Original subtitles

Narrator: JUST BEYOND OUR OWN BACKYARDS --

UNTAMED WILDERNESS.

[ DOLPHINS CHIRP ]

IN ITS SPLENDOR...

[ EAGLES CRYING ] ...BRUTALITY...

[ BUFFALO ROAR ]

...BEAUTY,

WE FIND OUR OWN STORY,

OUR SPIRIT, FORGED IN THE LAND.

[ BON JOVI'S "ARMY OF ONE" PLAYS ]

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

¶ NEVER

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

¶ NEVER LET UP

¶ EVER

¶ NEVER GIVE IN

¶ YOU'RE AN ARMY OF ONE

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

¶ NEVER

¶ NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU'RE FROM ¶

¶ NEVER GIVE UP

[ HORSES NEIGH ] ¶ YOU'RE AN ARMY OF ONE

EARLY MARCH,

40 MILES NORTHEAST OF MISSOULA, MONTANA.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

THE HEART OF THE MIGHTIEST MOUNTAIN RANGE

IN NORTH AMERICA.

9,000 FEET UP,

WHERE ONLY THE HARDIEST AMERICANS DARE TO CLIMB,

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT

BATTLES THE FIERCE BITE OF WINTER.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

THREE MONTHS INTO A SIX-MONTH PREGNANCY,

THIS MOTHER-TO-BE MUST FIND ENOUGH FOOD

TO SUSTAIN NOT JUST HERSELF, BUT HER UNBORN KID.

SHE CLIMBS EVEN HIGHER TO AN ISOLATED OUTCROP.

THERE, ALONE AND SAFE FROM PREDATORS,

SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO HER BABY.

THREE MONTHS LATER, IN EARLY JUNE...

[ BLEATING ]

...HER LITTLE ONE IS JUST WEEKS OLD.

BORN AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD,

HIS FIRST FOOTSTEPS

ARE ON THE EDGE OF A STAGGERING CLIFF.

HIS FLEXIBLE AND SENSITIVE HOOVES

WILL ALLOW HIM TO GET A PERFECT TOEHOLD

ON EVEN THE TINIEST LEDGE.

[ BLEATS ]

BUT FIRST, HE'S GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THEM.

THERE'S NO TIME TO BE AFRAID.

THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE THE STEEP DESCENT

DOWN TO THE VALLEY TO FIND FOOD.

[ BLEATING ]

FOR HIM, EVERYTHING IS NEW,

AND THE BEST WAY TO LEARN IS TO COPY HIS MOTHER.

HER HEAVY WINTER COAT NO LONGER NEEDED,

SHE SPINS TO SHAKE IT OFF --

A DANCE CELEBRATING THE MAGIC OF SPRING.

JUNIOR, BEST DO WHAT MOM DOES.

[ BLEATS ]

A BAND OF OTHER MOTHERS AND THEIR KIDS --

IT'S LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL...

AND HIS FIRST GLIMPSE OF OTHER GOATS LIKE HIM.

[ BLEATS ]

THE WARMING WEATHER HAS RELEASED FROZEN STREAMS,

AND FLOWING WATER, ENCOUNTERED FOR THE FIRST TIME,

IS STRANGE,

EVEN A LITTLE FRIGHTENING.

[ BLEATS ]

HIS COUSINS CAN ALREADY LEAP UP TO 5 FEET.

IN A YEAR, THEY'LL ALL BE ABLE TO JUMP DOUBLE THAT.

NOW IT'S HIS TURN.

[ BLEATS ]

IN A WORLD FULL OF OBSTACLES,

KNOWING HOW TO FLY CAN GET YOU A LONG WAY.

FURTHER DOWN THE MELTING MOUNTAIN,

THE STREAMS MERGE.

NOW, BILLIONS OF GALLONS GUSH OUT OF THE ROCKIES.

FOR THE GOATS, MORE AT HOME IN THE HIGH CLIFFS,

RIVERS LIKE THIS CAN BE DEADLY.

