I'M AN ECOLOGIST, AND BEARS ARE MY SPECIALTY.
I'VE BEEN FASCINATED BY THEM SINCE I WAS A KID.
BUT ALTHOUGH I'VE SPENT 20 YEARS WORKING WITH BEARS,
IT'S OFTEN JUST BEEN GLIMPSES OF THEM IN THE WILD --
BRIEF ENCOUNTERS, ISOLATED MOMENTS IN THEIR WORLD.
WHEN I MET WITH THE PRODUCERS OF "NATURE,"
IT GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO DO MUCH MORE.
WELL, HERE WE ARE ON THE ALASKA COAST,
ONE OF THE LAST, BEST PLACES FOR BEARS ON THE PLANET.
HEY, BEAR.
IT WAS JUST CRAZY LOOKING INTO HER EYES.
THE MOST INTENSE BEAR EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD.
THESE ARE THE BEARS OF THE LAST FRONTIER.
OUR JOURNEY BEGINS IN THE MIDST OF ONE
OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF BEARS ON EARTH.
THESE ARE GRIZZLIES -- GIANT ALASKAN BROWN BEARS.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY IN THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE
THAT WE CALL IT "THE CITY OF BEARS."
"NATURE" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... AND THERE ARE SO MANY IN THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE
LEAVE IT UNTOUCHED INSPBY YOUR PRESENCE.RE..
CAPTURE ITS IMAGE AND PRESERVE IT FOREVER.
CANON -- LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER
TO APPRECIATE TODAY AND CARE FOR TOMORROW.
THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION
FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
WE ALL FORM SOME IMPRESSION OF THEM...
AS CUDDLY BEARS OR TERRIFYING BEASTS.
BUT, OF COURSE, THE TRUTH LIES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
GRIZZLY BEARS ONCE ROAMED ACROSS
THE WESTERN HALF OF THE CONTINENT,
FROM ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE TO CENTRAL MEXICO.
TODAY THEY ARE FOUND
IN JUST A FEW SMALL POCKETS OF WILDERNESS.
ALASKA IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES LEFT IN NORTH AMERICA
WILD ENOUGH FOR GRIZZLIES TO THRIVE.
ALL THREE SPECIES
OF NORTH AMERICAN BEARS ARE FOUND HERE --
BLACK BEARS, BROWN BEARS, AND POLAR BEARS.
MY NAME IS CHRIS MORGAN.
I'VE DEDICATED HALF MY LIFE
TO THE STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF BEARS.
NOW, I'VE EMBARKED UPON
A 3,000-MILE JOURNEY
INTO THE HEART OF THE BEARS' WORLD.
WITH ME, MY GOOD FRIEND AND FILMMAKER, JOE PONTECORVO.
I THINK THIS IS OUR BEST BET.
IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SPOT, DOESN'T IT?
TOGETHER, OUR GOAL IS TO PEEL BACK THE LAYERS OF MYTH
AND MISUNDERSTANDING ON THIS COMPLEX CREATURE.
THE FIRST THING THIS YOUNG MALE DOES WHEN THE BIG FELLA LEAVES,
STARTS PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR THE LADIES AGAIN.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSONALITIES.
TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND
HOW THEY LIVE TODAY,
AND WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD
FOR THE BEARS OF THE LAST FRONTIER.
WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY ALONG AN ISOLATED
STRETCH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA,
AN AREA NEARLY UNTOUCHED BY MANKIND.
WOW.
IT JUST...
LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE BEAR COUNTRY OUT THERE.
VAST AND WILD.
NO WAY!
OH, WOW, LOOK AT THAT!
WOW, TWO BEARS, PLAY FIGHTING.
IT'S EARLY JUNE AND BEARS ARE JUST BEGINNING
TO GATHER IN THE LUSH MEADOWS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE SENSE OF JOY THEY MUST FEEL AFTER BEING
COOPED UP IN THEIR DARK DEN FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HERE.
I LOVE IT, I LOVE THIS PLACE.
IT JUST FEELS SO RIGHT TO BE HERE, AND I'M SO DYING TO SEE
WHAT THE BEARS ARE UP TO,
ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE THIS EARLY BEFORE,
SO IT'S COMPLETELY NEW TO ME.
THINK WE GOT ENOUGH STUFF?
IT LOOKS LIKE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A YEAR.
OUR HOPE IS TO FOLLOW THESE BEARS THROUGH AN ENTIRE SEASON,
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR WORLD.
AS AN ECOLOGIST STUDYING BEARS,
THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN RIGHT HERE.
IT'S GOT EVERYTHING A BEAR MIGHT NEED --
RICH SEDGE MEADOWS IN SPRING
AND SALMON IN LATE SUMMER.
FOR A BROWN BEAR, THIS IS PARADISE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF BEARS HERE.
