["One Step Closer" playing]
[Jane] "Canis lupus."
[Jane] They've gotta be around here somewhere.
No tracks. No fur. No sign of a hunt.
We should probably just give up and take this off-roading somewhere warm.
We can't give up. We've barely even started.
We need to find out why wolves howl.
[howls]
Yes, Greybeard. Why do they do that?
Maybe we shouldn't be searching with our eyes. [grunts]
Maybe we should be searching with our ears.
- Good idea. - [chatters]
- [wolves howling] - [gasps] Did you hear that?
I was hoping I just imagined it.
[chatters]
You're right, Greybeard. The wolf howl came from up ahead.
Jane, what are the chances we're gonna get eaten by wolves?
Wolves rarely attack people. We attack them.
One of the reasons wolves are endangered
is because they get hunted and poached by people who don't understand them.
So, a wolf's not gonna eat me?
- [chatters] - It's incredibly unlikely.
But not a 0% chance?
[wolves howling]
[Jane] A wolf pack! There are so many of them.
You're the only person I know who's happiest when they're in the most danger.
[sighs]
They're so happy.
Look at their tails wagging. They look like dogs.
That's because dogs came from wolves.
Dogs used to be wolves?
Yep, until they started hanging out with people a long, long time ago.
Even poodles?
Even poodles.
[wolves barking]
[David] I wish I could have a wolf.
Not unless you wanna help it hunt moose, deer and caribou.
What?
Wolves live in packs, which means they do everything together.
Hunt. Sleep. Play.
The leaders are usually the parents.
They're in charge and all the others have to listen to them.
That sounds like my house.
[chuckles] But I still don't know how we're gonna figure out why they howl.
Uh, Jane.
Do they howl to talk to each other?
Jane.
- Or to talk to other wolf packs, or... - Jane.
She's beautiful, but why is she all by herself?
Exactly. And how do you know she's a she?
Girl wolves are smaller than boy wolves.
[wolves howling in distance]
Does she belong to that pack up there?
If she does, I don't know why she'd leave it.
We have to find out.
I thought we had to find out why wolves howl.
We get to do both.
The more we can understand wolves,
the more we get to help other people stop being so scared of them.
- Come on. - Where are you going?
[Greybeard chatters]
The snowcat can't fit in the trees.
We have to follow on foot.
Snowshoe time.
[wolves howling]
Maybe I could just stay here.
[Jane pants]
There's another paw print. And another one.
Snowshoeing is harder than it looks. It should be called snow-trudging.
You're going in circles.
[Jane] No.
She's circling us.
I thought you said wolves don't eat people, right?
Right?
[growling]
- [barking] - [both scream]
[resident] Pugsley.
Oh.
[resident] Get back here.
Hi, Jane. Hi, David.
- Hi. - Sorry about him.
Yeah, he keeps getting out when we move stuff into the hall.
Don't you? Oh, you cute little runaway. Yes.
- [resident chuckles] - It's cute. Can I pet him?
[resident's parent] Oh, yeah.
Are you moving away, Mr. Abbasi?
No, I am.
I'm starting college in this adorable small town.
It's really close to the ocean and far from my parents.
- [chuckles] - Careful, Saadiya,
or we'll move in next door and enroll in your college.
Won't we, Professor Pugsley?
Mom says it'll be a great experience.
Do you see my running shoes? I don't see them.
Well, poor little Pugsley disagrees.
I think he's trying to follow you to your school.
Dad, I'm gonna visit all the time.
Where else do you think I'm gonna do my laundry?
[chuckles] Well, don't tell me. Tell him.
Look at him. He's inconsolable.
I'm going to visit all the time.
- [Pugsley whimpers] - Promise.
Now come on. Let's keep packing.
[Pugsley barks]
I have an idea. Come on.
You know, we're actually studying Pugsley's ancestors, Canis lupus.
That's probably the scientific name for wolves.
[Jane] We're trying to figure out why they howl
and why one would leave their pack.
It would really help our mission if we could take Pugsley for a walk.
How would that help your mission?
Since dogs are related to wolves,
observing Pugsley would tell them more about wolves.
- Exactly, Saadiya. - I love that idea.
My mom's gonna be back with the moving van soon.
So if you guys could watch Pugsley,
that would really speed up our packing time.
There you go.
- Thank you. - We'll take good care of him.
