Wolves up close with Bertie Gregory on Disney+

Bertie Gregory is back. After documentaries focused on cheetahs, dolphins, and sharks, National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory turns his lens toward one of the most fascinating predators in the wild : the wolf. His new documentary special, Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory, is already generating real interest among wildlife documentary fans, and for good reason.

Kona and her pack : the story at the heart of the documentary

The setting is Hudson Bay, in Arctic Canada, a remote and unforgiving landscape that Gregory knows well. He returns there not as a stranger, but as someone revisiting old acquaintances : a wolf pack he has followed before, led by a fearless alpha female named Kona. That personal connection gives the film a depth that purely observational wildlife documentaries sometimes lack.

Winter in the Arctic is brutal. Food becomes desperately scarce, and the pack faces a challenge that puts every member at risk. To survive, they must hunt moose, prey that can weigh up to 700 kilograms and stand nearly two metres tall at the shoulder. Wolves, by comparison, rarely exceed 50 kilograms. The size difference is roughly tenfold, and one wrong move during a hunt can result in a fatal kick or charge.

This confrontation between raw power and collective intelligence is what Gregory set out to document. What makes wolves exceptional hunters is not brute strength, but strategy : coordinated movement, communication, patience. Watching a pack close in on a moose is less like watching a chase and more like watching a coordinated operation unfold in real time.

During filming, Gregory witnesses something rare, a moment involving one of Kona's pack members that he describes as unforgettable. The details remain deliberately vague ahead of the premiere, but that kind of teaser suggests the documentary captures something genuinely unusual in the field.

Where and when to watch Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory

The documentary premieres on the National Geographic channel on Friday 6 November 2026. For those who prefer streaming over linear television, the wait is just one day : Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory lands on both Hulu and Disney+ starting Saturday 7 November 2026.

Tracking down where a documentary airs can sometimes feel like a puzzle, especially when rights are split across platforms and regions. That's exactly the kind of information we keep an eye on regularly. Disney+ has become a key destination for National Geographic content, and this release follows the same pattern as previous Bertie Gregory specials.

If you're not yet subscribed to Disney+ or you're weighing your options, it's worth knowing that the platform has expanded its access options in recent months. You can check out our breakdown of the Disney+ free tier and what it includes to see whether it fits your situation before committing to a full subscription.

Here's a quick summary of what to expect from the release schedule :

• 6 November 2026 : TV premiere on National Geographic
• 7 November 2026 : Available on Disney+ and Hulu for streaming
• Duration : documentary special format (single episode)
• Produced under the National Geographic banner

Why this wolf documentary stands out from the rest

Wildlife documentaries about wolves are not new. The BBC, National Geographic, and various independent filmmakers have covered the subject for decades. So what makes Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory different ?

The "Up Close" format Gregory has developed across his previous specials prioritises intimate, long-term observation over sweeping aerial shots and narrated overviews. He embeds himself in the environment, builds familiarity with specific animals over time, and captures behaviour that a crew parachuting in for a week would simply never see. The result tends to feel more like a field journal than a traditional wildlife film.

The choice of Hudson Bay is also significant. Arctic wolves in that region face pressures that wolves in more temperate zones don't : extreme cold, limited prey diversity in winter, and vast distances to cover. Documenting a hunt in those conditions, with a pack the filmmaker already knows personally, creates a narrative tension that goes beyond pure wildlife observation.

Gregory's background as a National Geographic Explorer means he brings scientific rigour alongside his camera work. His previous specials on cheetahs and sharks were praised not just for their visuals but for the ecological context they provided. Expect the same approach here, with wolf behaviour placed within the broader dynamics of the Arctic food chain.

For anyone who tracks wildlife content across streaming platforms, this release is worth marking in your calendar. Whether you plan to catch it live on National Geographic or stream it on Disney+ the following morning, Wolves Up Close With Bertie Gregory looks set to deliver one of the most compelling wildlife documentaries of late 2026. Keep an eye on availability in your region, as streaming rights can vary by country.