Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Nat Geo WILD Series Features Billie Swamp Safari
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YOUR JOB MAY HAVE YOU SWAMPED, BUT
EVERY MAN HOLDS HIS OWN IN THE WILD!
Nat Geo Wild Follows Professional Swamp Men
Who Rescue, Relocate and Rehabilitate Wildlife
Deep in Florida’s Everglades
“This is part of the Everglades. This is a dangerous place.
If you ain’t careful, you could get hurt real bad out here.” — Ed Woods
Swamp Men Premieres Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD
(WASHINGTON, D.C. — MARCH 15, 2010) In the Everglades’ Big Cypress Swamp, more than 1,600 animals roam wild on thousands of acres in a park run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Best described as controlled chaos, the Billie Swamp Safari offers visitors face-to-face encounters with ostriches, American bison, African elan, wild alligators, venomous snakes, wild hogs, raccoons and virtually every other animal found near the swamp. The goal is to immerse visitors in the wild, in accordance with the Seminoles’ love of harmony with nature, but sometimes these close encounters can mean trouble for people and wildlife. It’s up to the park’s director, Ed Woods, and his tough team of self-described Swamp Men to patrol the land, relocate animals from dangerous situations and rescue animals in need.
Nat Geo WILD’s new series Swamp Men, premiering Monday, May 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, rides along with Ed and his staff as they work to maintain safety at the Safari. They are considered among the best wild animal wranglers, and each day brings new tests of their skills with bears, alligators, wild hogs and panthers that inhabit the Everglades. Ed’s dedicated staff includes Paul, expert alligator catcher; Cory, animal trapper; and newbies Matt, Lawrence and Shea. All share a passion for wildlife and a willingness to get down and dirty, as they face new swamp adventures every day.
Premiere episodes include:
Swamp Men: Newbies
Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Park director Ed Woods responds to an emergency call — an imposing 11-foot alligator camped under a dock where guests are coming to visit — and calls in Paul, expert alligator catcher. On the other side of Billie Swamp Safari, a razor-tusked wild hog tests Cory’s animal-trapping skills. And, newbies Matt and Shea learn how to capture trespassing raccoons and tackle alligators. Their skills are quickly put to work as they rescue a clutch of baby gators from being eaten by a hungry bull gator.
Swamp Men: Croc Escape
Monday, May 10, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Houdini is a 9-foot-long Nile croc that earned his name from being a renegade on the loose for more than 12 years! Ed and his team head deep into the swamp in an all-out effort to catch this legendary escape artist. Their plan includes blocking his escape by building a fence along a canal bottom, even as they dodge rattlesnakes and a 700-Ib bull gator. Then, Shea, Lawrence and Matt are finally initiated into the Swamp Men team — but not before spending the night alone in the swamp with only a knife and one other item each. Watch the boys learn from Ed as they build their own shelter and fire, and scavenge for “survival stew.”
Swamp Men: Break-In Bear
Monday, May 17, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
The staff at Billie Swamp Safari is faced with the challenge of capturing a black bear threatening the food source for other animals in the reservation. When the bear doesn’t fall for a bait of peanut butter and molasses, Ed has to up the ante to attract the hungry menace. Then, a dangerous cold front means animal wranglers John and Hans must move tropical reptiles indoors, which is no easy feat with a monitor lizard that lashes out with formidable claws. Finally, the team must work together to relocate a herd of ornery American bison due to a population explosion.
Swamp Men: Panther Down
Monday, May 24, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Ed gets an emergency call regarding one of the swamp’s most endangered predators, the Florida panther. Field officers worry that the panther might be in distress from its radio collar, or may have died from a lethal encounter of another sort. Across the park, a barred owl has been hit by a car and rushed to the nearest clinic with multiple life-threatening injuries. Back at headquarters, the nuisance hogs are at it again — destroying property and vegetation, and gorging on animals’ feed. Cory and the guys try to catch them, but instead find their traps attract a massive bison that wasn’t part of the plan.
Swamp Men is produced by Spectrum Productions, Inc., for Nat Geo WILD. For Spectrum, executive producer and director is Guy Nickerson. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Noah Morowitz; senior vice president, development and production, is Geoff Daniels.
For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.
