Ever seen a wolf that swims?
Welcome to Vancouver Island, where sea wolves hunt fish in the shallows, eagles steal meals mid-air, and otters float by like they own the place—nature’s most fascinating characters, all in one wild documentary.
It’s like “Planet Earth” meets “Survivor”.
Trailer for “Island of the Sea Wolves”
Watch “Island of the Sea Wolves”
You can watch” Island of the Sea Wolves” on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/81341781
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 90/100 (Users); na (Critics)
Release Date: October 11, 2022
My Review of “Island of the Sea Wolves”
The Setup
“Island of the Sea Wolves” is a stunning three-part nature documentary from Netflix, directed by Jeff Turner (known for “The Great Bear Rainforest” and “The Secret Life of Owls”).
The 156-minute series transports viewers to Vancouver Island, off Canada’s Pacific coast, where wildlife thrives in one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.
Narrated by actor Will Arnett (yes, the voice of LEGO Batman), this series blends breathtaking cinematography with intimate animal storytelling.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Vancouver Island has the highest concentration of wolves that fish for their food—they literally swim to catch salmon.
- Herring spawn in such massive numbers that they turn the ocean white, attracting an entire food chain—eagles, bears, sea lions, and even wolves—to feast.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The Star Characters: The doc takes a “character-driven” approach, following specific animals like a baby sea otter separated from its mother, a bald eagle learning to hunt, and a sea lion pup struggling to survive.
- Bear vs. Wolf Rivalry: The documentary captures incredible scenes of wolves and black bears competing for fish along the riverbanks.
- Killer Whale Drama: The waters surrounding Vancouver Island are home to orcas, including the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, who rely on dwindling salmon populations.
- Survival in the Tides: The island’s animals must adapt to the extreme tides, which expose food sources like mussels and clams but also leave them vulnerable to predators.
- The island’s coastal wolves are genetically distinct from inland wolves and are more closely related to marine mammals than their land-based cousins.
- One wolf, nicknamed “Lone Wolf,” was observed hunting and scavenging along the shore, surviving entirely alone in one of the toughest environments on Earth.
- The sea otters here are ecosystem engineers, helping control sea urchin populations and indirectly saving kelp forests from destruction.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Will Arnett’s Connection: The narrator, Will Arnett, is actually Canadian, which makes his involvement in this very Canadian documentary feel fitting.
- The film crew spent three years capturing the footage, often in brutal weather conditions, including freezing rain and powerful coastal storms.
- Ravens are expert thieves—they are shown stealing food from wolves, sometimes working in teams to distract and snatch fish.
- Time-lapse cinematography reveals the island’s seasons in seconds, showing how the landscape transforms from lush summer greenery to stormy winter chaos.
Wrap Up
“Island of the Sea Wolves” is for those of you who love high-stakes animal survival stories mixed with jaw-dropping cinematography. Plus, who knew wolves could swim for their dinner?
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc