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, EVERYBODY, I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO

VENTURE INTO THE WONDERFUL WILDS OF OUR PLANET HERE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE OUT TO SEE SOME CURIOUSLY CRAFTY NORTHERN

NATIVES THAT THRIVE ABOVE THE EQUATOR, LIKE THESE

OUT-OF-TOWNERS THAT HAVE FOUND A FOREVER HOME IN FRANCE AND A

TRIO OF CARNIVORE CUBS EAGER FOR THEIR DINNER DELIVERY.

LATER, WE'LL SNEAK A LOOK AT ONE OF THE BIGGEST BEARS ON THE

PLANET.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD FOR THE HIGH MOUNTAINS WHERE A MINI MAMMAL IS

HARD AT WORK PREPARING FOR WINTER.

WE'VE GOT A WHOLE LOT IN STORE FOR YOU HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONE OF OUR PLANET'S MOST DRAMATIC COLLECTIONS OF

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE CANADIAN

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

ITS BRIGHT FORESTS AND STAGGERING MOUNTAINS GIVE A

SENSE OF WONDER TO THIS UNTAMED WILD.

SUCH EXPANSIVE WILDERNESS MEANS THAT ANIMALS OF ALL KINDS CAN

THRIVE HERE.

ON PEAKS OR IN VALLEYS, WHETHER FLORA OR FAUNA, IN THIS REGION,

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE IS ON FULL DISPLAY.

FEW NATURAL FEATURES HAVE THE IMPACT AND AWE OF MOUNTAIN

RANGES.

THESE NATURAL SKYSCRAPERS FORMED BY THE MEETING OF TECTONIC

PLATES DOMINATE THE HORIZON IN THIS PART OF THE CANADIAN

WILDERNESS.

MANY OF THESE PEAKS REACH WELL OVER 10,000 FEET AND PRESENT

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT LIVING CONDITIONS FOR BOTH PLANTS AND

ANIMALS.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE FOUND A WAY TO THRIVE IN THIS

HIGH-ALTITUDE HOME.

RIGHT ON CUE.

THIS IS A HOARY MARMOT...

...PERFECTLY AT EASE IN THIS RUGGED, ROCKY ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR SLOW METABOLISM, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO CONSERVE ENERGY,

REQUIRES THAT THEY BASK IN THE SUN EACH MORNING TO PERK UP AND

ACCUMULATE HEAT.

MARMOTS FORM CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY CLANS AND HAVE A RATHER PECULIAR

WAY OF GREETING EACH OTHER.

THEY SNIFF EACH OTHER'S CHEEKS IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE EACH

OTHER'S SCENT.

IT'S ODOR ID.

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

AN ALARM.

THE WHISTLING OF A NEIGHBOR IS HEARD ACROSS THE ROCKS.

[WHISTLING CONTINUES]

WEIGHING ONLY FIVE OUNCES AND MEASURING LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES

FROM NOSE TO TAIL, THIS IS THE AMERICAN PIKA.

IT'S ONE OF THE RARE MAMMALS THAT MANAGES TO LIVE AT THIS

ALTITUDE THROUGH EVERY SEASON.

UNLIKE MARMOTS, WHO HIBERNATE IN THE WINTER, THE PIKA STAYS

ACTIVE ALL YEAR ROUND.

NOW THAT'S MASTER OF THE MOUNTAIN.

PIKAS LIVE ABOVE THE TREE LINE AT ABOUT 8,000 FEET IN THE COLD

AND WINDY ALPINE ZONE.

HERE, NOTHING GROWS BUT GRASSES, WHICH SUITS THIS LITTLE

MOUNTAIN-DWELLER JUST FINE.

WITH A STRICT VEGETARIAN DIET, THESE ALPINE GRASSLANDS PROVIDE

AN ABUNDANCE OF NOURISHMENT FOR THE PIKA.

WHILE OTHER ANIMALS REDUCE THEIR BIOLOGICAL ENERGY LEVELS TO

SURVIVE THE HARSH WINTERS, THE PIKA CONFRONTS THE COLD HEAD-ON.

ITS SMALL ROUND SHAPE IS IDEAL FOR CONSERVING BODY HEAT, AND

THOSE FURRY FEET ACT LIKE SNOWSHOES SO IT CAN MOVE EASILY

ACROSS THE SNOW.

LIFE SEEMS IDYLLIC FOR THIS MINI-MAMMAL, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS

A CATCH.

FINDING FOOD IN THE WINTER MONTHS CAN PROVIDE DIFFICULT AS

THE GRASSES ARE HEAVY SNOWFALL, BUT THIS LITTLE ROCK RABBIT HAS

GOT THE ANSWER.

AT THE END OF SUMMER, THEY START HAYMAKING.

QUICK...

...AGILE...

...AND EFFECTIVE...

...ABLE TO GATHER AND STORE FOOD WITH INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY.

[PIKA WHISTLING]

EVEN THE MARMOTS LOOKING ON CAN'T HELP BUT BE IMPRESSED.

DASHING ACROSS THE GRASSLAND, THE PIKA RARELY TAKES A BREAK

FROM ITS MISSION TO GATHER FOOD.

THE ONLY STOPS IT MAKES ARE TO QUICKLY SURVEY THE SURROUNDING

AREA FOR ANY PESKY PREDATORS.

ONE CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL.

[PIKA WHISTLING]

AFTER GETTING THE ALL CLEAR, THEY CAN DASH BACK TO A

STOREHOUSE, WHERE THEIR BOUNTY IS KEPT SAFE.