THIS IS THE MANHATTAN OF BEAR COUNTRY.
LETTING BROWN BEARS APPROACH YOU LIKE THIS,
ANYWHERE ELSE, WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE.
IN MOST PLACES, BEARS KEEP
A HEALTHY DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER.
BUT THESE BEARS HAVE BECOME VERY, VERY SOCIALLY TOLERANT
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM IN THIS HABITAT.
AND THEY SEEM TO EXTEND THAT TOLERANCE TO US.
BUT IT'S SUPER UNUSUAL,
IT'S LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
BEARS HAVE LOST NEARLY 50% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT
OVER THE WINTER, AND THEY ARE EAGER TO GET IT BACK.
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR -- SMELLING FOR, ACTUALLY --
ARE TINY RAZOR CLAMS.
IT'S NOT MUCH OF A MEAL,
BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY'LL TAKE WHATEVER THEY CAN GET.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE'S A FEMALE HERE WITH TWO TINY CUBS.
THEY PROBABLY WEIGH LESS THAN 10 POUNDS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY THIS SMALL BEFORE.
THESE CUBS WERE ONLY BORN IN JANUARY IN THE DEN
AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE ONLY BEEN OUT OF THE DEN
FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS -- SINCE MID-MAY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SENSORY OVERLOAD
THAT THESE CUBS ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?
I MEAN, THEY'RE PLAYING WITH THINGS
AND DISCOVERING THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
ONE OF THEM IS PLAYING WITH A PIECE OF GRASS THERE.
A YEAR FROM NOW,
THEY'LL START TO WANDER A LITTLE BIT FURTHER FROM HER...
AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE STICKING TO HER LIKE GLUE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO LET HER OUT OF SIGHT,
AND SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T WANT TO LET THEM OUT OF SIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF BIG, FEISTY, TESTOSTERONE-DRIVEN MALES
RIGHT NOW, AND ONE OF THESE CUBS
WOULD MAKE A VERY EASY, TASTY SNACK FOR THEM.
AND I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT SHE KEEPS THEM SAFE.
MATING SEASON LASTS JUST TWO MONTHS,
BUT DURING THAT TIME, BEARS FROM ALL AROUND
GATHER IN THE LUSH MEADOW BELOW.
IT'S A DANGEROUS TIME FOR A MUM WITH YOUNG CUBS,
BUT EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT HER WELL.
THE BLUFF PROVIDES BOTH SANCTUARY
AND A VIEW OF HER SURROUNDINGS.
WITH THIS MANY BIG MALES AROUND,
SHE'S JUST GOT TO HAVE HER WITS ABOUT HER THE WHOLE TIME.
SO THIS SWAGGER, WE CALL IT THE COWBOY WALK.
AND HE'S REALLY DOING TWO THINGS HERE --
TRYING TO IMPRESS THE FEMALE,
BUT IT'S ALSO TRYING TO MAKE THEMSELVES
FEEL AS BIG AS POSSIBLE,
AND LOOK AS BIG AS POSSIBLE TO THE OTHER BEARS,
THEIR COMPETITORS.
NOW HE'S A REAL COWBOY,
A BIG, BRUTISH-LOOKING GUY.
EVERYONE IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON BRUTUS.
LOOK AT HIM SALIVATING!
WHEN THESE BIG MALES GET WORKED UP,
THEY'LL START SALIVATING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE, THIS BIG, BRUTISH MALE.
HE'S BEING SUPER AGGRESSIVE.
IT'S A PRETTY GUTSY MOVE TO WALK UP ON A MATING PAIR LIKE THIS.
BRUTUS PUSHED THE OLDER MALE RIGHT OFF THE YOUNG FEMALE.
I DON'T THINK GRANDPA IS WILLING TO RISK HIS LIFE
OVER THIS ONE FEMALE.
LOOK AT THE FACE ON GRANDPA,
HE JUST LOOKS SO FORLORN.
NOW BRUTUS IS STOMPING HIS SCENT INTO THE GROUND,
ERASING ALL TRACES OF GRANDPA FROM THE MEADOW,
STOMPING HIM OUT OF EXISTENCE.
THE MALES HERE WILL TRY AND MATE WITH
AS MANY FEMALES AS POSSIBLE,
WHILE THE FEMALES ARE LOOKING FOR THE BIGGEST,
THE MOST DOMINANT MALE AROUND.
THAT'LL GIVE HER CUBS
THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
OH, THERE'S ANOTHER GUY COMING IN FROM BEHIND HER.
HE DOESN'T LOOK BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE BIG GUY.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT, THOUGH.
WOW! THIS FEMALE IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.
FOUR MALES AROUND HER RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE SHE'S INSIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW?
THE MALES ARE FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES
AND THE WINNER GETS TO TAKE HER HOME.
