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{\an1}THURMAN: It's your first day
in the world,
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{\an1}your first step into a vast
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00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:16,933
{\an1}and daunting landscape...
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{\an1}...full of possibilities...
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wonder...
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00:00:26,033 --> 00:00:27,500
and peril.
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[ Wind whistling ]
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You've just been born
in the Rockies,
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00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:39,266
an untamed wilderness
in the heart of North America.
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{\an1}And you have much to learn.
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Each new challenge
will test your resolve.
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Every new opportunity
will hone your skills.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Above all, you'll need
to stick close to Mother.
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{\an1}Only her care and vigilance
can protect you...
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{\an1}and prepare you for a life
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{\an1}in the wilds of the Rockies.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}[ Wind whistling ]
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{\an7}THURMAN: It's late February
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{\an8}in the high deserts
of central New Mexico.
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00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:06,766
{\an7}Evening temperatures can
drop well below freezing,
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{\an1}locking these Sandhill cranes
in a layer of ice.
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Those that have freed themselves
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must walk gingerly.
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[ Ice cracking ]
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{\an1}They're huddled together
in this shallow wetland
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{\an1}for a simple reason...
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security.
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{\an1}Coyotes are patrolling
the shoreline...
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{\an1}...looking for any openings.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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[ Warbles ]
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{\an1}But there are far too many eyes,
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and the cranes
are already awake.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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About 20,000 cranes
over-winter here,
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{\an1}mostly family groups made up
of couples and their young.
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It may not seem like
the most romantic setting,
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huddled together
with a few hundred
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{\an1}of your closest relatives.
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But make no mistake.
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This is a love story.
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{\an1}In the still of the morning,
couples call to each other...
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[ Cranes calling ]
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keeping track
of their lifelong mates.
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{\an1}Some have been together
for more than a decade.
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00:03:43,533 --> 00:03:49,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}But the end of winter marks
the beginning of a new journey.
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{\an1}Cranes signal with their heads
that it's time to take flight.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}One by one, they launch
awkwardly into the sky.
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Countless generations
before them
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00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:24,300
have undertaken
this same journey...
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{\an1}an unbroken migration that has
lasted thousands of years.
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{\an1}They are headed north,
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{\an1}across the sandstone cliffs
of New Mexico
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and into the heart
of the Rocky Mountains.
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00:04:44,833 --> 00:04:48,733
{\an1}The Rocky Mountains stretch
some 2,000 miles,
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00:04:48,766 --> 00:04:52,566
forming the backbone
of North America.
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00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,700
{\an1}From central New Mexico,
the Rockies continue northward
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00:04:56,733 --> 00:05:01,866
{\an1}across six western states
to the northern edge of Canada,
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00:05:01,900 --> 00:05:05,733
encompassing at least
100 different mountain ranges
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00:05:05,766 --> 00:05:09,133
{\an1}and dozens of unique habitats,
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00:05:09,166 --> 00:05:11,933
{\an1}from shifting sand dunes
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{\an1}to deep river valleys.
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Each providing a home
for countless animal families
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{\an1}on the verge of a new beginning.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}And just as they have done
for millions of years,
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{\an1}the Rockies begin to shed
the months of frozen dormancy...
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{\an1}...and prepares to welcome
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the next generation
into their midst.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Weeks after leaving New Mexico,
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00:06:01,033 --> 00:06:03,766
{\an1}Sandhill cranes arrive
to their natal range
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00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,066
{\an1}in Yellowstone Valley.
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00:06:06,100 --> 00:06:08,066
[ Cranes calling ]
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00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:24,833
{\an1}When it comes to settling down,
cranes prize personal space.
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{\an1}This is a call to anyone
in earshot...
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"This spot is ours."
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00:06:34,333 --> 00:06:37,066
Having flown here
with his parents,
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{\an1}the yearling tags along.
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{\an1}But now it's time for Mom
and Dad to renew their vows...
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00:06:45,333 --> 00:06:47,133
with a dance.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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The youngster watches
his parents intently...
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{\an1}...learning the very moves
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00:07:01,766 --> 00:07:05,433
{\an1}he will one day employ
to woo his mate.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}At last, all this extravagance
culminates in one final move.
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And now all they have
to do is wait.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:08:05,266 --> 00:08:08,166
Nestled in the heart
of the Rocky Mountains,
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00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,800
{\an1}Yellowstone is the world's
first national park...
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00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,966
{\an1}...and the largest nearly intact
temperate ecosystem on Earth.
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Spring is the time
when new families
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{\an1}are taking their first
tentative steps into the world.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:08:34,533 --> 00:08:39,100
{\an1}For many young, it's their first
big adventure aboveground.
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{\an1}It's a time to play...
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explore...
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{\an1}and torment your siblings.
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00:08:49,733 --> 00:08:53,633
And in some cases,
test your mother's patience.
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{\an1}Play is an essential part
of childhood...
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:09:04,533 --> 00:09:07,800
{\an1}...and one that, sadly,
will not last forever.
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00:09:12,133 --> 00:09:16,733
{\an1}For this playful grizzly mom
and her 3-year-old cub,
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00:09:16,766 --> 00:09:19,266
{\an1}this will be their last
spring together.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:09:25,766 --> 00:09:30,233
{\an1}For some, this time of year
marks the end of a relationship,
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00:09:30,266 --> 00:09:33,466
while for others,
it's the beginning of a new one.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}In the open grasslands
of Yellowstone,
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00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:45,366
{\an1}a mother bison is giving birth.
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{\an1}[ Bison grunting softly ]
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[ Birds chirping ]
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00:10:00,233 --> 00:10:04,466
{\an1}Mom frees her calf from
the membrane that entangles it.
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00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:08,333
For her,
this is love at first sight.
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00:10:08,366 --> 00:10:12,066
{\an1}The same hormones that surge
through a human mother's brain
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00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,466
{\an1}now surge through hers.
