Flora and fauna: a few program highlights for nature lovers

I've listed a few upcoming series and specials for folks like myself who enjoy nature, but don't actually want to go outside. Here's a few you might find interesting:

On April 11 at 8:00 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel, Explorer will examine exactly what happens when a person is struck by lightening. "Struck By Lightning" uses brain imaging and CGI to follow the path of a lightning bolt through the human body.

NGC's Naked Science looks at evidence that a meteorite not only killed off the dinosaurs, but may have also been what caused them to spring up in the first place. How is that possible? I have absolutely no idea. "Dino Meteor" debuts April 12 at 10:00 p.m.

On April 21 at 8:00 p.m., Animal Planet debuts Spring Watch USA, a new four-week series hosted by Jeff Corwin and Vanessa Garnick that looks at animals from around the world who serve as harbingers of spring. The series is centered on Kiawah Island (off the coast of South Carolina), but will also feature animals from other parts of the world. Other episodes will air at 8:00 p.m. on April 21, April 26, April 28, May 3, May 5 and May 13.

On April 22 (Earth Day) National Geographic Channel has two new episodes of Planet Carnivore: "Polar Bears" at 9:00 p.m. and "King Bear" at 10:00 p.m. "Polar Bear" will examine how the polar bears have been affected by recent climate changes, and "King Bear" will focus on Alaska's southwest peninsula, where brown bears thrive.

On April 23, also on National Geographic Channel, catch Secret Yellowstone at 9:00 p.m., followed by Secret Yosemite at 10:00 p.m. Both of these specials delve into these National Parks to show parts rarely seen or experienced before.

On April 26, NGC's Naked Science presents "Polar Apocalypse," a look at climate change that "separates fact from fiction to discover the real science behind climate change and the melting ice caps."