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Canada's Great Bear Rainforest.
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Twenty-five thousand square miles
of wilderness.
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Home to a young female
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00:00:22,397 --> 00:00:24,357
grizzly bear called Fern.
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00:00:25,567 --> 00:00:29,777
At five years old,
she can take care of herself.
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00:00:33,742 --> 00:00:36,242
But everything is about to change.
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Fern's going to become a mom
for the very first time.
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Growing inside her,
not one, but two baby bears...
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Lulu...
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and Joey.
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00:00:58,683 --> 00:01:03,903
Witness the wonder, as these cubs
explore their new world.
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00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:06,940
Taking their first steps
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00:01:07,150 --> 00:01:08,490
towards independence.
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00:01:10,153 --> 00:01:13,663
But for this new mom,
the pace of life is fast.
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Fern only has six months
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00:01:19,662 --> 00:01:23,922
to prepare Lulu and Joey
before winter returns.
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00:01:26,086 --> 00:01:28,706
The pressure is on...
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...as they take on the challenge
of Growing Up Animal.
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Fern's having a tough day.
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She's been fishing for salmon since dawn.
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And only had a couple of bites.
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While she might be fully grown,
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she's still a little inexperienced.
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Fern only left her mom two summers ago.
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But she knows
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she's gotta make the most
of this salmon run.
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Winter is in eight weeks.
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Food will be hard to come by,
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00:02:29,107 --> 00:02:31,647
and she'll need to hibernate
for six months.
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With just a few hours
of daylight left...
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Fern won't give up easily.
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She may be young...
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but she's a fighter.
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This year for the first time,
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it's not just her own survival at stake.
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Inside Fern, is the promise of new life.
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Not one, but two precious spheres
of cells called blastocysts.
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The beginnings of two baby bears.
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But their development is on hold.
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A miraculous evolutionary trick,
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00:03:37,675 --> 00:03:41,795
to ensure a bear's young,
aren't born at the start of winter.
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They won't progress further,
and implant in her womb
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until she's eaten enough fat from salmon
to sustain all three of them.
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To do that, Fern must find
just the right spot to fish.
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00:04:06,621 --> 00:04:10,081
But she's not the only hungry bear
on this river.
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Powerful males, much larger than her
dominate areas
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where it's easiest to catch salmon.
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Rain or shine, there's one
who rules this stretch of river.
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Rocky.
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With a swipe from his three-inch claws...
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the salmon don't stand a chance.
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His appetite is massive.
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He devours the equivalent
of a small deer every day.
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Fern knows this guy well.
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Four months ago, in spring, they mated.
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00:05:05,013 --> 00:05:07,973
But she knows
that won't win her any favors.
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Rocky will never share his stretch
on the river.
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Not everyone wants to be a hands-on dad.
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She's gonna have to do this
all on her own.
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Time to move on
where there's less competition.
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00:05:42,425 --> 00:05:45,675
Another female has had the same idea.
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Blondie's an experienced mom,
with three cubs.
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Her boys are a year old,
and can now catch their own dinner.
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Well, most of the time.
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This looks like a momma
Fern could learn from.
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If she's here, then it must be
a good place to fish.
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Fern settles on a spot.
Now, the game begins.
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She just needs one fish
to pass within reach.
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So she can pluck it from the water.
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First catch of the day.
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Each one is packed
with five thousand calories,
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double our daily intake.
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And for Fern...
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every mouthful is crucial.
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The amount she eats will determine
whether the blastocysts implant...
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and Fern's journey to motherhood
can begin.
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As the salmon run finishes,
the rivers calm.
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00:08:04,901 --> 00:08:07,201
The forests grow quieter...
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...and fall comes to an end.
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Snowfall rarely takes hold here
in the Great Bear Rainforest...
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but it will transform the mountains above.
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It’s time Fern took
the arduous climb
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up into these peaks to make her den.