THEY ARE TWO FEET AWAY FROM THESE MASSIVE GIANTS
WHEN THEY'RE CLASHING IN A BIG AGGRESSIVE FIGHT,
AND THESE FEMALES ARE ASSESSING THE MALES.
AND HE'S DEFINITELY AT THE PEAK OF HIS GAME RIGHT NOW.
AND ALL THE OTHER MALES CAN DO
IS SIT AROUND WATCHING.
AND THEN THE FEMALE GOES HOME WITH THE WINNER.
AND THAT'S WHY ALL OF THE MALES AROUND HERE ARE
AT LEAST TWICE AS BIG AS THE FEMALES.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE BIG GUYS WIN THE FIGHTS
AND THEY GET TO BREED.
A QUIET CALM RETURNS TO THE MEADOW.
AND LIFE RESUMES,
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL.
THESE CUBS ARE VERY LUCKY.
SHE KNOWS HOW TO REAR THEM
IN A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE ALL THESE THREATS
FOR THEM TO BE AWARE OF.
SHE'S A GOOD MUM.
I'VE DECIDED TO CALL HER "NADIE," WHICH MEANS WISE.
THESE CUBS LEARN SO MUCH EVERY DAY --
WHAT'S GOOD TO EAT, WHAT BEARS TO AVOID,
HOW TO BE SAFE, AND BY FOLLOWING MUM,
THEY'LL LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE
IN THIS BUSY CITY OF BEARS.
[ WOLVES HOWLING ]
OUR CAMP IS SITUATED
WELL AWAY FROM THE MAIN MEADOW
WHERE MOST OF THE BEAR ACTION IS.
BUT EVEN SO, THE OCCASIONAL BEAR WANDERS THROUGH CAMP.
AND YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL IN BEAR COUNTRY.
BUT IT'S TOUGH, THOUGH, BECAUSE THESE BEARS
SEE THE WHOLE WORLD THROUGH THEIR NOSE.
SO YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO START LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THROUGH THEIR NOSE,
AND THEY CAN SMELL THIS FROM TWO MILES DOWN THE VALLEY HERE.
THERE'S A CERTAIN TENSION IN THE AIR.
YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER.
ANY ONE OF THESE CREATURES COULD WIPE YOU OUT IN AN INSTANT.
BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO.
THEY CHOOSE TO ALLOW YOU TO BE
A PART OF THEIR LANDSCAPE AND THEIR HABITAT AND THEIR HOME
FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO BE THERE.
HI!
WOW...
BEAUTIFUL THING! HEY!
[ LAUGHING ]
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MAINTAINS THESE, DOESN'T IT?
BUT THESE ARE ALL BEAR TRAILS.
GENERATION AFTER GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF BROWN BEARS
HAVE CREATED THESE TRAILS
AS THE MOST EFFICIENT ROUTE FROM "A" TO "B."
IT'S A PERFECT SYSTEM, AND WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT.
WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING,
EXCEPT WE'RE NOT EATING THE SEDGES.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THESE MEADOWS
DURING MATING SEASON.
AND IN A POPULATION THIS LARGE, WITH THIS MUCH COMPETITION,
IT'S ALL ABOUT SCENT,
AND ANY MALE COMING UP TO THIS CAN SMELL THE 10 PREVIOUS MALES
THAT HAD COME UP TO THIS AND DONE THE SAME THING.
CHECKING OUT WHO'S ON THE MEADOW HERE,
WHO THEY'RE COMPETING WITH TONIGHT.
THEY KNOW WHO'S ON THIS MEADOW LONG BEFORE THEY EVEN SEE THEM.
THEIR NOSES ARE PLANTED
FIRMLY IN THE SEDGE MEADOW ALL THE TIME,
AND THEY'RE READING THIS LANDSCAPE LIKE A BARCODE.
SCENT IS POWERFUL ADVERTISING IN THE BEAR WORLD,
AND WORKS FOR BOTH SEXES.
YOU KNOW, THE FEMALES WILL KIND OF SIT DOWN.
THEY WILL PLANT THEMSELVES IN THE MEADOW
AND COYLY LOOK AROUND, YOU KNOW,
TO SEE WHICH MALES MIGHT BE EYEING THEM UP.
AND THEN THE MALE WILL APPROACH
AND SHE'LL MOVE AWAY,
AND HE PLANTS HIS NOSE RIGHT IN THE GRASS
TO SMELL WHETHER SHE'S GOING TO BE RECEPTIVE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE HER PLACING A SINGLES AD.
"SINGLE, HAIRY, BROWN FEMALE
SEEKS MASSIVE, PROMISCUOUS MALE."
[ LAUGHING ]
IN A POPULATION THIS SIZE, BEARS LEARN TO WATCH THEIR BACK.
THEIR EYES ARE LOOKING LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S THERE,
WHO THEY CAN BREED WITH, AND WHO THEY NEED TO AVOID.
