Original subtitles

Canada's Great Bear Rainforest.

Twenty-five thousand square miles of wilderness.

Home to a young female

grizzly bear called Fern.

At five years old, she can take care of herself.

But everything is about to change.

Fern's going to become a mom for the very first time.

Growing inside her, not one, but two baby bears...

Lulu,

and Joey.

Witness the wonder, as these cubs explore their new world.

Taking their first steps

towards independence.

But for this new mom, the pace of life is fast.

Fern only has six months

to prepare Lulu and Joey before winter returns.

- The pressure is on...

As they take on the challenge of Growing Up Animal.

Fern's having a tough day.

She's been fishing for salmon since dawn.

And only had a couple of bites.

While she might be fully grown,

she's still a little inexperienced.

Fern only left her mom two summers ago.

But she knows

she's gotta make the most of this salmon run.

Winter is in eight weeks.

Food will be hard to come by,

and she'll need to hibernate for six months.

With just a few hours of daylight left...

Fern won't give up easily.

She may be young,

but she's a fighter.

This year for the first time,

it's not just her own survival at stake.

Inside Fern, is the promise of new life.

Not one, but two precious spheres of cells called blastocysts.

The beginnings of two baby bears.

But their development is on hold.

A miraculous evolutionary trick,

to ensure a bear's young, aren't born at the start of winter.

They won't progress further, and implant in her womb

until she's eaten enough fat from salmon to sustain all three of them.

To do that, Fern must find just the right spot to fish.

But she's not the only hungry bear on this river.

Powerful males, much larger than her dominate areas

where it's easiest to catch salmon.

Rain or shine, there's one who rules this stretch of river.

Rocky.

With a swipe from his three-inch claws

the salmon don't stand a chance.

His appetite is massive.

He devours the equivalent of a small deer every day.

Fern knows this guy well.

Four months ago, in spring, they mated.

But she knows that won't win her any favors.

Rocky will never share his stretch on the river.

Not everyone wants to be a hands-on dad.

She's gonna have to do this all on her own.

Time to move on where there's less competition.

Another female has had the same idea.

Blondie's an experienced mom, with three cubs.

Her boys are a year old, and can now catch their own dinner.

Well, most of the time.

This looks like a momma Fern could learn from.

If she's here, then it must be a good place to fish.

Fern settles on a spot. Now, the game begins.

She just needs one fish to pass within reach.

So she can pluck it from the water.

First catch of the day.

Each one is packed with five thousand calories,

double our daily intake.

And for Fern

every mouthful is crucial.

The amount she eats will determine whether the blastocysts implant,

and Fern's journey to motherhood can begin.

As the salmon run finishes, the rivers calm.

The forests grow quieter...

And fall comes to an end.

Snowfall rarely takes hold here in the Great Bear Rainforest,

but it will transform the mountains above.

It's time Fern took the arduous climb

up into these peaks to make her den.

She's bulked up to the max

and done all she can to trigger the start of her pregnancy.

Only when she wakes from hibernation in six months' time,

will she discover if she has done enough to become a grizzly mom.

By December, Fern's mountain retreat is gripped by winter.

Up here, two thousand feet above sea level,

temperatures can drop below zero Fahrenheit.

Quiet and isolated. It's perfect for Fern's den.

Fern is ten weeks into her six-month hibernation.

She's in and out of consciousness, living her life in slow motion.

Her metabolism has dropped by half.

And her heart rate has plummeted from 70 beats per minute,

to just ten.

Fern is surviving only on stored body fats.

She may appear completely inactive,

but inside her, something miraculous is happening.

All that fishing means...

Not one, but two cubs are successfully growing.

Lulu and Joey.

At four weeks into their eight-week journey,

each is just the size of an apple.

Their umbilical cords fuel them with protein and carbohydrates.

They're growing quickly, and could quadruple in size

over the next month.

Their shoulders and forearms are building muscle.

Claws have broken through.

They'll need those to crawl up Fern's sleeping chest

to nurse when they're born.

Outside Fern's den, winter grows even colder.

There's no escape from the harsh conditions.

Winds become gale force.

And the mercury drops to minus eight Fahrenheit.

The bitter cold strips the heat from every animal it touches.

Fern is protected from it and sleeps on in comfort.

Her thick winter coat traps air. Providing insulation,

and saving as much energy as possible for her rapidly growing cubs.

Lulu and Joey are doing really well.

They've made it to six weeks.

And a delicate layer of fur has started to grow.

Almost fully formed, they can now survive if born early.

Their most vital asset is developing

their incredible sense of smell.

Two thousand times greater than ours.

The cubs will use it to find food,

communicate, and learn about their new world.

Glands have even developed in their feet that leave their scent with every step.

And their claws are almost primed and ready for action.

Equipped with these essential tools, the cubs simply increase in size

until the day they're born.

By February, winter reaches its peak.

This far north, even waterfalls are frozen in time.

Fern sleeps through it all.

But deep under the snow,

something truly magical has happened.

Lulu and Joey have arrived.

Each the size of a newborn puppy, weighing around one pound.

Completely blind and totally vulnerable.