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{\an1}For the next several months,
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00:10:18,066 --> 00:10:21,666
{\an1}this calf will be the singular
focus of her life...
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00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:24,700
{\an1}the one thing she will nurture
and protect.
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00:10:31,333 --> 00:10:34,166
{\an1}Yellowstone is slowly awakening,
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00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,200
puling itself out
from under winter's grip.
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{\an1}It's a treacherous time,
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{\an1}as the ground is melting away
beneath them.
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And for a newborn
still finding its footing,
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00:10:58,466 --> 00:11:01,466
{\an1}it's easy to get knocked
off course.
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00:11:07,833 --> 00:11:10,333
{\an1}This is a deadly situation.
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{\an1}Many bison, much older than this
calf, have met their ends here.
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But there is little
his mother can do.
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He's on his own now.
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{\an1}Although he's only days old,
he must find the strength...
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00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,300
{\an1}[ Bison grunting softly ]
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{\an1}...the will to survive,
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00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:52,966
{\an1}to fight with every muscle
in his body.
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00:11:55,166 --> 00:11:58,400
{\an1}To fight or to die trying.
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00:12:19,066 --> 00:12:21,633
The relieved mother
hurries to greet him...
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00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:27,233
{\an1}...licking him dry, as she did
the day he was first born.
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He was fortunate.
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00:12:32,433 --> 00:12:34,166
{\an1}But in the months ahead,
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{\an1}the Rockies will continue
to test our calf's resolve.
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00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:46,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:50,933
{\an1}Some 55 to 80 million years ago,
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00:12:50,966 --> 00:12:54,300
an intense period
of plate tectonic activity
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00:12:54,333 --> 00:12:58,233
{\an1}reshaped the western half
of North America
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00:12:58,266 --> 00:13:02,033
and gave birth
to the Rocky Mountains.
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00:13:02,066 --> 00:13:03,433
[ Wind whistling ]
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00:13:03,466 --> 00:13:07,266
{\an1}This massive wall of mountains
has an enormous influence
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00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:10,166
on weather patterns
across North America.
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00:13:13,066 --> 00:13:15,900
{\an1}Air currents moving eastward
from the Pacific
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00:13:15,933 --> 00:13:18,233
{\an1}are disrupted by the Rockies...
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00:13:18,266 --> 00:13:22,633
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:13:22,666 --> 00:13:24,900
{\an1}...generating massive cyclones
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00:13:24,933 --> 00:13:27,733
{\an1}across the Great Plains
of North America.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:13:33,633 --> 00:13:39,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:13:39,533 --> 00:13:43,233
{\an1}And just as the Rockies
have transformed the land,
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00:13:43,266 --> 00:13:46,833
they have also shaped
the animals that call it home.
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00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:05,500
{\an1}Mountain goats survive
where few others can,
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00:14:05,533 --> 00:14:07,566
{\an1}even in the depths of winter.
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00:14:12,366 --> 00:14:15,566
{\an1}Nannies and their week-old kids
pick their way carefully
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00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,166
{\an1}through the ever-softening snow.
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00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:24,133
{\an1}Mom has memorized every nook
and crag of this mountainside.
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00:14:25,533 --> 00:14:28,866
{\an1}And she knows an avalanche
risk when she sees one.
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00:14:32,066 --> 00:14:35,433
Her kid was born
into a vertical world,
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00:14:35,466 --> 00:14:37,666
with all the tools
he needs to become
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00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:39,933
{\an1}an accomplished mountaineer.
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00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:45,800
Now all he needs is experience,
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00:14:45,833 --> 00:14:49,200
and he's enrolled in
the ultimate master class.
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00:14:59,466 --> 00:15:03,266
Their destination
is a high alpine meadow
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00:15:03,300 --> 00:15:06,133
they hope will have
verdant new shoots.
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00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:09,766
[ Thunder rumbling ]
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00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,166
At 10,000 feet,
weather can turn quickly.
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00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:23,100
But mom is patient
and reassuring.
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00:15:23,133 --> 00:15:26,233
{\an1}And no one is better equipped
to weather the storm.
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00:15:44,466 --> 00:15:52,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:15:54,466 --> 00:15:59,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:05,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:07,600
{\an1}As the days grow longer,
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00:16:07,633 --> 00:16:12,333
{\an1}spring unfolds in a spectacular
display of wildflowers.
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00:16:13,866 --> 00:16:16,300
Bear grass covers
the alpine meadows
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00:16:16,333 --> 00:16:19,200
{\an1}of Glacier National Park.
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00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:22,366
{\an1}And balsamroot blankets
the low, rolling hills
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00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,433
of Western Montana.
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00:16:24,466 --> 00:16:32,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:16:32,933 --> 00:16:36,566
{\an1}Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
and mountain goats
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00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,833
eagerly gobble up
the new blossoms.
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00:16:38,866 --> 00:16:43,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:16:43,966 --> 00:16:49,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
198
00:16:49,033 --> 00:16:53,200
{\an1}Bighorn births are perfectly
timed for this bounty of spring.
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00:16:53,233 --> 00:16:55,366
[ Birds chirping ]
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00:17:05,566 --> 00:17:08,600
And in secluded spots
all along the mountainside,
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00:17:08,633 --> 00:17:11,666
mothers are tending
to their newborn lambs.
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00:17:13,633 --> 00:17:18,200
{\an1}This imprinting isolation
can last for several days.
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00:17:18,233 --> 00:17:22,966
{\an1}It's a chance for mothers and
young to bond with each other,
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00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,966
{\an1}learning their individual scents
and sounds
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00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,566
before rejoining
the rest of the herd.
206
00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:36,966
For one new family,
that task is doubly hard.
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00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:41,833
{\an1}She has birthed twins,
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00:17:41,866 --> 00:17:45,466
an exceptionally rare
occurrence for Bighorn sheep...
