For Immediate Release

Contact: Kim Wilson
425-868-5599

Moose Mania, a Film by Peter Roberts, to Debut on Animal Planet April 17th

Moose Mania, a light-hearted film by award-winning producer Peter Roberts, will debut on the Animal Planet television channel on Thursday, April 17th, at 6 p.m. Pacific time, 9 p.m. Eastern, (repeats 9 p.m. Pacific, 11 p.m. Central).

The film focuses on the research of a Wildlife Conservation Society biologist who has used some unusual methods — including a two-person moose suit — to study the effects the reintroduction of wolves and grizzlies have had on the moose population in the Grand Teton National Park area.

“The moose suit may look a bit silly but it’s an effective tool for sneaking up on moose to study their reaction to predator smells and sounds,” says Roberts. “The whole idea of the film is to have fun while remaining true to the science.”

Roberts, of Redmond, Wash., spent four years off and on deep in the willow marshes of Grand Teton National Park filming the private lives of moose and wildlife biologist Joel Berger’s quest to study their interactions with wolves and grizzlies.

“Just as Native Americans cloaked themselves in animal hides to stalk prey, Joel uses a moose suit to collect data,” says Roberts. “What he really wanted to find out was whether moose, who hadn’t seen a grizzly or wolf for nearly a century after they were pushed out by humans, would even recognize their long-time foes. Would they be as dumb as dodos and be slaughtered or wise up after a few bloody encounters?”

Although the film focuses on moose, Roberts, who has also produced films on sea otters, loons, eagles and wild horses, says the results of the study could have broader implications for predator reintroduction efforts around the world.

“This is the first systematic study of the effects the reintroduction of two apex predators have had on a prey population in the largest wildlife ecosystem in the lower 48 states,” says Roberts. “But even if you’re not interested in the science, the Grand Tetons scenery is breathtaking and kids will love the moose suit.”

Peter Roberts is president of Peter Roberts Productions, an award-winning natural film production company with offices in Redmond, Wash., and Hackensack, Minn.