NANNY GOATS LEAD THE WAY,

SHOWING THE LITTLE ONES HOW IT'S DONE.

NEARLY EVERYONE HAS CROSSED...

[ BLEATS ] ...BUT HE HOLDS BACK.

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATS ]

HE FOLLOWS AN OLDER COUSIN...

BUT MISSES HIS MARK...

AND LOSES HIS NERVE.

[ BLEATS ]

NOW MOTHER AND KID ARE SEPARATED.

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATING ]

THEN, COURAGE OVERCOMES FEAR.

[ BLEATS ]

[ BLEATS ]

THE HOOVES THAT HELPED HIM CLING TO THE CLIFFS

ARE USELESS IN THE RAGING WATER.

[ BLEATING ]

SAFE AT LAST.

[ BLEATING ]

THIS IS LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF AMERICA.

THE KID HAS FACED HIS FEARS AND FOUND UNEXPECTED STRENGTH.

[ BLEATS ]

SO YOUNG, BUT HE'S ALREADY PROVEN

THAT HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES

TO JOIN THE STORY OF THE CONTINENT...

...TO BATHE IN ITS RICHES AND SOAK IN ITS WONDERS.

FROM LUSH VALLEYS, TO THE OPEN PRAIRIE,

TO THE SCORCHING DESERT,

AND THE SAVAGE COAST BEYOND.

[ BATS CHIRPING ]

WE HAVE THE TALLEST TREES ON EARTH,

GEYSERS BOILING UP

FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SUPER VOLCANOES,

THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI... [ THUNDER CRASHES ]

...AND SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME CLIMATES ON THE PLANET.

FROM THE BITTER COLD OF THE CANADIAN ARCTIC,

TO THE STEAMING HEAT OF THE PANAMA JUNGLES...

...THE HOME OF THE BRAVE DEMANDS COURAGE AND SACRIFICE.

SHE TESTS ALL WHO SET FOOT ON HER SOIL.

[ SNAKE HISSES ]

ONLY THOSE TOUGH ENOUGH, RESILIENT ENOUGH,

AND BOLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S THEIRS...

[ WOLF SNARLS ] [ BEARS GROWL ]

...WILL EARN THE RIGHT TO CALL HER...

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

...HOME.

AT THE FAR NORTHERN TIP OF THE CONTINENT,

THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS OF ALASKA.

GATEWAY TO AMERICA.

20,000 YEARS AGO, THIS STRING OF VOLCANOES

MARKED THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE LAND BRIDGE

THAT ALLOWED PREHISTORIC ANIMALS AND HUMANS

TO CROSS OVER FROM ASIA.

[ SEALS BARKING ]

THESE MOUNTAINS IN THE SEA ARE ALL THAT REMAIN.

[ BIRD SQUAWKS ]

A BARREN LAND OF CLIFFS

AND TREACHEROUS COASTS CUT OFF FROM THE MAINLAND.

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

[ SEAL GROWLS ]

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

HALF-TON GRIZZLIES PATROL THE SHORE.

RAVENOUS AFTER SIX MONTHS OF HIBERNATION,

THEY'VE LOST NEARLY 40%

OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT OVER THE WINTER.

A GRIZZLY'S NOSE IS 2,300 TIMES MORE SENSITIVE THAN OURS.

HE CAN SMELL THE REMAINS OF LAST YEAR'S FEAST

AT THE WATER'S EDGE.

[ BEAR GRUNTS ]

BUT WILL THIS YEAR OFFER THE SAME GOOD FORTUNE?

[ WHALES GEYSERING ]

A MOTHER GRAY WHALE AND HER CALF.

THIS IS THE CALF'S FIRST MIGRATION NORTH.

SHE'S SPENT EVERY MOMENT OF HER LIFE

BY HER MOTHER'S SIDE.

AFTER A 4,000-MILE JOURNEY FROM MEXICO,

THEY'VE NEARLY MADE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION.