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00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:50,133
{\an1}...and one that obviously makes
the task of mothering
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00:17:50,166 --> 00:17:52,033
twice as demanding.
211
00:18:02,133 --> 00:18:05,900
{\an1}With each passing hour,
the twins grow stronger.
212
00:18:08,233 --> 00:18:10,700
[ Lamb bleats ]
213
00:18:10,733 --> 00:18:13,033
They are playful
and energetic...
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00:18:16,900 --> 00:18:19,166
but still wobbly on their feet.
215
00:18:21,766 --> 00:18:25,033
{\an1}Predation from mountain lions,
coyotes, and golden eagles
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00:18:25,066 --> 00:18:28,233
{\an1}are an ever-present threat,
217
00:18:28,266 --> 00:18:31,700
{\an1}and the sooner mom and the twins
can rejoin the herd,
218
00:18:31,733 --> 00:18:33,433
{\an1}the safer they will be.
219
00:18:33,466 --> 00:18:39,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
220
00:18:39,633 --> 00:18:43,666
{\an1}To survive in the Rockies,
young must grow up fast...
221
00:18:46,333 --> 00:18:49,066
{\an1}...many within the span
of a single season.
222
00:18:53,933 --> 00:18:56,400
{\an1}But in these early stages
of life,
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00:18:56,433 --> 00:18:59,600
{\an1}offspring are wholly dependent
on their mother's care.
224
00:19:06,133 --> 00:19:10,566
{\an1}For some, the job is more
demanding than others.
225
00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:16,166
{\an1}With 11 hungry pups to feed,
this fox mom has her hands full.
226
00:19:19,566 --> 00:19:23,666
{\an1}Raising this many pups is not
only a physically demanding job,
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00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:26,233
but one that requires
an extraordinary amount
228
00:19:26,266 --> 00:19:29,266
of patience...
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00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:32,466
{\an1}which this mom seems to have
in abundance.
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00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,400
It's a good lesson
for our mother of twins,
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00:19:41,433 --> 00:19:44,000
and one she'll need
to take to heart,
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00:19:44,033 --> 00:19:47,066
as her lambs grow
more adventurous.
233
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,133
{\an1}[ Birds chirping, calling ]
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00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,666
For one crane family,
235
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:03,733
{\an1}the raising of their young
has only just begun.
236
00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:13,266
{\an1}After a month of waiting,
the eggs are beginning to hatch.
237
00:20:18,966 --> 00:20:21,433
One of the colts
has already emerged,
238
00:20:21,466 --> 00:20:24,000
but his sibling
is not quite ready.
239
00:20:25,933 --> 00:20:28,933
{\an1}The thick crane egg has been
slowly weakening,
240
00:20:28,966 --> 00:20:31,133
{\an1}as the tiny colt inside absorbs
241
00:20:31,166 --> 00:20:34,233
the shells' calcium
into her young bones.
242
00:20:34,266 --> 00:20:38,800
{\an8}♪♪♪
243
00:20:38,833 --> 00:20:42,100
{\an1}This process can take hours.
244
00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:45,266
{\an1}And now that her first colt
is out and ready to feed,
245
00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:48,300
mom is anxious
for colt number two.
246
00:20:50,266 --> 00:20:53,133
{\an1}She nudges the egg to break
the rest of the shell.
247
00:20:53,166 --> 00:21:01,166
{\an8}♪♪♪
248
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:11,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
249
00:21:12,766 --> 00:21:14,600
{\an1}And with a gentle assist,
250
00:21:14,633 --> 00:21:18,133
{\an1}her second colt, still weak
from its cramped quarters,
251
00:21:18,166 --> 00:21:20,600
is finally free.
252
00:21:20,633 --> 00:21:24,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
253
00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:28,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
254
00:21:28,566 --> 00:21:31,033
[ Duck quacking ]
255
00:21:35,366 --> 00:21:39,233
{\an1}Dad won't take any chances
with visitors close by.
256
00:21:39,266 --> 00:21:46,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
257
00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:48,000
{\an1}But within a few hours,
258
00:21:48,033 --> 00:21:50,900
both colts
are shakily on their feet.
259
00:21:50,933 --> 00:21:58,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
260
00:22:00,966 --> 00:22:02,200
Their first meal
261
00:22:02,233 --> 00:22:06,700
{\an1}will be the pulverized eggs
they lived in.
262
00:22:06,733 --> 00:22:14,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
263
00:22:16,266 --> 00:22:19,000
{\an1}This will help them grow
strong from the start.
264
00:22:19,033 --> 00:22:25,066
{\an8}♪♪♪
265
00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:31,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
266
00:22:31,133 --> 00:22:35,966
{\an1}The first hatched is quick
to challenge his sibling.
267
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:41,000
{\an1}Like many first-time parents,
they learn through experience.
268
00:22:41,033 --> 00:22:44,200
{\an1}By feeding the colts separately,
they avoid in-fighting
269
00:22:44,233 --> 00:22:47,600
and ensure they both
get equal portions of food.
270
00:22:50,866 --> 00:22:54,700
{\an1}Foraging through the muddy mess
for small worms and insects
271
00:22:54,733 --> 00:22:58,866
{\an1}is a routine that comes
more easily to some...
272
00:22:58,900 --> 00:23:00,566
than others.
273
00:23:07,333 --> 00:23:08,666
By the end of summer,
274
00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,300
{\an1}these tiny colts will be as tall
as their parents.
275
00:23:16,766 --> 00:23:20,866
{\an1}The very act of having young
heightens a mother's senses.
276
00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:24,566
And it is, by far,
277
00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,933
{\an1}the most consuming relationship
in an animal's life.
278
00:23:31,433 --> 00:23:34,166
{\an1}A mother grizzly emerges
from the dense forest
279
00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,766
{\an1}with three tiny cubs in tow.