[stammers] Why is everyone leaving me?
[sniffing]
First observation,
he likes to sniff everything.
- [Greybeard chatters] - [barks]
And bark at everything.
- [Pugsley urinating] - And pee on everything.
I wonder if wolves do that too.
[siren wailing in distance]
[barks, howling]
Sounds like dogs got their howl from wolves.
Wait, is Pugsley trying to talk to that ambulance?
[wolf howling]
[howls]
And is a wolf trying to talk to Pugsley?
That must be our wolf, but what is she saying?
"Howlo"?
See what I did there?
"Howlo"? Like hello, but with a howl.
[sighs]
- [howling continues] - [barks]
The wolf howl is coming from around back. Come on.
[Greybeard chatters]
Jane, do you think we should be walking towards the howl?
Remember how the wolf jumped out at us?
Well, maybe she just wanted to play. We'll observe from a distance.
- Hmm? - You'll observe from a distance. [sighs]
- Greybeard, you're with me. - [Greybeard chatters]
You'll protect me, right?
[whines]
- [howls, growls] - [gasps] There's our wolf.
What do you think she's waiting for?
[chatters]
Does she think Pugsley's a wolf like her?
Was she trying to call him over?
- [object buzzing] - What's that sound?
- [Pugsley barks] - [grunts] How do I stop this thing?
[growls]
Oh, no. Wolves don't usually attack people but they do attack dogs.
- But doesn't she think he's a wolf? - Not anymore.
[growling, barks]
- [David] Pugsley, come back! - [growls]
Dad, did you see my hairbrush?
What are you doing in here?
Uh, just making sure we got everything.
[chuckles] Lil Chomper. [sighs]
Do you remember when you got her for me?
- More like won her for you. - [chuckles]
That baseball didn't get in the barrel by itself.
I must have spent over a hundred dollars on that game.
[chuckles]
[barking in distance]
Is that Pugsley?
- [howls] - [barking continues]
[whines]
Wow, Pugsley scared her away.
Maybe he's more wolflike than we thought.
Who's a tough little guy? You are. Yes, you are.
She was probably surprised Pugsley wasn't another wolf like she thought he was.
Maybe we should take Pugsley back to Mr. Abbasi and Saadiya?
But he just helped us figure out that wolves howl to talk to each other.
True, but then he scared our wolf away.
We'll never learn why she's on her own if he does that again.
[barks, growls]
You're right. I'll take him back.
Are you ready for more walksies, Pugsley?
Walkie me if you see anything.
Will do.
[sighs]
[barking, growls]
They're probably starting to take Saadiya's stuff down to the moving van.
I have an idea. Let's show Dad and Pops how good I am at taking care of you.
That way, they might let me get a dog of my own.
Come on, pups.
[growling]
- Hi, Mrs. Abbasi. - Oh. Hi, Jane.
If you see Saadiya or my husband,
can you please tell them to hurry up with the boxes?
- On it. - Great. [pants]
- Any sign of the wolf? - [chatters]
[howling in distance]
Did that howl come from inside our building?
[Greybeard chatters]
Wait up, Greybeard.
Hi, Mr. Abbasi. Mrs. Abbasi is looking for you.
[sighs]
- [Mrs. Abbasi] Oh, there you are. - Oh, hey, hon.
You know we rented this van by the hour.
Let's go. Go, go, go, go, go.
[wolf barking]
- Do you see her? - [chatters]
Me either. Where did she go?
- [creaking] - [wolf barks]
[chatters]
[howls, sniffing]
[chatters]
That's not the wolf we've been tracking.
- It's bigger. That means it's a boy. - [howling]
- And he must have left his pack too. - [wolf howling]
That must be the girl wolf answering his call.
And she's coming closer.
I think we're finally going to get some answers here, Greybeard.
Remember, the cuter and better behaved you are,
the better chance I have of getting my own dog.
- [wolf howling in distance] - [barking]
Um, maybe this is not the best time to meet my family.
[howling]
[gasps] Girl wolf!
The wolves aren't just talking to each other.
They're also telling each other where they are.
How else would the girl know to come to the basement?
[whines]
[girl wolf whining]
[barking, whining]
They look so happy they found each other.
[chattering]
I wonder if finding each other was the reason they left their packs.