THE RICH FEEDING GROUNDS OF THE BERING SEA

ARE JUST BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN RANGE IN FRONT OF THEM.

HER CALF IS TIRED,

AND THE MOUNTAINS FORM A MASSIVE BARRIER,

BUT THE MOTHER KNOWS A SECRET SHORTCUT --

A SHALLOW GAP IN THE MOUNTAINS CALLED "FALSE PASS"...

...PERILOUS WATERS FOR BOTH MAN AND BEAST.

CAUTIOUSLY, THE MOTHER APPROACHES.

SHE'S RUN THIS GAUNTLET BEFORE AND KNOWS THE RISKS.

THE PASSAGE NARROWS.

GRIZZLIES ARE USUALLY LONERS,

BUT THE CHANCE OF A SPRING FEAST BRINGS THEM TOGETHER.

SINKING THEIR TEETH INTO A WHALE WON'T BE EASY,

BUT THEN...

THE HELP THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...

...A GANG OF KILLER WHALES.

[ ORCAS CHIRPING ]

THE 8-TON KILLERS AREN'T AFTER THE MOTHER.

FOUR TIMES THEIR SIZE, SHE'S TOO BIG TO TAKE ON.

BUT THE 3-TON CALF IS ANOTHER STORY.

THEY QUICKLY SEPARATE THE CALF FROM HER MOTHER'S SIDE.

THE KILLERS KNOW THE EXHAUSTED CALF

MUST COME TO THE SURFACE TO BREATHE.

THEY THROW THEMSELVES ON TOP OF HER...

...AND HOLD HER UNDERWATER...

UNTIL SHE DROWNS.

HER BODY SINKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON,

JOINING THE CARCASSES OF COUNTLESS OTHER KILLS.

KILLER WHALES WILL FEED ON THE CORPSE FOR DAYS.

HER MOTHER LINGERS.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING SHE CAN DO.

SOON, REMAINS WASH ASHORE.

[ BEARS SNIFFING ]

BLUBBER CONTAINS

MORE CALORIES PER POUND THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER FOOD.

IT'S THE BOUNTY THE GRIZZLIES WERE COUNTING ON.

LIFE ON THE FRONTIER ISN'T EASY.

HERE, ONE ANIMAL'S SACRIFICE FUELS THE SURVIVAL OF OTHERS.

BUT BEYOND THE BARREN GATEWAY OF THE ALEUTIANS

LIES A LAND OF UNTOLD RICHES AND OPPORTUNITY.

TO THE EAST, THE MOUNTAINS GROW TALLER

AND TRANSFORM INTO ENORMOUS BLOCKS OF ROCK AND ICE.

THE MIGHTY ALASKA RANGE.

RAGGED AND FIERCE, THESE PEAKS ARE STILL YOUNG...

...BURSTING WITH THE MOLTEN BLOOD OF THE PLANET.

AT THE HEART OF THESE PEAKS,

MOUNT McKINLEY TOWERS AT A STAGGERING 20,000 FEET.

THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN NORTH AMERICA...

AND IT'S STILL GROWING.

FROM HERE, THE MOUNTAINS WIND SOUTH ACROSS CANADA

FORMING THE SPINE OF AMERICA,

A CHAIN THAT DIVIDES THE ENTIRE CONTINENT.

ACROSS IDAHO, WYOMING, COLORADO...

...THE GRANITE PEAKS OF THE ROCKIES --

THEY'RE AMONG THE STEEPEST ON THE PLANET.

SO TALL, THEY CONTROL THE WEATHER ACROSS OUR LAND.

WITH NO EAST-WEST MOUNTAIN RANGE TO BLOCK ARCTIC COLD FRONTS,

THE ROCKIES STEER ICY WINDS

DOWN OUT OF CANADA ON A COLLISION COURSE

WITH TROPICAL AIR SPINNING UP FROM THE GULF,

TRIGGERING SUPER STORMS LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

BUT THEY ALSO CREATE FERTILE PRAIRIES

FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE HEART OF TEXAS.