# # #
NAT GEO WILD
For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. Now the animal kingdom is taking center stage on a brand-new network, Nat Geo WILD. Offering intimate encounters with nature’s ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD will draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists who have long-standing relationships with the National Geographic Society. Nat Geo WILD is a joint venture between Fox Cable Networks (FCN) and National Geographic Ventures (NGV) ― the same partnership behind the National Geographic Channel (NGC), which launched January 2001 and has since been one the most successful new networks on the landscape. Nat Geo WILD launched globally more than three years ago and is the fastest growing channel among the international portfolio of National Geographic networks.
About Billie Swamp Safari
Billie Swamp Safari is a wildlife park of the Seminole Tribe of Florida located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in the heart of the Florida Everglades. It encompasses 2,200 untamed acres of Florida Everglades and offers airboat rides, swamp buggy eco-tours, animal and reptile shows and more. The staff cares for more than 1,500 native and exotic animals, from alligators, panthers, bison and venomous snakes to African elan, ostrich, nilgai and crocodiles. For more information, call 800-GO-SAFARI or 863-983-6101, or visit www.billieswampsafari.travel.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Russell Howard, Nat Geo WILD / National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6652, RHoward@natgeochannel.com
Chris Albert, Nat Geo WILD / National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6526, CAlbert@natgeochannel.com
TV: Dara Klatt, 202-912-6720, Dara.Klatt@natgeochannel.com
Radio: Johanna Ramos Boyer, 703-646-5137, Johanna@jrbcomm.com
Print: Erin Griffin, 202-912-6632, erin.griffin@natgeochannel.com
Digital: Minjae Ormes, 917-539-7646, minjae@minjaeormes.com
Photos: Doan Nguyen, 202-912-6708, donguyen@ngs.org
BILLIE SWAMP SAFARI CONTACT:
Cindy Malin, 954-614-6848, cmalin@semtribe.com
NGWILD-008-022210
YOUR JOB MAY HAVE YOU SWAMPED, BUT
EVERY MAN HOLDS HIS OWN IN THE WILD!
Nat Geo Wild Follows Professional Swamp Men
Who Rescue, Relocate and Rehabilitate Wildlife
Deep in Florida’s Everglades
“This is part of the Everglades. This is a dangerous place.
If you ain’t careful, you could get hurt real bad out here.” — Ed Woods
Swamp Men Premieres Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD
(WASHINGTON, D.C. — MARCH 15, 2010) In the Everglades’ Big Cypress Swamp, more than 1,600 animals roam wild on thousands of acres in a park run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Best described as controlled chaos, the Billie Swamp Safari offers visitors face-to-face encounters with ostriches, American bison, African elan, wild alligators, venomous snakes, wild hogs, raccoons and virtually every other animal found near the swamp. The goal is to immerse visitors in the wild, in accordance with the Seminoles’ love of harmony with nature, but sometimes these close encounters can mean trouble for people and wildlife. It’s up to the park’s director, Ed Woods, and his tough team of self-described Swamp Men to patrol the land, relocate animals from dangerous situations and rescue animals in need.
Nat Geo WILD’s new series Swamp Men, premiering Monday, May 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, rides along with Ed and his staff as they work to maintain safety at the Safari. They are considered among the best wild animal wranglers, and each day brings new tests of their skills with bears, alligators, wild hogs and panthers that inhabit the Everglades. Ed’s dedicated staff includes Paul, expert alligator catcher; Cory, animal trapper; and newbies Matt, Lawrence and Shea. All share a passion for wildlife and a willingness to get down and dirty, as they face new swamp adventures every day.
Premiere episodes include:
Swamp Men: Newbies
Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Park director Ed Woods responds to an emergency call — an imposing 11-foot alligator camped under a dock where guests are coming to visit — and calls in Paul, expert alligator catcher. On the other side of Billie Swamp Safari, a razor-tusked wild hog tests Cory’s animal-trapping skills. And, newbies Matt and Shea learn how to capture trespassing raccoons and tackle alligators. Their skills are quickly put to work as they rescue a clutch of baby gators from being eaten by a hungry bull gator.
