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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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00:00:15,233 --> 00:00:16,966
{\an1}and daunting landscape...
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{\an1}...full of possibilities...
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wonder...
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and peril.
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[ Wind whistling ]
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You've just been born
in the Rockies,
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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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You will need to grow up fast...
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{\an1}...if you hope to take
on the Rockies'
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{\an1}most formidable challenge...
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{\an1}your very first winter.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}[ Wind whistling ]
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{\an1}THURMAN: In the shadow of
the Teton Range,
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{\an1}summer is drawing to a close.
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{\an1}And one grizzly mother
and her four chubby cubs
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are making their way
across the valley.
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It's remarkable for
a mother grizzly
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{\an1}to still have four healthy cubs
this late in the season.
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{\an1}But she's no ordinary mother.
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This is Grizzly 399,
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the matriarch of
Grand Teton National Park.
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{\an1}Her cubs are playfully sparring
with each other
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as they bound about.
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{\an1}But 399 is on a mission.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Her family is in a state
of hyperphagia,
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driven by the need
to fatten up for winter.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}During this time, she can easily
double her body weight.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Her cubs will pack it on,
as well.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Even as they'll rely on mom's
support for a few more years.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}She huffs to collect her cubs
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{\an1}as she has done countless times
in her life.
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{\an1}For 399 isn't just a mother,
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but a grandmother
many times over.
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And at the age of 24,
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{\an1}she's one of the oldest living
wild grizzlies we know of.
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And among the oldest
wild creatures
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{\an1}to call the Rockies their home.
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{\an1}The Rocky Mountains stretch
over 2,000 miles
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across North America.
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{\an1}Bringing together some of the
most diverse and vital habitats
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00:04:22,100 --> 00:04:23,733
on the continent.
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{\an1}And for every creature
born in the Rockies,
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{\an1}this next crucial step
of growing up has its own speed
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and path,
filled with the unexpected.
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{\an1}But one thing is for certain,
in just a few weeks,
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these strangely
wild sanctuaries...
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00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:53,833
{\an1}...will be plunged back
into winter once again.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Across the Teton Range,
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{\an1}sandhill cranes have already
begun the long journey south,
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{\an1}to their wintering grounds
in New Mexico.
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{\an1}Riding thermals across
high mountain passes,
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{\an1}cranes make their way across
Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
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{\an1}Here, the Rockies reach
their zenith with 58 peaks
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above 14,000 feet,
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{\an1}the tallest mountains in the
entire stretch of the Rockies.
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{\an1}As the cranes continue south,
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{\an1}a magical transformation
is unfolding beneath them.
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00:06:01,233 --> 00:06:05,000
{\an1}Green hillsides are turning gold
as vibrant autumn colors
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{\an1}wash across the Rockies
like ocean waves.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}Trees are preparing for
the trials of winter
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{\an1}by entering a state of dormancy.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}And many animals are preparing
for the scarcity of food
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{\an1}that comes with winter.
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{\an1}Squirrels are plucking off
the most promising pinecones
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{\an1}before they've dropped their
seeds to the forest floor.
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00:07:01,900 --> 00:07:04,666
{\an1}They will cache as many cones
as they can
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{\an1}before snow covers the ground.
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And while many
are preparing for winter,
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{\an1}bull elk have other things
on their minds.
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It's mating season in
Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Cows are preoccupied
with their young and grazing
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{\an1}before the snows comes.
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[ Calling ]
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{\an1}But our bull is intent
on holding the reins tight
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{\an1}on his harem of 20 or so cows.
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[ Calling ]
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{\an1}His bugle is a warning
to other males,
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and it can be heard
for miles around.
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It's a vocal display
of dominance
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{\an1}meant to ward off rivals
and attract mates.
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{\an1}There are plenty of other bulls
out there,
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but so far,
his strategy is working.
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[ Calling ]
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{\an1}This stretch of wilderness butts
up to the city of Estes Park.
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So males will compete
on the golf course
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while cows graze
on the putting greens.
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[ Horns honking ]
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{\an1}But keeping ahold of your harem
is hardly that easy.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}While some animals learn
to adapt to city life
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using stealth,
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{\an1}for a thousand-pound bull elk,
it's more about brawn.
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[ Calling ]
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As the herd migrates
through the city,
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{\an1}he'll spend more time corralling
them away from traffic...
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{\an1}than from other males.
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[ Horn honking ]
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[ Elk calling ]
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{\an1}The bull has staked his claim
to this intersection,
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and is trying hard
to keep his harem in check.
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[ Horns honking ]
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}City dwellers everywhere
understand the trade-offs
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of a lack of privacy.
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{\an1}But this group will stick
through it together,
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{\an1}all in the name of love.
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{\an1}Roughly 85% of Colorado's
population lives along
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the Eastern edge
of the Rocky Mountains,
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00:10:00,733 --> 00:10:05,800
{\an1}in some of the fastest
growing cities in the nation.
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00:10:05,833 --> 00:10:08,600
With increasingly
fragmented habitat,
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{\an1}city parks have become the new
home for some stealthy hunters.
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[ Barking ]
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{\an1}It may not be the most ideal
place to make a living,
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{\an1}but there is opportunity here.
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{\an1}Hunting is a skill honed
over time, one-part instinct,
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{\an1}two parts, experience.
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{\an1}But holding on to your dinner
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is just as important
as the hunt itself.
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{\an1}And that's what makes growing up
in the Rockies such a challenge
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{\an1}It's all about learning
what it takes to survive,
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00:11:13,366 --> 00:11:16,466
{\an1}and that's not just about
catching your next meal.