Safe with their mom at last.

Soaking up her scent and mouthfuls of milk.

Fern's milk contains almost three times the calories of ours.

Packed with antibodies, it builds up their immune systems.

Fern can sense them as Lulu and Joey feed,

grow, and bond with their mom.

Safe and snug for the next two months, in their den sanctuary.

Throughout winter, these slopes have given the family isolation and peace.

But by April, temperatures are rising,

and the mountains begin to stir.

The hard-packed snowdrifts start to weaken.

An avalanche.

Ten thousand tons of snow,

traveling up to 100 miles per hour.

It pays to choose your den site carefully in these mountains.

Beneath the snow

the family is safe.

Fern is finally awake...

And meets her babies for the very first time.

It's got to be the best surprise in the world.

Lulu and Joey have been piling on the pounds.

They are now 20 times bigger than when they were born,

and a whole lot hungrier.

Fern hasn't eaten in over six months.

So, it's time this new mom showed Lulu and Joey

the world beyond their den.

Outside

winter is losing its grip on the mountains.

And the cubs get their first glimpse of daylight.

It's a lot to take in.

Lulu and Joey's world

just got a whole lot bigger.

But there's no time to stop.

Fern has lost almost half her body weight.

She's gotta get her cubs down from the mountains.

A journey she can make with ease.

But now there's little legs to think of.

And the pace of life here is fast.

Fern has to set them up for survival

before winter returns in six months.

She's never done it before, and the clock is ticking.

Far below, the Great Bear Rainforest looks like a different world.

It's May.

Spring breathes new life into the inlets.

The forests are singing...

And the meadows are in bloom.

It's taken two weeks for Fern and her cubs to get down here.

A sight for sore eyes.

After a long journey, the first thing that Fern needs is a decent meal.

On the springtime menu

fresh greens.

Sedge.

It might seem a surprising choice for a bear,

but this type of grass is packed with protein.

Fern desperately needs to rebuild muscle and fat reserves after her pregnancy.

She's gotta eat over 60 pounds a day,

spending every hour of daylight grazing.

There never seems to be enough time,

especially with two hungry cubs.

Lulu and Joey still get all their nutrition from her.

Fern knows this season of plenty is short.

She may be a new mom, but she's got to get back to work.

While Fern's busy putting food on the table,

the cubs have a whole new world to explore.

There's no limits to Lulu's curiosity.

She's never seen a tree lying down before.

She's eager to try out the balance beam.

Laid-back Joey doesn't get the appeal.

Adventurous Lulu takes it all in her stride, even over open water.

A grunt from Fern reminds them not to stray too far.

Just like human babies

they're always checking out what mom's eating.

It's how they learn what to eat.

Looks like Joey is never one to pass up a free meal.

But Lulu hasn't got time for this.

Perhaps it's an acquired taste.

It's trees that are irresistible to her.

And this time, Lulu sets her sights even higher.

She just has an urge to climb and doesn't know why.

It's an instinctive lifesaving skill.

Dangerous male bears roam these forests.

The cubs need to climb high enough to keep out of reach.

Lulu seems to be a quick learner.

Her claws act like crampons,

anchoring into the bark.

Joey is slower

a little more nervous.

Eight feet up, he freezes.

He doesn't know what to do.

At this height, he'd still be within reach of a male grizzly.

Lulu won't leave her brother struggling.

She shows him the way... to the top.

Their first climb conquered. Together.

If they can do this in a crisis, then it might keep them out of trouble.

Mom finally takes a break from eating to reward their hard work.

Together, they drink nearly three quarts of milk a day.

Fern is under huge pressure.

She's only had to eat for one before.

As fast as she can get the energy, the cubs seem to draw it out.

But Fern has yet to learn, caring for kids is not just about feeding them.

Keeping them safe is a full-time job.

Especially here.

Up to 2,000 grizzlies roam the Great Bear Rainforest.

And this valley is one of the busiest.

And it's vital for a mom with cubs

to avoid the most dangerous neighbors.

Males.

It's Rocky.

He's looking to mate, and he won't let the cubs get in the way.

Fern can never let their paths cross.

Luckily, Rocky lets everyone know when he's in town.

He rubs his scent on trees throughout the forest

to announce his presence.

- and put off any competition.

These scent signposts are like a classroom for the cubs.

Fern takes them to learn who's in the valley

without risk of conflict.

One sniff and she can tell if Rocky is in the neighborhood.

The coast is clear.

Just enough time to take advantage of the facilities.

The rough bark helps her shed her winter coat.

Lulu and Joey memorize Rocky's scent, so they can stay clear.

And like their mom,

the opportunity for a scratch is too good to pass up.

A valuable lesson while on the move between meals.

The vast forest our bear family calls home,

is a lush wilderness.

Sometimes called the Amazon of the North.

Waterways weave through their territory,

and over 250 miles of Pacific coastline buffer up against it.

Tides can rise and fall 16 feet in just a few hours

and provide great opportunities,

as well as dangers to little bears and their first-time moms.

Lulu and Joey still have a lot to learn

before they'll be able to look after themselves.

Now, at four months old, they must hone their essential survival skills.