TO THE WEST, THE SIERRAS OF CALIFORNIA

HOLD BACK THE MOISTURE OF THE PACIFIC.

IN THEIR WAKE, A VAST RAIN SHADOW

THAT CREATES THE BARREN DESERTS OF THE GREAT BASIN,

FROM NEVADA TO UTAH, SOUTH TO THE MEXICAN BORDER --

200,000 SQUARE MILES OF DROUGHT AND THIRST.

450 YEARS AGO,

A SPANISH CONQUISTADOR, CORONADO,

SET OUT INTO THIS DESERT ON HORSEBACK

ON A QUEST TO FIND A LEGENDARY CITY OF GOLD.

THE PLACE NEARLY KILLED HIM.

40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SALT LAKE CITY,

THE GREAT BASIN DESERT,

HOME TO SOME OF THE LAST WILD HORSES IN AMERICA --

MUSTANGS, THE DESCENDANTS OF HORSES

BRED BY CONQUISTADORS, CATTLEMEN, AND NATIVE AMERICANS.

[ HORSES NEIGHING ]

HIGH NOON SIZZLES AT 109 DEGREES.

THIS FAMILY HAS BEEN WANDERING THE DUST FOR TWO DAYS

WITHOUT A DRINK --

A STALLION AND HIS HAREM OF FILLIES.

[ HORSES NEIGHING, SNORTING ]

IN THIS HEAT, EVEN THE FINCHES PREFER TO HITCH A RIDE.

WITH YOUNG COLTS IN TOW, THEY'VE GOT NO CHOICE.

THEY'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING UNTIL THEY FIND WATER.

[ NEIGHING ]

[ SNORTING ]

[ NEIGHING ]

AT LAST, THE PROMISED LAND.

[ NEIGHING ]

THEY'LL STAY HERE AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

BUT THE STALLION KNOWS HE CAN'T LET DOWN HIS GUARD.

IN A DROUGHT, WATER HOLES ARE DANGEROUS PLACES,

MAGNETS FOR ALL MANNER OF THIRSTY TROUBLEMAKERS.

THE LONGER THEY STAY,

THE BIGGER THE CHANCE OF DANGER DROPPING BY.

[ NEIGHING ]

NEWCOMERS.

[ NEIGHING ]

A GANG OF UPSTART YOUNG MALES.

THESE ARE THE GUYS THE STALLION WAS HOPING TO AVOID.

AT THE TOP OF THE PECKING ORDER, A POWERFUL DARK HORSE.

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

HE MAKES A RUN FOR THE STALLION'S FEMALES.

[ HORSE SNORTING ]

[ HORSES NEIGHING ]

A BLUFF,

BUT HE'S MADE IT CLEAR WHAT HE'S AFTER.

THE STALLION'S GOT NO CHOICE.

IN THE CODE OF THE LAWLESS WEST,

A HORSE THIEF PAYS WITH HIS LIFE.

[ RAM JAM'S "BLACK BETTY" PLAYS ]

¶ WHOA, BLACK BETTY, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ WHOA, BLACK BETTY, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ BLACK BETTY HAD A CHILD, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ THE DAMN THING GONE WILD, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ SHE SAID IT WEREN'T IN HER MIND, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ THE DAMN THING GONE BLIND, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ SAID, "WHOA, BLACK BETTY," BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ WHOA, BLACK BETTY BAM-A-LAM ¶

EACH BLOW -- 2,200 POUNDS OF FORCE.

A KICK TO THE FACE CAN FRACTURE A JAW.

A BROKEN LEG IS CERTAIN DEATH.

[ HORSES NEIGHING ]

¶ WHOA, BLACK BETTY, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ SHE'S FROM BIRMINGHAM, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ WAY DOWN IN ALABAM', BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ WELL, SHE'S SHAKING THAT THING, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ BOY, SHE MAKES ME SING, BAM-A-LAM ¶

¶ YEAH

[ NEIGHING ]

THE STALLION'S EARNED THE RESPECT

THAT ONLY COMES FROM DEFENDING WHAT'S YOURS.