280
00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,633
Named after the black
volcanic glass
281
00:23:40,666 --> 00:23:45,466
{\an1}that forms Yellowstone's
Obsidian Cliff,
282
00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:48,833
she leads her cubs
on their first big outing.
283
00:23:48,866 --> 00:23:55,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
284
00:23:55,466 --> 00:23:59,700
{\an1}Obsidian's cubs were born
in the depths of winter.
285
00:23:59,733 --> 00:24:03,766
{\an1}And for months, their mother
fed them, without eating.
286
00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:11,133
{\an1}These cubs are her entire world,
and she is theirs.
287
00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:16,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
288
00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:21,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
289
00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,300
{\an1}Despite their fiercely
protective mother,
290
00:24:24,333 --> 00:24:26,033
{\an1}these cubs are vulnerable
291
00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:29,533
{\an1}and sticking as close to mom
as possible,
292
00:24:29,566 --> 00:24:31,833
trying hard to get
her attention.
293
00:24:31,866 --> 00:24:37,900
{\an8}♪♪♪
294
00:24:37,933 --> 00:24:41,300
{\an1}But Obsidian will need more
than grasses to sustain them.
295
00:24:45,033 --> 00:24:48,600
{\an1}It's time to introduce her cubs
to their new home...
296
00:24:50,900 --> 00:24:52,533
{\an1}...a fantastical world
297
00:24:52,566 --> 00:24:55,666
of bubbling pools
and steaming mountains.
298
00:24:58,066 --> 00:25:01,533
{\an1}They live atop one of the
largest active volcanic systems
299
00:25:01,566 --> 00:25:03,133
on Earth.
300
00:25:03,166 --> 00:25:08,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
301
00:25:08,866 --> 00:25:13,133
{\an1}Beneath the Yellowstone Caldera
is a reservoir of hot magma,
302
00:25:13,166 --> 00:25:14,966
30 miles deep.
303
00:25:17,566 --> 00:25:20,166
{\an1}And it lies just under
their feet.
304
00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:25,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
305
00:25:25,266 --> 00:25:27,033
{\an1}With each passing day,
306
00:25:27,066 --> 00:25:32,033
{\an1}Obsidian takes her cubs farther
and farther into her territory.
307
00:25:32,066 --> 00:25:35,166
{\an1}But these journeys are not
without their risks.
308
00:25:37,466 --> 00:25:39,566
A single encounter
with a male grizzly
309
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,900
{\an1}could prove fatal for the cubs.
310
00:25:41,933 --> 00:25:48,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
311
00:25:48,266 --> 00:25:50,300
Obsidian will need
to remain vigilant
312
00:25:50,333 --> 00:25:52,700
if she hopes
to keep her family safe.
313
00:25:52,733 --> 00:25:59,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
314
00:25:59,166 --> 00:26:05,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
315
00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:12,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
316
00:26:12,133 --> 00:26:18,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
317
00:26:18,566 --> 00:26:19,966
{\an1}Up in the high elevation,
318
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,566
these snow-free days
won't last long.
319
00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,733
So, while mothers
are busy feeding,
320
00:26:26,766 --> 00:26:31,433
{\an1}kids are getting to know
their extended family
321
00:26:31,466 --> 00:26:34,700
{\an1}while playing an endless game
of King of the Hill...
322
00:26:37,166 --> 00:26:39,633
learning skills
that will prepare them
323
00:26:39,666 --> 00:26:42,166
{\an1}for life in a vertical world.
324
00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:51,033
Soon, mothers hurry
to collect their kids
325
00:26:51,066 --> 00:26:53,200
{\an1}as the herd continues to move.
326
00:26:54,666 --> 00:26:58,033
[ Kid bleats ]
327
00:26:58,066 --> 00:26:59,800
{\an1}But amidst the excitement,
328
00:26:59,833 --> 00:27:02,533
{\an1}one kid has lost track
of his mom.
329
00:27:05,833 --> 00:27:07,366
[ Bleats ]
330
00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,100
{\an1}He calls to her, but no reply.
331
00:27:12,966 --> 00:27:17,066
And he can't see
or smell her anywhere.
332
00:27:17,100 --> 00:27:20,166
{\an1}All the goats are rapidly
shedding their winter coats,
333
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,000
{\an1}so mom looks different
from day to day.
334
00:27:23,033 --> 00:27:28,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
335
00:27:28,333 --> 00:27:31,566
{\an1}The only way to find out
is to get close enough to smell.
336
00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:39,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
337
00:27:40,833 --> 00:27:43,666
{\an1}One by one, he's rejected.
338
00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,466
Nobody seems to want him around.
339
00:27:51,533 --> 00:27:53,900
{\an1}The sun is beginning to set,
340
00:27:53,933 --> 00:27:56,900
{\an1}and the kid is growing
increasingly anxious.
341
00:27:56,933 --> 00:28:02,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
342
00:28:02,533 --> 00:28:08,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
343
00:28:08,066 --> 00:28:09,633
{\an1}In a last-ditch effort,
344
00:28:09,666 --> 00:28:12,733
{\an1}he chases after a lone nanny
walking away.
345
00:28:14,666 --> 00:28:17,233
When he reaches her,
he sniffs cautiously,
346
00:28:17,266 --> 00:28:20,100
having made
so many wrong guesses already.
347
00:28:21,966 --> 00:28:23,866
This time...
348
00:28:23,900 --> 00:28:25,466
he guessed right.
349
00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:31,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
350
00:28:31,533 --> 00:28:33,933
As twilight descends
over the mountain,
351
00:28:33,966 --> 00:28:36,866
{\an1}the two bed down together
on a nearby cliff.
352
00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:43,300
The kid is overjoyed
to have his mother back.
353
00:28:43,333 --> 00:28:45,133
[ Kid squeals ]
354
00:28:45,166 --> 00:28:48,966
On this mountain,
their bond is everything.
