a face-to-face meeting with a young great white.

Protecting the Prairie Chicken

Peter and Dr. Rae explore the Gulf Coast to learn about one of North America’s rarest birds, Attwater’s prairie chicken. Peter meets with wildlife refuge specialists in Texas and Dr. Rae visits a wildlife center working to rejuvenate the population.

Conservation Comeback

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