Swamp Men: Croc Escape
Monday, May 10, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Houdini is a 9-foot-long Nile croc that earned his name from being a renegade on the loose for more than 12 years! Ed and his team head deep into the swamp in an all-out effort to catch this legendary escape artist. Their plan includes blocking his escape by building a fence along a canal bottom, even as they dodge rattlesnakes and a 700-Ib bull gator. Then, Shea, Lawrence and Matt are finally initiated into the Swamp Men team — but not before spending the night alone in the swamp with only a knife and one other item each. Watch the boys learn from Ed as they build their own shelter and fire, and scavenge for “survival stew.”
Swamp Men: Break-In Bear
Monday, May 17, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
The staff at Billie Swamp Safari is faced with the challenge of capturing a black bear threatening the food source for other animals in the reservation. When the bear doesn’t fall for a bait of peanut butter and molasses, Ed has to up the ante to attract the hungry menace. Then, a dangerous cold front means animal wranglers John and Hans must move tropical reptiles indoors, which is no easy feat with a monitor lizard that lashes out with formidable claws. Finally, the team must work together to relocate a herd of ornery American bison due to a population explosion.
Swamp Men: Panther Down
Monday, May 24, 2010, at 10 PM ET/PT
Ed gets an emergency call regarding one of the swamp’s most endangered predators, the Florida panther. Field officers worry that the panther might be in distress from its radio collar, or may have died from a lethal encounter of another sort. Across the park, a barred owl has been hit by a car and rushed to the nearest clinic with multiple life-threatening injuries. Back at headquarters, the nuisance hogs are at it again — destroying property and vegetation, and gorging on animals’ feed. Cory and the guys try to catch them, but instead find their traps attract a massive bison that wasn’t part of the plan.
Swamp Men is produced by Spectrum Productions, Inc., for Nat Geo WILD. For Spectrum, executive producer and director is Guy Nickerson. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Noah Morowitz; senior vice president, development and production, is Geoff Daniels.
For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.
# # #
NAT GEO WILD
For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. Now the animal kingdom is taking center stage on a brand-new network, Nat Geo WILD. Offering intimate encounters with nature’s ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD will draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists who have long-standing relationships with the National Geographic Society. Nat Geo WILD is a joint venture between Fox Cable Networks (FCN) and National Geographic Ventures (NGV) ― the same partnership behind the National Geographic Channel (NGC), which launched January 2001 and has since been one the most successful new networks on the landscape. Nat Geo WILD launched globally more than three years ago and is the fastest growing channel among the international portfolio of National Geographic networks.
About Billie Swamp Safari
Billie Swamp Safari is a wildlife park of the Seminole Tribe of Florida located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in the heart of the Florida Everglades. It encompasses 2,200 untamed acres of Florida Everglades and offers airboat rides, swamp buggy eco-tours, animal and reptile shows and more. The staff cares for more than 1,500 native and exotic animals, from alligators, panthers, bison and venomous snakes to African elan, ostrich, nilgai and crocodiles. For more information, call 800-GO-SAFARI or 863-983-6101, or visit www.billieswampsafari.travel.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Russell Howard, Nat Geo WILD / National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6652, RHoward@natgeochannel.com
Chris Albert, Nat Geo WILD / National Geographic Channel, 202-912-6526, CAlbert@natgeochannel.com
TV: Dara Klatt, 202-912-6720, Dara.Klatt@natgeochannel.com
Radio: Johanna Ramos Boyer, 703-646-5137, Johanna@jrbcomm.com
Print: Erin Griffin, 202-912-6632, erin.griffin@natgeochannel.com
Digital: Minjae Ormes, 917-539-7646, minjae@minjaeormes.com
Photos: Doan Nguyen, 202-912-6708, donguyen@ngs.org
BILLIE SWAMP SAFARI CONTACT:
Cindy Malin, 954-614-6848, cmalin@semtribe.com
NGWILD-008-022210
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Relive the Past at the Seminole Tribe of Florida's Big Cypress Shootout
SEMINOLE WAR REENACTMENT, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHT THE
BIG CYPRESS SHOOTOUT
WHAT: The Seminole Tribe of Florida will present a reenactment of the Second Seminole War at the Big Cypress Shootout at Billie Swamp Safari located between Fort Lauderdale and Naples, on the Big Cypress Reservation just north of I-75 (Alligator Alley) Exit 49.