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It's about learning
the rules of your tribe...
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,800
finding a mate...
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and ultimately,
successfully raising your young.
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{\an1}And as winter approaches,
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all of those lessons
come more sharply into focus.
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{\an1}Childhood is a journey.
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Sandhill cranes have
finally arrived
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{\an1}to Colorado's San Luis Valley.
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{\an1}Fields of wheat and barley
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00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,033
{\an1}have become an important source
of food for the cranes,
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especially with
an ever-dwindling wetlands.
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{\an1}This all you can eat buffet
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is the perfect time
to socialize.
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For young ones,
it's an opportunity
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{\an1}to practice your dance moves.
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{\an1}Sandhill cranes will spend years
learning to dance
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before they're ready
to choose a life-long partner.
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{\an1}But these days of plenty
may not last.
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{\an1}Drought continues to plague
the west.
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{\an1}And the fate of both cranes
and farmers are linked.
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All life here depends
on the snowpack
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that accumulates
in the high mountain peaks
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{\an1}of the Southern Rockies.
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{\an1}But that snowpack is dwindling.
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00:13:09,766 --> 00:13:11,600
{\an1}The sand dunes that lie
at the base
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{\an1}of the Sangre De Cristo
Mountains
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00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:19,233
are a stark reminder
of a much wetter past.
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{\an1}Sand from ancient lakes
that once covered the valley,
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{\an1}now form the tallest sand dunes
in North America.
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{\an1}Reaching over 740 feet
above the desert floor.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an1}It's an ocean of sand,
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00:13:40,433 --> 00:13:43,566
shaped by the forces
of wind and water.
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{\an1}This is an environment
of extremes.
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{\an1}Surface temperatures can reach
150 degrees in summer
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00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,366
and minus-25 degrees
on a winter's night.
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,533
And here, at the base
of the dunes,
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00:14:17,566 --> 00:14:21,033
one tiny creature
is just beginning his day.
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00:14:23,433 --> 00:14:25,300
It's a kangaroo rat.
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00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:37,333
{\an1}Timid by nature, this nocturnal
rodent hops like a kangaroo
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{\an1}and has the appearance
of a rat, but he is neither.
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{\an1}He is, however, uniquely adapted
to desert life.
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00:14:46,933 --> 00:14:49,733
{\an1}And this young kangaroo rat
is hunting for seeds
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{\an1}blown across the sand.
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{\an1}He's not eating the seeds,
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00:14:54,866 --> 00:14:57,600
{\an1}but rather storing them
in his cheek pouches,
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{\an1}and bringing them back
to his burrow for safe keeping.
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00:15:02,966 --> 00:15:06,100
{\an1}It's a complex burrow system
with separate chambers
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00:15:06,133 --> 00:15:10,133
for sleeping
and others for storing food.
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00:15:10,166 --> 00:15:13,233
{\an1}And this underground home
is his castle,
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00:15:13,266 --> 00:15:16,466
{\an1}which he'll vigorously defend
from any intruder.
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00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:22,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:15:22,633 --> 00:15:27,633
{\an1}Our young kangaroo rat
is back on the hunt for seed.
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00:15:28,266 --> 00:15:32,000
{\an1}But his search takes him farther
and farther from his home.
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00:15:35,966 --> 00:15:39,933
And while he's away,
his curious neighbor,
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00:15:39,966 --> 00:15:43,566
{\an1}drawn by the smell of seeds,
infiltrates his burrow.
200
00:15:48,500 --> 00:15:52,866
{\an1}Our young kangaroo rat finally
returns from his foray.
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00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:56,900
{\an1}He doesn't know it yet, but
his neighbor is already inside.
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00:15:56,933 --> 00:16:04,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
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00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,200
{\an1}He springs into action...
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00:16:09,566 --> 00:16:12,400
{\an1}...chasing the intruder out
of his burrow
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00:16:12,433 --> 00:16:14,500
and into the night.
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00:16:17,566 --> 00:16:20,866
{\an1}It's the end of a long night
for our kangaroo rat,
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00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:25,766
{\an1}but now he's safely tucked away
inside his home.
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00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,966
{\an1}As autumn comes to a close,
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00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:33,533
the cranes begin
the last leg of their journey.
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00:16:33,566 --> 00:16:35,933
{\an1}They are following an ancient
flight path
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00:16:35,966 --> 00:16:39,533
{\an1}to their wintering grounds
in New Mexico.
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00:16:39,566 --> 00:16:43,400
{\an1}Sandhill cranes are as much
a part of the Rockies
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00:16:43,433 --> 00:16:46,433
{\an1}as the stones themselves.
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00:16:46,466 --> 00:16:49,366
{\an1}Unearthly sandstone formations
rise up
215
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,833
{\an1}from the rolling badlands
of New Mexico.
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00:16:53,866 --> 00:16:56,400
The Navajo peoples
call these pillars
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00:16:56,433 --> 00:17:00,433
"De-Na-Zin",
meaning "Standing Crane".
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00:17:03,666 --> 00:17:06,600
A natural monument to
the North America's most
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00:17:06,633 --> 00:17:08,800
ancient bird.
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00:17:08,833 --> 00:17:15,866
{\an8}♪♪♪
221
00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:22,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
222
00:17:22,966 --> 00:17:27,400
{\an1}In the Colorado Rockies,
winter is getting a head start.
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00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,433
{\an1}The first snow flurries
of the season
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00:17:30,466 --> 00:17:33,066
{\an1}leave behind a dusting of snow.
225
00:17:35,733 --> 00:17:39,066
{\an1}And by sunrise, the dunes
have been transformed.