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THEY'RE BACK OUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IN SUCH

A HARSH ENVIRONMENT, THE WORK IS NEVER DONE.

AFTER THE BREAK, MEET A SERIOUSLY BIG RODENT WITH AN

EVEN BIGGER REPUTATION.

LATER, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GOT THESE CUTE CANINE KITS OUT OF

BED SO EARLY.

AND IT'S BEST TO STEER CLEAR OF THIS FEROCIOUS FORAGER WHEN

THEY'RE ON THE PROWL.

[PIKA WHISTLING]

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: HIDDEN AMONGST THE LUSH RIVER VALLEYS OF FRANCE, A

SURPRISING CHARACTER IS WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED.

THIS IS A COYPU.

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

SOUTH AMERICA.

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 THREE WEEKS AGO AND ARE JUST

BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE BURROW.

CLOSER TO THE OCEAN, THE LOIRE 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.

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.

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 THESE LUSH RIVERBANKS WITH SUCH A DIVERSE POPULATION

OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THE MISTY MOUNTAINS MAKE FOR A PERFECT PUP

PLAYGROUND.

AND WE'LL MEET THE BEAR BEHIND ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S BIGGEST

APPETITES.

[BEARS GROWLING]

ALL THIS NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

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.

MOUNT GERBIER DE JONC IN THE ARDECHE, THIS IS WHERE

THE LOIRE HAS ITS SOURCE.

EVEN IN THIS EARLY SPRING, THE CLIMATE IS STILL UNUSUALLY

HARSH, AS IF THIS WERE THE HIGH MOUNTAINS.

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 SOURCE OF THE LOIRE IS STILL HIDDEN WITHIN A DENSE FOG FROM

WHICH EMERGE THREE FOX CUBS.

THEY WERE BORN HERE JUST SEVEN 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 SEVEN MONTHS OLD.

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

THESE CUBS ARE STICKING TOGETHER.

[FOXES GROWLING]

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.

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 SIX-MONTH PERIOD

OF HIBERNATION.

THEY HAVE LOST UP TO HALF THEIR BODYWEIGHT.

THE MEADOWS OFFER THE PERFECT PANTRY FROM WHICH TO REPLENISH

THEIR RESERVES OF BODYFAT.

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

WILL BECOME LATER.

IT IS EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE, 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.

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.

COMING UP, A MASSIVE MAMMAL MIGRATOR IS ON THE HUNT IN THE

HIGH MOUNTAINS.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MARMOT WHISTLING]

DYLAN: A WARNING SIGNAL RINGS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S AN ALARM BELL FOR ANY ANIMAL NEARBY, AND THE MESSAGE

IS CLEAR, RUN.

AN UNFAMILIAR FACE IS COMING THIS WAY.

GRIZZLY BEARS ARE COMING FROM THE COAST TO THE ALPINE ZONES.

CAPABLE OF TRAVELING GREAT DISTANCES, GRIZZLIES CAN MIGRATE

FROM THE HIGH MOUNTAINS TO THE LOW VALLEYS WHENEVER THEY NEED.

THIS ONE IS MERELY PASSING THROUGH THE AREA, BUT THAT

DOESN'T MEAN OTHER CREATURES CAN BE AT EASE.

THERE AREN'T MANY THINGS OR ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT ON A

GRIZZLY'S MENU.

AS OMNIVORES, THEY EAT PLENTY OF VEGETATION, FISH, AND MEAT.

FOR NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS BEAR IS HAPPY TO SEEK OUT ITS MEAL

SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WITH DANGER AVERTED, THE AMERICAN PIKA GETS STRAIGHT BACK

TO WORK FORAGING.

DESPITE THEIR CUTE AND CUDDLY APPEARANCE, PIKAS ARE ACTUALLY

ONE OF THE REGION'S TOUGHEST CHARACTERS.

VERY FEW ANIMALS CAN SURVIVE LIVING THEIR ENTIRE LIVES IN

ALPINE TERRAIN DUE TO ITS HARSH CONDITIONS AND EXTREME ALTITUDE,

YET THIS ROCK-RUNNING RABBIT DOES IT IN STYLE.

THEY WATCH OVER THEIR DOMAIN WITH FERVENT ATTENTION.

WHILE THEY LIVE IN COLONIES, THEY DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY

FIERCELY, KNOWING THE DANGERS OF BEING LEFT WITHOUT SHELTER OR

FOOD STORES WHEN WINTER COMES.

[PIKA WHISTLING]

THESE DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES MAY PAINT A PICTURE OF BEAUTY, BUT

LIFE HERE CAN BE WROUGHT WITH CHALLENGES.

[BEARS GROWLING]

EVERY CREATURE BIG AND SMALL MUST SHOW THEIR RESOURCEFULNESS

AND RESILIENCE TO THRIVE IN THE REMARKABLE WILDS OF THE NORTHERN

HEMISPHERE.

ACROSS EVERY CONTINENT ON EARTH, IMPRESSIVE AND BEAUTIFUL

WILDLIFE CAN BE FOUND THRIVING, EVEN WHERE IT MAY SEEM

IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO.

AS WE SURVEY AND APPRECIATE OUR PLANET'S INCREDIBLE CREATURES,

WE ARE GIVEN A GLIMPSE INTO THE WORLD OF THE WILD AND WHAT IT

TAKES TO SURVIVE THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]