FINALLY, THE TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY CAN RELAX.

[ HORSE WHINNIES ]

AMERICA'S ENDURING HORSE.

THEY PULLED THE PLOWS THAT BROKE THE PLAINS

AND SHOULDERED THE BURDENS OF THE COVERED WAGON.

THEY GAVE THE NATIVE AMERICAN A FIGHTING CHANCE

AGAINST THE WHITE MAN.

THEY ARE AS AMERICAN AS THE LAND ITSELF.

300 MILES TO THE SOUTH, AT THE INTERSECTION OF FOUR STATES...

...MONUMENT VALLEY.

THE ICON OF THE WEST.

SACRED TO THE NAVAJO NATION.

SOME OF THESE VERTICAL SPIRES ARE THE ERODED MAGMA CORES

OF ANCIENT VOLCANOES THAT ONCE PEPPERED THIS LANDSCAPE.

ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST, THE DESERTS BECOME HARSHER...

...MORE INTENSE.

DEATH VALLEY.

282 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL, THIS IS THE HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH.

[ WOMAN VOCALIZING ]

[ SQUAWKING ]

BUT EVEN HERE, LIFE SCRAPES BY.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

IN SOUTHERN UTAH, NATURE THROWS OUT THE RULEBOOK.

THE LAND TRANSFORMS INTO A CRAZY LABYRINTH OF SCULPTED ROCK

SHAPED BY 50 MILLION YEARS OF WATER AND WIND.

ACROSS ARIZONA, THE COLORADO RIVER

SLICES SOUTH THROUGH AN ANCIENT SEABED DEEPER AND DEEPER,

GOUGING OUT THE GRAND CANYON A MILE DOWN.

AT THE RIVER'S END, AN OCEAN OF SAND -- MEXICO'S GRAN DESIERTO.

THESE DUNES ARE MADE FROM THE DUST

OF GROUND-UP MOUNTAINS WASHED DOWNSTREAM.

AS THE DESERTS WIND SOUTH THROUGH MEXICO,

MOISTURE FROM THE TROPICS

TRANSFORMS THE LAND INTO LUSH JUNGLES.

FROM GUATEMALA TO HONDURAS AND INTO PANAMA,

THE CONTINENT NARROWS INTO A THIN RIBBON OF LAND.

AT ITS END, MYSTERIOUS JUNGLES, REMOTE AND DANGEROUS.

[ BIRD CHIRPING, SQUAWKING ]

PLACES SO UNEXPLORED, WE KNOW ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT THEM.

[ BIRD CHIRPING ]

[ MONKEY CHITTERING ]

THOUGH VIRTUALLY UNINHABITED, THESE HOT SPOTS

ARE LIVELIER THAN ANY PROHIBITION GIN JOINT...

[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]

...FULL OF COOL CATS STRUTTING THEIR STUFF.

TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF SCORING A MATE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS...

...YOU'VE GOT TO BE A CLASS ACT...

...WITH MOVES TO MATCH.

IN THE JUNGLES OF COSTA RICA,

A RED-CAPPED MANAKIN DANCES TO IMPRESS A FEMALE.

"MANAKIN" IS A DUTCH WORD MEANING "LITTLE MAN."

HE SNAPS HIS WINGS TO CREATE HIS OWN BEAT TO GROOVE TO.

[ WINGS SNAPPING ]

FEMALES ARE VERY PICKY AND ONLY GO FOR THE BEST.

AND SHE'S SEEN BETTER.

[ SQUAWKING ]

ON THIS STAGE, THE BEST NUMBER IS A DOUBLE ACT.

THESE LONG-TAILED MANAKINS WORK TOGETHER TO DAZZLE THE DAMES.

MALES PRACTICE THEIR ROUTINES FOR YEARS.

