Coyote Peterson, author of Brave Adventures, has released a brand new newsletter, read Coyote’s newsletter here.
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| Hey Brave Crew! We have some exciting updates to share with you today. Lately, the Brave Wilderness team has been hard at work to bring you some awesome content! In case you missed it, yesterday on the channel we featured some creatures that we have never featured before! Our first ever East Coast tide pooling episode is out now, and you can see Mark catching some bizarre creatures to create a tide pool aquarium! Head over to our YouTube channel now to watch this adventure. In other news, our Rhino Conservation Challenge has come to an end! We are absolutely blown away by how much money you guys raised to save the rhinos. Thanks to all of you, we were able to collect over $60,000! That is incredible! Big congratulations to our grand prize winner, Drew Bellinston, who raised the most money! Our four runners-up also did an amazing job raising money for the rhinos – thank you to Julie Bloniasz, Mike Bona, Danner Greenfield, and Quinn Proppe! Again, we want to extend a sincere thank you to every single one of you who donated to this cause. Because of you, we were able to save the lives of rhinos! Did you know that we host many giveaways on our new Instagram merch account? If not, be sure to follow @ShopBraveWilderness on Instagram for the chance to win some really cool merch! Our latest giveaway includes a signed field journal by Coyote, and it’s truly a one-of-a-kind prize! Follow the account now to be the first to hear about future merch giveaways. Lastly, here’s a sneak peek of this weekend’s new episode…it features a GIANT snapping turtle! Trust us, this turtle is a behemoth! The brand-new episode premieres at 9am ET only on our YouTube channel. Stay Wild! |
| A Bluegill fish swims through a labyrinth of logs, rocks, and aquatic vegetation. The water visibility changes from silty to clear as the bluegill forages at different depths. Suddenly, a slight movement catches its attention. The fish swims cautiously around the source of movement to better assess the situation, its movements erratic and spastic. Approaching closer, the bluegill sees the outline and color of a worm, a perfect meal. The fish swims down to devour the worm, but with astonishing speed, the bluegill disappears in a cloud of silt and bubbles. The alligator snapping turtle materializes and swallows the bluegill before settling back into position. It opens its mouth, revealing its lure, ready for the next meal. The Alligator Snapping turtle is North America’s largest freshwater turtle species, reaching carapace lengths of over 30 inches and weighing over 200 lbs. Inhabiting lakes, ponds, rivers, bayous, and swamps of the Southeastern Unites States, the alligator snapping turtle is an elusive species that rarely leaves its aquatic realm. An ambush predator, the turtle uses its superb camouflage and a unique hunting technique called “lingual luring” to capture its primary food source — fish. Inside its wide jaws is a modified tongue that mimics a worm. This “vermiform appendage” wiggles around like a worm to attract unsuspecting fish who see the worm as a potential meal. Alligator snapping turtles are opportunistic and will consume other prey items if given the chance. Obtaining a large size takes a long time, and the species is believed to be capable of living well over a hundred years, with individuals reaching maturity around 10-15 years. This slow growing process and maturity leaves the species susceptible to population decline due to pressures of overharvesting their meat and poaching for the pet trade. To better understand these elusive relics and ways to protect them, conservation groups like “Texas Turtles” studies populations of alligator snapping turtles, gathering data to help assess their status. The Brave Wilderness crew had the privilege of helping the team with monitoring efforts through capturing several alligator snapping turtles on a recent production in Cleveland, Texas. This Saturday we have a new Alligator snapping turtle video hitting the channel! Be sure to tune-in starting at 9am EST! |
 Gray Wolves To Be Removed From Endangered Species List Due to the significant reduction of numbers and extirpation of the species from the majority of their range in the lower 48 States, wolves have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1978. A species listed under this act receives federal protection and conservation support to prevent extinction. In the past for example, two species, the American Alligator and the Bald Eagle, were listed for several years, and through conservation efforts rebounded to the point of de-listing with populations currently thriving. 45 years later, the Gray Wolf has been delisted by the Trump administration and Federal Wildlife officials, with the move drawing some controversy. Some, like Interior Secretary Bernhardt, state the species has met “all conservation goals for recovery.” Others believe the delisting is too early and the populations need more time to recover, the fear being that delisted will lead to increased persecution of the species. Delisting of the species allows for States to manage populations and open wolf hunting seasons with Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho already permitting hunting. An increased push from ranchers, who believe their livestock is under threat from wolves, welcomes the decision and open hunting seasons. The reintroduction of wolves back into the lower 48 States has proven the species plays a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics, shaping the entire environment through controlling prey species like deer, elk, and other undulates. Ultimately, the protection of wildlife is not solely dependent on science and research, but also political objectives. Becoming familiar with these political aspects is a necessity for any conservation initiative. Through further awareness, we can use our voice as citizens to influence the outcome of laws concerning wildlife in the United States. – Mario This Tiny Amphibian That Outlived The Dinosaurs Provides The Earliest Example Of A Rapid-fire Tongue Scientists Find Madagascar Chameleon Last Seen 100 Years Ago Fossils Reveal Mammals Mingled In Age Of Dinosaurs |
Brave Adventures
Wild Animals in a Wild World
Animal Stories for Kids: Coyote Peterson’s Brave Adventures: Wild Animals in a Wild World chronicles some of the wildest encounters Coyote Peterson has had over the course of his travels. The stories begin with his first snapping turtle catch as a kid and lead down a trail of incredible moments he and his camera crew have had while filming their Brave Wilderness shows. From a giant alligator that nearly caught Coyote in its bone crushing jaws, to an 800 pound Grizzly Bear that helped him teach the audience what to do and NOT do if you ever encounter one of these enormous predators in the wild, every tale is laced with fast paced action and daring adventure. With the presence of danger often looming for Coyote, each story reminds the reader that animals rule the wild places of this planet, and if we respect them from a safe distance, even the most frightening creatures are more likely to be afraid of us than we should ever be of them.