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She’s bulked up to the max
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and done all she can
to trigger the start of her pregnancy.
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Only when she wakes from hibernation
in six months' time,
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will she discover if she has done enough
to become a grizzly mom.
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By December, Fern's mountain retreat
is gripped by winter.
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Up here,
two thousand feet above sea level,
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temperatures can drop
below zero Fahrenheit.
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Quiet and isolated.
It's perfect for Fern's den.
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Fern is ten weeks
into her six-month hibernation.
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She's in and out of consciousness,
living her life in slow motion.
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00:10:05,938 --> 00:10:08,478
Her metabolism has dropped by half.
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00:10:12,403 --> 00:10:16,373
And her heart rate has plummeted
from 70 beats per minute,
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to just ten.
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00:10:19,368 --> 00:10:23,078
Fern is surviving
only on stored body fats.
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She may appear completely inactive,
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but inside her,
something miraculous is happening.
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All that fishing means...
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...not one, but two cubs
are successfully growing.
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Lulu and Joey.
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At four weeks
into their eight-week journey,
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each is just the size of an apple.
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00:11:08,709 --> 00:11:13,919
Their umbilical cords fuel them
with protein and carbohydrates.
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00:11:17,218 --> 00:11:21,008
They're growing quickly,
and could quadruple in size
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00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:22,640
over the next month.
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00:11:24,475 --> 00:11:27,805
Their shoulders and forearms
are building muscle.
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Claws have broken through.
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They'll need those
to crawl up Fern's sleeping chest
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to nurse when they're born.
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Outside Fern's den,
winter grows even colder.
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There's no escape
from the harsh conditions.
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Winds become gale force.
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And the mercury drops
to minus eight Fahrenheit.
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00:12:23,576 --> 00:12:28,576
The bitter cold strips the heat
from every animal it touches.
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Fern is protected from it
and sleeps on in comfort.
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Her thick winter coat traps air.
Providing insulation...
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and saving as much energy as possible
for her rapidly growing cubs.
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00:13:06,869 --> 00:13:10,209
Lulu and Joey are doing really well.
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00:13:10,498 --> 00:13:12,748
They've made it to six weeks.
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00:13:13,876 --> 00:13:17,296
And a delicate layer of fur
has started to grow.
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00:13:18,756 --> 00:13:23,926
Almost fully formed,
they can now survive if born early.
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00:13:26,722 --> 00:13:29,522
Their most vital asset
is developing...
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their incredible sense of smell.
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Two thousand times greater than ours.
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The cubs will use it to find food,
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communicate,
and learn about their new world.
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00:13:50,788 --> 00:13:56,088
Glands have even developed in their feet
that leave their scent with every step.
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00:13:57,253 --> 00:14:01,223
And their claws are almost primed
and ready for action.
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00:14:02,258 --> 00:14:08,098
Equipped with these essential tools,
the cubs simply increase in size
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until the day they're born.
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By February, winter reaches its peak.
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00:14:23,028 --> 00:14:27,698
This far north,
even waterfalls are frozen in time.
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Fern sleeps through it all.
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00:14:41,088 --> 00:14:44,678
But deep under the snow,
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something truly magical has happened.
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Lulu and Joey have arrived.
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00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:08,620
Each the size of a newborn puppy,
weighing around one pound.
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00:15:12,036 --> 00:15:15,496
Completely blind
and totally vulnerable.
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Safe with their mom at last.
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Soaking up her scent
and mouthfuls of milk.
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00:15:29,887 --> 00:15:34,477
Fern's milk contains
almost three times the calories of ours.
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00:15:35,726 --> 00:15:40,356
Packed with antibodies,
it builds up their immune systems.
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00:15:42,983 --> 00:15:47,993
Fern can sense them
as Lulu and Joey feed,
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grow, and bond with their mom.
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00:15:52,993 --> 00:15:58,043
Safe and snug for the next two months,
in their den sanctuary.