BUT ONLY THE OLDER MALE GETS TO MATE.

THE YOUNGER WINGMAN WILL HAVE TO WAIT, UP TO 10 YEARS,

UNTIL THE DOMINANT MALE KICKS THE BUCKET.

THEN HE'LL FINALLY GET THE STARRING ROLE

AND A SIDEKICK OF HIS OWN.

A FEMALE MOVES IN FOR A FRONT-ROW SEAT.

[ CHIRPING, SQUAWKING ]

ANOTHER WANTS IN ON THE ACTION.

THE DUDES GO ALL OUT.

BUT ON THIS DANCE FLOOR, THE LADIES HAVE THEIR OWN MOVES.

NOW THE CHICKS BREAK IT DOWN.

THE OLDER MALE FINALLY CHOOSES THE ONE.

AT ITS EDGES, THE JUNGLE RUNS INTO THE SEA.

IN COSTA RICA,

A NAMELESS CRESCENT OF SAND MARKS THE FRONTIER.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

THIS LONELY BEACH

IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF A WEARY WANDERER...

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

...AN OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE.

SHE LEFT TO ROAM THE OCEAN, BUT NOW SHE'S COME BACK.

HER FIRST STEPS ON LAND IN NEARLY 15 YEARS.

HOME AT LAST.

SHE HAULS HERSELF AS FAR UP THE BEACH AS SHE CAN...

DIGS A DEEP HOLE...

AND FILLS IT WITH OVER 100 EGGS.

BUT SHE'S NOT ALONE.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

BEHIND HER ARE THOUSANDS MORE,

HER SISTERS DRAWN IN BY SOME UNKNOWN SIGNAL.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

THIS IS THE NIGHT THEY'VE ALL CHOSEN TO RETURN.

WITH THE DAWN, IT ENDS.

50 DAYS LATER...

...HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF 2-INCH-LONG TURTLES

SOLDIER THEIR WAY TO THE SURFACE.

FOR THIS NEWBORN AND HIS BAND OF BROTHERS,

IT WILL BE THEIR LONGEST DAY.

[ BIRD SQUAWKS ]

ONLY 5 OUT OF 100 WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE NEXT 8 HOURS.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

BEYOND THE BARRICADES OF DRIFTWOOD,

THE OPEN BATTLEFIELD -- 120 FEET OF DEEP SAND.

THE ENEMY FORCES ARE WAITING.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR.

[ BIRD SQUAWKING ]

AT LAST, THE SAFETY OF THE SEA.

SOMEDAY THE FEMALES MAY RETURN TO LAY THEIR OWN EGGS HERE.

BUT FOR NOW, THEY JOIN THE RHYTHM OF THE CONTINENT...

...THE DANCE OF BILLIONS.

IN AMERICA, MIGRATION IS A WAY OF LIFE.

THESE ARE THE ROUTES OF SOME 3 BILLION BIRDS

THAT STREAM NORTH EVERY SPRING...

...FLYING THOUSANDS OF MILES TO EVERY CORNER OF THE CONTINENT...

[ GEESE HONKING ]

...TO FIND FOOD...

TO FIND A MATE...

TO RAISE A FAMILY.

OFF THE WEST COAST,

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF SALMON SURGE OUT OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN

AND INTO RIVERS FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA

AND SWIM OVER 750 MILES INLAND INTO THE MOUNTAIN STREAMS

TO LAY THEIR EGGS.

[ MAN VOCALIZING ]

200 MILLION MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

FLUTTER THEIR WAY NORTH ACROSS AMERICA...

...FROM THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO

AND THE CEDAR GROVES OF CALIFORNIA

TO THE OPEN MEADOWS OF THE CANADIAN PRAIRIE.

JUST OUTSIDE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,

20 MILLION BATS,

THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF MAMMALS ON EARTH.

[ BATS CHIRPING ]

IN OCTOBER, THEY SUDDENLY POUR OUT OF THEIR CAVES

AND HEAD SOUTH IN SINGLE RIBBONS.

