Ep 2. City Critters
- TV-Y
- June 4, 1996
- 27 min
In Kratts' Creatures season 1 episode 2 titled "City Critters", the Kratt brothers embark on an exciting adventure to explore the wildlife that thrives in the urban jungle: the city.
As the episode begins, Martin and Chris Kratt discuss the vast difference between the city and the wilderness. They observe how people have replaced the habitats of the animals in the city with buildings and sidewalks, leaving all creatures to adapt to their new surroundings. The Kratt brothers soon learn that although cities may seem devoid of wildlife, there are many species that exist within the city limits.
The brothers' first stop is a park within the city, where they discover common urban wildlife like pigeons and squirrels. The Kratt brothers explain how these animals have evolved to live within the city, using cars and buildings as a part of their natural habitat.
As they continue their journey, the brothers find themselves in the middle of a mouse infestation in a local restaurant. They explain how mice are able to survive in the city, relying on discarded food and trash cans as their primary food source. The Kratt brothers even demonstrate how to properly seal off spaces in homes and restaurants to ensure that pests like mice cannot enter.
Next up, the Kratt brothers head to a nearby pond, which they find is filled with many different species of fish. Through their exploration of the pond, they discuss how the runoff from the city can harm aquatic life. They explain the need for conservation techniques in cities, to protect these valuable species.
The brothers then set off into the world of bugs, where they encounter a colony of ants. Chris explains how ants are able to thrive in the city, using cracks in sidewalks and molds to build their homes. They even have some fun drawing parallels between the hardworking ants and the bustling businesspeople of the city.
As they continue on their journey, the Kratt brothers come across a park that has been completely taken over by Canada geese. They explain how these birds have adapted to the city environment and how humans can coexist with them by avoiding feeding them.
The episode ends with the Kratt brothers observing some raccoons scavenging for food, using their intelligence and problem-solving abilities to get their meal.
"City Critters" is an excellent episode that educates viewers on the diverse wildlife that thrives in the city. The Kratt brothers successfully demonstrate how humans can coexist with the animals and how important it is to understand their new habitats. This insight and understanding can help cities become more sustainable and work towards protecting these valuable species for future generations.