Season 2! Enjoy the show
Who put the squirrels in charge?!!!
Back by popular demand, the critters are on another bold mission to tell the stories of the boreal forest – a place you didn’t know you didn’t even know… Tune in to discover brave new worlds, nature's realities (with twists), and heroic ecosystems that are super-influencers for the health of the planet.
Northern Tails is a puppet-powered wildlife web series with heart, smarts and silly bits – an original mash-up of The Muppets and Planet Earth. It's created for general audiences and appeals to all ages – nostalgic and new, the young and young-at heart.
Watch Season 1 episodes & extras
EPISODE 1 | Spring has sprung, but only Scout and Eleanor are up and at ‘em. While the guys on the crew hit the hibernation snooze button (curses climate change!!!), the girls launch their new TV station. Michael Jay chats with boreal critters who survive winter in wildly different ways. Just as filming wraps, the boys have a rude awakening when Brian the Bear releases his hibernation “cork” in their burrow and answers the age-old question: does a bear poop in the woods?
EPISODE 2 | A beloved member of the film crew gets abducted by an eagle and Scout rallies her team for a rescue mission. The squirrels brace themselves for danger in the squishy, spooky wetlands, but when they stumble upon a bedazzling bog they’re awestruck. Marsha Fenway is hosting "Bog's Got Talent” and the crew livestreams the spectacle from the broadcast station. During the final performance, the long-lost friend arrives just in time to save all but one of the critters from the eagle, reminding the crowd that the wild keeps it real and bog is life.
EPISODE 3 | Isabelle launches a summer travel vlog to capture her annual migration to the high alpine where woodland caribou seek refuge from dreaded swarms of mosquitoes in the boreal. At the same time, the channel releases a new cooking roadshow hosted by an outrageous mosquito duo who share their favourite forest “pairings”. The two productions collide in a dramatic finale. Who will survive? Nature takes its course…
EPISODE 4 | Winston wants a girlfriend and Scout creates a makeover show starring a cast of gurus to help him attract a mate. Isabelle coaches him on some caribou sparring techniques, Lou concocts a nose-curling beaver cologne, Bruno teaches him a swoony wolf serenade, and Klaus the grouse schools him on an elaborate courtship dance. But nothing works and Winston thinks he’s destined to fly solo. Then, Jackie reminds him to be just himself. He finally finds forever-love the old-fashioned raven way: by riding the wind.
Episode 5 | Scout lands a contract to make an instructional video to help bears stay safe from people. To research human behaviour, they send Brian the bear undercover into an office – the most befuddling habitat of all. They produce an informative documentary but Isabelle says the messaging needs to be more relatable so Brian teams up with the ground squirrels and they create a catchy rap promo video. Isabelle posts it on her social media channels and it’s a surprise viral hit that teaches bears – and humans – how they can share the boreal with respect for each other.
Episode 6 | Winter is on its way and the ground squirrels are getting ready for their long hibernation nap. To set the mood, Scout queues up a playlist of old black-and-white classics. But Alex can’t sleep. He’s hooked on a detective film about the mysterious disappearance of water in the boreal. Detective Wolf is on the case, sniffing out some muddy clues and shadowy characters. He gets a tip from a fox with connections in “humantown”. It seems that their activity has been meddling with the ecosystem and reshaping the land. Can a lone wolf make a difference, or will people and creatures have to come together to restore the balance of nature?
Michael Jay,
Fox in the City
Michael Jay is our curious roving reporter. Every episode, he meets locals and experts in Whitehorse to learn about the animals and ecosystems in the boreal forest.
Arctic Ground Squirrels
Ravens
Woodland Caribou
Wolves
Beavers
Wolverines
Character auditions
Squirrel gets danger pay!
Winston lands the role
Isabelle nails the audition
Bruno, making his pack proud
Just happy to be considered
Jackie is a little awkward
Field guide, nature facts
Every episode, our host Scout Perry presents an animated “Field Guide” to share some science about our characters. What are their superpowers? Who are their predators? How is climate change affecting their behaviours, biology and habitats? Let’s take a closer look…
Arctic Ground Squirrels
Ravens
Caribou
Wolves
Beavers
Wolverines
