The series revolved around Darcy Fields, the daughter of an eccentric actress Victoria Fields who decides to move away from Malibu to raise her daughter in a more normal environment.[8][9] Darcy is slow to adjust to her new home in the country. She gets a job at a local veterinary clinic called Creature Comforts. The show is mostly about the humorous situations Darcy gets into while adjusting to her new surroundings.
The series title is a pun on the word "wildlife", which is the main theme of the show. The title refers to Darcy's eccentric life dealing with wildlife. Many episodes also had titles based on puns, such as "Puppy Love" (with puppies), "Swine Flew the Coop" (on swine flu), "Knockin' on Heaven's Doggie Door" (song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door") or "The Trouble with Truffles" (Star Trek's "Tribbles").
Cast and characters
Main
Sara Paxton as Darcy Fields:[8] Darcy loves fashion and doesn't know too much about nature and is terrified of animals until she moves to what she calls "the middle of nowhere". She was born in a parking lot of her mother's movie premiere. She is always trying new things in this small little town. Darcy is also very girly at times and her favorite color is pink.
Natalie Radford as Victoria Fields:[8] Before she had Darcy, Victoria was a famous actress. She owns a farm house where she and Darcy live.
Andrew Chalmers as Jack Adams: Jack is Lindsay's little brother. He craves fame, and is always trying to do something either to get money or fame.
Kerry Michael Saxena as Eli: Eli is a sweet, clumsy boy, whom Lindsay likes. He works for Victoria and knows a lot about animals. He is always getting himself into some sticky situation.
Shannon Collis as Lindsay Adams: She is one of Darcy's best friends, and is often the voice of reason for Darcy. Lindsay is a hard-working girl that works in her dad's vet/pet shop. She is the big sister of Jack. She has a crush on Eli, and sometimes is in a conflict with Darcy ("Nature vs. Nurture"). She dated Tyler in the episode,"My Fair Lindsay". Lindsay's a straight-A student. Her dream is to be a Marine Vet. Lindsay and Jack's mom died when they were little.
Kevin Symons as Dr. Kevin Adams: Kevin is the vet at Creature Comforts. He is quite eccentric, but a kind and competent veterinarian and like a dad to Darcy. He often tells disturbing stories, particularly about bad incidents with gourmet food, which can annoy Darcy.
Melanie Leishman as Kathi Giraldi: Another one of Darcy's best friends. She is naive and doesn't always stand up for herself. She is bubbly and often rambles on about random subjects. Kathi has a pug named Skittles, who doesn't really listen to her commands or follow her attempts to train him.
Darcy is alarmed to find her celebrity mother is giving up their glamorous lifestyle in Malibu and moving them both to a ranch in the country. She soon becomes attached to the many animals she encounters and makes new friends amongst the locals.
2
2
"Strange Critters"
Bradley Walsh
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
October 9, 2004 (2004-10-09)
Layne has a crush on Darcy and she tries her best to discourage his interest while her mother Victoria and Eli battle a mole in the vegetable garden.
3
3
"A Chick Thing"
Chris Deacon
Tim Maile & Douglas Tuber
October 16, 2004 (2004-10-16)
Darcy is determined to throw Cathy a memorable birthday party and include a working Lindsay by having it at her vet/pet shop but ends up with 200 chicks on the loose. Victoria and Eli give some hawk's eggs a fighting chance.
4
4
"Darcy's Mild Life"
Stacey Curtis
Rachelle Romberg
October 23, 2004 (2004-10-23)
Darcy gets nipped by a dog at the vets and develops a case of hypochondria that may have more to do with subconsciously still resisting her countryside surroundings.
5
5
"Buffalo Gals"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
November 6, 2004 (2004-11-06)
Kathi seeks advice on what to wear to her cousin's wedding and Darcy takes charge. A stray buffalo turns up and while looking after it Lindsay and Darcy's mother bond which begins to make Darcy jealous.
6
6
"Baron Von Chimpie"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
November 13, 2004 (2004-11-13)
Baron von Chimpie, a retired performing chimpanzee, is having problems adapting to his new life and acting out, he's not the only one.
7
7
"Fan3's Company"
Bradley Walsh
Melissa Gould
December 4, 2004 (2004-12-04)
Kathi, Lindsay and Darcy are to perform a skit at the Founder's Day picnic. When Darcy's hip hop star friend Fan 3 is due to visit at the same time as the picnic, she bails on her new friends. Victoria has a reindeer in her foyer and is not happy about it.
