Original subtitles

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- 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 THIS IS "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

- ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE HEAD TO - VANCOUVER ISLAND, WHERE ONE FISH

IS VITAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF ALL

LIVING THINGS.

WE'LL MEET THE GIANTS ON BOTH

LAND AND IN THE WATER AND

DISCOVER HOW THEY ARE ALL

CONNECTED.

PLUS, WE'LL EXPLORE JUST OFF

VANCOUVER'S SHORE AND QUICKLY

FIND OUT WHO IS THE CHIEF OF

THIS REEF.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CANADA'S VANCOUVER

ISLAND IS HOME TO SOME OF THE

WORLD'S MOST DIVERSE AND

EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE, BUT THE

WATER THAT SURROUNDS THE ISLAND

IS EQUALLY ABUNDANT.

- ALONG TWO THOUSAND MILES OF - COASTLINE, YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING

FROM SEA LIONS TO GIANT

OCTOPUSES, AND IT'S HOME TO ONE

- ANIMAL THAT'S BIGGER THAN - ANYTHING WITH FOUR LEGS ON LAND

OR EIGHT LEGS IN THE SEA.

LET'S EXPLORE THE LIFE OF

VANCOUVER ISLAND'S GENTLE GIANT,

THE HUMPBACK WHALE.

- VANCOUVER ISLAND IS HOME TO ONE - OF THE WORLD'S MOST DIVERSE

ECOSYSTEMS, GLACIER-CAPPED

MOUNTAINS, ANCIENT FORESTS,

NUTRIENT-RICH OCEANS, AND A

NETWORK OF RIVERS AND CREEKS

- THAT SUPPORT A WILDERNESS LIKE - NO OTHER.

BUT ONE CREATURE STANDS OUT

ABOVE ALL THE REST, THE PACIFIC

SALMON.

VIRTUALLY ALL LIFE HERE RELIES

ON ITS EXISTENCE,

LIKE THIS GENTLE GIANT.

HUMPBACK WHALES CAN REACH 52

FEET IN LENGTH AND WEIGH MORE

THAN 36 TONS, MAKING THEM THE

FIFTH LARGEST ANIMAL ON THE

PLANET.

AND SALMON AREN'T ON THEIR MENU.

- THE HUMPBACKS' ENORMOUS FRAMES - ARE FUELED BY SMALL SCHOOLING

FISH LIKE HERRING AND SWARMS OF

TINY SHRIMP-LIKE CRUSTACEANS

KNOWN AS KRILL.

THESE TOOTHLESS WHALES USE A

MASS OF BRISTLES CALLED BALEEN

- PLATES TO FILTER FOOD FROM THE - WATER.

THE HUMPBACKS ARE ABOUT TO

EMBARK ON A MAMMOTH JOURNEY.

- THEY SPEND EACH WINTER IN THE - WARMER SOUTHERN WATERS OFF

MEXICO AND HAWAII, MORE THAN

THREE THOUSAND MILES AWAY.

THIS IS WHERE THEY'LL BREED

BEFORE RETURNING TO VANCOUVER

ISLAND'S FOOD-RICH WATERS WITH

THEIR CALVES IN TOW.

BUT ONE WHALE NEVER LEAVES THE

REGION, AND THIS PREDATOR CAN

HAVE A TASTE FOR SALMON.

KILLER WHALES WEIGH UP TO NINE

TONS AND ROAM THE ISLAND'S COAST

IN PODS OF UP TO 30 INDIVIDUALS.

- UNLIKE HUMPBACKS, THEY HAVE MORE - THAN 20 PAIRS OF POINTED,

INTERLOCKING TEETH.

ALSO KNOWN AS ORCAS, NAMED AFTER

THE ROMAN GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD,

THEY HUNT IN PACKS AND ARE OFTEN

REFERRED TO AS THE WOLVES OF THE

SEA.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR POD POSES NO

THREAT TO THE SALMON.

THESE KILLER WHALES HUNT

MAMMALS.

- WHILE THE RESIDENT PODS OF ORCAS - EAT ONLY FISH, THIS VISITING

GROUP GOES FOR MUCH LARGER PREY,

SUCH AS SEA LIONS.

THESE SEA LIONS WERE LUCKY TO

GET AWAY.

- AND AS SHOALS OF SALMON COMMENCE - THEIR RETURN TO VANCOUVER

ISLAND, ANOTHER CREATURE

PREPARES TO LEAVE ITS NEST.

- COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY", - WE'LL FLY HEAD-FIRST INTO THESE

TURKEY VULTURES' CULTURE.