¶ ...IF I CAN

¶ OOH OOH OOH OOH

BEYOND OUR MAN-MADE WORLD

HUMS A SECRET NETWORK OF HIGHWAYS IN MOTION EVERY DAY.

¶ OH OH

¶ OH OH OH OH-OH OH OH

¶ OH OH OH-OH-OH

¶ OH-OH OH OH

BURNING IN THE AMERICAN HEART, THERE'S A HUNGER TO MOVE...

TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND...

TO HEAD OUT FREE AND UNANCHORED.

[ GEESE HONKING ]

¶ OOH

¶ OOH

¶ AH-AH-AH

¶ AH-AH-AH

¶ OOH

¶ OOH

¶ OOH

¶ OOH

¶ AH-AH-AH

AT THE FAR NORTHERN EDGE OF AMERICA

IS A LAND CALLED LABRADOR.

VAST...

FORGOTTEN...

EMPTY.

JUST SOME 200 PEOPLE IN 1,000 SQUARE MILES.

BUT THIS WEATHERED WILDERNESS

IS HOME TO ONE OF THE GREATEST MIGRATIONS ON EARTH.

[ CARIBOU GRUNTING ]

A 3,700-MILE PILGRIMAGE

WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THESE MOUNTAINS -- 28,000 CARIBOU.

THE HERD IS SO LARGE AND THE GRASS SO SPARSE

THAT IF THEY STOP MOVING,

THEY'LL RUN OUT OF FOOD AND STARVE.

[ CARIBOU GRUNTING ]

BORN INTO A LIFE OF PERPETUAL MOTION,

THIS NEWBORN HAD TO RUN WITHIN HOURS OF BIRTH TO KEEP PACE.

[ GRUNTING ]

THE HERD ENTERS THE VALLEYS

THAT FUNNEL TOWARDS THE RICH PASTURES BY THE SEA.

THIS CANYON BELONGS TO THEIR ENEMIES...

...A PAIR OF WOLVES.

THEY SURVEY THE GROUND FOR A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.

[ CARIBOU GRUNTING ]

[ WOLF WHINES ]

CAREFULLY, THEY BEGIN THEIR APPROACH TO THE HERD...

...THE STEEP SLOPE FILLED WITH OBSTACLES.

HERE, THE CARIBOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MANEUVER AS A SINGLE HERD.

[ GRUNTING ]

IN THE TURMOIL, MOTHER AND CALF GET SEPARATED.

THE MOTHER MUST RUN FOR HER LIFE.

A PAIR OF WOLVES HUNTS A HERD OF CARIBOU

ON THE TUNDRA OF LABRADOR.

IN THE PANIC, A CALF GETS SEPARATED FROM THE MOTHER.

[ GRUNTING ]

ON THIS FIELD OF BOULDERS AND DEEP TRENCHES,

CARIBOU CAN'T BUILD UP SPEED AND MUST CONSTANTLY CHANGE COURSE.

THE CALF STUMBLES.

[ WOLF GROWLS, CARIBOU CRIES ]

[ CARIBOU GRUNTING ]

THE SCRAMBLED HERD REGROUPS.

MOTHERS AND CALVES KNOW EACH OTHER BY SMELL.

[ CARIBOU GRUNTING ]

BUT ONE MOTHER WILL CONTINUE ON HER OWN.

IT'S THE WOLF'S FIRST MEAL IN DAYS.

[ WOLF PUPS WHIMPERING ]

AND SHE, TOO, HAS HUNGRY MOUTHS TO FEED.

EVERY MOTHER KNOWS SHE'LL DO ANYTHING

TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR HER KIDS.

IN THE WINTRY FOOTHILLS OF WYOMING,

DEEP IN THE HOLLOW OF A FALLEN TREE...

[ BEAR SNORTING ]

...A NEW LIFE BEGINS.