SO THE SEDGES ARE JUST A KIND OF DISTRACTION.
COMPETITION IS NOT LIMITED TO MALES.
FEMALES WILL COMPETE
WITH OTHER FEMALES FOR ACCESS TO THE BEST MALES.
IT'S REALLY UNUSUAL,
AND SOMETHING I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.
MANY OF THESE BEARS HAVE GROWN UP TOGETHER,
OR ARE RELATED IN SOME WAY.
SPENDING SEASON AFTER SEASON IN THESE SAME MEADOWS.
BROTHERS THAT COME TOGETHER AND PLAY AS ADULTS.
OR TWO TEENAGERS THAT HAVE GROWN UP AS NEIGHBORS.
THESE SOCIAL COMPLEXITIES MEAN CUBS HERE
HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO LEARN
THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE.
NORMALLY, BROWN BEAR CUBS
STAY WITH THEIR MUM FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS,
BUT HERE CUBS MIGHT STAY WITH MUM FOR EVEN LONGER.
THESE GUYS HAVE A GOOD HEAD START.
NADIE IS DEFINITELY A DOMINATING PRESENCE ON THE MEADOW.
Joe: SHE'S MOVING RIGHT TOWARDS HIM.
Chris: SHE'S CHARGING! SHE'S CHARGING AT HIM!
WHILE MUM GRAZES, THE CUBS ARE ON HIGH ALERT,
SMELLING THE AIR FOR DANGER,
ALARMED BY ANYTHING UNFAMILIAR,
WHICH FOR THEM IS QUITE A LOT.
THEY'VE ONLY BEEN IN THIS GRAND OUTSIDE WORLD
FOR MAYBE SIX WEEKS NOW.
THESE CUBS ARE FACING SO MANY DIFFERENT CHOICES
AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES EVERY DAY,
AND IT'S NICE TO FEEL THAT WE'RE AN EASY ONE.
[ CHUCKLING ]
YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW CLOSE TO COME, ARE YOU?
IT'S IMPORTANT THEY STAY CAUTIOUS, LIKE THEIR MUM,
BUT THEY'RE CUBS,
AND THE TEMPTATION TO PLAY IS TOO GREAT.
THEY ARE GLADIATORS AS TALL AS GRASS BLADES.
THE SCENT OF A LARGE MALE IS CARRIED ON THE WIND.
MUM CAN IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL FROM 200 YARDS AWAY
JUST BY THEIR SCENT.
SHE IS OBVIOUSLY VERY CAUTIOUS OF THIS MALE,
PROBABLY KNOWS HIM AND IS KEEPING HER DISTANCE.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE
THERE IS THIS TOLERANCE THING
GOING ON THIS TIME OF YEAR.
THE REST OF THE YEAR,
THESE FEMALES AVOID THE MALES LIKE THE PLAGUE.
THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
THEY CAN BE QUITE AGGRESSIVE, SO THEY JUST KEEP APART.
THESE FEMALES KNOW THAT THE BIG MALES
ARE MORE CAUTIOUS THAN THEY ARE WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND.
SO SHE MIGHT USE US AS A BARRIER FOR HIS ADVANCES.
HE'S GETTING HYPER FOCUSED ON HER RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE, I THINK, YOU KNOW?
THIS BIG MALE IS ALL WORKED UP,
SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT HE MIGHT DO.
WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL AS WELL HERE, JOE.
IT'S BEST FOR US TO JUST STAY PUT, STAY LOW, AND DON'T MOVE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE, JOE.
OKAY, THE MALE IS COMING UP RIGHT BEHIND YOU HERE, JOE.
OKAY, OKAY, IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING HER.
IT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUD. IT'S OKAY.
HE'S PRETTY WOUND-UP.
[ CHRIS SIGHS ]
SHE CLEARLY NEEDS THE PROTEIN THAT THESE SEDGES ARE PROVIDING,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHE'S GOT TO KEEP THE CUBS SAFE
FROM THESE BIG MALES THAT ARE COMING OVER.
TRYING TO PICK UP THE WEATHER FORECAST.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE LETTING OURSELVES IN FOR HERE,
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE WEATHER REALLY SEEMS TO BE COMING IN.
[ STATIC ON RADIO ] SEAS EIGHT FEET.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAKE SURE YOUR GEAR'S OKAY, JOE.
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST GET IT ALL INSIDE THE TENT
AND FIGURE THINGS OUT.
HA, LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S NOT MY PILLOW,
I DON'T USE PILLOWS WHEN I'M CAMPING!
I USUALLY -- I SLEEP ON A STAKE, BECAUSE I'M A REAL TOUGH GUY,
AND IF I FEEL LIKE TREATING MYSELF, MAYBE A BOOT,
BUT DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THESE PILLOWS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
DID YOU PUT THAT IN HERE, JOE?