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00:16:08,592 --> 00:16:14,262
Throughout winter, these slopes have given
the family isolation and peace.
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00:16:18,852 --> 00:16:22,192
But by April, temperatures are rising...
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00:16:24,358 --> 00:16:26,858
and the mountains begin to stir.
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00:16:29,738 --> 00:16:32,988
The hard-packed snowdrifts
start to weaken.
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An avalanche.
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00:16:46,797 --> 00:16:49,007
Ten thousand tons of snow,
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traveling up to 100 miles per hour.
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00:17:04,523 --> 00:17:08,903
It pays to choose your den site
carefully in these mountains.
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00:17:37,765 --> 00:17:39,385
Beneath the snow...
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00:17:41,268 --> 00:17:43,148
the family is safe.
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00:17:45,647 --> 00:17:48,277
Fern is finally awake...
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00:17:51,904 --> 00:17:56,204
...and meets her babies
for the very first time.
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00:17:58,911 --> 00:18:03,331
It's got to be the best surprise
in the world.
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Lulu and Joey
have been piling on the pounds.
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00:18:09,338 --> 00:18:13,428
They are now 20 times bigger
than when they were born,
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and a whole lot hungrier.
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00:18:24,436 --> 00:18:27,686
Fern hasn't eaten
in over six months.
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00:18:30,567 --> 00:18:35,277
So, it's time this new mom
showed Lulu and Joey
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the world beyond their den.
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00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:47,672
Outside...
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winter is losing its grip
on the mountains.
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00:19:02,307 --> 00:19:05,807
And the cubs get their first glimpse
of daylight.
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00:19:11,984 --> 00:19:14,784
It's a lot to take in.
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00:19:17,948 --> 00:19:20,618
Lulu and Joey's world...
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just got a whole lot bigger.
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00:19:34,464 --> 00:19:36,224
But there's no time to stop.
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00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,640
Fern has lost
almost half her body weight.
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00:19:46,226 --> 00:19:49,436
She's gotta get her cubs
down from the mountains.
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A journey she can make with ease.
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00:19:58,989 --> 00:20:01,779
But now there's little legs to think of.
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00:20:03,702 --> 00:20:06,712
And the pace of life here is fast.
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00:20:08,498 --> 00:20:11,168
Fern has to set them up for survival
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before winter returns in six months.
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00:20:18,217 --> 00:20:21,717
She's never done it before,
and the clock is ticking.
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00:20:33,482 --> 00:20:39,072
Far below, the Great Bear Rainforest
looks like a different world.
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It's May.
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00:20:45,327 --> 00:20:48,827
Spring breathes new life
into the inlets.
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00:20:50,332 --> 00:20:52,332
The forests are singing...
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...and the meadows are in bloom.
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It's taken two weeks
for Fern and her cubs to get down here.
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00:21:15,190 --> 00:21:17,280
A sight for sore eyes.
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00:21:26,034 --> 00:21:31,714
After a long journey, the first thing
that Fern needs is a decent meal.
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00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:38,008
On the springtime menu...
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fresh greens.
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Sedge.
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00:21:46,096 --> 00:21:49,216
It might seem a surprising choice
for a bear,
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00:21:49,349 --> 00:21:52,689
but this type of grass
is packed with protein.
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00:21:54,021 --> 00:22:00,401
Fern desperately needs to rebuild muscle
and fat reserves after her pregnancy.
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00:22:00,652 --> 00:22:04,162
She's gotta eat over 60 pounds a day,
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00:22:04,573 --> 00:22:07,703
spending every hour of daylight grazing.
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00:22:08,493 --> 00:22:11,123
There never seems to be enough time,
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especially with two hungry cubs.
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00:22:16,251 --> 00:22:20,381
Lulu and Joey
still get all their nutrition from her.
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00:22:22,215 --> 00:22:25,335
Fern knows this season of plenty is short.