355
00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:57,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
356
00:28:59,966 --> 00:29:04,466
{\an1}A fog has enveloped the craggy
peaks of western Montana.
357
00:29:09,133 --> 00:29:12,000
{\an1}Bighorn sheep are just
beginning their day.
358
00:29:12,033 --> 00:29:18,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
359
00:29:18,866 --> 00:29:23,566
{\an1}And for these young lambs,
the fun is about to begin.
360
00:29:25,033 --> 00:29:26,533
{\an1}Playgroups have formed.
361
00:29:26,566 --> 00:29:34,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
362
00:29:36,566 --> 00:29:44,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
363
00:29:46,566 --> 00:29:53,066
{\an8}♪♪♪
364
00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:56,400
{\an1}Many lambs are still timid,
uneasy with their footing
365
00:29:56,433 --> 00:29:58,633
{\an1}on the steep testing ground
366
00:29:58,666 --> 00:30:02,666
packed so tightly
with the rest of the young.
367
00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:06,100
{\an1}Mothers, too, are rightfully
concerned with their world
368
00:30:06,133 --> 00:30:08,266
so suddenly expanded,
369
00:30:08,300 --> 00:30:11,400
they must try to keep
their young ones safe.
370
00:30:11,433 --> 00:30:19,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
371
00:30:20,100 --> 00:30:28,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
372
00:30:28,766 --> 00:30:31,733
These young rams
have no such concerns.
373
00:30:31,766 --> 00:30:39,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
374
00:30:41,766 --> 00:30:45,266
{\an1}And they seem intent on
provoking this year's new lambs
375
00:30:45,300 --> 00:30:46,866
into action.
376
00:30:46,900 --> 00:30:51,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
377
00:30:51,766 --> 00:30:53,666
{\an1}If they can brave these games,
378
00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:56,600
{\an1}it will serve them well
in the years ahead.
379
00:31:02,066 --> 00:31:06,866
{\an1}Bighorn sheep form alliances
that last lifetimes.
380
00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:09,866
{\an1}The twins have settled
into this new friend group,
381
00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:12,633
almost as important
as their mother's care.
382
00:31:25,033 --> 00:31:28,166
{\an1}Mom is quick to comfort
her small lamb
383
00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,133
but equally quick
to nudge him back into play.
384
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:36,400
{\an1}Building confidence is crucial
to their survival.
385
00:31:36,433 --> 00:31:44,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
386
00:31:46,033 --> 00:31:50,500
{\an1}For parents, growing up seems to
happen in the blink of an eye.
387
00:31:53,566 --> 00:31:58,066
For young, every day
brings a new adventure.
388
00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:06,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
389
00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:09,700
It's all about
building relationships...
390
00:32:09,733 --> 00:32:15,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
391
00:32:15,133 --> 00:32:17,433
{\an1}...testing your boundaries...
392
00:32:20,700 --> 00:32:23,566
and finding out...
393
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,266
{\an1}exactly what you're capable of.
394
00:32:26,300 --> 00:32:34,166
{\an8}♪♪♪
395
00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:42,066
{\an8}♪♪♪
396
00:32:42,100 --> 00:32:49,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
397
00:32:49,966 --> 00:32:57,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
398
00:32:57,866 --> 00:33:05,800
{\an8}♪♪♪
399
00:33:05,833 --> 00:33:08,866
[ Birds chirping ]
400
00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:13,166
{\an1}Raising these young colts
is keeping Mom and Dad busy.
401
00:33:14,266 --> 00:33:16,933
{\an1}Colts have the appetite
of a teenager
402
00:33:16,966 --> 00:33:20,400
{\an1}and can grow an inch a day.
403
00:33:20,433 --> 00:33:22,400
{\an1}They will need every morsel
404
00:33:22,433 --> 00:33:25,433
{\an1}if they are going to migrate
south this autumn.
405
00:33:28,233 --> 00:33:32,100
{\an1}But this family has a bigger
problem on their hands.
406
00:33:32,133 --> 00:33:34,300
[ Bell ringing,
lawnmower running ]
407
00:33:37,733 --> 00:33:39,200
Their little wetland
408
00:33:39,233 --> 00:33:42,633
{\an1}is wedged in the middle
of a sea of townhouses.
409
00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,100
{\an1}Long before this suburb
of Bozeman, Montana, was here,
410
00:33:49,133 --> 00:33:52,400
{\an1}this area was part of a vast
network of wetlands
411
00:33:52,433 --> 00:33:56,833
{\an1}that may have been home
to generations of cranes.
412
00:33:56,866 --> 00:33:59,100
{\an1}[ Train whistle blowing
in distance ]
413
00:34:02,266 --> 00:34:06,066
{\an1}This couple has stubbornly clung
to this tiny patch of wetland,
414
00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:10,066
but that's become
a dangerous choice.
415
00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:14,200
{\an1}Only about 1 in 10 colts
survive to adulthood,
416
00:34:14,233 --> 00:34:18,100
{\an1}and those odds are considerably
worse in urban settings.
417
00:34:21,766 --> 00:34:24,600
Even as protective
as these parents are,
418
00:34:24,633 --> 00:34:26,300
in this urban maze,
419
00:34:26,333 --> 00:34:29,733
{\an1}they will need a new set
of skills to survive.
420
00:34:29,766 --> 00:34:32,966
[ Dog barking ]
421
00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,400
[ Panting ]
422
00:34:37,266 --> 00:34:40,000
{\an1}Dad paces rapidly back
and forth,
423
00:34:40,033 --> 00:34:42,666
{\an1}tossing grass and sticks
into the air.
424
00:34:42,700 --> 00:34:45,000
[ Crane squawks ]
425
00:34:45,033 --> 00:34:48,466
{\an1}He's sending a message...
"Stay back!"
426
00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:55,633
[ Children playing ]
427
00:34:58,233 --> 00:35:03,533
{\an1}Safety and security are choices
typically made with their wings.