IT'S BEEN A REALLY STORMY COUPLE OF DAYS.
IT'S POURING WITH RAIN OUTSIDE.
YOU CAN PERHAPS HEAR IT ON THE TENT HERE.
AND IT'S DIFFICULT
JUST BEING HOLED UP IN THE TENT ALL THIS TIME.
BUT I'VE RIGGED A TARP,
AND I'VE GOT A BIT OF A PORCH HERE,
AND IT'S KEEPING A LOT OF THE RAIN OUT,
SO FINGERS CROSSED.
BUT IT'S TIRING.
IT'S TIRING JUST DEALING WITH IT, YOU KNOW?
[ PRESSING BUTTONS ON RADIO ]
SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP
AND HOPE THAT MY TENT AND TARP IS ALL INTACT IN THE MORNING.
THE SEAS ARE CALM AGAIN.
BUT SOMETHING IS UPSETTING THE FLOCK.
THIS GUY IS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR A PUFFIN COLONY.
BROWN BEARS DON'T NORMALLY HUNT PUFFINS.
BUT BEARS ARE OPPORTUNISTIC
AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVEN BY HUNGER.
EVEN THE PUFFINS ARE SURPRISED.
IN THIS CASE, THE BEAR IS REWARDED.
WITH THE GOOD WEATHER COMES CAREFREE DAYS.
THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS HAVING A GOOD TIME TONIGHT.
SHE'S EVEN GROWN MORE RELAXED. LOOK AT THAT.
YOU CAN TELL THEY'VE PUT
A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON,
AND THEY'RE PROBABLY THREE TIMES FURTHER AWAY
FROM THE SAFETY OF THE BLUFF
THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.
WHERE DID SHE GO?
OH, SHE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEADOW THERE.
OH, YEAH, SHE'S MOVING AWAY.
THIS BEAR JUST CAME OUT OF THE TREES HERE.
SEE IT IN THE ALDER TO YOUR RIGHT, JOE?
NADIE HAS SETTLED DOWN QUITE A BIT
BUT STILL KEEPS A HEALTHY DISTANCE, AND FOR GOOD REASON.
MATING SEASON IS WINDING DOWN.
A QUIET DESPERATION HANGS IN THE AIR
AS THE BEARS ANTICIPATE THE ARRIVAL
OF THE FIRST SALMON.
LATELY, NADIE HARDLY GIVES ME A GLANCE.
I REALIZE IT'S INCUMBENT ON ME TO RESPECT HER BOUNDARIES.
I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY REMIND MYSELF WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF.
I WISH I COULD JOIN THEM
WITH THIS LITTLE TUSSLE.
WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN?
JUST JUMP IN AND ROLL AROUND THERE WITH THEM.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP
IN HOW ADORABLE ALL THIS PLAY IS.
BUT ALL THIS PLAY HAS A PURPOSE.
THE STICKS AND DRIFTWOOD THEY PRETEND
ARE THE SALMON THEY'VE NEVER TASTED.
ALL THE AFFECTION THEY SHOW MUM...
THE SPARRING, IT ALL HAS A PURPOSE.
THE ENVIRONMENT THESE CUBS GROW UP IN IS DANGEROUS,
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE,
AND OFTEN UNPREDICTABLE.
WE'RE ALL COOL, IT'S OKAY.
NO, WE'RE OKAY. IT'S ALL RIGHT, IT'S OKAY.
NADIE IS SO COMFORTABLE WITH US THAT'S SHE'S GRAZED
VERY CLOSE TO US NOW.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
IN THIS SITUATION IT'S BEST JUST TO REMAIN AS STILL AS POSSIBLE
AND JUST LET HER PASS.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. JUST CHILL.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
DON'T YOU COME ANY CLOSER, THOUGH, YOU GUYS.
YOU'LL GET US INTO TROUBLE HERE.
IT'S OKAY, YEAH.
IT'S OKAY. NO, DON'T COME ANY CLOSER, YEAH.
IT'S ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I KNOW.
THAT WAS INTENSE.
SHE WAS CLOSER THEN ANY BEAR HAS BEEN TO ME BEF
AND I JUST SAT HERE IN THE MEADOW TO START WITH.
I WAS PROBABLY 80 YARDS AWAY FROM HER,
AND SHE GRAZED TO WITHIN FIVE, SIX FEET AWAY FROM ME.
AND THERE'S NO WAY, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS,
WOULD I EVER APPROACH THIS SITUATION.
BUT IT WAS HER CHOICE TO COME TO ME.
IT'S INTENSE, THOUGH.
I'M EXHAUSTED FROM JUST HAVING HER THAT CLOSE
AND STARING AT ME IN THE EYES.
IT'S A PREHISTORIC FEELING.
IT'S REALLY RAW, THAT'S FOR SURE.