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00:22:26,053 --> 00:22:29,773
She may be a new mom,
but she's got to get back to work.
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00:22:33,018 --> 00:22:36,058
While Fern's busy putting food
on the table,
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00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:39,938
the cubs have a whole new world
to explore.
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00:23:07,844 --> 00:23:11,354
There's no limits
to Lulu's curiosity.
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00:23:13,141 --> 00:23:16,191
She's never seen
a tree lying down before.
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00:23:17,187 --> 00:23:20,437
She's eager to try out the balance beam.
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00:23:22,025 --> 00:23:24,565
Laid-back Joey doesn’t get the appeal.
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00:23:25,654 --> 00:23:31,414
Adventurous Lulu takes it all
in her stride, even over open water.
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00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:38,169
A grunt from Fern
reminds them not to stray too far.
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00:23:45,298 --> 00:23:46,838
Just like human babies...
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00:23:48,593 --> 00:23:51,563
they're always checking out
what mom’s eating.
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00:23:53,265 --> 00:23:55,265
It’s how they learn what to eat.
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00:23:57,686 --> 00:24:01,306
Looks like Joey is never one
to pass up a free meal.
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00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,940
But Lulu hasn't got time for this.
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00:24:07,446 --> 00:24:10,276
Perhaps it's an acquired taste.
217
00:24:11,491 --> 00:24:14,911
It's trees that are irresistible to her.
218
00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:21,962
And this time,
Lulu sets her sights even higher.
219
00:24:22,544 --> 00:24:27,304
She just has an urge to climb
and doesn't know why.
220
00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:31,337
It's an instinctive lifesaving skill.
221
00:24:33,847 --> 00:24:37,017
Dangerous male bears roam these forests.
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00:24:37,976 --> 00:24:41,936
The cubs need to climb high enough
to keep out of reach.
223
00:24:44,483 --> 00:24:47,153
Lulu seems to be a quick learner.
224
00:24:47,527 --> 00:24:50,107
Her claws act like crampons,
225
00:24:50,572 --> 00:24:52,202
anchoring into the bark.
226
00:25:00,332 --> 00:25:01,962
Joey is slower...
227
00:25:04,085 --> 00:25:05,625
a little more nervous.
228
00:25:08,089 --> 00:25:10,589
Eight feet up, he freezes.
229
00:25:11,676 --> 00:25:13,426
He doesn't know what to do.
230
00:25:15,805 --> 00:25:20,345
At this height, he'd still be
within reach of a male grizzly.
231
00:25:22,687 --> 00:25:25,437
Lulu won't leave her brother struggling.
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00:25:31,780 --> 00:25:36,120
She shows him the way... to the top.
233
00:25:38,662 --> 00:25:42,042
Their first climb conquered. Together.
234
00:25:46,878 --> 00:25:52,258
If they can do this in a crisis,
then it might keep them out of trouble.
235
00:26:00,767 --> 00:26:05,937
Mom finally takes a break from eating
to reward their hard work.
236
00:26:08,650 --> 00:26:13,360
Together, they drink nearly three quarts
of milk a day.
237
00:26:15,407 --> 00:26:18,157
Fern is under huge pressure.
238
00:26:19,911 --> 00:26:22,711
She's only had to eat for one before.
239
00:26:24,499 --> 00:26:29,669
As fast as she can get the energy,
the cubs seem to draw it out.
240
00:26:31,131 --> 00:26:37,221
But Fern has yet to learn, caring for kids
is not just about feeding them.
241
00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:42,430
Keeping them safe is a full-time job.
242
00:26:45,854 --> 00:26:47,484
Especially here.
243
00:26:49,733 --> 00:26:54,783
Up to 2,000 grizzlies
roam the Great Bear Rainforest.
244
00:26:57,449 --> 00:26:59,989
And this valley is one of the busiest.
