Original subtitles

.

NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE

WATCHING TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO AN ADVENTURE ACROSS THE CONTINENTS.

I'M DYLAN DREYER AND THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY."

TODAY, WE'RE TRAVELING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPES OF EUROPE TO FIND

SOME OF THE MOST CAPTIVATING CREATURES THAT CALL THIS

CONTINENT HOME.

LIKE ON THE RIVERBANKS WHERE CARPENTRY ISN'T AN ART FORM BUT

AN INSTINCT.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, ROUGH-HOUSING IS A TOP TRAINING TACTIC.

AND AMONG THE HIGH GRASS, AVOIDING PREDATORS

IS A TALL TASK.

BUT OUR EURO TRIP BEGINS WHERE URBAN AND WILD WORLDS COLLIDE IN

ONE OF NATURE'S BIGGEST BIRDHOUSES.

ALL OF THIS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: I'VE GOT DR. MIKE ADKESSON WITH ME HERE AT

BROOKFIELD ZOO AND

P. J. THE PORCUPINE.

P. J. SEEMS DANGEROUS.

HOW DOES SHE USE THESE QUILLS TO PROTECT HERSELF?

DR. MIKE: SO, THEY'RE VERY SHARP AND THEY'VE GOT A BARB ON THE

END OF THEM, SO WHEN THEY GET STUCK, THEY STAY THERE.

DYLAN: SO, THEY DON'T SHOOT THEM OUT?

DR. MIKE: THEY DON'T SHOOT THEM OUT.

COMMON MISCONCEPTION.

WE ALL SAW IT ON CARTOONS WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

BUT THEY DON'T SHOOT OUT, THEY JUST POKE AND STICK.

DYLAN: HOW DO MOST ANIMALS IN THE WILD PROTECT THEMSELVES?

DR. MIKE: SO, THE BEST...THE BEST DEFENSE IS TO GET AWAY.

SO, GOOD EYESIGHT, GOOD HEARING, SPEED TO GET AWAY FROM A

POTENTIAL PREDATOR.

DYLAN: IT'S SO FASCINATING.

DR. MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HIDDEN AMONG THE LUSH GRASSES OF EUROPE'S FOOTHILLS, THIS VOLE

MOTHER DOESN'T HAVE SHARP QUILLS AT HER DISPOSAL, BUT IS USING

HER OWN DEFENSE MECHANISMS TO PREPARE FOR A FORAGING MISSION.

WITHOUT THE COVER OF NIGHT, SHE'LL HAVE TO RELY ON HER

INCREDIBLE HEARING, SPEED, AND AGILITY TO GO UNSCATHED.

BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER LEVEL, SHE HAS TO SWIM A

LITTLE TO REACH HER FAVORITE FORAGING GROUNDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FEMALE VOLE CONTINUES WITH

HER FRANTIC ACTIVITY.

AND THIS IS THE REASON FOR HER NERVOUS ENERGY.

SHE HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO FOUR TINY BABIES; PINK AND BLIND.

SHE NEEDS TO EAT A LOT OF GRASS AND SEEDS TO PROVIDE MILK

FOR HER LITTER.

BUT TO RAISE HAPPY AND HEALTHY BABIES, THE WORK

IS ALWAYS WORTH IT.

300 MILES DOWN RIVER, THE ESTUARY BETWEEN NANTES AND

SAINT-NAZAIRE IS HOME TO AN IMPRESSIVE AVIAN FAMILY.

STORKS HAD ONCE LEFT THE REGION, BUT HERE IN THIS ESTUARY THEY

HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT PLACE TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

SINCE THE FIRST BIRDS WERE SPOTTED AROUND 30 YEARS AGO,

THEIR NUMBERS HAVE KEPT ON GROWING.

THIS SPRING, THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 MATING PAIRS NESTING AROUND

THE ESTUARY.

STORKS HAVE MANY RULES THAT THEY MUST OBSERVE.

WHEN AN ADULT RETURNS TO THE NEST, THEY BRING THEIR PARTNER A

GIFT IN THE FORM OF TWIGS.

THE PARTNER IN TURN WELCOMES THEM BACK BY

CLACKING THEIR BEAK.

THESE SMALL COURTESIES HELP TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND

BETWEEN THE COUPLE.

BUT THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE; THE YOUNG ARE HUNGRY AND THE

PARENTS MUST SPEND THE DAY HUNTING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FIELDS BY THE LOIRE OFFER A VARIED MENU OF SMALL

CRUSTACEANS, INSECTS, AND FROGS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE YOUNG ALSO TRY OUT THEIR GOOD MANNERS WHEN THEY

GREET THEIR MOTHER AS SHE COMES TO FEED THEM.

