Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure across America to help save California condors and Massachusetts saltmarsh sparrows. First, Jeff travels to the spectacular coastline of Big Sur, California, to

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure across America to help save California condors and Massachusetts saltmarsh sparrows. First, Jeff travels to the spectacular coastline of Big Sur, California, to the renowned condor sanctuary of the Ventana Wildlife Society. Jeff helps prepare young condors for their new life in the wild and learns about how condors shape their environment - and how the environment shapes them. Later, Jeff travels to his home state to work alongside the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife on a mission to save a unique species of bird that only lives in salt marsh habitats of the East Coast. Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Our adventure begins along the central coast of the great state of California. Here, the Santa Lucia mountains rise from the Pacific ocean in a region named Big Sur. This pristine and undeveloped coastline has been described as one of the most stunning meeting points of land and sea on the planet. Circling high above is the mighty California condor. Today, the presence of wild California condors above the cliffs of this coastal state is a miracle of modern conservation.  Jeff Corwin: Look at that. Is that adult or sub-adult? Pamela Flick: Well, because we can see the white wing patch under the wing, that would be an adult condor that we see right now. Jeff Corwin: Now. So that's at least five or six years old. Pamela Flick: At least. Yeah. Jeff Corwin: Incredible. My friends, this is Pam Flick. She is of course, with Defenders of Wildlife. And what makes the story of the California condor is so remarkable? Pamela Flick: Well, Jeff, I think it's a special story because it's one of hope and one that demonstrates that it truly takes a village to save a species from extinction. Jeff Corwin: This is North America's largest flying bird. It's got nearly a 10 foot wing span, it's weighing 20 pounds plus in size. It takes a lot to keep these birds alive, doesn't it? Pamela Flick: It does. They can range over 200 miles in a single day on foraging missions. They need a lot of habitat. Jeff Corwin: So today we can come along this coast and have this spectacular moment. But this was a species that was in true jeopardy, wasn't it? Pamela Flick: Absolutely. In 1982, the entire population of California condors was just 22 individuals. At the time, the decision was made to pull all the condors from the wild to start a captive breeding program. Jeff Corwin: But they're a complex creature. It takes years and years for an adult to get to that point where it can replace itself. Pamela Flick: Yeah, at least six years. And that's one of the problems because they have such a slow population growth and they only breed once every two to three years and they only lay one egg per breeding attempt. Jeff Corwin: So Pam, how many condors do we have today? Pamela Flick: Well, the entire population in the world is roughly 500, and of that, about 300 are free flying today here in the central coast of California, in the mountains of Southern California in Baja, Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. And there are plans to reintroduce condors to the Yurok ancestral lands in Northwestern California within the next year.  Jeff Corwin: That's amazing. Jeff Corwin: Condors have been pulled from the brink of extinction, but the work has just begun. From the famous Pacific Coast Highway One, we're traveling to a protected mountain peak high above the clouds.  Well friends, get ready. You're about to experience one of my most favorite conservation projects in North America. We are working with the Ventana Wildlife Society. Their mission is to save what I consider the ambassador of the California sky. The Ventana Wildlife Society currently monitors more than 100 condors and 10 active breeding pairs. Today, senior biologist, Joe Burnett, and his team are preparing the next generation of condors for their new lives in the wild. Jeff Corwin: Joe, so what is our mission today? Joe Burnett: Today, we're going to get these tags on the birds. So this is how we'll visually identify each individual out in the field with this color number combination. But our first step, we got to get them in the nets and catch them. So let's go do it. Jeff Corwin: All right, let's go do it. This is going to be fun. Jeff Corwin: We enter an area called the flight cage. There are nine juvenile condors in this enclosure and all of them are the product of active breeding programs. Jeff Corwin: What we're trying to do is carefully trying to corral the condor. We don't want to stress it out. Jeff Corwin: But we can only work with one at a time.  Jeff Corwin: Look at the size of this bird. It's just amazing. This is a very young bird we're. Right now it has  probably an eight foot wing span. Just incredible.   Jeff Corwin: For this team, the safety of each condor is the highest priority. Jeff Corwin: I got a good grip... We've hit our character limit. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin as he connects with a collection of amazing mammals that face difficult conservation challenges. First, Jeff travels into the remote forests of New England to help care for a