428
00:35:03,566 --> 00:35:07,100
But until these colts
are old enough to fly,
429
00:35:07,133 --> 00:35:09,266
{\an1}this family is grounded.
430
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,600
{\an1}But the colts are growing fast.
431
00:35:20,633 --> 00:35:22,233
{\an1}And their parents must decide
432
00:35:22,266 --> 00:35:25,200
{\an1}just how much of the suburbs
they can take.
433
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:32,833
{\an1}Once the family leaves their
home, there's no looking back.
434
00:35:34,866 --> 00:35:36,666
{\an1}If they are to find safety,
435
00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:40,200
{\an1}they will need to make
the journey on foot.
436
00:35:40,233 --> 00:35:43,433
{\an1}[ Motorcycle engine revs
in distance ]
437
00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:51,100
[ Truck horn honks,
vehicles passing ]
438
00:36:12,766 --> 00:36:20,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
439
00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:28,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
440
00:36:28,066 --> 00:36:31,733
{\an1}The parents take their first
cautious steps into the road.
441
00:36:31,766 --> 00:36:36,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
442
00:36:36,766 --> 00:36:38,333
And the tiny colts
443
00:36:38,366 --> 00:36:41,600
{\an1}slide down the hot asphalt
to follow behind.
444
00:36:41,633 --> 00:36:47,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
445
00:36:47,866 --> 00:36:51,733
{\an1}This 4-lane road is the most
exposed these colts have been
446
00:36:51,766 --> 00:36:53,233
in their young lives.
447
00:36:53,266 --> 00:36:58,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
448
00:36:58,733 --> 00:37:04,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
449
00:37:04,233 --> 00:37:06,900
{\an1}Much like walking a tight rope,
450
00:37:06,933 --> 00:37:10,366
{\an1}you have to keep looking
straight ahead.
451
00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,500
Whatever you do,
don't look down...
452
00:37:13,533 --> 00:37:14,533
on the road.
453
00:37:14,566 --> 00:37:17,066
[ Horn blaring ]
454
00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:21,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
455
00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:25,100
[ Horns blaring ]
456
00:37:25,133 --> 00:37:31,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
457
00:37:31,066 --> 00:37:36,966
{\an8}♪♪♪
458
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:38,333
[ Horn blares ]
459
00:37:38,366 --> 00:37:46,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
460
00:37:46,766 --> 00:37:49,800
They have survived
their first big step.
461
00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:04,600
{\an1}Growing up and raising a family
is tough enough,
462
00:38:04,633 --> 00:38:08,666
but we've made
that task doubly hard.
463
00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:11,800
Expanding suburbs
and industrial development
464
00:38:11,833 --> 00:38:15,333
{\an1}continue to fragment habitat
across the Rockies.
465
00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:22,833
{\an1}For some, roads and fences
become barriers to migration...
466
00:38:25,733 --> 00:38:27,600
{\an1}...often splitting apart
families
467
00:38:27,633 --> 00:38:30,466
and making animals
vulnerable to predators.
468
00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:36,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
469
00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:42,300
{\an1}And each year, the wild becomes
just a little less so.
470
00:38:45,933 --> 00:38:49,933
{\an1}Yet the Rockies still remain
our last best chance
471
00:38:49,966 --> 00:38:54,500
{\an1}for preserving many of North
America's most iconic species.
472
00:38:54,533 --> 00:38:59,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
473
00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:05,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
474
00:39:05,166 --> 00:39:08,433
{\an1}By early summer, snow that
has been locked away
475
00:39:08,466 --> 00:39:12,233
{\an1}in these high mountain peaks
begins to melt away.
476
00:39:15,033 --> 00:39:18,766
{\an1}Rivers swell as spring
run-off reaches its peak.
477
00:39:21,233 --> 00:39:23,433
{\an1}It's a powerful force.
478
00:39:23,466 --> 00:39:27,033
{\an1}The Lamar River is raging.
479
00:39:27,066 --> 00:39:31,200
{\an1}And this presents a new set of
challenges for our bison herd.
480
00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,433
{\an1}The cold, quick-moving water
bottles up the herd
481
00:39:38,466 --> 00:39:40,100
at the shoreline.
482
00:39:40,133 --> 00:39:44,033
{\an1}As the leaders wade out,
testing the current strength...
483
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:50,266
{\an1}...calves must stay close,
trust in the herd,
484
00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:51,866
and remain calm.
485
00:39:51,900 --> 00:39:59,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
486
00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:07,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
487
00:40:07,066 --> 00:40:09,166
{\an1}The current is beginning
to pick up
488
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,300
{\an1}and causing many newcomers
second thoughts.
489
00:40:12,333 --> 00:40:20,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
490
00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:26,033
{\an1}Midway, in the deepest section,
panic sets in.
491
00:40:26,066 --> 00:40:28,233
{\an1}The calf tries to turn back.
492
00:40:31,866 --> 00:40:35,833
{\an1}Quickly, he's swept downriver,
493
00:40:35,866 --> 00:40:38,266
farther and farther
from his mother.
494
00:40:38,300 --> 00:40:45,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
495
00:40:45,466 --> 00:40:47,700
{\an1}He struggles to swim upstream...
496
00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:54,200
{\an1}...as his mom can only watch
from the shoreline.
497
00:40:54,233 --> 00:40:59,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
498
00:40:59,366 --> 00:41:02,733
His legs slow
from icy-cold exhaustion...
499
00:41:02,766 --> 00:41:10,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
500
00:41:12,766 --> 00:41:20,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
501
00:41:22,766 --> 00:41:28,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
502
00:41:28,033 --> 00:41:33,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
503
00:41:33,266 --> 00:41:36,366
{\an1}...the lucky calf is reunited
with Mom.
504
00:41:40,933 --> 00:41:42,266
Maybe a little wiser
505
00:41:42,300 --> 00:41:46,000
about the power
of the wild world around him.
