In the mean time...we wanted to share with you Coyote's 10 most incredible moments from filming the episode. Enjoy the Adventure!
1) Not more then 15 minutes into a jungle of razor grass, Coyote and the team found themselves webbed in wall to wall by Giant Black and Yellow Argiope Spiders! This one in specific was spotted by cameraman Chammp Swaggerty...as it creepily crawled its way up Coyote's back and toward his neck.
The exact alert to Coyote was relayed as such: Chammp - Coyote...there is a spider on your back.
Coyote - Is it big?
Chammp - Um....you might say that...
In a cool moment of panic Coyote managed to get the ornery arachnid off of his shoulder and onto a cattail. Close call...this is not a spider you want to get bit by!
2) After some 8 legged insanity the adventure led us to a soupy bog of duckweed and nastiness...this is where we encountered our first amphibian of the trip...a beautiful American Bull Frog.
This was a very fun segment to film and a great opening to the show, we can't wait for folks to see this one!3) Where you find frogs...you are going to find their nemesis...snakes. The Northern Water Snake is one of the most common snakes in the wetland environment. Which is good news if you are looking for snakes...but make no mistake, this is no Garter Snake...these beasts are incredibly aggressive and have an anticoagulant in their saliva that will cause bites to bleed for a looooong time.
Not a species we recommend you try and catch...unless you have a desire to bleed! This segment is sure to give the audience just the right amount of slither to put them on the edge of their seats. 4) From Snakes to turtles...the capture of this Midland Painted Turtle was far easier imagined then executed. During the capture...Coyote had to run and jump into a log strewn stretch of the marsh and in the process almost broke his ankle.
The Midland Painted Turtle is probably one of the safest turtles to capture, however, getting close enough to ever get your hands on one is another story! 5) Is it possible to film a sequence where the two most popular amphibians on the planet are captured at the same exact time?
YES it is! The Northern Green Frog and the American Toad. Only Coyote would find himself with hands full of amphibians for the camera. This was a great segment and really gives you a great, up-close look at the difference between frog and toad! 6) Most people would probably be afraid of snakes and snapping turtles when going into a swamp. Do you want to know what Coyote Peterson is afraid of?
GIANT WATER BEETLES! With a set of pincers that can put a serious hurt on...its no wonder their nick name is Swamp Scorpion! Gotta face your fears at some point...and for Coyote...capturing this one with bare hands was that moment of truth!7 and 8) These two go hand in hand. Moment 7 was climbing up into Tree Beard from Lord of the Rings. At this height Coyote is about 30 feet up...a great vantage point to scout for Snapping Turtles!
Moment 8 was the down climb...
Which can often times be a lot easier then the up. Sure Coyote could have climbed all the way down...but good television involves Brilliant Moments of Danger! Jumping out of a tree into muddy swamp water is the kind of moment Peterson lives for! 9) The grand moment we had been waiting for...the encounter with a true Swamp Monster, the Common Snapping Turtle...and then...as if the scenario of deep mud, claws and razor sharp jaws wasn't enough, things became a little more precarious when a second Snapping Turtle was stumbled upon.
Filming this sequence was a rush of adrenaline like none other...and it was either get it right...or go home with missing fingers! Things got pretty hairy at points...but you will have to wait for the finished episode to see if Coyote ever got this situation under control! 10) A moment of appreciation between Man and Beast. Filming the Test Pilot was one heck of a ride!
Stay tuned for more updates...and we look forward to sharing the finished Test Pilot with everyone soon! This...is The Reptile Show!
very cool!
ReplyDelete"Good television involves Brilliant Moments of Danger!" Well said, Coyote.
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