‘Anna Pigeon’ Star Tracy Spiridakos Recalls Wild Grizzly Bear Encounter on Set (Exclusive)
The ‘Chicago P.D.’ alum, now 'Anna Pigeon' cast lead, opens up to 'Woman's World' about what it's really like to film with wildlife
Key Takeaways
- 'Anna Pigeon' premieres on August 7, the cast led by Tracy Spiridakos.
- The actress chatted with 'Woman's World' about bringing the show to life.
- Here, she talks filming in nature, wildlife encounters on set and more.
On August 7, Tracy Spiridakos brings beloved book character Anna Pigeon to life as a fierce park ranger guarding America’s wild landscapes while healing from a tragic past. Based on Nevada Barr’s bestselling mystery novels, the character has captivated readers for decades—and for Spiridakos, best known for her star turn on Chicago P.D., stepping into the role was an unforgettable thrill. The 38-year-old actress sat down with Woman’s World to dish on filming in the wilderness, bonding with her on-screen horse and the wild animal encounters that kept the entire cast on their toes.
Behind the scenes of ‘Anna Pigeon’: real grizzly bears and wildlife encounters on set
Tracy, a self-proclaimed nature lover, reveled in filming this series on location. Hailing from Canada, she spent much of her youth camping in the very woods where they filmed! Leading this show in the spots she once adventured through was something she described as “incredible”—but the Anna Pigeon cast and crew weren’t the only ones settling into their surroundings!
On the first day of filming, Tracy recalls the park rangers informing the crew that there was a grizzly bear and her cubs in the surrounding area. With a warning to carry bear spray in case of a confrontation, their presence only made the experience more authentic. “It was really cool. But we also filmed with a lot of different animals on set. The cougar was real—We definitely interacted with the animals.”
How Tracy Spiridakos bonded with her co-star horse, Joker
One animal in particular Tracy took a liking to was her horse co-star, Joker. While she had some prior riding experience, diving headfirst into her training was a thrill. “[Joker] is my best friend, aside from my dog Kelly, who’s behind me chewing on a bone,” she tells Woman’s World. “But he was just the coolest, and it was an amazing experience. By the end, I remember asking them to take a video for me. I was like, ‘Look at me! I’m going so fast on it! Take a video! Let me see!’ And then I watched it, and it was just like trotting along. But I felt like I was going so fast!”
What to expect from ‘Anna Pigeon’—plus when and where to watch it!
Throughout the series, Anna remains dedicated to solving a series of crimes throughout the park, as well as protecting it from those who don’t respect it in the same way she does. With each case she tackles and each foe she stands up against, viewers at home are sure to root for her character and the journeys she embarks upon.
“I hope that people love the adventure that is Anna Pigeon,” she shared. “We shot everything practical on location. It’s this amazing scenery, and I hope that people will enjoy going on this adventure with us week to week. We solve a mystery every week, but the character development continues throughout the series. And so I hope that it’s a nice escape for people to have an hour of being in nature with us on an adventure, having a laugh, solving a mystery, little romance. So I hope that people just enjoy our ride.”
Tune into the premiere of Anna Pigeon on August 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network.
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