Swampwise | GPB Documentaries

The Okefenokee Swamp is one of Georgia’s most fascinating areas – rich in wildlife, history and natural beauty. Its sparkling prairies, cypress lagoons and pine-covered islands are home to many precious species, making the Okefenokee a Georgia and national treasure.

Swampwise is an Emmy-winning documentary that explores the swamp with host Okefenokee Joe, aka Dick Flood. Flood, a country music singer/songwriter, is also a professional naturalist and ardent environmentalist. He is well-known to GPB viewers from his first documentary, The Joy of Snakes which you can watch at    • Joy of Snakes | GPB Documentaries  . He lived in the Okefenokee Swamp for ten years, learning first-hand about the animals and plants in the area.

This hour-long program, punctuated by Flood’s original songs, tracks the seasonal changes in the swamp. As Flood explores the Okefenokee’s waterways, he shows us how to live off the land and visits historical sites. Along the way he talks to descendants of the swamp’s pioneer settlers and discusses the Okefenokee’s future.

Original air date: 1990. For more Georgia documentaries, check out https://www.gpb.org/television