[growling, snarling]
[shrieks]
- [Pugsley barks] - [barks, growls]
- [David] No, Pugsley, no! - Pugsley!
[barking continues]
[whimpers]
[growling]
[barks]
[wolves barking, growling]
Jane, what do we do?
Find him and get him away from those wolves.
- I'll go after him. - And we'll get ahead of them this way.
[David] Okay.
Oh. Hey, Saadiya.
Oh. Hey, Jane.
[both] You okay?
[stammers] No, not really.
Pugsley got out of his collar and ran away from me and David.
- What? - That's not even the worst part.
He's also being chased by two wolves that probably want to eat him.
That's not good. But it's not the first time it's happened.
The escape thing. Not the wolf thing.
- Let's look for him together. Come on. - Okay.
- [Saadiya] Pugsley? - [Jane] Pugsley?
- Pugsley? - Come here, boy.
Pugsley?
Nice rabbit.
- Thanks. Her name's Lil Chomper. - Mm-hmm.
I've had her since I was little. My dad got her for me.
My mom got me Greybeard when I was little too.
[chuckles]
Pugsley?
Why were you sitting on the staircase with her?
I guess I finally just realized that I'm leaving.
Aren't you excited?
I am. But I'm also...
I don't know... kind of scared.
Of what?
Being on my own in a new place where I don't know anyone.
That makes me wonder if the wolf I'm tracking
is scared of being on her own too.
Do wolves get scared?
- Does Pugsley get scared? - Yes.
- Fireworks, thunder, garbage trucks... - [chuckles]
...and every time he sees himself in the mirror.
"You cannot share your life with a dog
and not know perfectly well animals have personalities, minds and feelings."
Jane Goodall said that.
So, if Pugsley has feelings, then all animals do.
But what does a wolf have to be afraid of?
So much. Human hunters and poachers. Even other wolf packs.
Wolves attack each other?
Oh, yeah. They attack each other if they get too close to their territory.
[sighs] Not easy being a wolf, huh?
[sighs] No.
Not easy being a person sometimes either.
But I bet if wolves can go through all that...
Then I can handle moving away?
I guess it's time for me to be brave like a wolf.
I can't live with my parents forever.
Can't live with your parents forever. That's just like the wolf.
I'm gonna go look for Pugsley outside.
You keep looking for him in here. And thanks for your help, Saadiya.
We helped each other.
[sighs] Pugsley?
Pugsley?
[Jane] David!
Did you find him?
Not yet, but Saadiya helped me figure out why wolves leave their packs.
They can't live with their parents forever, just like Saadiya can't.
I don't get it.
I'll explain later because I also figured out how we can find Pugsley.
- How? - [Greybeard chatters]
[howls]
I still don't get it.
Don't worry, you will.
[howls]
[barking]
[wolves growling]
[Pugsley whimpering]
- [Jane howling] - [barking]
[whimpers]
There they are. And there's Pugsley.
Now we just have to get them away from him.
Remember what we talked about? On three. One, two, three.
[howling]
[breathes heavily] They're leaving.
[kids howling]
- Pugsley! - [Pugsley barks]
Pugsley, I've got you.
I'm so sorry I lost you.
And that you almost got eaten by wolves.
But I'm never, ever, ever letting that happen again.
So, wolves howl to find each other and scare each other away?
I remembered wolf packs don't like when other wolves are in their territory.
So, I thought they might howl together to keep other wolves away.
What were you gonna do if it didn't work?
Good question. I'm just happy it did.
[chuckles]
Time to get you back to your pack, Pugsley.
[Pugsley barks]
- Pugsley! Hey! I'm happy to see you. - Hey. Oh, my gosh.
Aw.
Aw, you have to stop running away, Puggy-baby.
I'm so sorry I let him get away.
It's okay. At least you saved him from the wolves.
I'll explain later.
[Jane] I can explain now.
We discovered wolves howl to talk. And just like Saadiya,
they go off on their own because they can't live with their parents forever.
Can't they?
No, they need room to become their own person.
Or wolf.
Exactly. That's how new wolf packs get made.
But you don't have to do everything a wolf does, do you?
[sighs]
Especially because it's harder for wolves to leave home.
- Why? - Because they get hunted and poached
by people who don't understand them.
Like I didn't.
Well, I understand now that if you love dogs, you should love wolves too.
Because they both have feelings.