SHE'S 30 FEET AWAY RIGHT NOW,
AND SHE MIGHT AS WELL BE AT THE OTHER END OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
SHE SEEMS LIKE A LONG WAY AWAY.
LIFE FOR THESE LITTLE GUYS,
LIKE US ALL, IS NEVER GOING TO BE MORE CAREFREE THAN THIS.
IN THESE STILL MOMENTS,
IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE SEASON IS RACING BY.
TWO MONTHS HAVE GONE BY SINCE I FIRST ARRIVED.
IT'S THIS IN-BETWEEN TIME THAT'S TOUGHEST OF ALL.
THE WOLVES, WITH A NEW LITTER, ARE DESPERATE FOR A HUNT.
THE FIELDS ARE DRYING UP
AND PUSHING THE BEARS TOWARDS THE WATER,
BUT THEIR FEAST HAS YET TO ARRIVE.
FEMALES GATHER AT THE RIVER MOUTH,
WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF AN EARLY RUN.
[ BEAR SNARLING ]
THIS EARLY, THERE ARE MORE BEARS THAN FISH.
AND IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHETHER THERE'S ANYTHING WORTH EATING
IN THE SHALLOW TIDE.
Joe: OH, IT'S A FLOUNDER.
Chris: NO SALMON YET.
THE COMPETITION IS BECOMING FIERCE.
THE EARLY FEMALES ARE SUDDENLY BEING BOXED OUT OF THEIR SPOT.
ALL THIS SPLASHING AROUND,
IT'S HARD TO TELL WHETHER THEY ARE ON TO SOMETHING
OR SIMPLY CHASING GHOSTS.
OH, WOW, SHE'S GOT IT!
SHE'S GOT IT, IT'S A SALMON!
THE FEAST HAS BEGUN.
THE SALMON ARE COMING HOME.
IT FEELS AS IF THE RIVER ITSELF
HAS BEEN ANTICIPATING THIS MOMENT,
AND FOR A SHORT TIME, SALMON WILL BE
THE LIFE-BLOOD OF THIS PLACE.
BUT NOW THE CLOCK HAS STARTED
ON THIS NARROW WINDOW FOR THE BEARS.
THIS IS A PRETTY MATURE FEMALE,
AND SHE REALLY KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING,
AND SHE'S GOT THIS REALLY HEALTHY, FAT,
CUDDLY LOOKING CUB.
HE'S NEVER MORE THAN 10 FEET BEHIND HIS MUM.
SHE SHARES NEARLY EVERY FISH SHE CATCHES WITH HER YOUNG CUB.
HE'LL GROW FAST,
AND HER DETERMINATION WILL PAY OFF IN HOW QUICKLY
HE LEARNS HOW TO LIVE HERE.
WITH ALL HIS NEEDS MET,
HE'S RELAXED TO HONE HIS SKILLS.
OH, LOOK, HE'S SNORKELING.
HE'S GOT HIS HEAD RIGHT UNDERWATER
SO THAT HE CAN SEE THE FISH.
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
TIME AFTER TIME,
SHE'S CATCHING FEMALE FISH.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE CATCHES THE FEMALE FISH
BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL OF FAT, IN THE FORM OF THEIR EGGS,
THAT THE CUB CAN REALLY BENEFIT FROM.
AND THAT'S WHY HE'S SO CHUNKY LOOKING.
THIS YOUNG MALE HAS BEEN CLOSELY WATCHING HER,
AND NOW THAT SHE'S RESTING,
HE'S DECIDED TO TEST OUT HER FISHING SPOT.
PROBABLY IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF LIFE WITHOUT MUM
AND HE IS SUITABLY OVERWHELMED BY THE ENVIRONMENT
AND THE NUMBER OF BEARS HERE.
THE RIVER IS SO DENSELY PACKED RIGHT NOW
THAT BEARS NEED TO EMPLOY A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES
TO CATCH SALMON,
AND KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER.
THE BEARS THAT ARE FORCED INTO THE DEEPER WATER
HAVE TO SNORKEL TO TRACK THEIR PREY.
THE SALMON HIDE IN THESE DEEP POCKETS, OUT OF REACH.
EVEN AS SOME OF THE BEARS ARE STRUGGLING TO CATCH ANYTHING,
OTHERS ARE BECOMING MUCH MORE SELECTIVE
AND GIVING SOME LUCKY SALMON A SECOND CHANCE.
THE SALMON PACK THE DENSE CHANNELS,
TRYING TO REACH THE SPAWNING GROUND,
THE COMPLETION OF THEIR JOURNEY.
BUT FIRST, THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS GAUNTLET OF BEARS.
STILL, MANY WILL MAKE IT FAR, FAR UP RIVER,
WHERE THEY WILL SPAWN AND END THEIR JOURNEY.
LIFE IS NOT SO EASY FOR THE WOLVES.
