The Kratt brothers, Chris and Martin, are known for taking their fans on wild adventures with creatures of all kinds—from the tiny to the mighty – during their PBS Kids television show “Wild Kratts.”
When they sought to explore one of the Appalachian region’s most legendary and elusive creatures — the hellbender salamander — for an upcoming episode, they turned to Virginia Tech wildlife expert William Hopkins as their guide.
“When the Kratt brothers reached out for assistance with this episode, I was thrilled to collaborate,” said Hopkins, director of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute’s Global Change Center and professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. “Their ability to translate complex scientific information into accurate, accessible, adventurous, and fun educational programming was one of the most unique science communication experiences of my career.”
The episode will air on Nov. 4 at 7 a.m. ET on Blue Ridge PBS.
Chris and Martin Kratt introduce each “Wild Kratts” episode with a live action segment that imagines what it would be like to experience a never-before-seen wildlife moment and asks “what if” before transitioning into an animated adventure.
During this portion of the episode titled “Salamander Streaming,” Hopkins helps the brothers get up close and personal with these slippery, ancient amphibians. They learn about the fascinating aspects of the hellbender’s biology and how human activities threaten these salamanders’ habitats.
As Chris and Martin Kratt navigate the icy streams, viewers will learn about the importance of stream conservation and how creatures like the hellbender are directly impacted by changes to their environment.