Join host Jeff Corwin as he connects with a collection of amazing mammals that face difficult conservation challenges. First, Jeff travels into the remote forests of New England to help care for a rowdy group of orphaned baby black bears. Jeff learns about bear conservation and discovers the unique and friendly behaviors bear cubs have towards each other. Later, Jeff travels to Florida to meet orphaned baby manatees. Jeff learns about the threats to manatee habitat and what biologists are doing to save them. Finally, Jeff assists veterinarians to help two adorable opossums heal from their wounds and return to the forest. Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Mammals come in splendid variety, from the massive blue whale to the tiny deer mouse. Nearly all mammal mothers have live birth and all produce milk for feeding their young. At least some part of their bodies are typically covered with hair or fur at some point in their lives, and all mammals are endotherms, which means they can generate heat to maintain their warm-blooded body temperatures. Jeff Corwin: But tragically, today, nearly one quarter of all mammals are threatened with extinction, including at least 65 species in the United States alone. Scientists have estimated the total mass of all mammals on earth. They discovered that human beings make up 34% of this biomass, domesticated mammals account for 62%, which means only the remaining 4% are wild species. In the forests of New England, wild American black bears live in close proximity to humans. These bears are constantly threatened by pollution, vehicles and habitat loss, and black bear cubs are increasingly becoming orphaned. Jeff Corwin: Today, I'm visiting the Kilham Bear Center, where some of these bear cubs are given a second chance of survival.   Jeff Corwin: So this very precocious, absolutely adorable black bear cub is Marlow. This is Ethan Kilham and essentially Ethan, you are Marlow's stepmom, aren't you? Ethan Kilham: Yes. I'm the primary caregiver for the cubs, so basically I'm trying to be the best facsimile to a mother bear that I can be, so I'm feeding them, I'm introducing them to wild foods, wild things from the environment, stuff that they can play with. Jeff Corwin: Hi Marlow, no nibble. No, that's not ... No, please. No, Marlow, no. So your instinct is to interact, but we don't want to interact. We want this bear to discover that human beings aren't a  part of his future success in life, right, Ethan? Ethan Kilham: Right. Jeff Corwin: We want him to be wild. Ethan Kilham: He'll be released at about 18 months of age and then he'll have all the tools to be a perfectly wild bear. Jeff Corwin: Marlow, what are you doing? Marlow, please get off the cameraman. Jeff Corwin: Marlow is still too young to be released, but today is a special day for two cubs named Flower and Dover. Today, they're going back in the wild and that's what we are about to do right now. For both our safety and the safety of these cubs, Flower and Dover will need to be sedated. To do this, Ryan will use a long pole fitted at the end with a small syringe of fast-acting sedative. Jeff Corwin: So what Ryan needs to do is get close to these bears, give them a quick poke, they'll go to sleep and all will be good. Jeff Corwin: No one likes getting a shot, especially a bear cub. Jeff Corwin: Success, Ryan? Ryan Smith: I think so. Jeff Corwin: Going to wait until he starts to get a little tipsy, which he is right now. We want to be there so when the bear goes to sleep, he doesn't fall and hurt itself.  Jeff Corwin: The sedative works very fast and makes Flower a little dizzy, but don't worry. We won't let him get hurt.  Jeff Corwin: There we go. There we go.  Jeff Corwin: We take Flower outside where the wildlife team will give him his final checkup. Jeff Corwin: So our first bear is nicely situated. Now let's go get the next bear. Jeff Corwin: All right. Okay. Now it's time for bear number two. Ryan's going to get in position. Thankfully, Dover's found a little corner to curl up in, so getting him outside will be much easier. Jeff Corwin: All right, if you just lower it down. Okay. I got him. All right. They are just such beautiful, beautiful creatures, so precious, such an important part of our wild legacy and to be a part of this program, it's amazing. Jeff Corwin: So what we have to remember is that these bears are no longer in control in the way their head is angled, their airway has opened or closed, and we have to constantly be vigilant to make sure these creatures aren't overheating, aren't stressed and are sleeping safe and sound. The team carefully records the cubs' temperatures, heart rate and size, what we call biometrics. Finally, it's time to give these cubs a small tag on each ear so they can be identified in the future... We've hit our character limit. Please leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure across the Great Plains of the United States on a mission to understand the connection between the incredible species that call it home. First, Jeff travels

Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure across the Great Plains of the United States on a mission to understand the connection between the incredible species that call it home. First, Jeff travels to the Canadian border to help Native American tribes re-establish bison across tribal lands. Jeff learns how ancient bison herds once shaped the Great Plains and how modern conservationists are fighting to bring those herds back. Later, Jeff works with biologists to manage a delicate population of black-footed ferrets, a species once believed to be extinct. Jeff discovers how wild bison play a vital role in ferret survival and the survival of the Great Plains themselves. Video transcript: Jeff Corwin: Welcome to Northeast Montana, home of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian community. I'm with Jonathan Proctor, from Defenders of Wildlife. It's now about minus nine. Look at our backdrop, we've got American bison. John, they are forever interconnected to this ecosystem. Jonathan Proctor: Yes, this is one of the most important keystone species in the entire Great Plains. This species had an outsized importance, numerous impacts on the environment that benefited a whole host of other wildlife. Jeff Corwin: The bison behind us are descendants of a great and ancient herd, over 30 million animals that moved like a living wave across North America. But this species was nearly wiped out with the western expansion of America and industrial hunting. The deliberate mass slaughter of bison was devastating to the Great Plains, and especially to the native tribes that depended upon them as a food and cultural resource. Tragically, at the start of the 20th century, fewer than 1000 American bison were left alive. Jonathan Proctor: The loss of the bison historically, about a hundred years ago, had ripple effects throughout the entire Great Plains. All of the predators and scavengers that depended on the bison for food disappeared as a result. Bison graze down the grass, which benefit prairie dogs, and so many other species depend on prairie dogs. So when the bison were removed, the whole system unraveled. Jeff Corwin: So, the big challenge we face is to reintegrate them into the ecosystem because this environment, the prairie needs the bison. Jonathan Proctor: To achieve that goal, we need to restore at least 10 large bison herds back to the Great Plains. When we get to that level, we will have truly saved the bison and the environment that it once evolved in and helped create. Jeff Corwin: Leading the charge is the Intertribal Buffalo Council, a group of 76 native tribal communities working to establish new and wild bison herds across the Great Plains. This morning, Robbie Magnan and his team are moving 56 bison from Montana to their new home in Oklahoma. Robbie, for the many tribal communities, bison are so very important, even today. Robbie Magnan: Yes, that's very much so. They're helping us restore our culture, because they've always been part of our culture. And now, we have our opportunity to reconnect with them and restore our culture with them. Jeff Corwin: But here's the thing, we can't get these bison to Oklahoma until we corral them, and that my friends, is going to be a challenge. You ready to do this? Robbie Magnan: Yeah. Jeff Corwin: All right, let's go. Speaker 4: All right, look sharp, stay together. Jeff Corwin: So, what is the plan, Robbie? Robbie Magnan: The buffalo are in a temporary holding pen that we have to round them up. Sometimes it's not so easy. Follow me! Jeff Corwin: Woo, hold on. So you can kind of see what we're trying to do, right here. It's a little bit of chaos, organized chaos. And what we're trying to do is move them into the corral, make sure they're healthy, and then share them with another Native American community. Ooh. Robbie Magnan: You okay? Jeff Corwin: Yeah. Ooh, rock. Rock. Robbie Magnan: Take what you got. Take what you got, guys. Take what you got! Speaker 5: Here they come. Jeff Corwin: Okay, so we didn't get the whole herd, but we've got about half the herd, right here. We're moving them down this quarter and into the corral they go. Robbie, who do I invoice my chiropractor bill to? Now that we've got almost half the herd into the pen, Robbie guides them into a series of smaller quarters. Here, they can be individually identified and have their final health checks before their trip to Oklahoma. Robbie Magnan: Okay, get in there. Jeff Corwin: All right, all right, there we go. We've hit our character limit. Leave a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California to discover the effects of a devastating drought that’s plagued the Golden State for years. Jeff explores the

Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California to discover the effects of a devastating drought that’s plagued the Golden State for years. Jeff explores the aftermath of the massive Caldor Fire and meets the brave firefighters on the frontlines of climate change. Then, Jeff travels to Washington State to connect with two vital and threatened species: the resourceful American beaver and the endangered Pygmy rabbit. Jeff works alongside conservationists fighting to protect these amazing animals and the ecosystems where they live. Video transcript: Jeff Corwin: Today's adventure begins in the great Pacific Northwest state of Washington. We're on a mission to save a species that transforms its habitat like few other creatures on earth, beavers. Jeff Corwin: Adult beavers use powerful jaws and sharp teeth to chew down hundreds of trees and build complex dams and lodges. As they build, they increase water storage, filter pollutants, and promote biodiversity. But beavers were hunted to near extinction beginning with the fur trades of the 1800s. Now, less than 3% of the original population remains. Jeff Corwin: This morning, I'm joining Molly Alves and Dylan Collins from the Tulalip Beaver Project. Our mission is to catch a family of beavers that are making an unwelcomed impact on the landscape of this private farm. We have a situation. Beavers are critical to this ecosystem, but sometimes beavers find themselves in a coexistence challenge. And that's what's happened today. And how are we going to fix that? Molly Alves: Yeah, so we are removing these beavers because the alternative is lethal management of these beavers. So we are going to trap the beaver family and relocate them up to Forest Service land. Jeff Corwin: Okay. Let's do it. Jeff Corwin: Molly uses a humane capturing system known as a suitcase trap. Beavers have an incredibly great sense of smell and they produce a secretion to mark their territory called castoreum. Molly Alves: So we are going to use a castor-based lure. Less is more. Jeff Corwin: When a beaver enters to investigate the smell, it will be safely trapped inside. Molly Alves: It's very important that we don't get any of this lure in the water because there may be another beaver family, half a mile downstream. And if we get it into the water column, it could attract beavers from different areas. And that is enough- Jeff Corwin: That's it. Molly Alves: To get their attention. Jeff Corwin: All right, our trap has been set. Jeff Corwin: Beavers are highly social animals with strong family bonds. In order for beavers to be successful in their new home, Molly and her team need to relocate the entire family. So we set several traps around the farm and before long we've got one. Jeff Corwin: So, we have a beaver. Molly Alves: That appears to be an adult. Jeff Corwin: And now we've got to move it. And how do we do that without getting nibbled? Molly Alves: Carefully. Jeff Corwin: Carefully. Okay, let's do it. Right now, it seems pretty calm, but that could change in a dime. There it be, our incredible beaver. Jeff Corwin: The Tulalip Tribal Community are leaders in wildlife management and their beaver relocation project is a huge success. This Tulalip fish hatchery will serve as a temporary home for the beaver while the rest of her family is captured. To make sure this beaver and we humans stay safe, we keep the beaver in the suitcase trap. This way, we don't have to use a sedative. Jeff Corwin: We've been successful in rescuing this beaver from a situation that may not have worked out, but this is only one step in this very important program that's really about a connection to salmon, isn't it? Molly Alves: Yes. So the reason we started this program at Tulalip is because salmon are an incredibly important subsistence resource for tribal members. And what beavers do in the areas that we're placing them is build dams that create awesome salmon-rearing habitat. So it's really all about salmon conservation and beavers are our partners in that restoration. Jeff Corwin: The next step is to collect important data from this beaver that the research partners at Washington State and the US Forest Service will use to better understand them. Dylan Collins: 58 pounds. Jeff Corwin: 58. So this is a good size beaver. Molly Alves: It is. All right, Jeff, if you would please grab a hair sample. Jeff Corwin: And, of course, what you can see is that there's different layers of hair because fur, if you live in cold water, it's critical, isn't it? Molly Alves: Absolutely. It keeps them insulated. Jeff Corwin: We coveted that warm pelt and it nearly drove them to extinction. Molly Alves: Yeah, exactly. Beavers were nearly extirpated from Washington State back in the late 1980s. And they're just starting to really make a big recovery. We've hit our character limit. Leave a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure as he explores the conservation success stories of the American crocodile and uncovers how a nuclear power station makes for an ideal crocodile nesting area. To