THIS DIET WILL ALLOW THE CHICKS TO REACH THE SAME SIZE AS THEIR

PARENTS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

THE YOUNGSTERS DO THEIR PART HELPING TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN

THE NEST.

EACH YEAR THIS NEST IS USED BY A PAIR OF STORKS, AND EACH YEAR IT

IS REINFORCED WITH NEW BRANCHES.

THIS ONE ALREADY WEIGHS NEARLY 1,000 POUNDS.

HERE IN THE LOIRE ESTUARY, STORKS HAVE FOUND A HOME TO

THRIVE IN FROM THE TOP FLOOR TO THE BOTTOM.

COMING UP, WE'LL MEET EUROPE'S WILDEST WOOD WORKERS AND SOME

INSEPARABLE SPRINGTIME SIBLINGS.

PLUS, SEE WHAT HAS THIS HERBIVORE ON HIGH ALERT.

WHEN WE RETURN ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AFTER THE WETTEST MONTHS IN EUROPE, ONE OF ITS MOST

IMPRESSIVE WATERWAYS CONTINUES FLOWING STRONG.

BUT THE WATER LEVEL IS DROPPING, REVEALING BANKS DAMAGED

BY THE FLOODING.

ONE OF THE FIRST ANIMALS TO EXPLORE THE NEWLY-EMERGED

TERRITORY IS A GREATER WHITE-TOOTHED SHREW.

THIS IS A YOUNGSTER SEARCHING FOR A TERRITORY.

IT'S ONLY HALF THE SIZE OF A MOUSE, BUT IT IS A REMARKABLE

PREDATOR WITH AN INSATIABLE APPETITE.

THE EARTHWORMS HAVE SPENT A CAREFREE WEEK BENEATH THE WATER.

NOW THE LEVEL HAS DROPPED, THEY CAN ENJOY A NOCTURNAL EXCURSION.

BUT THE SHREW'S HYPER-ACUTE SENSES LEAVE ITS PREY NEXT TO NO

CHANCE AND ITS BITE, PROPORTIONAL TO ITS SIZE, IS ONE

OF NATURE'S MOST POWERFUL.

IT CONTINUES ITS EXPLORATION.

THIS PILE OF WOOD AMASSED BY THE FLOOD WATERS IS THE IDEAL PLACE

TO SETTLE DOWN.

IT MAKES ITS HOME IN A LITTLE HOLLOW BRANCH WHERE IT CAN SLEEP

IN PEACE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AT DAWN, JUST LIKE THE SHREW, ANOTHER MAMMAL EXPLORES

THE BANKS OF THE LOIRE.

THE RECEDING WATERS REVEAL SANDBANKS, BUT SOME LEAVES STILL

BEAR TRACES OF THE MUD DEPOSITED BY THE RIVER.

THIS PAIR OF BEAVERS HAS RETURNED TO RECLAIM THE

TERRITORY THEY HAD TO ABANDON BECAUSE OF THE RISING WATER.

THE SCENT MARKS WHICH IDENTIFY THIS LAND AS THEIRS WERE WASHED

AWAY BY THE FLOOD WATERS AND IT IS IMPERATIVE

THAT THEY BE RENEWED.

THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY WITH A PUNGENT SUBSTANCE WHICH THEY

SECRETE CALLED CASTOREUM.

THE GLAND WHICH PRODUCES IT IS AT THE BASE OF THEIR TAIL.

BY SPREADING THIS SCENT ALONG THE BANK, THE BEAVERS LET OTHERS

KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT WELCOME.

ONCE THEY HAVE SCENT-MARKED THE AREA, THE COUPLE CAN INDULGE IN

A LONG SESSION OF MUTUAL GROOMING.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS INTIMATE MOMENT HELPS THEM TO

STRENGTHEN THEIR BOND.

THESE BANKS COVERED IN SHRUBS ARE IDEAL FOR STARTING A FAMILY.

IT TAKES A LOT OF WILLOW AND POPLAR BARK TO FEED EUROPE'S

LARGEST RODENT.

THIS FEMALE WEIGHS 35 POUNDS, BUT A LARGE MALE CAN BE

TWICE AS HEAVY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ONE LAST BIT OF MARKING BEFORE SHE RETURNS TO HER LODGE

TO FIND COMFORT AND REST ALONG ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE

WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD.

WHEN WE COME BACK, A COLLECTION OF KITS THAT WILL MELT YOUR

HEART, AND THE WINTER SNOW.

