Guest article written by Gaya Lynn

Jimmy Wilson: Bringing Wild Animals into Family Living Rooms

Seeing a fox, a bald eagle, or a white-tailed deer up close is a rare privilege for most people. Whether we live far from wild habitats or lack time for extended field trips, those encounters can be hard to arrange. Filmmaker and photographer Jimmy Wilson has bridged that gap with a nine-disc children’s DVD series that brings wildlife directly to television and computer screens.

In the Jimmy Wilson Children’s Adventures collection, Wilson filmed some of nature’s most captivating animals in their own environments. To capture authentic, live footage he traveled to remote locations such as Churchill, Manitoba—the polar bear capital of the world—and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. “I really tried to take people to areas that even I hadn’t seen before, had it not been for the films,” he said in a recent interview.

Expert Voices and Engaging Footage

The series combines stunning cinematography with interviews from more than thirty leading wildlife experts. In the DVD White Bear, Wilson interviews polar bear biologist Dr. Paul Watts, whose explanations help viewers understand how polar bears use their relatively long necks to penetrate ice and hunt their primary prey, ringed seals. Other experts featured across the series include wolf biologist Dave Mech, author and photographer Jim Brandenburg, lion specialist Craig Packer, and moose researcher Rolf Peterson.

Wilson pairs these expert perspectives with careful cinematography. Filming wildlife required great patience—and sometimes courage—since animals like polar bears can pose real danger. Each film was a multi-layered project: Wilson wrote, produced, directed, and distributed the DVDs himself. He aimed to keep the series family-friendly, intentionally avoiding gratuitous violence and focusing on educational value as well as entertainment. “With so many videos on the market today,” he said, “it’s more important than ever to give our children films that are not just entertaining but educational as well.”

Filming in Natural Habitats

Wilson insisted on filming animals in their natural settings. Often with just a camera and a pair of running shoes, he captured footage personally. One of his most ambitious projects, Jimmy Wilson’s Nature, was filmed with a hidden trail camera that recorded continuously through day and night. Over nearly three years he documented the rhythms of forest life across all four seasons, capturing moose, black bear, gray and red foxes, deer, bald eagles, pine martens, fishers, and other wildlife. “You get a chance to see what life is truly like in the forest,” he explained.

Fieldwork brought unpredictable, memorable encounters. While filming Monarch of the Woods, Wilson learned to call moose. His first successful call drew a bull moose face to face—an encounter that was as frightening as it was unforgettable. “I had never been so scared in my life,” he recalled. “Eventually the bull moose walked away, but they can be very dangerous.”

A Life Shaped by Nature and Film

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Wilson developed a passion for the outdoors early. As a child he explored local trails and watched wildlife—deer, owls, foxes, and eagles—close to home. At eleven he ran a 16 mm projector to show Walt Disney nature films at school; those early images of mountain ranges and remote landscapes left a lasting impression, planting the desire to make nature films.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Wilson worked in commercial real estate and later as a bush pilot, but his vocation remained photography and filmmaking. He eventually combined his skills and passions to produce the adventure series. Wilson emphasizes that the subject matter should be the focus: “I made sure that the subject was the star, not me.”

Recognition and Ongoing Work

The warmth and authenticity of Wilson’s films have earned industry and audience recognition. His children’s series received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Parents Television Council in Los Angeles—an acknowledgment of its family-friendly and educational qualities. Audiences consistently praise the series for inspiring greater appreciation and understanding of wildlife.

Today Wilson lives in Minneapolis and continues his work as a photographer and naturalist. He flies a floatplane, walks and swims regularly, and remains committed to documenting nature. He considers his adventure series among his greatest achievements. “Whenever a parent or a child tells me they like my DVDs, it fills me with such a good feeling—that I did something that made a difference,” he said.

Why These Films Matter

Beyond entertainment, the DVDs aim to educate viewers about the challenges wild animals face. Habitat loss and climate change are growing threats, and seeing animals thriving in their own habitats helps build appreciation and understanding—key steps in fostering conservation-minded behavior.

Thanks to Jimmy Wilson Films, viewers can experience wildlife close-up and in context, observing animals as they are meant to be seen: alive, active, and part of a larger ecosystem. The series offers children and families a thoughtful, visually rich way to connect with nature from home.

For additional information about Jimmy Wilson and his work, search for Jimmy Wilson Films or Jimmy Wilson photography to find official resources and updates.

Jimmy Wilson