The battle reenactments honor the Seminole’s struggle and sacrifice to remain in their homeland and will feature authentic weapons, soldier and warrior attire and tactics typical of the Second Seminole War.
The three-day event will also include music, Seminole food, Seminole and pioneer artisans, tomahawk throws, primitive archery competition, authentic Seminole and soldier camps, venomous snake shows and alligator wrestling. “Period settlers” from around the country will hew wood, iron and silver crafts and depict trading techniques from the Seminole war era.
Musical guests include: Okefenokee Joe, Benjamin Dehart (The Cracker Tenor) and Cowbone.
WHEN: Friday, February 25 through Sunday, February 27, 2011
The battle reenactments will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE: Billie Swamp Safari, located between Fort Lauderdale and Naples, on the Big Cypress Reservation just north of I-75 (Alligator Alley) Exit 49.
WHO: In the 1830’s, the United States was attempting to enforce its policy of Indian removal. The Seminoles were facing the loss of their homeland and their freedom. After broken treaties and failed peace parleys, the Seminoles took up arms against removal. The US Government thought they could quickly overpower the Seminoles and waged the fiercest of all wars ever waged between the US Government and Native Peoples. They burned settlements and captured, killed and scattered many Seminole families. This seven year war cost more than the American Revolution and involved 52,000 soldiers fighting against less than 2,000 warriors. The Seminoles fought with courage and determination and had a unique knowledge of the land. Although many Seminoles were killed or removed to present-day Oklahoma, they were never defeated, and to this day their 3500 descendants are known as “The Unconquered” Seminole Tribe of Florida.
COST: $7 adults, $5 children
CASH ONLY
CONTACT: For more information, call: 1-800-GO-SAFARI, email: shootout@semtribe.com or visit us online at www.bigcypressshootout.com.
BIG CYPRESS SHOOTOUT
WHAT: The Seminole Tribe of Florida will present a reenactment of the Second Seminole War at the Big Cypress Shootout at Billie Swamp Safari located between Fort Lauderdale and Naples, on the Big Cypress Reservation just north of I-75 (Alligator Alley) Exit 49.
The battle reenactments honor the Seminole’s struggle and sacrifice to remain in their homeland and will feature authentic weapons, soldier and warrior attire and tactics typical of the Second Seminole War.
The three-day event will also include music, Seminole food, Seminole and pioneer artisans, tomahawk throws, primitive archery competition, authentic Seminole and soldier camps, venomous snake shows and alligator wrestling. “Period settlers” from around the country will hew wood, iron and silver crafts and depict trading techniques from the Seminole war era.
Musical guests include: Okefenokee Joe, Benjamin Dehart (The Cracker Tenor) and Cowbone.
WHEN: Friday, February 25 through Sunday, February 27, 2011
The battle reenactments will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE: Billie Swamp Safari, located between Fort Lauderdale and Naples, on the Big Cypress Reservation just north of I-75 (Alligator Alley) Exit 49.
WHO: In the 1830’s, the United States was attempting to enforce its policy of Indian removal. The Seminoles were facing the loss of their homeland and their freedom. After broken treaties and failed peace parleys, the Seminoles took up arms against removal. The US Government thought they could quickly overpower the Seminoles and waged the fiercest of all wars ever waged between the US Government and Native Peoples. They burned settlements and captured, killed and scattered many Seminole families. This seven year war cost more than the American Revolution and involved 52,000 soldiers fighting against less than 2,000 warriors. The Seminoles fought with courage and determination and had a unique knowledge of the land. Although many Seminoles were killed or removed to present-day Oklahoma, they were never defeated, and to this day their 3500 descendants are known as “The Unconquered” Seminole Tribe of Florida.
COST: $7 adults, $5 children
CASH ONLY
CONTACT: For more information, call: 1-800-GO-SAFARI, email: shootout@semtribe.com or visit us online at www.bigcypressshootout.com.