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00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:46,800
{\an8}♪♪♪
227
00:17:46,833 --> 00:17:54,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
228
00:17:54,566 --> 00:17:58,500
{\an1}For bighorn sheep the end
of autumn marks a turning point.
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00:18:01,966 --> 00:18:04,100
And for lambs,
it's their first introduction
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00:18:04,133 --> 00:18:07,700
to a hallmark event,
a time when they begin to see
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00:18:07,733 --> 00:18:11,800
{\an1}what all this jockeying
for position is really about.
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00:18:13,833 --> 00:18:16,433
It's rutting season,
and males are competing
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00:18:16,466 --> 00:18:18,700
{\an1}for the right to mate.
234
00:18:19,866 --> 00:18:24,900
{\an1}Rank is constantly reinforced
and often contested.
235
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:29,733
{\an1}Their ultimate weapons are
their curled horns
236
00:18:29,766 --> 00:18:33,900
{\an1}that can weigh up to 30 pounds.
237
00:18:33,933 --> 00:18:36,766
{\an1}They are literal battering rams.
238
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:42,766
{\an1}In spring, 2-week-old ram lambs
239
00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:47,666
{\an1}will begin to butt heads
in mock battles.
240
00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:50,166
{\an1}In the early development
of a social order
241
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,433
they will be part of
for the rest of their lives.
242
00:18:56,733 --> 00:19:00,633
{\an1}Most of the year these rams
live in bachelor groups
243
00:19:00,666 --> 00:19:03,966
{\an1}that adhere to a ridged
hierarchy largely determined
244
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,900
by age and size.
245
00:19:08,100 --> 00:19:10,600
{\an1}Their life has a singular focus,
246
00:19:10,633 --> 00:19:14,233
{\an1}and this is what they've been
preparing for all year long.
247
00:19:17,866 --> 00:19:20,833
{\an1}A male can determine if a female
is ready to mate,
248
00:19:20,866 --> 00:19:24,200
{\an1}simply by smelling her urine.
249
00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:30,066
{\an1}He takes in her scent by tilting
his head back so her pheromones
250
00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,633
{\an1}can reach a sense organ
in the roof of his mouth.
251
00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:40,633
Females are in estrus
for just 48 hours.
252
00:19:40,666 --> 00:19:46,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
253
00:19:46,066 --> 00:19:51,466
{\an1}And during this time, the
rule book rams have lived by
254
00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:54,500
{\an1}is thrown out the window.
255
00:19:55,300 --> 00:19:58,466
A higher ranking male
is guarding this female.
256
00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,000
But he's up against
a reckless youngster
257
00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:05,666
{\an1}willing to risk it all.
258
00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:13,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
259
00:20:15,233 --> 00:20:23,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
260
00:20:24,766 --> 00:20:27,600
{\an1}The lower ranking male knows
he can't win
261
00:20:27,633 --> 00:20:29,333
{\an1}in a head-to-head fight.
262
00:20:31,366 --> 00:20:33,766
{\an1}So his goal is to separate
the female
263
00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,633
{\an1}from the higher ranking male
264
00:20:37,666 --> 00:20:40,500
{\an1}just long enough to mate.
265
00:20:41,633 --> 00:20:45,033
In these early years,
it may be his only chance.
266
00:20:45,066 --> 00:20:52,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
267
00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:59,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
268
00:20:59,266 --> 00:21:06,400
{\an8}♪♪♪
269
00:21:06,433 --> 00:21:11,600
{\an1}As the late autumn sun slowly
begins to melt away the snow,
270
00:21:11,633 --> 00:21:13,566
{\an1}things are becoming heated.
271
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,566
[ Horns crack ]
272
00:21:19,433 --> 00:21:21,900
{\an1}For most young, it's the closest
they've been to
273
00:21:21,933 --> 00:21:25,033
so many large males.
274
00:21:25,066 --> 00:21:27,766
And for ram lambs,
275
00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,800
{\an1}it's a window into their future.
276
00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:38,533
[ Horns crack ]
277
00:21:41,966 --> 00:21:46,866
{\an1}Rams are tuned into every
movement on this mountainside.
278
00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:48,466
[ Horns crack ]
279
00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:52,766
{\an1}A distant clash of horns will
draw males from a mile away.
280
00:21:55,166 --> 00:21:57,700
[ Horns crack ]
281
00:22:03,733 --> 00:22:07,900
{\an1}Half a dozen males are now
in pursuit of this female,
282
00:22:07,933 --> 00:22:11,866
{\an1}including the dominant ram.
283
00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:15,100
With this many males
bearing down on her,
284
00:22:15,133 --> 00:22:17,366
she makes a break
for the one place
285
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,600
{\an1}that has always meant safety.
286
00:22:20,633 --> 00:22:22,266
The cliffside.
287
00:22:26,666 --> 00:22:30,733
{\an1}Here, she has the advantage.
288
00:22:30,766 --> 00:22:35,833
{\an1}But the rams are relentless,
and weighing in at 300 pounds,
289
00:22:35,866 --> 00:22:37,500
dangerous.
290
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,933
So, she makes a break
for the open field,
291
00:22:54,966 --> 00:22:57,466
{\an1}in an attempt to shake them.
292
00:22:58,566 --> 00:23:01,100
{\an1}The males are following
close behind,
293
00:23:01,133 --> 00:23:05,500
{\an1}knocking each other off course
as they try and gain ground.
294
00:23:05,533 --> 00:23:08,200
{\an1}The dominant ram tries to keep
the others at bay
295
00:23:08,233 --> 00:23:10,800
{\an1}while maintaining his lead.