Now you've lost me.
I'll explain on the drive.
- Okay. - [sighs]
[chuckles] Deep breaths. Okay?
- [chuckles] - Bye, guys.
- [Jane, David] Bye. - Bye.
- [David] Safe travels. - [Mrs. Abbasi] Thank you. [hums]
Jane, do you think we could start a dog-walking business?
I really wanna spend more time with dogs.
Good idea.
But before we do that, I have a couple dog ancestors
I wouldn't mind spending more time with.
Wolves are cute from a distance.
And when they're not trying to eat Pugsley.
[chatters]
You know what's even cuter than grown-up wolves?
Soon they'll be digging a den where their wolf pups will be born.
And the new pack will really start to grow.
Wolf puppies? I have to see them.
Just remember, mom and dad wolves are very protective.
Like I said, "Cute from a distance."
[wolves howling]
[chatters]
[barks, howls]
- [Jane] Help save the wolves! - [Greybeard chatters]
[David] Aha, found it.
I'm thinking we can use this to make a sign for our new dog-walking business.
Great.
What are you doing?
I'm trying to find a spot to connect to Wi-Fi.
Our call is starting any second with Dr. John Linnell.
The wolf scientist?
Maybe he can give us tips for our new business.
Got it.
[laptop chimes]
[exhales sharply] Perfect timing.
Hi, Jane. Hi, David.
Hi, Dr. John.
Ah, please just call me John.
Hi, John. Thank you so much for talking with us about wolves today.
Oh, that's my pleasure. It's always nice to talk to people about wolves.
And dogs.
We're starting a new dog-walking business.
Because Jane loves walking and I love dogs.
[Linnell] Well, that's really cool because dogs need lots of exercise.
Just like the wolves, their wild relatives.
How are dogs related to wolves?
[Linnell] Dogs are wolves.
Wolves that don't ever grow up.
What do you mean?
A dog just behaves like a wolf pup its whole life.
In the wild, a young wolf would grow up.
It would begin to challenge the older animals in the pack.
A dog doesn't have to do that.
We give it food and it never challenges us.
It just stays in that little cute puppy stage its whole life.
Is anything else the same?
Yeah. They communicate in the same way.
Well, they wag their tails when they're happy.
They put their ears up and down when they're happy and sad.
They show their teeth when they're a bit angry or scared.
They howl the same way too.
That's how we saved Pugsley from wolves.
Howling helped us with our wolf mission today.
Ah, howling. You mean something like this?
[howls]
[second wolf howls]
That's basically what we did.
[Jane] Do wolves need to live in the wild?
Hmm. That's a great question, Jane.
So wolves in Europe don't need to live in wilderness.
They're able to live in farmland and countryside, often very close to people.
So people have wolves in their backyards?
Yeah, but not everyone likes having wolves in their backyard.
We just have to help farmers and shepherds
and the other people living in the countryside learn how to live with wolves.
Teach farmers how to use guarding dogs
and electric fences to keep their animals safe.
Protecting farm animals is the first step to protecting wolves.
Why are wolves important?
Our planet needs animals.
Wolves are also beautiful, and we just simply need more beauty in our lives.
But most importantly, they have the right to be here.
Who are we to say that they shouldn't be here?
They sure are beautiful.
What can we do to help?
We need to break the myth of the Big, Bad Wolf.
Share the similarities between wolf families and human families.
They raise children, they have emotions and they're individuals.
Helping people look through the eyes of the wolf
will also help people look through the eyes of other people.
So we can all work together to help wolves?
Precisely. And you're never too young to voice your feelings.
So ask a grown-up to help you write a letter to your local government.
And voice your concerns about how wild animals are being treated.
That's an awesome idea.
We can start today with the people we meet on our dog walks.
And I'll ask my dads to help me write a letter.
- Thank you, John! - You're welcome.
The future of wolves and all wildlife
depends on young people like you caring about them.
So good luck with the rest of your adventures.
Bye.
Come on. Let's clean up, so I can put John's photo on my hero wall.
I'm thinking we should name our business "Wild Walks with David and Jane."
- Why is your name first? - Alphabetical.
Yeah, well, you wouldn't have come up with the idea without the wolf mission.
And I came up with that.
True. How about "Wild Walks with Two Best Friends"?
Deal.
["One Step Closer" playing]