PLUS, SEE HOW AVOIDING PREDATORS ONLY TAKES A HOP,

SKIP, AND A JUMP.

BUT FIRST, IT'S TIME FOR WILDLIFE A-Z.

NEW LIFE IS SOMETHING TO BE TREASURED FOR EVERY MEMBER OF

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

BUT FEW SHOW THE LOVE MORE THAN MAMMALS.

THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND BABY IS CRUCIAL TO EVERY

MAMMAL'S SURVIVAL AND THE SUCCESSFUL CONTINUANCE

OF THEIR SPECIES.

IN PROFESSIONAL CARE LIKE HERE AT BROOKFIELD ZOO, WE CAN SEE

FIRSTHAND JUST HOW STRONG THAT BOND IS.

WHETHER MOM IS HELPING WITH THE GROOMING, GIVING TIPS ON THE

BEST GRAZING SPOTS, OR SIMPLY BEING A RELIABLE METHOD OF

TRANSPORTATION, BABY MAMMALS OF EVERY SIZE AND SHAPE RELY ON

FAMILY TO SHOW THEM THE ROPES.

STAY TUNED, THERE'S MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS ACROSS

EUROPE, ONE STANDS OUT AS A TRUE HUB OF WILDLIFE ACTIVITY IN THE

WEST; THE LOIRE VALLEY.

MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE ANIMAL SPECIES IN FRANCE CAN BE

FOUND IN THIS LUSH RIVER-RUN REGION THAT STRETCHES MORE THAN

625 MILES.

THIS BUSY WATERWAY SEES THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS VYING FOR

THE BEST FEEDING GROUNDS, NESTING SITES, AND,

OF COURSE, A PLACE TO START A FAMILY.

AND FOR ONE SPECIES OF MAMMAL, THERE'S NO BETTER REAL ESTATE

THAN WHERE THE RIVER ITSELF BEGINS.

TAKE A LOOK.

MONT GERBIER DE JONC IN THE ARDECHE REGION IS THE SOURCE OF

ONE OF EUROPE'S BIGGEST WATERWAYS.

THOUGH IT'S EARLY SPRING, THE CLIMATE IS

STILL UNUSUALLY HARSH.

LITTLE DROPS OF SNOW MELT TO BECOME A THIN STREAM OF WATER,

WHICH WILL GRADUALLY SWELL TO BECOME A MIGHTY RIVER; THE LAST

GREAT UNTAMED WATERCOURSE IN EUROPE.

THE TOWERING MOUNTAINTOP IS STILL HIDDEN WITHIN A DENSE FOG

FROM WHICH EMERGE THREE FOX CUBS.

THEY WERE BORN HERE JUST 7 WEEKS AGO AND ARE JUST STARTING TO

LEAVE THEIR DEN.

WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG, FOXES LIVE IN SMALL FAMILY GROUPS

KNOWN AS SKULKS.

HOWEVER, THE TOGETHERNESS DOESN'T LAST LONG.

FOXES ARE MOSTLY SOLITARY ANIMALS; HUNTING AND SLEEPING

ALONE AT JUST 7 MONTHS OLD.

BUT FOR NOW, IN THE VAST AND BEAUTIFUL GREENERY OF THE LOIRE,

THESE CUBS ARE STICKING TOGETHER.

THEIR FATHER SETS OFF HUNTING A FEW MILES AWAY.

HE HAS FOUND A MEADOW WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN MOWN AND THERE IS

NO LONGER ANY GRASS FOR VOLES TO SHELTER IN.

FOXES PROTECT CROPS FROM RODENTS AND CAN CATCH MORE THAN 40 OF

THEM IN A DAY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FATHER ONLY NEEDS 15 OR SO VOLES TO SUSTAIN HIMSELF,

BUT BRINGS BACK MANY MORE FOR HIS FAMILY.

THE CUBS ARE STILL SUCKLING THEIR MOTHER, BUT ARE ALSO

STARTING TO EAT SMALL RODENTS.

THE MOTHER STAYS CLOSE TO THE DEN TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER YOUNG.

THESE FOXES ARE IN FACT, SQUATTERS.

THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO AVOID HAVING TO DIG UP THIS HARD AND

ROCKY SOIL BY RELYING ON AN EXCELLENT SET OF ALLIES;

MARMOTS.

THEY HAVE TURNED THE SOIL AROUND THE SOURCE OF THE LOIRE INTO A

VERITABLE SWISS CHEESE AND THE FOXES RECYCLE

THEIR ABANDONED DENS.