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure as he explores the conservation success stories of the American crocodile and uncovers how a nuclear power station makes for an ideal crocodile nesting area. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: I'm in the beautiful state of Florida, seeing how conservation efforts are working to bring back the American crocodile from the brink of extinction. We are on our way to the Turkey Point nuclear power plant. It's the sixth largest power plant in the United States, and it provides power to the entire southern half of Florida. But it also plays an even more powerful role in the survival of the American crocodile. Jeff Corwin: This is Mike Lloret and he's a wildlife biologist, and he works with Florida Power & Light. And of course, this is Elizabeth from Defenders of Wildlife. And this is all about these most extraordinary creatures, American crocodiles. Elizabeth, they have quite a powerful story, don't they, in North America? Elizabeth Fleming: Yes, they do. They've really had a terrific success story through many decades of conservation effort. Jeff Corwin: And of course, Florida Power & Light and Turkey Point has been a big part of this nuclear headstart program. And I mean that in the best sense of the description, because it's almost like you guys have been able to launch the re-survival of this species, the re-wilding of this species. What made this such a success? Mike Lloret: We have 6,000 acres here. It ended up being fantastic habitat for the American crocodile. The crocodiles come here. We collect the babies. We monitor the adults and we release everybody back into the wild. Jeff Corwin: The power plant is cooled by a massive network of canals that cover 10 square miles and borders a large wildlife reserve. Conservationists have discovered that these canals make the ideal habitat for crocodile nests. Jeff Corwin: So because this is a secure facility providing energy for millions of people in Florida, it's protected. So you have security which protects the crocodiles. Jeff Corwin: American crocodiles almost were extinct due to hunting and habitat loss. At one point, unfortunately,  there were only 100 adult crocodiles left. But thanks to the Endangered Species Act  and organizations, like our sponsor Defenders of Wildlife, they have made an important comeback. There are now over 2,000 American crocodiles surviving in Southern Florida.  Jeff Corwin: Elizabeth, why is it important that we protect crocodiles? Elizabeth Fleming: Because they're part of the natural system in Florida. We have some of the greatest biological diversity in the entire country, and it's because we have so many species like this. Every single one is important. Everyone has a role in the ecosystem and with their loss, it's a loss to us. Mike Lloret: The crocodiles are one of our apex predators down here in south Florida. So we know if there're more crocodiles, that the rest of the ecosystem is doing well. Jeff Corwin: If they're protected, the birds, the fish, the turtles, the plants, all of that gets protected as well. Mike, so what do we need to accomplish today? Mike Lloret: So today we are tagging these baby hatchlings. We are collecting biometric data, which is important to understand the population health of these little guys. And then we're releasing them back into the wild. Jeff Corwin: First off, we measure the crocodile hatchlings. Jeff Corwin: Snout 12.8 centimeters.   Jeff Corwin: Then we get their weight. Jeff Corwin: 58.7 grams there. Jeff Corwin: In order to identify each crocodile in the future, we insert a small microchip called a PIT tag, just under the skin. When it is scanned, it will reveal the identification number of this particular crocodile. Mike Lloret: Now we're going to cut a unique SKU clip number into his tail. Jeff Corwin: My buddy Mike also makes a small incision in the crocodile's scales, according to a specific number pattern. This way, along with the PIT tag, they can be identified for the rest of their lives. But don't worry, it doesn't hurt. Jeff Corwin: Okay there my friends, so we have ourselves a bucket of amazing American crocodiles. And if you thought this was cool, now they're going back home. Elizabeth Fleming: Absolutely. Jeff Corwin: All right, let's do it. Jeff Corwin: We head to the wildlife sanctuary in Turkey Point to return them back to the wild. Jeff Corwin: All right, here we go. This is what it's all about. You ready, Elizabeth? Elizabeth Fleming: Yes, I am. Jeff Corwin: All right. Mike Lloret: Just going to guide them out that way. Jeff Corwin: They're so cute. Elizabeth Fleming: They really are... We've run out of characters. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic Alaskan adventure to help save some of North America’s most impressive feathered flyers. Jeff begins exploring the old-growth Tongass National Forest and learns how

Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic Alaskan adventure to help save some of North America’s most impressive feathered flyers. Jeff begins exploring the old-growth Tongass National Forest and learns how this ancient ecosystem has shaped the many birds that call it home. Later, Jeff visits the Alaska Raptor Center where he meets iconic bald eagles, beautiful great blue herons, lightning-quick goshawks, and helps rehabilitated birds return to the wild. Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Hey there, friends. I'm Jeff Corwin and welcome to what is going to be an awesome adventure today on Wildlife Nation. We are exploring one of the great wild frontiers in North America. Of course, I'm talking about Alaska, and to help launch our incredible journey, I'm  with Flash. Flash is a goshawk. And this is Pat. Pat works with Defenders of Wildlife. And Pat, I thought it'd be kind of fun to introduce this adventure with Flash, because this bird has a connection to this ecosystem. Patrick Lavin: Indeed, this bird thrives in this ecosystem, Jeff, and only in this ecosystem, in old-growth  forest, just as we have surrounding us here. Jeff Corwin: What's incredible about the goshawk is they are just superb predators. Their ability to negotiate and navigate through a bramble and tangle of branches is unmatched in the world of raptors. And Pat, this forest where we're standing is unmatched when it comes to national forests, isn't it? Patrick Lavin: That's the Tongass National Forest. It's by far our nation's largest forest and largest intact temperate rain forest in North America. Jeff Corwin: There are many classic celebrated Alaskan species that survive because of this forest. Patrick Lavin: For species like goshawks, wolves, bears, Sitka black-tailed deer. Jeff Corwin: Salmon. Patrick Lavin: Yes, all of these species depend on our keeping the old-growth forest intact. Jeff Corwin: It's lush. It's verdant, it's filled with life. But when it comes to issues like climate change, it's also critically important, isn't it? Patrick Lavin: Forests sequesters carbon, pulls carbon from the atmosphere, stores it in the trees and soil that you see here and does that better than almost any other landscape. So if you can keep the forest intact, allow it to continue serving that function, that's actually a natural carbon mitigation, a  natural solution. We've done a lot of logging in the past in the Tongass and it's removed a lot of habitat for species like the goshawk. Jeff Corwin: But the great news is that there are still millions of acres of Tongass National Forest. So I can't think of a better way for us to launch our incredible Alaskan adventure with Flash, the goshawk at my side. It's a little clue of the great adventure to come. Jeff Corwin: Goshawks belong to an incredibly powerful predatory group of birds known as raptors. These amazing airborne animals come in many shapes and sizes, but for today's adventure, we're connecting with one of the most iconic of them all, the bald eagle. Bald eagles are sea eagles that feed on fish, but also a variety of other forms of prey. They're one of North America's largest birds of prey. They build massive nests and they can live for decades. Jeff Corwin: This morning, we're visiting the world-renowned Alaska Raptor Center to help return a young bald eagle named Diesel back to the wild. Dr. V: This could be a challenge. Jeff Corwin: Why? Dr. V: The bird's up there. Jeff Corwin: Diesel was rescued and brought to the Raptor Center a few months ago after being hit by a car. But today, Diesel has recovered and this bald eagle is ready to fly. Dr. V: The goal is to get the eagle in a corner. We're going to have to move fast. Jeff Corwin: In order to get Diesel back into the wild, first we'll need to capture him. Jeff Corwin: All right. Dr. V: I'm going to have you... Actually don't throw your blanket, but let's just flick it and see. Jeff Corwin: See if we can get him to go down. Dr. V: That's all we needed. Jeff Corwin: Yeah. Dr. V: All right. It's good. You've got your... All right. We're going to move in slowly. Block its exit over there. There you go. Good. Jeff Corwin: There we go. Dr. V: Okay. What have you got? Okay. Are you going to let go? Nope. I am going to give this bird to you, but I want you to keep it really low because her head isn't covered. Jeff Corwin: Okay. Dr. V: So I'm going to keep a hold of things. Jeff Corwin: Yeah, I got them. Jeff Corwin: It will take a few more years for Diesel's feathers to develop the iconic white crown of adult bald eagles. Jeff Corwin: So what do you want to do to kind of keep the stress level down? Dr. V: Once we take away the visual stimulus on this bird, it's going to calm down. Jeff Corwin: So Diesel came to the Raptor Center in early summer. Diesel had a run in with an automobile. Dr. V: Yes. We've hit our character count. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure across the Great Plains of the United States on a mission to understand the connection between the incredible species that call it home. First, Jeff travels