245
00:27:06,124 --> 00:27:08,794
And it's vital for a mom with cubs
246
00:27:09,336 --> 00:27:12,796
to avoid the most dangerous neighbors.
247
00:27:13,757 --> 00:27:14,877
Males.
248
00:27:18,887 --> 00:27:20,257
It's Rocky.
249
00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:25,350
He's looking to mate,
and he won't let the cubs get in the way.
250
00:27:27,979 --> 00:27:30,939
Fern can never let
their paths cross.
251
00:27:41,951 --> 00:27:46,501
Luckily, Rocky
lets everyone know when he's in town.
252
00:27:48,208 --> 00:27:51,538
He rubs his scent on trees throughout
the forest...
253
00:27:55,131 --> 00:27:57,011
to announce his presence...
254
00:27:58,301 --> 00:28:01,811
...and put off any competition.
255
00:28:16,236 --> 00:28:20,656
These scent signposts
are like a classroom for the cubs.
256
00:28:21,449 --> 00:28:24,619
Fern takes them to learn
who's in the valley
257
00:28:24,786 --> 00:28:26,446
without risk of conflict.
258
00:28:27,455 --> 00:28:31,785
One sniff and she can tell
if Rocky is in the neighborhood.
259
00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:34,754
The coast is clear.
260
00:28:35,588 --> 00:28:39,928
Just enough time to take advantage
of the facilities.
261
00:28:41,261 --> 00:28:44,351
The rough bark
helps her shed her winter coat.
262
00:28:45,932 --> 00:28:51,692
Lulu and Joey memorize Rocky's scent,
so they can stay clear.
263
00:28:53,398 --> 00:28:54,978
And like their mom,
264
00:28:55,191 --> 00:28:59,151
the opportunity for a scratch
is too good to pass up.
265
00:29:05,660 --> 00:29:09,710
A valuable lesson
while on the move between meals.
266
00:29:13,752 --> 00:29:17,802
The vast forest
our bear family calls home,
267
00:29:18,006 --> 00:29:20,176
is a lush wilderness.
268
00:29:20,633 --> 00:29:23,723
Sometimes called the Amazon of the North.
269
00:29:25,430 --> 00:29:28,390
Waterways weave through their territory,
270
00:29:28,516 --> 00:29:34,266
and over 250 miles
of Pacific coastline buffer up against it.
271
00:29:35,482 --> 00:29:40,322
Tides can rise and fall 16 feet
in just a few hours
272
00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:43,906
and provide great opportunities,
273
00:29:44,407 --> 00:29:49,657
as well as dangers to little bears
and their first-time moms.
274
00:29:51,122 --> 00:29:54,712
Lulu and Joey still have a lot to learn
275
00:29:54,918 --> 00:29:57,628
before they'll be able
to look after themselves.
276
00:29:58,421 --> 00:30:04,551
Now, at four months old, they must hone
their essential survival skills.
277
00:30:04,761 --> 00:30:07,471
They only have two months of summer left.
278
00:30:10,558 --> 00:30:14,688
Bears have the largest brain
of any land mammal,
279
00:30:14,813 --> 00:30:16,653
relative to their size.
280
00:30:17,524 --> 00:30:21,404
It gives them the intelligence
required to be quick to adapt
281
00:30:21,486 --> 00:30:24,656
and to pick up tips from other bears.
282
00:30:28,243 --> 00:30:31,833
As a new mom
with two hungry cubs,
283
00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,080
Fern's brain is working overtime.
284
00:30:36,501 --> 00:30:41,671
Once again, the experienced mom
from the salmon river, catches her eye.
285
00:30:42,257 --> 00:30:43,167
Blondie.
286
00:30:46,135 --> 00:30:48,555
Maybe she's on to something down here.
287
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:02,242
Blondie follows her supersensitive nose
and sets to work.
288
00:31:08,950 --> 00:31:10,120
A clam.
289
00:31:11,661 --> 00:31:15,331
Small, but one
of a bear's favorite appetizers.