296
00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:20,766
{\an1}But the competition is fierce.
297
00:23:25,866 --> 00:23:29,766
She's exhausted
and surrounded once again.
298
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,533
{\an1}She makes one last attempt
to flee,
299
00:23:37,566 --> 00:23:40,233
but this youngster
seizes an opening.
300
00:23:40,266 --> 00:23:48,266
{\an8}♪♪♪
301
00:23:49,433 --> 00:23:52,200
In the end, it is
the higher ranking males
302
00:23:52,233 --> 00:23:55,866
{\an1}that have the greatest success.
303
00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:59,200
Her offspring,
will likely be from him.
304
00:23:59,233 --> 00:24:07,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
305
00:24:07,066 --> 00:24:14,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
306
00:24:14,866 --> 00:24:22,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
307
00:24:22,633 --> 00:24:26,033
{\an1}The winter solstice marks
the shortest day of the year
308
00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:28,100
and the official
beginning of winter.
309
00:24:28,133 --> 00:24:33,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
310
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:38,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
311
00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:40,900
But across most of
the Northern Rockies,
312
00:24:40,933 --> 00:24:44,066
{\an1}winter is well underway.
313
00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:50,466
{\an8}♪♪♪
314
00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:56,900
{\an8}♪♪♪
315
00:24:56,933 --> 00:24:59,866
{\an1}A deep freeze has settled in,
316
00:24:59,900 --> 00:25:02,833
{\an1}and it's here to stay.
317
00:25:05,133 --> 00:25:08,433
[ Wind whistling ]
318
00:25:08,466 --> 00:25:10,000
The first big storm
of the season
319
00:25:10,033 --> 00:25:12,400
is building
over Yellowstone Valley.
320
00:25:25,566 --> 00:25:29,700
{\an1}Our bison herd is heading across
their range, into the storm.
321
00:25:31,933 --> 00:25:35,800
Bison, unlike cattle,
face storms head on,
322
00:25:35,833 --> 00:25:39,733
{\an1}knowing they will pass
through it quicker.
323
00:25:39,766 --> 00:25:43,900
{\an1}But that doesn't make winter
any less brutal.
324
00:25:43,933 --> 00:25:47,633
{\an1}The Rockies are clearly
living up to their reputation.
325
00:25:54,766 --> 00:25:57,966
It's our young calf's
first winter,
326
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,600
and he already seems
out of his depth
327
00:26:00,633 --> 00:26:02,933
as he struggles
to keep up with mom.
328
00:26:10,333 --> 00:26:12,566
{\an1}It's a serious time of year,
329
00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:16,833
{\an1}and mom is completely focused
on the task at hand,
330
00:26:16,866 --> 00:26:19,866
{\an1}using her head like a plow
to uncover grasses
331
00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:22,933
beneath the snow.
332
00:26:22,966 --> 00:26:26,500
{\an1}But the storm is making
that task more difficult,
333
00:26:26,533 --> 00:26:29,533
burying the grasses
the minute she's uncovered them.
334
00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:35,966
{\an1}She'll need every morsel
she can dig up.
335
00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,266
{\an1}She's not only nursing the calf,
336
00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:42,633
{\an1}but like many of the females in
the herd, she's also pregnant.
337
00:26:48,533 --> 00:26:50,466
The calf is learning,
338
00:26:50,500 --> 00:26:53,766
{\an1}but he still lacks the broad
head needed to plow snow,
339
00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:57,833
{\an1}so he relies on the adults
to help unearth grasses.
340
00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:05,933
{\an1}As difficult as his first
winter may be,
341
00:27:05,966 --> 00:27:08,466
he is not alone
342
00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:11,766
{\an1}and will rely on the strength
of the herd to support him.
343
00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,133
{\an1}Others must endure winter
on their own.
344
00:27:30,066 --> 00:27:33,866
It's this young fox's
first winter,
345
00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:36,566
{\an1}and it's already proven
to be a difficult one.
346
00:27:40,566 --> 00:27:45,066
{\an1}Foxes must grow up fast,
from childhood to adulthood
347
00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:47,533
{\an1}in the span of just six months.
348
00:27:47,566 --> 00:27:55,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
349
00:27:55,866 --> 00:28:03,866
{\an8}♪♪♪
350
00:28:04,233 --> 00:28:07,600
{\an1}His winter coat will keep him
warm enough in the storm,
351
00:28:07,633 --> 00:28:09,600
{\an1}but it won't keep him fed.
352
00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:17,433
{\an1}Foxes use their ears to detect
their prey under the snow.
353
00:28:18,433 --> 00:28:21,600
{\an1}But now, with the storm
bearing down on him,
354
00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:24,066
{\an1}that's become impossible.
355
00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:30,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
356
00:28:30,633 --> 00:28:34,700
{\an1}He seems unwilling to give up
just yet.
357
00:28:34,733 --> 00:28:36,933
But conditions
are getting worse.
358
00:28:40,233 --> 00:28:42,900
{\an1}Every minute he spends
stalking prey in the storm
359
00:28:42,933 --> 00:28:45,066
is energy spent.
360
00:28:45,100 --> 00:28:47,666
{\an1}It's a costly endeavor.
361
00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:53,266
{\an8}♪♪♪
362
00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:57,466
{\an1}Finally, the fox decides
to give up the hunt.
363
00:28:57,500 --> 00:29:05,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
364
00:29:05,233 --> 00:29:12,866
{\an8}♪♪♪
365
00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:15,000
{\an1}The morning only brings
more snow,
366
00:29:15,033 --> 00:29:17,933
{\an1}and now our herd is buried.