Join host Jeff Corwin on an epic adventure across the Great Plains of the United States on a mission to understand the connection between the incredible species that call it home. First, Jeff travels to the Canadian border to help Native American tribes re-establish bison across tribal lands. Jeff learns how ancient bison herds once shaped the Great Plains and how modern conservationists are fighting to bring those herds back. Later, Jeff works with biologists to manage a delicate population of black-footed ferrets, a species once believed to be extinct. Jeff discovers how wild bison play a vital role in ferret survival and the survival of the Great Plains themselves. Video transcript: Jeff Corwin: The black-footed ferret was once believed to be extinct, but thanks to critical conservation work, and a little bit of luck, this incredible species has been rescued from the brink. Unfortunately, there are only about 400 left in the wild. In order to protect this fragile population, scientists first need to find them. Jeff Corwin: We're back in Montana, this time visiting the Fort Belknap Indian Community, home of the A'aninin and Nakoda tribes. I'm with canine field specialist Melissa Steen and Tule, one of the best black-footed ferret finders in the business. Jeff Corwin: So she's basically going from whole to whole sniffing for the presence of a black-footed ferret. Melissa Steen: There she goes. Jeff Corwin: So what's that behavior mean? Melissa Steen: So when she sits she's telling me she's found something. Jeff Corwin: So these are actually the borrows of prairie dogs from two to 10 feet into the earth, all snaking and twisting and rooting together. And there's potentially a black-footed ferret here taking advantage of the presence of prairie dogs, because they depend on prairie dogs. Jeff Corwin: Prairie dogs are a keystone species. Approximately 150 other species benefit or depend upon prairie dogs for survival, especially the black-footed ferret. Tragically in the 1900s widespread habitat destruction and the arrival of a disease called Sylvatic plague reduced the population by more than 95%. Without prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret almost completely disappeared. The few that remain here at Fort Belknap are some of the last on earth. Melissa Steen: So what we do now is we are going to flag this hole. Tule. Good girl. Then I'm going to take my GPS and mark this spot. And that will help inform where they send people out tonight to help look for the ferret. Jeff Corwin: So the next layer of this incredible conservation project with black-footed ferrets takes us to the spotlight team. Jeff Corwin: Darkness falls quickly over the prairie and I'm teaming up with Chamois Andersen from Defenders of Wildlife. Jeff Corwin: Chamois, just kind of going over the horizon with this spotlight. And what are you looking for? Chamois Anderssen: Yeah, I'm scanning the prairie for what are green eyes, the sheen of the ferret's eyes are green. They look like emeralds. And they're close to the ground, dipping in and out of the prairie dog burrows. It's sort of like playing tag. Jeff Corwin: Finally we find a black-footed ferret. Jeff Corwin: All right. So this is where proof is in the pudding. Jeff Corwin: The black-footed ferret only survives in this subterranean community of prairie dogs. Now do you just put it in the front? Chamois Anderssen: Just straight out like that. Yeah. Correct. And then you want to kind of cover it with the blanket and then we'll take a GPS reading. Jeff Corwin: Okay. So way point is saved. The trap is set. Jeff Corwin: This creature, for all intents and purposes, it was extinct. What happened? Chamois Anderssen: A dog named Shep on a ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming found a dead black-footed ferret on the property and brought it home to its owners. That's how we realized it was no longer extinct. Jeff Corwin: But as irony would have it, soon after discovery, disease came and wiped out most of those surviving ferrets, didn't it? Chamois Anderssen: Yeah. Jeff Corwin: What caused this collapse, Chamois? Chamois Anderssen: It's Sylvatic plague. When we see these prairie dog towns start to decline because of plague, ferrets quickly blink out. So if we can keep plague at bay, ferrets are healthy again. Jeff Corwin: All right. My friends, an hour has passed. I'm going to check our trap. Look, furry, little body. The hatch is closed. We've got a ferret. All right. To the camper. Jeff Corwin: We take this precious ferret to our field station where biologist Jessica Alexander will collect vital data and administer a life saving vaccine. Jeff Corwin: All right. What's the plan, Jess? Jessica Alexander: So we're going to move this ferret into the induction chamber. Jeff Corwin: Okay. Jessica Alexander: So set it down right here so it's lined up with the front, the end of the trap. We've hit our character limit. Leave us a comment for the rest of the transcript.

