Begin your look at North American wildlife with the incredibly rare red wolf, now one of the world’s most endangered species. Comparable in size to a German Shepherd, these wolves can only be found on the Albemarle Peninsula of eastern North Carolina.
Encounter a North American species that used to be endangered but has since bounced back. After a story that shows the kinds of challenges American alligators face, investigate the fascinating habits and remarkable abilities of this resilient reptile.
Explore not just one wildlife species but a group that includes thousands of individual species. While bees are all smaller than your little finger, they’re critically important to our ecosystems, and help keep life as we know it functioning.
Many of us can identify the beautiful monarch butterfly, at a glance, but far fewer of us realize why its looks are so distinctive, or just how extraordinary a creature it is. Follow this fascinating insect on its astonishing annual migration of up to 3,000 miles.
Screech owls are beautiful and agile, but most of us have no idea these birds are our neighbors—partly because they’re small, and partly because they’re masters of camouflage. Learn more about the screech owl’s dramatic, dangerous life.
Whether you’ve seen them in the wild or only on your dinner plate, you’ve likely encountered salmon. But you may not realize—as you’ll learn here—that salmon are important not only to ocean and river ecosystems, but also to those on land, as well.
At two feet long, the giant hellbender salamander is the largest salamander in North America. Discover why David thinks these wonderfully weird creatures are so cool, including the fascinating fact that they can breathe through their skin.
Learn about an animal often mistaken for a pig that’s been in North America for millions of years. Also known as the collared peccary, the tusked javelina is an intelligent creature that has no problem living peacefully near us—as long as we leave it alone.
Separate fact from fiction about the Virginia opossum with a story on why opossums need the impressive skills they’ve developed. Then, explore why the last century has seen the species expand its range northward and westward, and even into Canada.
Much of the life of a leatherback sea turtle is a mystery to us, taking place in the open ocean and often deep below its surface. David reveals what makes this animal so awe-inspiring—and so worth saving for future generations.
Get to know the species of bear you’re most likely to encounter in North America: the American black bear. You’ll learn what makes these bears so intelligent, fascinating, and resourceful. You’ll even learn how to act if you see one in the wild.
Conclude the course by learning about what might be the oldest, unchanged animal species on our planet. Horseshoe crabs—they’re actually not crabs at all—look like they come from another galaxy, but they play a crucial role in our marine and coastal ecosystems.