There’s just something special about seeing a wild animal. Especially if that animal makes an appearance in a place it doesn’t appear to belong. Like a moose drinking from your backyard water fountain, for example. That was just one of the dozens of videos we received from folks across the state of Idaho – eager to share their own up-close encounter with the wild for our new Outdoor Idaho show, "Urban Wildlife."
And we’re so glad they did because as it turns out, animals don’t show up for interviews. Give them a time and a place and they turn up too early or too late.
This show was a fascinating one to put together. It uses more video contributions than any other show in Outdoor Idaho’s 37 year history. Fortunately and unfortunately this tactic worked well because of the pandemic that required a near halt to interviews and work travel for several months.
Although the pandemic forced this tactic upon us, we welcomed it with open arms because of the unique perspective video contributions give to the show. Instead of watching a show from the viewpoint of Outdoor Idaho producers and videographers, you get to watch a show from the eyes of the coffee shop barista who spots a moose in the street, and the cop who is trying to scare the turkeys away, and the car passenger who saw a mountain lion run across the road, and the Fish and Game officer who rescued an elk from a pile of debris. Oh, and the family with a grizzly bear in their backyard!
You get to see what human – wildlife encounters truly look like for the residents of Idaho.
This show pulls back the curtain on what living with wildlife really means. We discuss the challenges in managing the animals in a way that keeps everyone happy. And often, it’s nearly impossible if not totally impossible to do so.
The question of whether or not the land belongs to humans or wildlife is a recurrent theme in the show, and I have to tell you, there’s no clear answer in the end. But what is clear is that there’s abundant hope among residents, academics and officials that wildlife and humans can figure out a way to peacefully coexist.
And as I waded through the dozens of video clips sent in from across the state, it’s easy to see just how much joy and excitement people find in wildlife.
This show, "Urban Wildlife," is a rollercoaster of laughter and thoughtfulness that I think just about everyone in the state of Idaho can relate to. You can watch a short clip about the show here.
And finally, here are three links that you might find interesting...
1. Learn more about Maurice Hornocker's landmark work on mountain lions.
2. Learn about Chronic Wasting Disease, a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose.
3. Learn how to protect birds from your cat here:
Cover photo of bear by Dan O'Malley.