Seminole Recipes
Recipes From the
Seminole Tribe of Florida / Billie Swamp Safari
Every culture has its unique and particular foods and ways of preparing them. Many Seminole people are excellent cooks and food preparers, who specialize in both native and non-native food. Here are some of our best recipes:
Seminole Pumpkin bread
Light Oil
Self Rising Flour
1 Can of Plain Pumpkin (not spicy)
Sugar
Heat a deep, large frying pan with light oil about 1/4" from the top. In a large bowl, pour in self-rising flour - half the bowl;1 can pumpkin (plain) not spicy; Mix with sugar according to how sweet you like your bread; Pour the pumpkin into the flour. Knead the pumpkin with the flour until workable with the hands without sticking. Then pull apart balls and pat flat patties the size of your palms; When the oil is very hot, drop a tiny piece of the batter and if it cooks instantly you are ready to put a patty or patties into the skillet; Fry until it turns golden brown and turn over; Put onto plate with several napkins to catch the excess oil; Use a tooth pick to check the doneness, if gooey, put back and fry a little more. Good Luck! You'll get better with practice. -- Peggy Osceola
Indian Fried Bread
Oil
Self Rising FlourWater
Put flour in large bowl, use one hand to mix the flour while slowly adding water with other hand. You don't need to measure anything. Add the water till the mixture is slightly sticky (you don't want it really wet) If you added too much water just add some more flour. Once you have your dough you need to heat up your oil. This is important! Your oil has to be very hot. Put the oil in a large deep pan. You need enough oil (like 2 1\2 inches deep) the bread should be able to float. Once you have heated your oil up, flour your hands and tear off some of your dough (you can make them as big or as small as you like) Knead the dough in your hands so it’s like a pancake. Keep adding flour to your hands so it’s not sticking. Carefully add the dough to the oil. Remember the oil is hot so don't drop it in. It should only take like 5 seconds on each side. Use a fork to pick it up and turn it over. It should be golden brown color. Place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Making fry bread takes a lot of practice. You probably won't make the best fry bread the first time. Just keep trying. --
Erica Miner
Sofkee
2 quarts of water
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of white rice
3 tablespoon cornstarch
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add 2 cups of rice and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, stirring occasionally to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom. Boil for approximately 12 minutes, lower heat then add teaspoon of baking soda stir frequently until rice is tender. Set and cool until tolerable temperature.
Seminole Tribe of Florida / Billie Swamp Safari
Every culture has its unique and particular foods and ways of preparing them. Many Seminole people are excellent cooks and food preparers, who specialize in both native and non-native food. Here are some of our best recipes:
Seminole Pumpkin bread
Light Oil
Self Rising Flour
1 Can of Plain Pumpkin (not spicy)
Sugar
Heat a deep, large frying pan with light oil about 1/4" from the top. In a large bowl, pour in self-rising flour - half the bowl;1 can pumpkin (plain) not spicy; Mix with sugar according to how sweet you like your bread; Pour the pumpkin into the flour. Knead the pumpkin with the flour until workable with the hands without sticking. Then pull apart balls and pat flat patties the size of your palms; When the oil is very hot, drop a tiny piece of the batter and if it cooks instantly you are ready to put a patty or patties into the skillet; Fry until it turns golden brown and turn over; Put onto plate with several napkins to catch the excess oil; Use a tooth pick to check the doneness, if gooey, put back and fry a little more. Good Luck! You'll get better with practice. -- Peggy Osceola
Indian Fried Bread
Oil
Self Rising FlourWater
Put flour in large bowl, use one hand to mix the flour while slowly adding water with other hand. You don't need to measure anything. Add the water till the mixture is slightly sticky (you don't want it really wet) If you added too much water just add some more flour. Once you have your dough you need to heat up your oil. This is important! Your oil has to be very hot. Put the oil in a large deep pan. You need enough oil (like 2 1\2 inches deep) the bread should be able to float. Once you have heated your oil up, flour your hands and tear off some of your dough (you can make them as big or as small as you like) Knead the dough in your hands so it’s like a pancake. Keep adding flour to your hands so it’s not sticking. Carefully add the dough to the oil. Remember the oil is hot so don't drop it in. It should only take like 5 seconds on each side. Use a fork to pick it up and turn it over. It should be golden brown color. Place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Making fry bread takes a lot of practice. You probably won't make the best fry bread the first time. Just keep trying. --
Erica Miner
Sofkee
2 quarts of water
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of white rice
3 tablespoon cornstarch
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add 2 cups of rice and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, stirring occasionally to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom. Boil for approximately 12 minutes, lower heat then add teaspoon of baking soda stir frequently until rice is tender. Set and cool until tolerable temperature.
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