IN THE SPRING, THE MARMOTS EMERGE FROM A 6-MONTH

PERIOD OF HIBERNATION.

THEY HAVE LOST UP TO HALF THEIR BODY WEIGHT.

THE MEADOWS OFFER THE PERFECT PANTRY FROM WHICH TO REPLENISH

THEIR RESERVES OF BODY FAT.

HERE AT ITS SOURCE, THE LOIRE IS FAR FROM THE MIGHTY RIVER IT

WILL BECOME LATER.

THE RIVERS IN THIS REGION ARE A NETWORK OF TINY WATERCOURSES

WHICH ARE HOME TO SOME REMARKABLE SPECIES.

THIS MALE ALPINE NEWT IS SHOWING OFF HIS FINEST COLORS.

IT'S THE MATING SEASON AND HE'S LOOKING FOR A FEMALE, BUT THIS

IS ANOTHER MALE.

FINALLY, A FEMALE.

THESE RAPID TAIL MOVEMENTS ARE PART OF HIS SEDUCTION STRATEGY;

A SECRET WEAPON.

THIS IS HOW HE WILL SEND OVER HIS PHEROMONES.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN A CASUAL WAVE OF THE TAIL TO

ATTRACT THIS AMOROUS AMPHIBIAN.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.

UP NEXT, A MAMMAL WHO CAN SEE 360 DEGREES.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS WE JOURNEY FARTHER TOWARDS THE COAST, THE EUROPEAN

LANDSCAPE STILL HAS SURPRISES TO REVEAL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS IS A COYPU.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE A BEAVER, BUT IT IS A COUSIN

FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS PARTICULAR SPECIES IS FAR FROM ENDANGERED.

IT HAS FOUND THE RICH VEGETATION OF THE LOIRE MARSHES TO BE THE

PERFECT PLACE TO PROSPER.

THIS FAMILY'S YOUNG WERE BORN 3 WEEKS AGO AND ARE JUST BEGINNING

TO LEAVE THE BURROW.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: WHEN THE COYPU TIRES OF ITS VEGETARIAN DIET, IT TREATS

ITSELF TO THESE YELLOW SHELLFISH WHICH IT FINDS BURIED

IN THE SEDIMENT.

CLOSER TO THE OCEAN, THIS ESTUARY TURNS INTO AN AMAZING

MOSAIC OF NATURE AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES.

THIS CONCEALS AN ENVIRONMENT RICHER THAN ONE WOULD THINK.

VAST QUANTITIES OF SAND WERE SHIFTED WHEN THE LOIRE WAS

DREDGED TO BUILD THE PORT OF NANTES.

THE SAND WHICH WAS DEPOSITED ALONG THE BANKS, FORMED NEW

MEADOWS WHICH ARE TEEMING WITH LIFE.

NEAR A SMALL POND, THIS MALE ADDER IS SOAKING UP THE LAST FEW

RAYS OF SUNSHINE.

HE ABSORBS AS MUCH HEAT AS HE CAN BEFORE LEAVING AT NIGHTFALL

TO CATCH THE MEADOW'S SMALL MAMMALS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS FOX HAS RECENTLY BECOME INDEPENDENT.

HE IS STILL TOO YOUNG TO BE AN ACCOMPLISHED HUNTER.

IDEALLY, HE'S ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A PARTICULARLY CARELESS RABBIT.

BUT GOOD LUCK.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: RABBITS ARE PERMANENTLY ON HIGH ALERT AND THEIR

360-DEGREE FIELD OF VISION ALLOWS THEM TO SEE ALL AROUND

AND ABOVE THEM.

THEIR LARGE EARS ARE SENSITIVE TO THE SLIGHTEST SOUND, SO THE

YOUNG FOX WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SNEAK UP ON THEM.

EVEN AMONG THE LUSH LANDSCAPES OF EUROPE, AMONG THE DIVERSE

POPULATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, THERE'S STILL NO SUCH

THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

EUROPE'S MOUNTAINS, FORESTS AND RIVERS HIDE A WEALTH OF

BIODIVERSITY THAT ENTICES US TO DISCOVER MORE.

FROM THE ODD AND UNEXPECTED COYPU TO THE MAJESTIC AND

ELEGANT STORK, THIS REGION OF THE WORLD IS ALWAYS REVEALING

NEW SURPRISES AMONG ITS WILD INHABITANTS AS THEY MAKE THEIR

HOMES ALONGSIDE THE BUSTLING ACTIVITY OF HUMANITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]