506
00:41:46,033 --> 00:41:51,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
507
00:41:51,133 --> 00:41:56,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
508
00:41:56,233 --> 00:42:00,500
Not all youngsters in
Yellowstone Valley are so lucky.
509
00:42:00,533 --> 00:42:02,633
[ Thunder rumbling ]
510
00:42:13,266 --> 00:42:18,133
{\an1}Sometime in the twilight hours,
tragedy struck.
511
00:42:18,166 --> 00:42:20,600
[ Bats screeching ]
512
00:42:20,633 --> 00:42:27,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
513
00:42:27,533 --> 00:42:34,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
514
00:42:34,466 --> 00:42:36,800
[ Birds chirping ]
515
00:42:36,833 --> 00:42:38,566
{\an1}Now, in the light of day,
516
00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:42,733
{\an1}Obsidian seems restless,
nervous.
517
00:42:42,766 --> 00:42:47,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
518
00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:49,833
{\an1}She huffs to call her cubs.
519
00:42:49,866 --> 00:42:53,900
{\an8}♪♪♪
520
00:42:53,933 --> 00:42:57,100
{\an1}But now her family of three...
521
00:42:57,133 --> 00:42:58,700
is down to two.
522
00:42:58,733 --> 00:43:03,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
523
00:43:03,700 --> 00:43:05,800
{\an1}One of her cubs is missing.
524
00:43:09,533 --> 00:43:11,633
We may never know
just what happened
525
00:43:11,666 --> 00:43:15,866
{\an1}in those twilight hours,
but the cubs certainly do.
526
00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:20,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
527
00:43:22,133 --> 00:43:26,533
{\an1}Losing a youngster has made
Obsidian even more vigilant.
528
00:43:43,633 --> 00:43:48,033
{\an1}She retreats into the forest
to nurse her two remaining cubs.
529
00:43:53,533 --> 00:43:56,800
No family is immune
to the harsh reality
530
00:43:56,833 --> 00:44:00,233
{\an1}of growing up in the Rockies.
531
00:44:00,266 --> 00:44:02,800
Life here is tenuous.
532
00:44:05,233 --> 00:44:10,100
{\an1}And while the loss of life for
one means survival for another,
533
00:44:10,133 --> 00:44:12,333
{\an1}nothing is ever so simple.
534
00:44:13,900 --> 00:44:16,033
Our bison herd rushes
to the place
535
00:44:16,066 --> 00:44:19,700
{\an1}where one of their own
has fallen...
536
00:44:19,733 --> 00:44:22,166
{\an1}a female that died during labor.
537
00:44:25,500 --> 00:44:30,600
{\an1}We gather together to mourn
the loss of our loved ones.
538
00:44:30,633 --> 00:44:34,733
{\an1}Is it so difficult to imagine
that bison may do the same?
539
00:44:34,766 --> 00:44:38,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
540
00:44:38,866 --> 00:44:42,966
{\an1}Tails are raised in distress
by the sight of a wolf
541
00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:44,766
waiting in the wings.
542
00:44:47,166 --> 00:44:50,366
Eventually, the herd
begins to disperse...
543
00:44:53,366 --> 00:44:56,800
{\an1}...leaving one lone 3-year-old.
544
00:44:56,833 --> 00:45:00,266
{\an1}Perhaps a son, still grieving.
545
00:45:00,300 --> 00:45:04,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
546
00:45:04,966 --> 00:45:09,433
{\an1}While his sense of smell
clearly tells him she's gone,
547
00:45:09,466 --> 00:45:12,633
{\an1}he's determined to defend her
a while longer.
548
00:45:12,666 --> 00:45:17,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
549
00:45:17,966 --> 00:45:22,200
{\an1}There is far more that
connects us than separates us,
550
00:45:22,233 --> 00:45:25,700
especially in matters
of love and loss.
551
00:45:25,733 --> 00:45:31,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
552
00:45:31,133 --> 00:45:36,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
553
00:45:36,566 --> 00:45:41,033
{\an1}In the small clearing, Obsidian
is still nursing her cubs.
554
00:45:41,066 --> 00:45:45,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
555
00:45:45,633 --> 00:45:49,533
{\an1}A shadow on the hillside above
her draws her to her feet,
556
00:45:49,566 --> 00:45:52,033
{\an1}perhaps a passing bison.
557
00:45:52,066 --> 00:45:55,433
But Mom is not taking
any chances now.
558
00:46:06,300 --> 00:46:10,033
{\an1}She keeps a watchful eye
while her cubs play.
559
00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:15,666
{\an1}Obsidian faces the same
struggle of every parent...
560
00:46:15,700 --> 00:46:18,466
{\an1}how much freedom is too much?
561
00:46:18,500 --> 00:46:26,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
562
00:46:27,566 --> 00:46:35,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
563
00:46:36,633 --> 00:46:41,133
{\an1}As the summer sun bakes the
plains, tensions are building.
564
00:46:43,933 --> 00:46:47,266
It's mating season.
565
00:46:47,300 --> 00:46:51,366
{\an1}And for our young calf,
everything has suddenly changed.
566
00:46:53,366 --> 00:46:57,033
{\an1}For months, he's been tied
to his mother's side,
567
00:46:57,066 --> 00:46:59,866
but now her attention
is focused elsewhere.
568
00:46:59,900 --> 00:47:05,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
569
00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,200
{\an1}And the large bulls he's watched
all summer
570
00:47:08,233 --> 00:47:12,833
{\an1}are suddenly too close
for comfort.
571
00:47:12,866 --> 00:47:17,533
They're agitated
and chasing his mother around.
572
00:47:17,566 --> 00:47:21,833
{\an1}He tries to keep up with her,
but that's a dangerous choice.
573
00:47:21,866 --> 00:47:29,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
574
00:47:29,366 --> 00:47:30,733
This time of year,
575
00:47:30,766 --> 00:47:33,500
bulls are competing
for the right to breed.
