What does it take to co-host Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild? First and foremost, you must have an in-depth knowledge of animals. But what other skills and characteristics do you need? Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant say there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Discover the education and training they had to complete as well as what all their jobs entail.
How to become a wildlife co-host
Each Wild Kingdom co-host took a different route to land the wildest job in television.
“It’s not like being a doctor where there’s one path where you go to college, you go to medical school, you do residency … this path has so many different avenues,” Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant said.
Marlin Perkins started by working in zoos and hosting “Zoo Parade,” a local wildlife program in Chicago. Jim Fowler’s work with harpy eagles landed him on the “Today Show,” catching the eye of Marlin. Learn more about the classic hosts’ journeys to Wild Kingdom.
Similarly, Peter Gros was discovered by Jim Fowler when they were both on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.” Peter’s Wild Kingdom story started with co-hosting the original series alongside Jim in 1985.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant came into the Wild Kingdom family as a guest host on a pilot episode of Protecting the Wild. Her knowledge, expertise and comfort on camera impressed the team and she was invited to co-host the series with Peter.
One thing every co-host has in common is a history of working with wild animals. Peter went to school for animal behavior and later worked at a wildlife park in California. His work with endangered species led him to being a spokesperson for wildlife conservation.
Dr. Rae studied environmental science and earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution. Her fieldwork took her all over the world, researching various species, with a focus on large carnivores.
A typical day as a wildlife co-host
A day on the Protecting the Wild set is unlike any other TV show. There’s no fabricated sets or hair and makeup artists. And the background actors? Well, they’re seriously wild — wild animals that is! So, everyone has to be flexible.
“We do have to make last minute changes because working with wildlife does have X factors,” Peter said. “You plan for as many things that can happen as possible, you just have to turn and adapt and do the best you can while you’re there.”
On many occasions, call time is at 5:30 a.m. and filming goes into dusk or later.
“For most wild animals, the best time to catch them is at dawn and then some of the best light for filming is at the end of the day,” Dr. Rae said. “So, the days are very, very long. But honestly, they’re pretty wonderful.”
After a long day of filming, the crew returns to their accommodations, which could be a hotel a couple hours away, a research site or even a tent.
“We’re really showcasing the wilderness and wild places. We’re traveling constantly, but we’re not traveling to places that are urban,” Dr. Rae said.
Preparing to film an episode
With so many animals, how does the Wild Kingdom team decide which species to film for each season? Before the season begins, the team comes together to suggest species which show tales of conservation success. Then, the planning begins. The team has to figure out what time of year is best to film each animal and coordinate with on-site scientists and conservationists.
Before an episode, the co-hosts and crew talk with veterinarians, biologists and researchers to learn more about the animals.
“I do as much research as I can online and in my archives,” Peter said. “I look at wildlife behavior and history so the questions I have for the scientists are accurate. One of the most important things we do in our show is disseminate animal information that’s scientific and accurate.”
How do the co-hosts train for an episode?
Sometimes episodes involve special training for the co-hosts so they can safely explore the animal’s habitat and interact with the animal.
“One of the things I love about Wild Kingdom is how authentic our show is,” Dr. Rae said. “Peter and I don’t handle animals on our show unless the biologists approve us to do so. There are many shows where we’re watching, but not handling.”
Both co-hosts have a USDA exhibitor’s license and are certified to handle exotic animals. This involves training to make sure the co-hosts are safely handling the animals, when necessary.
For a Season Two episode, Peter had to take a helicopter ditching course. This is to prepare him if a helicopter he’s in crashes in the ocean. Peter learned how to get out of a crashed aircraft, unclip himself from his seat, hold his breath and get into a life raft or inflate his vest.
Finishing a Wild Kingdom episode
Outside of trainings and filming days, our co-hosts are busy putting the final touches on an episode and promoting the show. Peter estimates about 25% of the job is filming and 75% is research, preparation and post-production.
Nearly each week, both co-hosts complete two-to-three voiceover sessions for the episode, providing openings, transitions and in Peter’s case, a pun or two.
“My sons and I have a family habit of who can out pun each other,” Peter said. “For example, if we’re filming pupfish, we do a count of how many pupfish there are. One of the divers came up with 200 some pupfish. I said, ‘the proof is in the pupfish.’ It’s up to the editor what stays and doesn’t stay. It’s a bit spontaneous.”
Peter and Dr. Rae are also active promoting episodes on social media and local and national media outlets. Follow Peter on Facebook and Dr. Rae on Instagram for an inside look at the series.
Carrying on the Wild Kingdom legacy
Co-hosting Protecting the Wild is the dream job for both Dr. Rae and Peter, but it didn’t come without apprehension. After all, they’d be following in the footsteps of two TV greats — Marlin and Jim.
“It’s a legacy show,” Dr. Rae said. “I felt very strongly like I belonged, I was welcomed, I felt included, but I felt intimidated.”
“I was most definitely intimidated,” Peter said. “Marlin and Jim were legends. I wasn’t sure I was ready to fill those really large, impressive shoes. They had an imprint they left on conservation after all these years. But Jim took me under his wing, and he was a great mentor. I think that helped me a lot to do the same with Dr. Rae.”
See how filming Wild Kingdom has changed over the years.
Advice for future wildlife co-hosts
Though there isn’t a “Wild Kingdom co-host” course of study in college, the co-hosts encourage those who are interested in science communications to educate themselves about wildlife.
“Get out and talk to as many people in the field as you can,” Peter said. “You’d be amazed at how many people are open to sharing their jobs. Do your homework and find out what the job really entails. It’s not always what it seems to be. Be committed to volunteering or interning.”
For Dr. Rae, being a wildlife show host was something she’d always dreamed of. But she also realizes that no matter where life takes her, she wants to always talk about nature to the public.
“If I told 15-year-old Rae, ‘you’re going to be co-hosting the No. 1 weekend wildlife show in America,’ she’d say, ‘really? Me, who has a D in math? Me who doesn’t feel confident in how I looked?’ I think that version of me would have wanted to hear that I nailed it,” Dr. Rae said.
Wild Kingdom then and now
Co-hosting Wild Kingdom brings new surprises every day and the co-hosts hope that they’re inspiring the next generation just as Marlin and Jim did.
“It’s most exciting to me, coming along after Jim and Marlin spent all those years educating people,” Peter said. “Some of the animals we talk about, such as eagles, wolves, alligators, they were animals on the endangered species list in the classic show. It shows that if we all work together, we can save these species before they disappear. I’m a complete optimist that we can save the remaining wildlife and wild lands in the natural world.”
