People and animals in America's heartland face a life fraught with risk and danger; in order to share the abundant ecosystem with farmers and their tools, it's safest for wildlife on the fringes: in the field, above the hayloft, and under plow.

The Great Valley was home to some of America's greatest legends; today, the critters hunted by the likes of Davy Crocket and Daniel Boone still thrive in this little-known strip of wilderness.

East meets Wild West in The Badlands of South Dakota; famous frontier towns, Crazy Horse, and U.S. Presidents are immortalized here, but living legends thrive just over the hills.

The northern Land of Lakes is a lush realm of forests, but in winter, it's governed by snow and ice; timber wolves search widely with their powerful noses, while great greys, the largest owls in North America, plunge deep into the snow for a meal.

At America's center, the Mississippi, the Missouri and the Ohio rivers combine their strength and transform into a behemoth that splits the nation; thousands of snow geese arrive with winter, and river otters hunt within breaks in the ice.

Actor James Norton narrates a series exploring America's iconic Wild West, known for its legends and synonymous with Hollywood productions. Miles of desert landscapes, redwood forests and extreme coastlines make up the topography, shaping the lives of the wildlife and inhabitants of the area. Filmed over a two-year period, the camerapeople use the latest technology to capture the location from land, air and sea. Episodes discover the animals and plants that have adapted to life on the sand dunes, including mustangs, coyotes, desert tortoises and cacti.

The wilderness of Yellowstone Park.

"Wild Scotland" is a four-part nature documentary narrated by Ewan McGregor. Filming takes place over the course of a year as the Highlands are captured during each season. Episodes reveal how the wildlife, animals and local communities adapt to the changing and often unforgiving climate. Episodes take viewers north of the fault line from Arran through to the Cairngorms and out to the magnificent northern seascapes. Spring marks an unpredictable time for the animals in the Cairngorms as Ospreys, red squirrels, dippers, roe deer and bottlenose dolphins struggle against harsh winds to find food for their young.

Adventurer/survivalist Bear Grylls hosts and narrates this six-part docuseries, which draws attention to the volatility of Mother Nature and the resilient animals that survive Earth's most extreme habitats. Each hourlong episode characterizes one of the planet's roughest environments -- including jungles, mountains, deserts, oceans, the poles and grasslands -- and how each of its inhabitants acclimate to its turn of events. As Grylls guides viewers through these extreme locations, the incredible ways in which animals have adapted to survive against all odds are celebrated. As well, underscored is a sense of urgency to the effects of climate change.

The wilds of the world have always been magnificent and those of Africa are no exception. These tall giants provide shade in the blistering heat and shelter to animals desperate to escape the scorching heat. They provide haven to herbivores and predators alike -- these are the miracle trees of Africa and include the sausage tree of Zambia, the marula of the Manyeleti, and the camel thorn of the Kalahari. All of these have uniquely evolved to their environments and Africa's extremes, each hosts a haven for the varying animals of the savannas.

Some people like to hop in a car to take a road trip across America, visiting as many landmarks as possible along the way. Since such a trek can take a while to complete, taking a flight across America might be a better option for some people. "Aerial America" takes viewers on such a flight, offering rare looks at some of the nation's best-loved landmarks from high in the sky. Cameras capture the history and pageantry of America as they zoom over busy cityscapes and quiet, rural lands. Many episodes focus on a specific state, showcasing highlights of the state's beauty, while others revolve around themes such as the best small towns and natural wonders found in the country.

Nigel Marven journeys to the Colombia's major habitats to meet rare and unusual creatures.