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Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure across central Florida to connect with the giant manatee! This weekend Jeff uncovers the harsh realities manatees face in the wild and works with

Join host Jeff Corwin on an adventure across central Florida to connect with the giant manatee! This weekend Jeff uncovers the harsh realities manatees face in the wild and works with conservationists who are racing to save this iconic species. To learn more about the wildlife featured in the episode, visit www.defenders.org/wildlifenation Video Transcript: Jeff Corwin: Today's conservation mission begins in central Florida, home to the stunningly beautiful Silver River. Jeff Corwin: Just look how clean the water is here. We can see in some cases, right to the bottom 20 plus feet deep. We can see the various fish species milling about, big river turtles and large mouth bass. All of them sharing this vital habitat. Jeff Corwin: I'm here with Liz Neville from Defenders of Wildlife. Their mission is to help protect and restore Florida's wetland wilderness. Jeff Corwin: This is old wild Florida, isn't it? Liz Neville: It is, Jeff. This to me is the reason to come to Florida. It's beautiful. The peace that I feel from being out here is unlike anything else. Jeff Corwin: The Silver River flows into the mighty Ocklawaha River at the heart of the great Florida riverway. This vast 217 mile system of rivers and springs flows north from central Florida to the Atlantic Ocean. It is critical habitat to countless species, including manatees. Manatees are big, typically 10 feet long and weighing around a thousand pounds. They're curious, slow moving, and spend most of the day grazing on seagrass. Jeff Corwin: They're also constantly migrating through Florida's rivers and coastal habitats to survive. The greatest long term threat to manatees is a loss of warm water habitat and restoring more areas of natural warm water habitat will ensure the manatee's future. The beauty about Silver River is that it has a relatively constant temperature. So when we get those very dangerous cold snaps, which happen here in Florida in winter, manatees can come here and survive. Jeff Corwin: Unfortunately, many manatees are cut off from places like Silver River due to manmade barriers. The Kirkpatrick Dam is a good example. It was built in the 1960s and has obstructed the large scale migration of manatees ever since. Restoring a free flowing Ocklawaha River will not only give manatees better access to Silver River and Silver Springs, but will also provide them with essential, warm water winter habitat and many of Ocklawaha's 20 freshwater Springs, which are currently not accessible due to high water levels from the dam. Jeff Corwin: The reality is there are decisions that happened decades ago that are impacting the environmental integrity of Florida today. Liz Neville: Jeff, it's really about coexistence at the end of the day. So much of the appeal of living in Florida is the beautiful natural environment and the wildlife that we have. So the key to continuing a survival of species and also ensuring a good human quality of life is to work with nature and not against her. Jeff Corwin: In recent years, Florida waterways have seen a dramatic increase in harmful algae blooms. These algae blooms are killing other native vegetation that provide food to manatees and other species. Tragically today, more manatees are dying than any other time in Florida's recorded history. Conservationists are racing to save this keystone species before it's too late.

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