Re: Crock Hunter

A couple of years ago I was raking leaves in my back yard when out of
nowhere a young red squirrel came down from a tree, walked over to me,
climbed me and perched for a few seconds on my shoulder!  After those few
seconds we made eye contact and he gave me a look like "Huh??" then bolted
back down and shot up his tree!!  I thought for a second I was in a Disney
film.

I'm very sure he wasn't rabid as squirrels in my area can do some
"squirrely" things, but I did give the shirt I was wearing a good wash!

"mean old man" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 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
>