New TV series shows off what makes NC wildlife special. How and when to watch

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North Carolina boasts so many natural wonders — and soon they will get their moment in the spotlight.

Wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin will show off the state in a new TV series, which is set to premiere nationwide on ABC stations this fall.

“Filmed across North Carolina, ‘Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild’ follows Corwin from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast as he explores the wildlife, wild places and passionate people that make the Tar Heel State one of the country’s most remarkable natural environments,” Hearst Media Production Group wrote Tuesday, Sept. 1 in a news release.

Here’s what we know about the show and when you can watch it.

“Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild” was entirely filmed in North Carolina, and a trailer posted online shows mountain and coastal landscapes. The show said it will highlight creatures across the state, ranging from black bears to alligators.

“North Carolina is an extraordinary place to tell stories about wildlife,” Corwin said in the release. “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.”

The show was created through a partnership with Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, a mountain town roughly 100 miles west from Winston-Salem. Throughout the series, viewers can expect to see the school’s students and instructors in action.

“North Carolina is a living classroom for our students,” Lee King, president of the college, said in the release. “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.”

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“Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild” is set to debut Saturday, Oct. 3. The 10-episode season will air across the country as part of ABC’s slate of weekend educational programs.

Show times vary, so you may want to check local listings as the premiere date approaches. Viewers will be able to watch the show on ABC stations, including WSOC-TV in Charlotte and ABC11 in the Raleigh area, a Hearst Media Production Group spokesperson told The News & Observer via email.

“Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild” joins other recent shows filmed in North Carolina, including the Disney pilot of “Saltwater” and the ABC crime drama “R.J. Decker.”

The Netflix series “The Hunting Wives” also has been shot in the state. But after a change in production incentives, the show is moving its third season of filming to somewhere else, likely Georgia, CharlotteFive previously reported.

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This story was originally published September 1, 2026 at 3:20 PM with the headline “New TV series shows off what makes NC wildlife special. How and when to watch.”