367
00:29:17,966 --> 00:29:24,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
368
00:29:25,866 --> 00:29:29,033
[ Wind whistling ]
369
00:29:35,066 --> 00:29:38,933
{\an1}December is among the coldest
months in Yellowstone,
370
00:29:38,966 --> 00:29:42,366
{\an1}with average temperatures
lingering well below freezing.
371
00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,033
{\an1}Bison are built for the cold.
372
00:29:49,066 --> 00:29:53,066
{\an1}Their winter coat is so thick,
snow accumulates on their back
373
00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:56,433
without melting away.
374
00:29:56,466 --> 00:30:03,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
375
00:30:03,866 --> 00:30:08,333
Once the skies clear,
temperatures plummet.
376
00:30:08,733 --> 00:30:11,133
{\an1}It's so cold that water vapor
377
00:30:11,166 --> 00:30:14,500
begins to crystalize in the air,
378
00:30:14,533 --> 00:30:19,500
{\an1}creating a magical phenomenon
known as Diamond Dust.
379
00:30:19,533 --> 00:30:27,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
380
00:30:29,433 --> 00:30:37,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
381
00:30:39,366 --> 00:30:47,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
382
00:30:49,266 --> 00:30:52,900
{\an1}As we enter the frigid
depths of winter,
383
00:30:52,933 --> 00:30:55,500
the landscape
appears eerily barren.
384
00:30:58,066 --> 00:31:02,000
{\an1}Most bears would have been
denned up long ago,
385
00:31:02,033 --> 00:31:04,600
{\an1}but in the shadow of the Tetons,
386
00:31:04,633 --> 00:31:08,800
one legend has yet
to call it quits.
387
00:31:08,833 --> 00:31:12,766
Grizzly 399
and her four chubby cubs
388
00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:17,166
{\an1}are wading through the deep snow
in the final days of December.
389
00:31:20,533 --> 00:31:22,700
It's incredibly late
in the season for any bear
390
00:31:22,733 --> 00:31:25,166
to still be out,
391
00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,133
especially a mother
with four cubs.
392
00:31:28,166 --> 00:31:36,166
{\an8}♪♪♪
393
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,066
{\an1}But if anyone was going
to redefine
394
00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:42,233
what it means to be a grizzly,
395
00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:45,866
it would be 399.
396
00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:50,466
{\an1}She has beaten all the odds
and charted her own path.
397
00:31:54,400 --> 00:32:00,000
399 is the undisputed
Queen of the Tetons.
398
00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:04,266
And who, after all,
would be foolish enough
399
00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:07,600
{\an1}to question a Queen's decision.
400
00:32:07,633 --> 00:32:12,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
401
00:32:12,533 --> 00:32:15,766
{\an1}She pauses to take one last look
over her domain.
402
00:32:18,833 --> 00:32:21,200
Now she's ready.
403
00:32:21,233 --> 00:32:24,300
{\an1}399 makes her way up slope.
404
00:32:24,333 --> 00:32:27,900
{\an1}She's heading to her winter den.
405
00:32:29,533 --> 00:32:33,766
{\an1}Somewhere in the vastness
of the Teton range.
406
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:39,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
407
00:32:39,533 --> 00:32:45,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
408
00:32:45,266 --> 00:32:49,233
Farther north,
in the depths of Yellowstone,
409
00:32:49,266 --> 00:32:51,833
{\an1}our bison family has sought
refuge from the storm
410
00:32:51,866 --> 00:32:53,700
{\an1}among the thermal vents.
411
00:33:00,966 --> 00:33:03,766
{\an1}It's a welcome reprieve
for the herd,
412
00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:05,966
{\an1}especially our young bison.
413
00:33:09,533 --> 00:33:12,300
{\an1}These hot springs not only
provide warmth,
414
00:33:12,333 --> 00:33:16,100
but less snow cover
and easier forage.
415
00:33:16,133 --> 00:33:18,233
{\an1}An important bit of knowledge
416
00:33:18,266 --> 00:33:20,966
when you weigh in
at 2,000 pounds
417
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,200
and subsist
almost entirely on grasses.
418
00:33:30,333 --> 00:33:34,066
{\an1}Little by little, he's absorbing
an ancient reservoir
419
00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:38,833
{\an1}of knowledge passed down
from generation to generation.
420
00:33:47,433 --> 00:33:51,466
For predators,
winter brings opportunity.
421
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,566
[ Howling ]
422
00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,933
Coyotes evolved
alongside wolves.
423
00:34:02,433 --> 00:34:04,566
[ Howling ]
424
00:34:07,133 --> 00:34:09,600
{\an1}And their canid cousin
helped shaped them
425
00:34:09,633 --> 00:34:12,433
{\an1}into the highly flexible
predator we know today.
426
00:34:20,900 --> 00:34:24,133
[ Crows cawing ]
427
00:34:28,700 --> 00:34:33,400
{\an1}A pack of coyotes has discovered
the remains of a bison carcass.
428
00:34:33,433 --> 00:34:36,100
{\an1}And they are picking the meat
clean from the bones.
429
00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:47,033
{\an1}During these cold winter months,
competition is fierce.
430
00:34:48,633 --> 00:34:51,500
[ Screeching ]
431
00:34:57,233 --> 00:35:01,866
And any meal is meal
worth defending.
432
00:35:01,900 --> 00:35:04,666
[ Snarling ]
433
00:35:29,733 --> 00:35:33,166
[ Wind whistling ]
434
00:35:38,100 --> 00:35:41,833
{\an1}But perhaps the deadliest
predator of all
435
00:35:41,866 --> 00:35:43,800
is winter itself.
