Jeff Corwin will return to national television this fall with “Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild,” a new wildlife conservation series from Hearst Media Production Group (HMPG) and Lees-McRae College, the organizations announced on Tuesday.
The series will premiere during the first week of October and will air weekend mornings on ABC stations nationwide as part of the “Weekend Adventure” educational and informational programming block. Air times will vary by market.
Filmed across North Carolina, “Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild” follows Corwin from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast as he explores the state’s wildlife, conservation work and natural environments. Episodes will feature bats, salamanders, black bears, alligators, sea turtles and native fish, along with wildlife rescue and conservation efforts taking place across the state.
The series will also feature scientists, wildlife experts and conservationists, as well as students, educators and alumni from Lees-McRae College. Their work in wildlife biology, animal rehabilitation and conservation will be used to show how the next generation of environmental professionals is being trained.
“North Carolina is an extraordinary place to tell stories about wildlife,” Corwin said. “But what excites me most about ‘Southern Wild’ is that we’re not only encountering incredible animals — we’re meeting the people who have dedicated their lives to understanding and conserving them and working alongside students who will carry that mission into the future.”
Lee King, the President of Lees-McRae College, said the series gives the school a national platform to highlight its experiential learning programs.
“North Carolina is a living classroom for our students,” King said in a statement on Tuesday. “From actively caring for animals at our rehab center and leading research at our nature preserve, to working with conservation partners across the state, our students are already leaders in wildlife sciences.”
Bryan Curb, the President of Hearst Media Production Group, said the series aligns with HMPG’s educational programming strategy.
“Bringing together Jeff Corwin’s passion for wildlife with the hands-on conservation work at Lees-McRae College makes this series a natural and compelling fit for our viewers,” Curb said.
Corwin has hosted more than a dozen television series seen in more than 100 countries over a career spanning more than three decades. He has previously worked with HMPG on “Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin” and “Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin.”
Hearst Media Production Group produces more than 30 original series and hundreds of hours of programming annually for broadcast, connected television and streaming platforms. Its library includes 85 series and 6,000 episodes distributed in 100 countries.