290
00:31:17,584 --> 00:31:20,674
Even Blondie's cubs are in on the secret.
291
00:31:24,048 --> 00:31:26,548
They need to be.
At two years old,
292
00:31:26,926 --> 00:31:29,676
they'll have to strike out
on their own soon.
293
00:31:38,062 --> 00:31:42,072
It would be great if Fern
could get her cubs to do this.
294
00:31:45,028 --> 00:31:47,448
Any skill takes time to master.
295
00:31:48,281 --> 00:31:50,411
Something they don't have a lot of.
296
00:31:51,075 --> 00:31:54,695
The sooner Lulu and Joey start,
the better.
297
00:31:58,583 --> 00:32:02,463
But all they seem to do
is get under her feet.
298
00:32:06,883 --> 00:32:10,353
Just like teaching your kids
to use a knife and fork...
299
00:32:12,138 --> 00:32:17,808
persistence and a whole heap of patience
is key to cracking this skill.
300
00:32:25,234 --> 00:32:28,244
Lulu quickly learns to dig down.
301
00:32:31,282 --> 00:32:34,992
But Joey,
he’s just all about the easy life.
302
00:32:37,372 --> 00:32:42,092
He's learned if he just
hangs around mom, he'll get leftovers.
303
00:32:50,426 --> 00:32:54,556
After the morning's digging,
Fern really needs a break.
304
00:32:55,306 --> 00:32:58,766
The family moves
on to a nearby sedge bank.
305
00:32:59,978 --> 00:33:02,978
Fern can get five minutes to herself,
306
00:33:03,356 --> 00:33:07,106
while Lulu and Joey
let off a little steam.
307
00:33:08,945 --> 00:33:10,815
Play fighting.
308
00:33:12,031 --> 00:33:16,241
It strengthens their bond
and helps Joey get some exercise.
309
00:33:20,581 --> 00:33:23,171
Fern might deserve a moment of peace,
310
00:33:23,584 --> 00:33:27,174
but she's forgotten,
with little ones around,
311
00:33:27,547 --> 00:33:30,297
she should
never take her eye off the ball.
312
00:33:35,221 --> 00:33:36,931
The tide has turned...
313
00:33:38,683 --> 00:33:41,563
and the waters are rapidly rising.
314
00:33:45,481 --> 00:33:48,321
Fern realizes her mistake too late.
315
00:33:49,902 --> 00:33:51,572
They are cut off from shore.
316
00:33:53,489 --> 00:33:56,279
All bears are born
with the ability to swim,
317
00:33:56,701 --> 00:34:00,751
but Lulu and Joey
haven't had the chance to practice.
318
00:34:09,005 --> 00:34:11,915
And powerful currents
will make it even harder.
319
00:34:20,808 --> 00:34:24,648
Lulu quickly sees an opportunity
to hitch a ride on mom.
320
00:34:27,899 --> 00:34:29,729
But Joey is too slow.
321
00:34:31,944 --> 00:34:34,164
And the current is too strong for him.
322
00:34:39,786 --> 00:34:42,746
He is being swept downstream.
323
00:34:47,835 --> 00:34:51,375
He's going
to have to swim for his life.
324
00:35:06,604 --> 00:35:10,654
He's made it. Exhausted but alive.
325
00:35:13,194 --> 00:35:14,954
Fern's learned
326
00:35:15,071 --> 00:35:17,571
a painful lesson for any mom.
327
00:35:22,495 --> 00:35:25,615
This close call
is something she will never forget.
328
00:35:44,350 --> 00:35:45,690
Mid July
329
00:35:45,852 --> 00:35:49,862
is a major turning point
in the Great Bear Rainforest.
330
00:35:53,985 --> 00:35:57,855
And in Lulu and Joey's first year.
331
00:35:58,364 --> 00:36:01,244
Already the days are getting shorter...
