Fooled by Nature
Series puts families' nature know-how to the test.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this nature series tests viewers' knowledge of the animal world by mixing made-up stories with factual ones. While this format makes it fun for families to enjoy together, it might be confusing for very young kids. There's little to concern parents aside from shots of predators hunting and eating prey, but occasional scenes and discussions of mating techniques may require some further explanation.
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What's the Story?
In a series that celebrates the strangest of the strange in the natural world, how well can you identify the story that's just a little too unbelievable to be true? Your wildlife knowledge will be put to the test in the unique quiz series FOOLED BY NATURE, which presents several stories about fascinating animal facts and then asks you to decide which one is completely made up. Each episode centers on creatures' unusual habits; examples and questions are typically organized into themes like hunting, raising young, or simple outward appearance. Viewers get details about five animals' oddball lifestyles and are asked to guess which one isn't true. At the end of the episode, the narrators explain which real-life animal inspired the fabricated tale.
Is It Any Good?
The series' entertaining quiz format makes it fun for parents and kids to enjoy together, testing one another's knowledge of animal fact and fiction. For instance, in an episode about peculiarly poisonous animals, the following facts vied for viewers' vote -- can you tell which one is the faker? A turtle that turns the toxins of his prey against his predators, a docile platypus that hides poison in his feet, kangaroos that use toxic saliva to ward off mating competitors, a rare lizard with hunger-halting venom, and a virtually indestructible poisonous toad. If none of those sounds obviously more outrageous than the others, you just might be fooled by the wonders of nature. (Dying to know the answer? It's the kangaroo....)
All of that said, more serious nature fans hoping for an in-depth look at the wild world may be disappointed by the show's quick-hit "Who knew?" informational tidbits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this series compares to other nature shows. What do you think of the quiz format? Does it make the show more interesting than other nature series? Why or why not? How does this show's educational quality compare to that of more traditional wildlife programs? Does its lighthearted nature make you take it less seriously? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 2, 2007
- Network: Animal Planet
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Ocean Creatures, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: September 19, 2019
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