436
00:35:52,833 --> 00:35:54,700
{\an1}A casualty of the most
recent storm
437
00:35:54,733 --> 00:35:57,833
has now become
a feast for eagles.
438
00:35:57,866 --> 00:36:00,500
[ Screeching ]
439
00:36:18,266 --> 00:36:21,166
While eagles may rule
the carcass by day...
440
00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:28,400
the night belongs
to other predators.
441
00:36:28,433 --> 00:36:34,033
{\an8}♪♪♪
442
00:36:34,066 --> 00:36:39,700
{\an8}♪♪♪
443
00:36:39,733 --> 00:36:42,500
{\an1}A mountain lion has discovered
the carcass.
444
00:36:47,133 --> 00:36:50,233
{\an1}And it's not just one...
445
00:36:50,266 --> 00:36:52,300
it's a family.
446
00:36:52,333 --> 00:36:55,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
447
00:36:55,466 --> 00:36:57,666
[ Growling ]
448
00:37:01,033 --> 00:37:04,266
{\an1}Mom settles down for a meal.
449
00:37:04,300 --> 00:37:07,966
{\an1}At about 6 years of age,
she's in the prime of her life.
450
00:37:11,433 --> 00:37:16,900
{\an1}Her kittens are fully grown now
and the same size as mom.
451
00:37:16,933 --> 00:37:19,166
One of the kittens
attempts to join her.
452
00:37:21,633 --> 00:37:24,633
{\an1}But mother is reluctant
to share the carcass.
453
00:37:29,166 --> 00:37:33,033
But, as always,
persistence pays off.
454
00:37:36,300 --> 00:37:41,200
{\an1}This will likely be the kittens
last winter travelling with mom.
455
00:37:41,233 --> 00:37:45,333
{\an1}By spring, they will be
on their own.
456
00:37:45,366 --> 00:37:47,666
{\an1}There's not much to this meal,
457
00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:50,633
especially for
three grown lions.
458
00:37:50,666 --> 00:37:56,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
459
00:37:56,233 --> 00:37:59,133
They try to drag
the carcass away,
460
00:37:59,166 --> 00:38:03,166
but end up in a game
of tug of war.
461
00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:07,133
{\an1}This thin strip of hide
is not much of a prize.
462
00:38:07,166 --> 00:38:10,600
{\an8}♪♪♪
463
00:38:10,633 --> 00:38:12,766
[ Wind whistling ]
464
00:38:15,666 --> 00:38:23,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
465
00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:32,366
Our young fox
is back on the hunt.
466
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,000
And this time,
the weather is on his side.
467
00:38:42,733 --> 00:38:45,066
He learned the basics
of stalking and pouncing
468
00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:47,433
{\an1}when he was just a pup.
469
00:38:51,833 --> 00:38:56,666
{\an1}But the real trick to this hunt
is finding your prey.
470
00:38:56,700 --> 00:39:00,000
{\an1}How do you hunt an animal
you cannot see?
471
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,733
{\an1}The fox's quarry lies deep
under the snow.
472
00:39:07,766 --> 00:39:09,400
It's a meadow vole.
473
00:39:11,933 --> 00:39:14,733
And this snow cave
is it's igloo.
474
00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:19,533
The snow forms
an insulating layer,
475
00:39:19,566 --> 00:39:22,266
{\an1}protecting the vole from
the harshest winter weather
476
00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:24,833
and keeping him safe
from predators.
477
00:39:27,133 --> 00:39:29,333
Well, almost.
478
00:39:29,366 --> 00:39:35,233
{\an8}♪♪♪
479
00:39:35,266 --> 00:39:37,566
{\an1}Although he may lack experience,
480
00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:42,100
this fox has all
the tools he needs.
481
00:39:42,133 --> 00:39:44,233
{\an1}Foxes have incredible hearing
482
00:39:44,266 --> 00:39:48,500
{\an1}and can detect prey under more
than 3 feet of snow.
483
00:39:52,066 --> 00:39:55,366
The tiniest movement
can set the fox in motion.
484
00:39:55,400 --> 00:40:02,400
{\an8}♪♪♪
485
00:40:02,433 --> 00:40:05,300
{\an1}He's located the vole.
486
00:40:05,333 --> 00:40:07,933
{\an1}And with a pounce, he strikes.
487
00:40:17,966 --> 00:40:20,333
A miss.
488
00:40:20,366 --> 00:40:22,766
This technique
is called mousing,
489
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,766
{\an1}and it's something foxes
are supremely good at.
490
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:30,366
{\an1}The rest is just practice.
491
00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:40,766
{\an1}But there's far more going
on here than meets the eye.
492
00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:54,400
{\an8}♪♪♪
493
00:40:56,400 --> 00:41:04,400
{\an8}♪♪♪
494
00:41:06,466 --> 00:41:10,666
{\an1}It's believed that foxes
can see magnetic north.
495
00:41:10,700 --> 00:41:17,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
496
00:41:17,033 --> 00:41:21,500
{\an1}And by aligning their prey
in a northward direction,
497
00:41:21,533 --> 00:41:24,733
along with the sound
of the prey...
498
00:41:24,766 --> 00:41:30,500
{\an8}♪♪♪
499
00:41:30,533 --> 00:41:34,100
{\an1}...they can triangulate
the precise distance
500
00:41:34,133 --> 00:41:35,766
of their attack.