They only have two months of summer left.

Bears have the largest brain of any land mammal,

relative to their size.

It gives them the intelligence required to be quick to adapt

and to pick up tips from other bears.

As a new mom with two hungry cubs,

Fern's brain is working overtime.

Once again, the experienced mom from the salmon river, catches her eye.

Blondie.

Maybe she's on to something down here.

Blondie follows her supersensitive nose and sets to work.

A clam.

Small, but one of a bear's favorite appetizers.

Even Blondie's cubs are in on the secret.

They need to be. At two years old,

they'll have to strike out on their own soon.

It would be great if Fern could get her cubs to do this.

Any skill takes time to master.

Something they don't have a lot of.

The sooner Lulu and Joey start, the better.

But all they seem to do is get under her feet.

Just like teaching your kids to use a knife and fork

persistence and a whole heap of patience is key to cracking this skill.

Lulu quickly learns to dig down.

But Joey, he's just all about the easy life.

He's learned if he just hangs around mom, he'll get leftovers.

After the morning's digging, Fern really needs a break.

The family moves on to a nearby sedge bank.

Fern can get five minutes to herself,

while Lulu and Joey let off a little steam.

Play fighting.

It strengthens their bond and helps Joey get some exercise.

Fern might deserve a moment of peace,

but she's forgotten, with little ones around,

she should never take her eye off the ball.

The tide has turned,

and the waters are rapidly rising.

Fern realizes her mistake too late.

They are cut off from shore.

All bears are born with the ability to swim,

but Lulu and Joey haven't had the chance to practice.

And powerful currents will make it even harder.

Lulu quickly sees an opportunity to hitch a ride on mom.

But Joey is too slow.

And the current is too strong for him.

- He is being swept downstream.

He's going to have to swim for his life.

He's made it. Exhausted but alive.

Fern's learned

a painful lesson for any mom.

This close call is something she will never forget.

Mid July

is a major turning point in the Great Bear Rainforest.

And in Lulu and Joey's first year.

Already the days are getting shorter,

and the first of the salmon are returning.

Gathering in the deep mouths of inlets, they wait for the waters to rise,

driven by the urge to return to their spawning grounds.

Their mammoth migration brings in predators from all around.

When they eventually make it upstream,

they'll provide the biggest feast of the cubs' lives.

Late summer

cooler days and fewer hours of sunshine mean many plants set seed.

Fern is running out of time

to get herself and her cubs ready for winter.

Lulu and Joey are five months old and are eating more solids.

And weigh nearly as much as a Labrador.

- Fern's doing okay as a mom...

But there is still no time to relax.

Least of all, now.

The family is not alone.

Rocky.

Fern and the cubs are in his stretch and he's on their trail.

Fern detects something is wrong.

Even the cubs recognize his scent now.

They run for safety.

- Fern double checks if he's following.

He is. And he's getting closer.

There's only one safe place

the trees.

Rocky can't see them now, but he can still smell them.

He heads into the forest after them.

But for some reason, the cubs aren't climbing.

Fern has no choice, there's nowhere to run.

She must do what every mother sometimes has to,

stand and fight.

First-time mom, Fern, has done it.

She's put Rocky in his place.

Her family is safe.

Fern has been on a steep learning curve.

But now she has proved herself as a mom.

By August, moisture on the winds gathers above the mountains

and there's a hint of fall.

In the valleys below,

the cubs are now six months old.

Fern's done great to get them this far.

But she knows there's only a few weeks before they must head to the mountains

and hibernate once more.

And there is still one last rite of passage for her cubs.

A change in the weather means it's coming soon.

Cooling temperatures bring fresh rainfall.

Over 20 foot a year revitalizes this forest.

As the rivers rise, the salmon are free to race upstream.

This is the moment Fern has been waiting for.

The best time of year.

And hopefully, an unrivaled feast she can share with her cubs.

Fern knows this river well.

She learned to fish here too.

And it's where she will show Lulu and Joey how it's done.

Step one is simple.

Watch mom.

After almost a year of waiting, she's eager to taste salmon again.

Fern has heaps of enthusiasm.

But even the cubs can see,

her technique leaves something to be desired.

Fern won't give up.

She's desperate to give her cubs their first taste.

The fish are calmer in deep water.

It's harder to see the salmon,

but Fern can smell them.

Both Lulu and Joey stay close,

so they can learn what to do.

Stay focused, Fern.

She spots her target.

Finally, Fern's got one!

Mom's done good again!

And the cubs get their very first taste of salmon.

They love it!

The next few days will be like Thanksgiving

their greatest feast of the year.

This is what it means to be a bear.

It took her a while, but Fern has proved to be a truly devoted mom.

Since they left the den,

Lulu and Joey, have doubled in size, grown in confidence,

and learned a bear's most important survival skills.

They'll stay with their mom for at least another year.

Slowly taking bigger steps towards independence.

But right now

winter is returning to the mountains above the Great Bear Rainforest.

It's time for our bear family to head to their den

to dream of rivers, always full of salmon.

And when spring returns, Lulu and Joey will be ready

to take on another year of Growing Up Animal.