A 250-POUND BLACK BEAR HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO AN 8-OUNCE CUB.

SHE HASN'T EATEN OR HAD A SIP OF WATER SINCE OCTOBER.

YET SHE'LL NURSE HIM EVERY FEW HOURS FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS,

CONVERTING HER STORED-UP BODY FAT INTO MILK.

MOTHER AND CUB SLEEP IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS,

WAITING FOR THE SEASONS TO CHANGE.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, LIFE STIRS.

[ BEE BUZZING ]

A TIMELESS AWAKENING UNTOUCHED BY THE HAND OF MAN.

SPRING ONCE MORE.

JUST A FEW MONTHS OLD, THE BABY BLACK BEAR

IS ONLY BEGINNING TO LEARN THE ROPES OF LIFE IN THE WOODS.

A SINGLE MOTHER AND CHILD.

[ BEAR CUB YELPS ]

HE IS ALL SHE HAS, AND SHE IS HIS ENTIRE WORLD.

BLACK BEARS MIGHT BE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEIR BABIES ARE SAFE FROM HARM.

NIGHTFALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER,

AND FOR A LITTLE GUY LIKE HIM,

THE FOREST FLOOR IS FULL OF DANGERS.

LEARNING TO CLIMB A TREE

IS MORE THAN JUST A CHILDHOOD RITE OF PASSAGE.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

[ YELPS ]

BLACK BEARS EVOLVED IN A TIME OF MEGA-PREDATORS --

SABER-TOOTHED TIGERS AND THE LIKE --

WHEN BEDDING DOWN IN THE TREETOPS

WAS THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO PASS THE NIGHT.

THE SABER-TOOTHED IS LONG EXTINCT.

BUT UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT, A DISTANT COUSIN

STILL PROWLS THE DARKEST CORNERS OF THE FOREST.

THE SHADOWY ICON OF THIS CONTINENT'S WILD HEART...

...THE MOUNTAIN LION.

IT HAS SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL LEGS OF ANY CAT ON THE PLANET

AND CAN LEAP UP TO 45 FEET.

FEW EVER CATCH MORE THAN A FLEETING GLIMPSE

OF THIS SOLITARY GHOST, STEALTHY AND SILENT.

YET THERE ARE OVER 30,000

OF THESE GIANT CATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

PROWLING THROUGH OUR BACKYARDS IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

IT'S SAFE TO VENTURE DOWN.

BY THE LIGHT OF DAY, MOTHER WILL TEACH,

AND HER CUB WILL LEARN EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO KNOW

TO SURVIVE IN THIS WONDROUS NEW WORLD.

THE UNTAMED WILDERNESS OF OUR CONTINENT

IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK...

...ITS POWER AND BEAUTY

JUST BEYOND OUR DOORSTEP EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY...

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

...CHALLENGING US...

PROVIDING FOR US...

...SHAPING WHO WE ARE.

TO VENTURE INTO THIS GREAT LAND

IS TO JOIN THE STORY OF OUR HOME, NORTH AMERICA.

MOUNTAIN GOATS LIVE IN SOME

OF THE MOST UNFORGIVING TERRAIN ON THE CONTINENT.

THE TEAM WANTED TO SHOW JUST HOW TOUGH THESE ANIMALS ARE.

WE REALLY WANTED TO GET THEM IN THEIR TRUE ELEMENT,

WHICH IS RIGHT UP ON THE PEAKS,

IN THE BAD WEATHER, IN THE BLOWING SNOW.

Narrator: THAT MEANT SCALING SLOPES

IN THE DEAD OF AVALANCHE SEASON...

YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S A SLOPE THAT WILL KILL PEOPLE RIGHT THERE.

...AND GETTING SLAMMED BY A ROCKY MOUNTAIN BLIZZARD

AT 10,000 FEET.

[ WIND BLOWING ]

FOR THE CREW,

IT WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ASSIGNMENTS OF THE SERIES.

FOR THE GOATS, JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.