Join author and television series host David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, for a fascinating 12-lecture course that focuses on 12 wild animals found throughout North America. Field Guide to North American Wildlife is a chance to experience the beauty and wonder of these incredible animals and to learn why safeguarding their future is up to us.
Field Guide to North American Wildlife
Join an experienced naturalist for an eye-opening adventure into the variety of wildlife species found across North America.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jen0430 from
Learned many new facts about animals
I like this course and learned many new facts about animals that i never knew before.
Date published: 2024-11-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
farmgirl904 from
Great lecturer and interesting subject!
Although, as others have said, the title might be misleading, since the lectures only focus on 12 different species of wildlife, the lecturer picked out some extremely interesting ones, many of the ones most in danger of decline or extinction. In fact, we had even never heard of two of these species before. The lecturer is very informative and very passionate about his subject, since he is a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. His lectures are very interesting and he presents them in an easy-to-listen-to manner. Although others have commented negatively on the short "animal stories" in each lecture, my husband and I really enjoyed them and they gave us an even better understanding of the species of wildlife he was describing. And at the end of each lecture, he talks about the future of each species population, what factors are affecting it, and how we can help keep the populations from declining. We sincerely hope that this lecturer will create more lectures for The Great Courses. We would love to listen to more wildlife courses from him!
Date published: 2024-10-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
anajay1 from
Fantastic Course!
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I learned many, many things that I didn't previously know about common North American animals. And some of the animals I had never heard of or knew almost nothing about. I loved the presenter's passion for the natural world. I would often have questions as I was watching the lectures and at some point the lecturer would inevitably answer my questions. I enjoyed the historical fiction segments at the start of each lecture. They might have seemed a little silly but it was a unique way to try to see the world from the animals' perspectives. I would love to see more lectures like this!!
Date published: 2024-08-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Sparky123 from
Basic But Informative
Good information, although basic. A good starter course. However, I find the presenter's obeisance to evolution disappointing. I really don't think there's any reason to mention evolution.
Date published: 2024-06-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
HenryGeorge from
Informative
Just finished watching this course. It is one of the best I've taken. I recommend everyone watch it.
Date published: 2024-05-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Dogbreath from
NWF propaganda piece
I was hoping for a guide to identify NA mammals. This isn't what it's about. The title is misleading.
Date published: 2024-01-07
Rated 4 out of
5
by
DonMDPhD from
Excellent information but . . .
For me, the true value of this course was not in the information but in the species Mr. Mizejewski chose. The information on the more common species, such as the Black Bear, Salmon and Monarch Butterfly is readily available in programs such as PBS's "Nature." Nothing new from this course. But information on species such as the Red Wolf, Screech Owl and especially the Horseshoe Crab is not that readily available. The Horseshoe Crab held special interest to me as a physician. The crab's blood contains amoebocytes, blood cells which are used to detect and quantify bacterial endotoxins in injectable drugs, medical devices, and vaccines.
Mr. Mizejewski presents his material in an easy-going, conversational way, making understandable those concepts which may pose a bit of a problem to those not familiar with his subject. His course guide is excellent, replete with photos and diagrams which greatly aid in understanding the material.
But I must agree with DaGeek's excellent review concerning the animal fictional stories which precede each lecture per se. I like a good story but I'm sorry--these were not helpful, in my opinion. He gives wild animals exotic names and attributes to them human emotions and mental constructs that research has proven just do not exist. In each story we are subjected to just plain bad artwork and the insipid background music that TGC/Wondrium seems to favor. We are not children, so please don't treat us as though we are.
Despite my above rant, I recommend this course with the caveat that you will have to endure about five minutes of "story time" before the course kicks into gear. The information you will receive, however, is worth that wait.
Date published: 2024-01-02
Rated 4 out of
5
by
DaGeek from
Enjoyable Survey of 12 Species
The title of this course is just a tad misleading as it leads you to believe it is a much larger survey of North American animals. Of course when you see that it are just 12 episodes you hope that is not true. That would indeed be a whirlwind.
The presenter concentrates on 12 very interesting species, most of them endangered or threatened by humans or human induced climate change. While my career was in a different field, my first degree is in Biology, and I maintained an interest in the field. There is a lot of good information here, and I found it enjoyable.
The presenter has a nice style, and obviously loves his subject.
My one gripe with the series was his breakout to an anthropomorphic story in every episode about the animal being featured. To me, it came across like a children's book. I found these a little cheesy and the anthropomorphizing vaguely problematic as the presenter reminded us many times throughout the series that they are wild animals… with the usual precautions. My wife, a retired Special Ed teacher, did not share my opinion about the breakout stories. She enjoyed them. My take is that the presenter and producers are attempting to appeal to an audience of varied ages.
On the whole we enjoyed the series. It would be something good to watch with young children or the grandkids.
Date published: 2023-12-30
Overview
About
David Mizejewski is a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation and the author of Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife. He has appeared on shows such as The Martha Stewart Show, Conan, The Wendy Williams Show, and NBC’s TODAY, and he has hosted series on Animal Planet and Nat Geo WILD. He earned a BA in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University.
Trailer
01: Where the Red Wolf Still Roams
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.
26 min
02: The Resurgent American Alligator
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.
27 min
03: What You Probably Don’t Know about Bees
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.
27 min
04: The Monarch Butterfly’s Astonishing Journey
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.
27 min
05: The Tiny but Fierce Screech Owl
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.
26 min
06: The Arduous, Important Lives of Salmon
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.
27 min
07: The Giant Hellbender Salamander
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.
30 min
08: Neither Pig nor Rodent: The Tusked Javelina
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.
29 min
09: Opossum: A Kangaroo Cousin in Your Backyard
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.
28 min
10: Secrets of the Leatherback Sea Turtle
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.
28 min
11: What to Do If You Meet a Black Bear
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.
29 min
12: The Horseshoe Crab’s Many Gifts
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.
31 min