When Darcy swoons over the handsome rodeo contestant Zack, she ends up entering into it to impress him. In every event. Jack ropes Victoria into a money making scheme exploiting he celebrity status in order to raise money for "charity".
9
9
"My Fair Lindsay"
Bradley Walsh
Christine Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein
December 18, 2004 (2004-12-18)
In order to help her catch the eye of Tyler, Darcy gives Lindsay a makeover. It works a little to well when the normally down to earth Lindsay gets carried away with her new fancy stylings.
10
10
"Two of Us Riding Nowhere"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
January 8, 2005 (2005-01-08)
After old rival Jenny taunts Lindsay about beating her again in the upcoming horse trail rally, Darcy convinces her they should partner up to win the event but it turns out winning isn't everything.
11
11
"Crazy Like a Fox"
Chris Deacon
Tim Maile & Douglas Tuber
January 15, 2005 (2005-01-15)
A camera crew want to do a piece on what Victoria's life is like now in the countryside. Victoria believes it could be a good chance to raise awareness for her foxes but to Darcy it's a chance to get a taste of glamour back in her life. However, when it becomes clear the reporter is only intent on making a hit piece, it's time to employ the local wildlife to help redress the balance.
12
12
"The Trouble with Truffles"
Bradley Walsh
Rachelle Romberg
February 19, 2005 (2005-02-19)
Darcy is determined to make it to a nearby star studded film festival despite her mother saying no. When the devious Jack also wants to come along, the pair launch into a series of wheeling and dealing to make it happen. Darcy also learns there's a difference between a wood chip and a cow chip.
13
13
"Dog Tired"
Bradley Walsh
Tim Maile & Douglas Tuber
March 26, 2005 (2005-03-26)
Darcy desperately wants to go on a skiing trip but lack of money is an issue. Jack offers to help arrange paying chores around town, for a ten percent commission. Darcy ends up working all hours to raise the cash.
Darcy finds a stray dog and takes him in while awaiting the owner's return. The two quickly bond. When she encounters Kathi trying to train her recalcitrant pug Skittles for the upcoming dog agility trials, she decides to enter her new found canine friend now named "Bling". Jack's latest scheme is to find a dog to enter the trials in an attempt to win fame and fortune.
Darcy looks after Orville the pig and is pleased to hear that he's being entered into the county fair, unaware that winning means ending up on a dinner plate. A series of desperate attempts to save the periled porcine's life ensue. Jack and his friend Colt are on a treasure hunt after finding a map.
16
3
"Nature vs. Nurture"
Don McCutcheon
Rachelle Romberg
October 1, 2005 (2005-10-01)
To his chagrin Jack has to join his dad on a weekend wilderness camp out, the "nature". While Darcy, Kathi and Lindsay arrange a girl's sleepover weekend while the guys are away, the "nurture". Though Darcy's contention that girls are all "sugar and spice" takes a knock when a game of truth or dare escalates and the morning pajama party degenerates into a food fight. While at the wilderness camp an encounter with a mountain lion makes Jack see his dad in a new light.
17
4
"Pig Whisperer"
Bradley Walsh
Christine Pietrosh & Jessica Goldstein
October 8, 2005 (2005-10-08)
Darcy's fun with playing at having extrasensory perception turns serious when elderly Mrs. Hatch asks her to use her "powers" to advise whether longtime canine companion Duke needs to be "put to sleep". Jack learns what it's like to have an older brother when he elicits help birdwatching from Eli.
18
5
"Bear-Trapped"
David Warry-Smith
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
October 15, 2005 (2005-10-15)
A hungry bear prowls outside trapping the gang in various buildings on the ranch, leaving Jack and Darcy alone to treat her injured horse Gus in the barn.
19
6
"Slightly Used"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
October 22, 2005 (2005-10-22)
When "Ice Queen" Brittany shows interest in kind-hearted Eli, Darcy becomes suspicious of her motives. With Eli distracted by the attention, Darcy learns to milk the goats in his place.
20
7
"Pet Adoption Day"
Stacey Curtis
Rachelle Romberg
October 29, 2005 (2005-10-29)
Pet Adoption Day sees the gang enthusiastically finding new homes for a selection of critters in need, Darcy however has too high a standard for prospective new owners.
21
8
"Yes I Can... Maybe"
Chris Deacon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
November 5, 2005 (2005-11-05)
Meek Kathi needs to become more assertive so the gang give her a crash course in being more confident. It proves very effective, too effective in fact. When Kathi's pet pug Skittles is diagnosed as being overweight, the new found over assertiveness moves from annoying to hazardous.