501
00:41:38,100 --> 00:41:43,400
{\an8}♪♪♪
502
00:41:43,433 --> 00:41:48,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
503
00:42:03,066 --> 00:42:05,433
{\an1}He's off to a good start,
504
00:42:05,466 --> 00:42:09,366
{\an1}but he'll need more than
a single vole to keep him fed.
505
00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:20,233
{\an1}It's just before dawn in Western
Montana's Bitterroot Valley.
506
00:42:22,833 --> 00:42:26,366
{\an1}A lioness is taking a familiar
path through the forest.
507
00:42:28,700 --> 00:42:31,833
{\an1}But she's not on the hunt.
508
00:42:31,866 --> 00:42:34,033
{\an1}She's already caught her quarry,
509
00:42:34,066 --> 00:42:38,000
{\an1}and managed to take down
a cow elk and her calf.
510
00:42:38,900 --> 00:42:42,200
{\an1}A meal that should last her
several weeks.
511
00:42:54,333 --> 00:42:58,000
{\an1}The lioness has covered her kill
in a pile of sticks and grass
512
00:42:58,033 --> 00:43:00,766
{\an1}to conceal it from scavengers.
513
00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,966
And there are plenty
lurking in this forest.
514
00:43:09,433 --> 00:43:12,466
A pine martin eagerly
awaits his turn.
515
00:43:16,700 --> 00:43:20,800
{\an1}The lioness has had her fill
for the day,
516
00:43:20,833 --> 00:43:24,066
{\an1}but she'll return soon enough.
517
00:43:40,133 --> 00:43:43,466
[ Howling ]
518
00:43:45,600 --> 00:43:48,633
{\an1}Night envelops the forest.
519
00:43:51,300 --> 00:43:53,533
{\an1}A fox has discovered the kill.
520
00:43:56,100 --> 00:43:58,466
A carcass like this
a pretty big score
521
00:43:58,500 --> 00:44:01,433
{\an1}when you've been subsisting
on tiny rodents.
522
00:44:04,333 --> 00:44:06,600
{\an1}[ Twig snaps in distance ]
523
00:44:15,266 --> 00:44:18,333
A young mountain lion
has discovered the carcass.
524
00:44:20,666 --> 00:44:23,300
It's her first winter
on her own,
525
00:44:23,333 --> 00:44:25,500
{\an1}and this is a welcome meal.
526
00:44:37,833 --> 00:44:40,100
{\an1}But now the owner has returned.
527
00:44:55,300 --> 00:44:58,133
{\an1}Yet instead of chasing her off,
528
00:44:58,166 --> 00:45:01,100
{\an1}the older lion shares the kill
with the youngster.
529
00:45:04,266 --> 00:45:07,466
{\an1}These two lions are only
distantly related,
530
00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:10,366
yet the older female
tolerates this youngster.
531
00:45:13,366 --> 00:45:15,533
This kind of resource
sharing was once thought
532
00:45:15,566 --> 00:45:19,300
{\an1}improbable among solitary
predators like mountain lions.
533
00:45:25,233 --> 00:45:28,066
But now it seems
these solitary cats
534
00:45:28,100 --> 00:45:31,633
are far more social
than previously imagined.
535
00:45:31,666 --> 00:45:39,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
536
00:45:40,266 --> 00:45:42,633
[ Hooting ]
537
00:45:42,666 --> 00:45:46,933
{\an8}♪♪♪
538
00:45:46,966 --> 00:45:49,733
{\an1}Over the coming weeks,
the young lion returns
539
00:45:49,766 --> 00:45:52,366
{\an1}to these kills again and again.
540
00:45:55,366 --> 00:45:57,100
{\an1}This freezer full of meat
541
00:45:57,133 --> 00:46:00,200
has proven
to be a vital source of food
542
00:46:00,233 --> 00:46:03,433
{\an1}and will help this young lioness
get through the winter.
543
00:46:06,366 --> 00:46:10,966
{\an1}And because of this experience,
our young lioness is far more
544
00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:14,066
{\an1}likely to share one of
her own kills in the future.
545
00:46:20,866 --> 00:46:25,100
{\an1}With the last big storm
of winter now upon her...
546
00:46:25,133 --> 00:46:29,433
{\an1}snow is quickly burying
the carcass.
547
00:46:29,466 --> 00:46:31,800
But she is reluctant
to concede her meal
548
00:46:31,833 --> 00:46:35,600
{\an1}in the middle of this storm.
549
00:46:35,633 --> 00:46:41,633
{\an8}♪♪♪
550
00:46:41,666 --> 00:46:47,666
{\an8}♪♪♪
551
00:46:47,700 --> 00:46:50,866
{\an1}This young lioness is lucky.
552
00:46:50,900 --> 00:46:53,166
She has made her home
in a protected area
553
00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:54,866
of Western Montana,
554
00:46:54,900 --> 00:46:58,433
free from development
and safe from hunting.
555
00:47:01,266 --> 00:47:04,233
{\an1}This land, once a working ranch,
556
00:47:04,266 --> 00:47:06,366
has now been returned
to the wild.
557
00:47:10,766 --> 00:47:12,466
{\an1}And this kind of re-wilding
558
00:47:12,500 --> 00:47:15,133
is happening across
Western Montana.
559
00:47:15,166 --> 00:47:23,166
{\an8}♪♪♪
560
00:47:24,866 --> 00:47:29,166
{\an1}After decades of logging,
forests, now protected,
561
00:47:29,200 --> 00:47:33,066
{\an1}have become home to lynx...
562
00:47:33,100 --> 00:47:35,333
and wolverine.