332
00:36:02,285 --> 00:36:05,285
and the first of the salmon are returning.
333
00:36:06,205 --> 00:36:11,665
Gathering in the deep mouths of inlets,
they wait for the waters to rise,
334
00:36:12,295 --> 00:36:16,335
driven by the urge to return
to their spawning grounds.
335
00:36:17,341 --> 00:36:21,551
Their mammoth migration
brings in predators from all around.
336
00:36:27,894 --> 00:36:30,484
When they eventually make it upstream,
337
00:36:31,355 --> 00:36:35,475
they'll provide the biggest feast
of the cubs' lives.
338
00:36:39,780 --> 00:36:41,370
Late summer...
339
00:36:44,327 --> 00:36:50,787
cooler days and fewer hours of sunshine
mean many plants set seed.
340
00:36:54,754 --> 00:36:56,424
Fern is running out of time
341
00:36:56,547 --> 00:36:59,467
to get herself and her cubs
ready for winter.
342
00:37:02,261 --> 00:37:07,181
Lulu and Joey are five months old
and are eating more solids.
343
00:37:07,767 --> 00:37:10,727
And weigh nearly as much as a Labrador.
344
00:37:16,359 --> 00:37:19,029
Fern's doing okay as a mom...
345
00:37:19,403 --> 00:37:21,863
...but there is still no time to relax.
346
00:37:23,115 --> 00:37:24,615
Least of all, now.
347
00:37:27,119 --> 00:37:29,079
The family is not alone.
348
00:37:30,039 --> 00:37:31,079
Rocky.
349
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:37,380
Fern and the cubs are in his stretch
and he's on their trail.
350
00:37:43,427 --> 00:37:46,007
Fern detects something is wrong.
351
00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:52,444
Even the cubs recognize
his scent now.
352
00:37:55,564 --> 00:37:57,194
They run for safety.
353
00:38:04,282 --> 00:38:06,912
Fern double checks if he's following.
354
00:38:11,122 --> 00:38:14,292
He is. And he's getting closer.
355
00:38:22,341 --> 00:38:24,511
There's only one safe place...
356
00:38:29,598 --> 00:38:30,678
the trees.
357
00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:49,990
Rocky can't see them now,
but he can still smell them.
358
00:38:52,413 --> 00:38:55,043
He heads
into the forest after them.
359
00:38:56,167 --> 00:38:59,707
But for some reason,
the cubs aren't climbing.
360
00:39:04,216 --> 00:39:07,716
Fern has no choice,
there's nowhere to run.
361
00:39:09,472 --> 00:39:13,482
She must do what every mother
sometimes has to,
362
00:39:13,642 --> 00:39:16,022
stand and fight.
363
00:39:50,554 --> 00:39:53,474
First-time mom, Fern,
has done it.
364
00:39:53,933 --> 00:39:55,773
She's put Rocky in his place.
365
00:39:57,186 --> 00:39:59,146
Her family is safe.
366
00:40:03,401 --> 00:40:06,571
Fern has been
on a steep learning curve.
367
00:40:08,614 --> 00:40:12,494
But now she has proved herself as a mom.
368
00:40:15,830 --> 00:40:21,380
By August, moisture on the winds
gathers above the mountains
369
00:40:21,669 --> 00:40:23,379
and there's a hint of fall.
370
00:40:24,672 --> 00:40:26,092
In the valleys below,
371
00:40:26,674 --> 00:40:29,554
the cubs are now six months old.
372
00:40:30,136 --> 00:40:33,006
Fern's done great to get them this far.
373
00:40:33,097 --> 00:40:37,847
But she knows there's only a few weeks
before they must head to the mountains
374
00:40:38,352 --> 00:40:40,602
and hibernate once more.
375
00:40:41,939 --> 00:40:46,489
And there is still one last
rite of passage for her cubs.
376
00:40:49,488 --> 00:40:53,198
A change in the weather
means it's coming soon.
