PBS Show “America’s Wildest City” Explores San Diego’s Abundant Wildlife
San Diego, known for its picturesque beaches and famous weather, also holds the distinction of being the most biologically diverse county in the United States. This compelling aspect of the region is highlighted in the new PBS documentary San Diego: America’s Wildest City, premiered Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Despite a population of 3.3 million and significant urban development, San Diego County’s ecosystems teem with life, creating a vibrant contrast between nature and city. The county’s unique location at the crossroads of the Mojave Desert to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Sierra Mountains to the north, and the Mexican border to the south fosters an impressive range of wildlife.
From the synchronized courtship displays of grebes and the playful antics of ground squirrels to orca hunts and moonlit grunion spawning, the documentary showcases the resilience of nature amid human expansion.
San Diego: America’s Wildest City seeks to shed light on the remarkable wildlife thriving within the urban sprawl, inviting viewers to witness the hidden wonders of San Diego County. For residents and nature enthusiasts, the documentary offers a fresh perspective on the wild heart of “America’s Finest City.”
“The first day I arrived in San Diego and walked to the beach at sunset, I looked out at the ocean and listened to the sound of surf, seagulls, and seals and knew this wonderful place would become my home,” writer and producer Nate Dappen recounted his first encounter with the area.
“What I didn’t realize on that day was just how rich this landscape was,” he said. “I began to explore and was stunned by the diversity of ecosystems here – deserts, mountains, chaparral, and the great Pacific Ocean all within an hour drive. I knew I wanted to create a film that celebrates a different, spectacular side of America’s most biodiverse county.”