563
00:47:35,366 --> 00:47:43,366
{\an8}♪♪♪
564
00:47:44,133 --> 00:47:52,133
{\an8}♪♪♪
565
00:47:52,866 --> 00:48:00,866
{\an8}♪♪♪
566
00:48:01,700 --> 00:48:04,766
{\an1}The last days of winter
have finally arrived.
567
00:48:08,866 --> 00:48:12,300
{\an1}Rivers and lakes once again
flow free.
568
00:48:12,333 --> 00:48:17,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
569
00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:22,833
{\an8}♪♪♪
570
00:48:22,866 --> 00:48:25,500
With the return of
warm sunny days,
571
00:48:25,533 --> 00:48:28,100
{\an1}western painted turtles clamber
572
00:48:28,133 --> 00:48:31,433
to sun themselves
on floating logs.
573
00:48:33,966 --> 00:48:35,633
{\an1}And a family of bears,
574
00:48:35,666 --> 00:48:37,866
{\an1}escaping from the heat
of the day,
575
00:48:37,900 --> 00:48:41,800
cool off in their
favorite swimming hole.
576
00:48:45,866 --> 00:48:50,100
{\an1}Many of the families that now
call this forest home are drawn
577
00:48:50,133 --> 00:48:54,733
by the opportunities
this restored habitat provides.
578
00:48:54,766 --> 00:49:02,766
{\an8}♪♪♪
579
00:49:04,233 --> 00:49:08,733
{\an1}And it appears our lone fox
has found a mate
580
00:49:08,766 --> 00:49:12,166
{\an1}and now has a thriving family
of his own.
581
00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:19,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
582
00:49:19,033 --> 00:49:20,933
[ Birds calling ]
583
00:49:20,966 --> 00:49:23,833
Across the Rockies,
new families are taking
584
00:49:23,866 --> 00:49:27,766
{\an1}their first tentative steps
into the world.
585
00:49:46,866 --> 00:49:50,066
And in the heart of
Grand Teton National Park,
586
00:49:50,100 --> 00:49:52,533
{\an1}crowds gather in anticipation
587
00:49:52,566 --> 00:49:55,300
of the Rockies'
most famous bear.
588
00:50:00,633 --> 00:50:03,400
Everyone is holding
their breath.
589
00:50:03,433 --> 00:50:08,000
{\an8}♪♪♪
590
00:50:08,033 --> 00:50:11,333
And they don't have
long to wait.
591
00:50:11,366 --> 00:50:15,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
592
00:50:15,366 --> 00:50:17,733
{\an1}[ Camera shutter clicks ]
593
00:50:17,766 --> 00:50:22,600
{\an1}This remarkable bear has defied
the odds once again
594
00:50:22,633 --> 00:50:26,533
{\an1}and triumphantly wades out
into a sea of adoring fans
595
00:50:26,566 --> 00:50:29,066
with all four cubs.
596
00:50:29,100 --> 00:50:31,833
{\an1}[ Camera shutters clicking ]
597
00:50:35,633 --> 00:50:39,400
{\an1}399 has made their home
in the northern portion
598
00:50:39,433 --> 00:50:41,733
{\an1}of Grand Teton National Park.
599
00:50:45,033 --> 00:50:49,533
{\an1}And spends much of the spring
close to the road.
600
00:50:50,100 --> 00:50:54,966
{\an1}It's one reason why this family
has become so famous.
601
00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:57,800
{\an1}But that's not the only reason.
602
00:50:57,833 --> 00:50:59,533
At least 22 grizzlies
603
00:50:59,566 --> 00:51:04,033
{\an1}are the direct descendants
of 399.
604
00:51:04,066 --> 00:51:09,200
{\an1}And the fact that they are here
at all is remarkable in itself.
605
00:51:10,366 --> 00:51:14,533
{\an1}Just decades ago, there were
fewer than 1,000 grizzlies
606
00:51:14,566 --> 00:51:20,733
{\an1}left in the lower 48, in just
2% of their former range.
607
00:51:21,466 --> 00:51:24,733
{\an1}Today, thanks to grizzly bear
recovery efforts,
608
00:51:24,766 --> 00:51:27,433
those numbers
have more than doubled.
609
00:51:30,066 --> 00:51:36,200
{\an8}♪♪♪
610
00:51:36,233 --> 00:51:42,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
611
00:51:42,366 --> 00:51:46,366
{\an1}399 has become a symbol
of grizzly bear recovery.
612
00:51:49,233 --> 00:51:51,533
{\an1}And shows us what is possible
613
00:51:51,566 --> 00:51:55,533
{\an1}when we provide the minimal
protection for wildlife.
614
00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:02,600
And it provides
a glimmer of hope
615
00:52:02,633 --> 00:52:06,166
{\an1}that we can undo some of
the damage we have done.
616
00:52:08,300 --> 00:52:11,233
{\an1}We can provide a safe home
617
00:52:11,266 --> 00:52:14,533
for all our
Rocky Mountain families.
618
00:52:14,566 --> 00:52:22,566
{\an8}♪♪♪
619
00:52:25,333 --> 00:52:33,333
{\an8}♪♪♪
620
00:52:33,433 --> 00:52:41,433
{\an8}♪♪♪
621
00:52:41,533 --> 00:52:49,533
{\an8}♪♪♪
622
00:52:49,633 --> 00:52:57,633
{\an8}♪♪♪
623
00:52:57,733 --> 00:52:59,733
{\an8}To learn more
about what you've seen
624
00:52:59,766 --> 00:53:01,366
{\an7}on this "Nature" program,
625
00:53:01,400 --> 00:53:03,566
{\an8}visit pbs.org.
626
00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:11,600
{\an8}♪♪♪