THE SALMON TAUNT THEM, BUT THE CHASE
IS MORE AN ACT OF DESPERATION THAN ANYTHING.
THE SALMON ARE STILL TOO DEEP FOR THE WOLVES TO CATCH.
THIS MUM HAS JUST ARRIVED WITH THREE CUBS.
THE FIRST TRIPLETS WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.
IT'S UNUSUAL FOR HER
TO STILL HAVE ALL THREE CUBS THIS FAR INTO THE SEASON.
IT'S PROBABLY HER FIRST TRIP DOWN TO THE RIVER,
AND THEY WILL TAKE WHATEVER THEY CAN GET.
IT'S CERTAINLY A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN FATSO IS USED TO.
THE RIVER DEFINITELY SHOWS OFF THE SOCIAL DIVERSITY HERE.
BUT EVEN POACHING SCRAPS AROUND THIS MANY BEARS
IS MORE THAN SHE'S COMFORTABLE WITH,
SO THEY'LL EAT THIS MEAL ON THE ROAD.
SHE'S FOUND A QUIETER STRETCH OF THE RIVER.
IT SEEMS THAT, FOR A COUPLE OF THEM AT LEAST,
THESE ARE THEIR FIRST LITTERS, SO FIRST TIME
THEY'VE EXPERIENCED HAVING TO LOOK AFTER THEIR YOUNG CUBS.
AND THERE IS THIS INCREDIBLE, ALMOST PANIC, MORE THAN URGENCY.
IT'S ALMOST JUST A PANIC TO FEED RIGHT NOW.
THE ANTICIPATION OF DENNING
FOR THE WHOLE WINTER WITHOUT ENOUGH FAT,
JUST IS THIS INNATE FEAR THAT THEY HAVE.
THE DENSITY OF BEARS HERE MAKES THINGS TENSE
FOR THESE LARGER FAMILIES.
WOW, SHE IS JUST FRANTIC!
SHE SENSES THAT IF SHE DOESN'T CATCH SOMETHING FRESH,
THEY WON'T LAST VERY LONG.
THE CUBS AREN'T COMFORTABLE YET WITH MUM THRASHING OFF
INTO THE DEEP WITHOUT THEM.
SHE TRIES TO REASSURE THEM
AND GUIDES THEM TO A SAFE BEACH TO WAIT FOR HER,
BUT THEY AREN'T SO EASILY CONVINCED.
YOU CAN DEFINITELY TELL THAT SHE SENSES
THE PRESSURE TO CATCH FISH RIGHT NOW.
SHE'S JUST ARRIVED, LATER THAN THE OTHER BEARS,
AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THESE FISH DRY UP HERE,
AND SO SHE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK ON HER HANDS.
ALL THIS COMPANY,
THERE IS NO CHANCE TO CATCH ANYTHING.
HER QUIET WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS GONE.
AND IT'S BACK TO LEFTOVERS FOR THE FAMILY.
EVEN DURING SALMON SEASON, THERE ARE WAVES.
THE FISH COME IN WITH THE TIDES,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERY TIDE HAS FISH.
I THOUGHT I'D SCOUT DOWN TO THE MOUTH OF THIS RIVER
AND SEE WHAT
WAS HAPPENING DOWNSTREAM.
IF THERE'S ANY ACTION TO BE HAD, THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE.
WELL, THAT'S A FAMILIAR FACE.
I ALMOST DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER,
BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY NADIE AND HER TWO CUBS.
HARDLY RECOGNIZABLE FROM THE TINY LITTLE CUBS
THAT WE SAW A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THEY'RE NOT ONLY LARGER AND HEALTHIER AND FATTER
THAN THEY WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I LAST SAW THEM,
BUT THEY'VE GROWN UP AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT THIS DIFFERENT ATTITUDE NOW.
THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME OF YEAR FOR AND HER CUBS.
I'M SO RELIEVED TO SEE THAT SHE'S GOT BOTH OF THEM.
NEITHER OF THEM HAVE BEEN KILLED,
AND THAT'S REALLY COMMON WITH YOUNG CUBS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY LOOK IN GREAT SHAPE AS WELL.
SEE, SHE'S YAWNING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S A SIGN OF ANXIETY WHEN THEY YAWN LIKE SHE'S DOING NOW.
LOOK HOW WELL TRAINED THE CUBS ARE.
THEY'RE BUTTERBALLS RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THE OTHER BEARS HAVE NOTICED
THAT SHE'S A LITTLE FEISTY AND POTENTIALLY AGGRESSIVE,
SO THEY DON'T MESS WITH HER AT ALL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
USING MUM AS A BARRICADE THERE, THAT'S PRICELESS.
SHE'S GONE OFF TO FISH AND SHE'S LEFT THEM BEHIND,
AND THEY KNOW NOT TO DISTURB MUM WHEN SHE'S FISHING.