576
00:47:33,533 --> 00:47:38,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
577
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:42,766
{\an1}And they display their fitness
in the most dramatic fashion...
578
00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:47,233
{\an1}kicking clouds of dust
into the air as they urinate
579
00:47:47,266 --> 00:47:49,866
and then roll their
2,000-pound bodies
580
00:47:49,900 --> 00:47:51,600
{\an1}against the bare earth.
581
00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:57,000
{\an1}This bull is sending a message.
582
00:47:57,033 --> 00:47:59,100
{\an1}It's a chemical billboard.
583
00:48:01,066 --> 00:48:05,233
{\an1}It tells the other bulls
he is at the peak of his game.
584
00:48:05,266 --> 00:48:12,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
585
00:48:12,800 --> 00:48:20,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
586
00:48:20,333 --> 00:48:23,200
{\an1}One of the large bulls
is sticking close
587
00:48:23,233 --> 00:48:25,733
to the calf's mother,
tending her.
588
00:48:25,766 --> 00:48:33,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
589
00:48:33,966 --> 00:48:36,266
But he's treading
a difficult path.
590
00:48:39,733 --> 00:48:41,600
He's surrounded...
591
00:48:41,633 --> 00:48:44,100
{\an1}and the competition is stiff.
592
00:48:44,133 --> 00:48:50,633
{\an8}♪♪♪
593
00:48:50,666 --> 00:48:53,366
{\an1}If he wants to keep her
to himself,
594
00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:55,633
{\an1}he's going to have to prove
that he can.
595
00:48:55,666 --> 00:49:02,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
596
00:49:02,866 --> 00:49:09,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
597
00:49:09,966 --> 00:49:12,766
{\an1}It's a deadly serious game.
598
00:49:12,800 --> 00:49:20,800
{\an8}♪♪♪
599
00:49:21,733 --> 00:49:24,100
The success
of future generations
600
00:49:24,133 --> 00:49:28,966
{\an1}depends upon the outcome
of these gladiatorial battles.
601
00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:33,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
602
00:49:33,333 --> 00:49:37,266
And as the two bulls
exhaust themselves,
603
00:49:37,300 --> 00:49:39,533
{\an1}someone seizes an opening.
604
00:49:39,566 --> 00:49:47,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
605
00:49:49,166 --> 00:49:57,166
{\an8}♪♪♪
606
00:49:57,766 --> 00:50:05,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
607
00:50:07,766 --> 00:50:12,233
{\an1}Amidst the chaos, the calves
seek comfort in each other.
608
00:50:17,500 --> 00:50:21,400
{\an1}And as with every competition,
there is a victor.
609
00:50:21,433 --> 00:50:27,733
{\an8}♪♪♪
610
00:50:27,766 --> 00:50:31,300
These are the calves'
last days of childhood.
611
00:50:31,333 --> 00:50:34,766
{\an1}And in just a few years,
they'll compete for real.
612
00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:40,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
613
00:50:40,333 --> 00:50:44,066
{\an1}If they hope to be so fortunate,
they must endure
614
00:50:44,100 --> 00:50:46,933
all that the Rockies
have in store for them
615
00:50:46,966 --> 00:50:48,533
in the months ahead.
616
00:50:48,566 --> 00:50:55,300
{\an8}♪♪♪
617
00:50:55,333 --> 00:50:59,666
{\an1}As colors shift into autumn,
618
00:50:59,700 --> 00:51:02,333
{\an1}Obsidian's calm demeanor
has returned.
619
00:51:02,366 --> 00:51:04,300
[ Birds chirping ]
620
00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:09,566
She calls for her
two remaining cubs.
621
00:51:09,600 --> 00:51:11,633
[ Obsidian growls ]
622
00:51:11,666 --> 00:51:14,233
{\an1}Now, at the end of their season,
623
00:51:14,266 --> 00:51:16,800
her cubs are chubby
and confident
624
00:51:16,833 --> 00:51:20,000
{\an1}as they follow after Mom.
625
00:51:20,033 --> 00:51:25,200
{\an1}Soon, Obsidian and her cubs
will retreat to the warmth
626
00:51:25,233 --> 00:51:28,733
{\an1}and safety of their winter den.
627
00:51:28,766 --> 00:51:32,066
{\an1}While some take refuge
underground,
628
00:51:32,100 --> 00:51:35,100
others must prepare
to head south
629
00:51:35,133 --> 00:51:38,000
{\an1}to outrun winter's icy grip.
630
00:51:40,066 --> 00:51:41,766
But for many others,
631
00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:45,233
{\an1}they will have to endure
winter's fury head on.
632
00:51:48,233 --> 00:51:50,266
There will be battles
to fight...
633
00:51:52,600 --> 00:51:54,966
{\an1}...and alliances to forge.
634
00:51:56,400 --> 00:51:59,900
{\an1}Some must rely on the strength
of their tribe.
635
00:52:02,866 --> 00:52:05,433
{\an1}While others must go it alone.
636
00:52:06,933 --> 00:52:09,666
{\an1}For all these brave souls,
637
00:52:09,700 --> 00:52:13,966
{\an1}the experience of growing up
in the Rockies
638
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:16,066
has only just begun.
639
00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:23,100
{\an8}♪♪♪
640
00:52:25,233 --> 00:52:33,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
641
00:52:33,333 --> 00:52:41,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
642
00:52:41,433 --> 00:52:49,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
643
00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:57,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
644
00:52:57,633 --> 00:52:59,633
{\an8}To learn more
about what you've seen
645
00:52:59,666 --> 00:53:01,266
{\an7}on this "Nature" program,
646
00:53:01,300 --> 00:53:03,466
{\an8}visit pbs.org.
647
00:53:03,500 --> 00:53:11,500
{\an8}♪♪♪