377
00:41:11,635 --> 00:41:14,885
Cooling temperatures
bring fresh rainfall.
378
00:41:15,848 --> 00:41:20,188
Over 20 foot a year
revitalizes this forest.
379
00:41:30,738 --> 00:41:36,828
As the rivers rise,
the salmon are free to race upstream.
380
00:41:49,965 --> 00:41:54,425
This is the moment
Fern has been waiting for.
381
00:41:55,137 --> 00:41:57,677
The best time of year.
382
00:41:58,015 --> 00:42:03,395
And hopefully, an unrivaled feast
she can share with her cubs.
383
00:42:06,482 --> 00:42:08,822
Fern knows this river well.
384
00:42:10,861 --> 00:42:12,861
She learned to fish here too.
385
00:42:13,405 --> 00:42:18,195
And it's where she will show
Lulu and Joey how it's done.
386
00:42:21,914 --> 00:42:24,044
Step one is simple.
387
00:42:24,208 --> 00:42:25,458
Watch mom.
388
00:42:31,006 --> 00:42:36,256
After almost a year of waiting,
she's eager to taste salmon again.
389
00:42:38,597 --> 00:42:41,347
Fern has heaps of enthusiasm.
390
00:42:44,186 --> 00:42:46,186
But even the cubs can see,
391
00:42:46,272 --> 00:42:49,152
her technique leaves something
to be desired.
392
00:43:08,085 --> 00:43:09,545
Fern won't give up.
393
00:43:09,795 --> 00:43:13,255
She's desperate to give her cubs
their first taste.
394
00:43:18,137 --> 00:43:21,307
The fish are calmer
in deep water.
395
00:43:25,686 --> 00:43:27,806
It's harder to see the salmon...
396
00:43:30,816 --> 00:43:32,736
but Fern can smell them.
397
00:43:35,696 --> 00:43:38,066
Both Lulu and Joey stay close,
398
00:43:38,657 --> 00:43:40,407
so they can learn what to do.
399
00:43:42,453 --> 00:43:44,123
Stay focused, Fern.
400
00:43:48,208 --> 00:43:49,958
She spots her target.
401
00:43:56,383 --> 00:43:58,763
Finally, Fern's got one!
402
00:44:03,682 --> 00:44:05,642
Mom's done good again!
403
00:44:06,226 --> 00:44:11,106
And the cubs
get their very first taste of salmon.
404
00:44:15,903 --> 00:44:17,283
They love it!
405
00:44:20,658 --> 00:44:23,828
The next few days
will be like Thanksgiving...
406
00:44:28,582 --> 00:44:31,292
their greatest feast of the year.
407
00:44:35,756 --> 00:44:39,256
This is what it means to be a bear.
408
00:44:42,763 --> 00:44:48,143
It took her a while, but Fern has proved
to be a truly devoted mom.
409
00:44:50,020 --> 00:44:51,690
Since they left the den,
410
00:44:51,897 --> 00:44:57,437
Lulu and Joey, have doubled in size,
grown in confidence...
411
00:44:58,654 --> 00:45:01,994
and learned a bear's
most important survival skills.
412
00:45:11,166 --> 00:45:14,126
They'll stay with their mom
for at least another year.
413
00:45:15,504 --> 00:45:18,764
Slowly taking bigger steps
towards independence.
414
00:45:22,344 --> 00:45:23,474
But right now...
415
00:45:25,347 --> 00:45:30,557
winter is returning to the mountains
above the Great Bear Rainforest.
416
00:45:45,451 --> 00:45:48,911
It's time for our bear family
to head to their den...
417
00:45:50,831 --> 00:45:54,501
to dream of rivers, always full of salmon.
418
00:45:59,631 --> 00:46:04,601
And when spring returns,
Lulu and Joey will be ready
419
00:46:04,720 --> 00:46:09,730
to take on another year
of Growing Up Animal.
33554
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