THEY'VE GOT A FEW WEEKS UNTIL THEY DEN,
BUT THE URGENCY IS ON NOW.
HER SENSES ARE DEFINITELY TUNED IN.
THAT'S ALL SHE'S THINKING ABOUT
RIGHT NOW IS FISH.
EVERY MOVEMENT IN THE WATER, EVERY SCENT ON THE AIR,
AND SHE'S FOCUSED ON IT.
AND HER SENSES ARE TUNED TO ANY INTRUDER.
ESPECIALLY ANY MALE THAT MIGHT THREATEN HER CUBS.
[ BEARS SNARLING ]
SHE HAS TWO PRECIOUS THINGS TO LOOK AFTER HERE.
AND SHE'LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH TO PROTECT THOSE CUBS.
FOR THE MOMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S GOT THE RIVER TO HERSELF.
BUT THIS MALE WON'T GIVE UP
TRYING TO CARVE OUT A SMALL FISHING HOLE FOR HIMSELF.
IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT TO RUN DOWN THIS SALMON,
BUT DOES HE HAVE TIME?
THIS MAY BE THE LAST I SEE OF THEM THIS YEAR.
I'M SURE NADIE AND HER CUBS WILL BE HERE WHEN I RETURN NEXT YEAR.
WE NORMALLY THINK OF BEARS AS SOLITARY ANIMALS,
BUT IN THIS DENSE POPULATION, IN THIS CITY OF BEARS,
THEY HAVE LEARNED HOW TO BE SOCIAL,
HOW TO GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.
YOU KNOW, NEVER BEFORE HAVE I LIVED AMONG THESE BEARS
FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
BASICALLY BEING THEIR NEIGHBOR, AND REALLY WATCHING
THEIR LIVES UNFOLD ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND I'VE SEEN ANOTHER SIDE OF THESE BEARS,
A TENDERNESS AND A COMPLEXITY THAT'S REALLY BEEN EYE-OPENING.
THIS IS THE FIRST BEAR I'VE SEEN IN A FEW HOURS.
THOSE THAT I HAVE SEEN ARE ALONG THE RIVER BANK,
AND KIND OF LOOKING OUT HOPEFULLY INTO THE WATER
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY MORE FISH.
THE SALMON RUN'S COMING TO AN END HERE.
THE SEASONS ARE SHORT IN ALASKA, AND WE HAVEN'T MUCH TIME
BEFORE THE BEARS DEN UP FOR THE WINTER.
IT'S TIME TO HEAD NORTH, TIME TO HIT THE ROAD.
I'M A LITTLE BIT LOST FOR WORDS, TO BE HONEST.
I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'VE HAD THIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH IT.
I FEEL VERY AT HOME HERE.
UGGH!
WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE REALLY WILD
IS KNOWING THE TRACKS I LEAVE TODAY
WILL BE BEAR TRACKS
OR WOLF TRACKS TOMORROW.
WILDERNESS ISN'T
THE WIDE OPEN SPACES,
BUT THE WILD THINGS THAT FILL IT.
AHEAD OF ME LIES A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD.
FROM HERE,
I'LL TRAVEL NORTH TO ANCHORAGE, ALASKA'S LARGEST CITY...
UNTIL NEXT TIME, BEARS.
LEAVING BEHIND THIS CITY OF BEARS...
FOR A PLACE WHERE BEARS AND PEOPLE MUST SHARE THE LAND.
WITH A SINGLE STEP.
IT'S TIME TO HEAD NORTH TO THE LARGEST CITY IN ALASKA.
CAN YOU RUN FAST WITH THAT CAMERA, JOE?
BEARS HAVE WOVEN THEMSELVES INTO THIS URBAN SETTING.
NOT A GOOD SITUATION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEXT ADVENTURE --
DENALI NATIONAL PARK.
THIS BEAR IS FRANTICALLY SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING.
SHE'S BEHAVING LIKE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR CUB.
SEE THAT? SHE'S REALLY AGITATED.
"NATURE" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... SHE'S BEHAVING LIKE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR CUB.
LEAVE IT UNTOUCHED INSPBY YOUR PRESENCE.RE..
CAPTURE ITS IMAGE AND PRESERVE IT FOREVER.
CANON -- LIVING AND WORKING TOGETHER
TO APPRECIATE TODAY AND CARE FOR TOMORROW.
THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
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FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
Announcer: AVAILABLE NOW FROM SHOP PBS.
WHAT ARE THINGS MADE OF?
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ELEMENTS.
AND THIS MUST BE HYDROGEN.
OH! OH!
Announcer: "NEW YORK TIMES" TECH GURU DAVID POGUE
GIVES AN OFF-THE-CHARTS TOUR OF THE PERIODIC TABLE.
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"HUNTING THE ELEMENTS" ON "NOVA."
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