22
9
"Cuz in Trouble"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
November 12, 2005 (2005-11-12)
Darcy looks after a miniature horse called Thunderbolt. Eli's city cousin Troy comes to visit. While Eli thinks he's the greatest, Troy is actually self important and obnoxious. Worse still his behaviour begins to rub off on Eli. Jack and Colt camp out over night to prevent a maple tree from being cut down.
23
10
"Thanksgiving"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
November 19, 2005 (2005-11-19)
Darcy's rock star drummer father Rory Fields visits for thanksgiving, bearing a gift of a beaver. Rory has a habit of keeping his problems from his daughter but she is not a little child anymore. Jack and Colt try to write a song to impress Darcy's father.
24
11
"Bird in the Hand, Pain in the Neck"
Stefan Scaini
Rich Rinaldi & Dan Fybel
November 26, 2005 (2005-11-26)
A parrot named Harpo is found abandoned at Creature Comforts and Darcy decides to adopt him, only to find out he's something of a menace. Colt's pet angelfish, Clarence, dies and Jack volunteers to arrange a wake for him, unusually for free.
25
12
"Knockin' on Heaven's Doggie Door"
Stacey Curtis
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
December 3, 2005 (2005-12-03)
Darcy's young dog Sushi develops a health issue and needs surgery, leaving her with some difficult decisions to make. Jack and Colt receive a new game, Wizards and Warlocks, which leads to adventure as well as getting fellow classmate Chloe to be the princess.
26
13
"Git Along L'il Darcy"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
December 10, 2005 (2005-12-10)
Darcy, Lindsay and Eli take part in a cattle drive only to discover their rival Brittany is also along to see them suffer. Trying to impress Chloe, Jack and Colt end up in a banana cream pie eating showdown.
27
14
"Wolf in the Fold"
Bradley Walsh
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
January 7, 2006 (2006-01-07)
When a rescued and rehabilitated Wolf called Domingo escapes from care, Darcy and the gang set out to find him before a hunter who is determined to shoot him does. Jack and Colt's latest money making scheme is a car washing operation.
28
15
"Miss Directed"
Bradley Walsh
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
January 14, 2006 (2006-01-14)
A placement test produces results that run counter to Lindsay's ambitions to be a veterinarian, sending her on an existential crisis at a golf course. Colt and Jack set up a web camera to watch the cows but decide the footage needs something more to pull in the viewers.
29
16
"Love in the Time of Kennel Cough"
Don McCutcheon
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
January 28, 2006 (2006-01-28)
After one of their bicycles breaks down, Darcy, Lindsay and Kathi meet handsome and mysterious biker Jonah and his dog Bobo. Jonah fixes the bike and catches Darcy's interest. Jack talks Eli into a business photographing people's pets posed in clothing.
30
17
"Mystery Date"
Stefan Scaini
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
February 11, 2006 (2006-02-11)
Lindsay has a secret admirer sending flowers and love notes, distracting her from the school report she is supposed to be working on. Colt and Jack notice athletes get special treatment so decide to teach themselves soccer, with poor results until Chloe reveals she plays and can teach them.
Kathi, Darcy and Lindsay are casually cleaning up litter from the countryside, lamenting the escalating problem. They decide to organise a more thorough solution themselves. So, roping in Eli and organised by the overly efficacious Lindsay, they set about on a rigidly efficient clean up. Getting very mucky in the process. Jack and Colt need a terrarium for a school project but Jack feels they need to think big.
32
19
"You Can Go Home Again"
Stefan Scaini
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
March 11, 2006 (2006-03-11)
Victoria is offered her dream role, tempting her out of retirement. It means a return to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, what Darcy had always wanted but does she still? Reminiscing about all that she's experienced coming to the countryside results in many flashbacks to past episodes.
33
20
"Oh for the Love of..."
Paul Fox
Douglas Tuber & Tim Maile
March 18, 2006 (2006-03-18)
Kathi has a crush on classmate Arron Shaw, unfortunately she is near speechless in his presence. Darcy takes the situation in hand by coaching à la Cyrano de Bergerac, except for both parties. Jack and Colt discover a strange bug that could be an as yet unidentified species which may finally make them famous.
Production
The series was filmed in Toronto, Canada, and many of the show's cast were Canadian.[8] It was executive produced by Stan Rogow.[10]
