Re: Crock Hunter

On Sat, 22 Nov 2003 07:04:19 GMT, "Von Fourche"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>
>
>    Ok, when I watch shows like Crock Hunter or Jeff Corwin on Animal Planet
>they are always walking along or driving along, then see an animal from the
>car, jump out and chase it down.  Now, is this how these people actually get
>to the animals, by seeing them while driving along the road or just walking
>along then all of a sudden find what they are after?
>

Wild Kingdom used to run a disclaimer at the end of its' show that ran
something like this:   "ALL events, whether actual or created, depict
authenticated facts."

Sometimes things are planted for them to find, sometimes they scout
out the area before the camera rolls to find likely places and
wildlife, and sometimes, yes, sometimes they find things just by
driving by.  

More than likely, several scenarios are scripted out well in advance
of the actual shoot.  I imagine that shooting one of these shows uses
a lot of film and results in a lot of edits and cuts and what looks
like one day in the Kalihari may take several days or weeks to film.
It would not be cost effective to leave the cameras rolling all the
time and just hope that something happens.  Not only would that be
expensive, it would also result in a lot of boring footage.

Now, having said that, let me say that it is possible to stumble upon
things in the wild with little or no foresight.  I live next to a
National Wildlife Refuge.  One day this past summer, I took my 14 year
old nephew for what he described as "... a suicide hike".  (It's a
flat trek, but we hiked it during the afternoon when temperatures were
close to the 100 degree mark, no shade to speak of, and we only had 2
20 oz. bottles of Pepsi between us.  It was a spur of the moment
thing.)  There is a 5 - 8 mile closed to vehicles looped road in this
NWR and that is what we hiked.  Up close (within 5 - 10 yards of us),
We saw 4 large American Alligators (over 12 '), many smaller
alligators, scores of turtles, 4 white tail deer, 2 wild turkeys, a
fox, a tree full of anahingis, 6 large rattlesnakes, 2 water
moccasins, at least one Copperhead, lots of wood ducks, lots of other
birds, including ospreys, hawks, herons, and painted buntings, and
lots of insect life including Damsel Flies, Dragonflies, Black Files,
Grasshoppers, Lady Bugs.  We didn't see any beaver, river otter,
muskrat, opossums, bobcats, coyotes, squirrels, moles, or raccoons
though they are native to the area.   We never left the roadway.  If
we had brought the camcorder, it still would have made for one hell of
a tape, though.

>    Also, it seems every small animal they feature is gentle.  The only
>animals around here are squirrel and deer.  And there's no way a deer is
>going to let me grab it and there's no way I'm going to grab a wild
>squirrel.

Good for you.  You won't have to worry about rabies if you don't
handle wildlife.  If a wild animal does lets you handle it, it is
usually a good indicator that the critter is ill and you would be wise
to get it to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator fast.  


Exception:  One time I was in the woods looking at a map and trying to
figure out where to go next.  Yep, I was lost.  While I was reading my
map, a very newborn whitetail deer fawn (spot) came up behind me and
nuzzled the back of my knee.  (I had to throw my shorts away.!)  I
quickly moved away, so he would move away and not get so much of my
scent on him that his mother would abandon him.  
 
>  What's the deal with those other countries having all the nice
>animals?
>

Yeah, right.  Even the Croc Hunter will tell you not to handle animals
in the wild.  "I'm an expert and know what I'm doing.  Don't you try
this, as it's dangerous to you and very stressful to the animal."  It
just looks like the wild animals are gentle or tame, or the animals
they use are used to being handled by people.

Frankly, I find it funny that every time Jeff Corwin gets near a
monkey, the monkey pees or craps on him.

>
>
See Ya!

MOM