PLUS, THIS FISH MAY BE A STAR,

BUT ITS' HARDLY THE BIGGEST SEA

CREATURE IN VANCOUVER'S REEFS.

[BREAK]

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

- DYLAN: IN EAST SOOKE PARK ON - THE SOUTHERN TIP OF VANCOUVER

ISLAND, THOUSANDS OF TURKEY

VULTURES GATHER, CREATING A

UNIQUE SPECTACLE.

- THEY ARE THE MASTERS OF SOARING - FLIGHT.

TURKEY VULTURES BREED ALONG THE

ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ISLAND, BUT

DURING WINTER, THEY HEAD FARTHER

SOUTH TO MAINLAND AMERICA.

- ON REACHING THE COOLER COASTAL - AIR, THEY FORM LARGE FLOCKS, OR

KETTLES, WAITING FOR THE RIGHT

CONDITIONS TO CROSS THE SEA.

- TURKEY VULTURES AREN'T STRONG - FLIERS, SO THEY RELY ON WINDS

AND THERMAL CURRENTS TO KEEP

THEM ALOFT.

THIS EFFICIENT WAY OF TRAVELING

USES JUST A FRACTION MORE ENERGY

- THAN WHEN THEY'RE STANDING - STILL.

LIKE ALL VULTURES, THEY HAVE

EXCELLENT EYESIGHT, BUT THIS

PARTICULAR SPECIES ALSO HAS AN

EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF SMELL.

- THE PART OF THEIR BRAIN - CONTROLLING THIS SENSE IS THREE

TIMES LARGER THAN SOME OTHER

VULTURE SPECIES.

TURKEY VULTURES ALSO LACK A

NASAL SEPTUM, THE WALL THAT

SEPARATES THE NOSTRILS.

THIS ALLOWS MORE AIR TO PASS

THROUGH, HELPING THEM TO DETECT

A DECAYING CARCASS.

CARRION MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF

THEIR DIET.

- THEY LACK THE SHARP BEAK AND - TALONS USED BY OTHER BIRDS OF

PREY TO MAKE A KILL.

THEIR FEET MORE RESEMBLE THOSE

OF A CHICKEN.

- ACIDS INSIDE THEIR STOMACHS ARE - THOUGHT TO PLAY A PART IN

- HELPING TO CURB THE SPREAD OF - DISEASE.

EVEN ANTHRAX BACTERIA IS KILLED

OFF AFTER BEING CONSUMED.

DESPITE THEIR DECAYING DIET,

TURKEY VULTURES ARE ONE OF THE

CLEANEST ANIMALS AROUND.

- CONSTANT PREENING AND A - FEATHERLESS HEAD KEEPS GERMS AND

MICROBES TO A MINIMUM.

- ALONG WITH DRYING AND WARMING - THEIR BODIES, THIS SPREAD-WING

STANCE IN THE SUN ALSO BAKES OFF

BACTERIA.

WITH STOMACH REFUELED AND WINGS

WARMED UP, IT'S TIME TO REJOIN

THE FLOCK AHEAD OF THE JOURNEY

SOUTH.

ABOUT 60 MILES FARTHER NORTH

ALONG THE ENGLISHMAN RIVER, ONE

CREATURE IS BUSY STOCKPILING

FOOD FOR THE WINTER AHEAD.

BEAVERS ARE NORTH AMERICA'S

LARGEST RODENTS AND CAN REACH

MORE THAN THREE FEET LONG.

- MOST OF THE TIME IS SPENT - BUILDING DAMS ALONG THE REGION'S

FAST-FLOWING STREAMS.

THE RIVERS EVENTUALLY FLOOD,

CREATING ENORMOUS PONDS.

- THIS WAY, THE BEAVERS CAN REMAIN - IN WATER AND REACH THEIR

- FAVORITE TREES WITHOUT HAVING TO - TRAVEL ON LAND.

BEAVERS ONLY EAT THE INNER BARK

OF TREES AND SHRUBS, BUT WILL

GNAW THROUGH HUGE TRUNKS TO

CREATE A DAM.

- THEIR FRONT TEETH NEVER STOP - GROWING, AND THIS CONSTANT

CHEWING PREVENTS THEM FROM

BECOMING TOO LONG.

BEAVER PONDS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN

THE LIFE OF PACIFIC SALMON.

THESE VAST, CALM STRETCHES OF

WATER TRAP NUTRIENTS FLOWING

DOWNSTREAM.

THIS CREATES A PERFECT HABITAT

FOR AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES, WHICH

- IN TURN PROVIDES FISH WITH - FORAGING OPPORTUNITIES NOT FOUND

IN FAST-FLOWING STREAMS.

WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS, HOW

DOES A BLACK BEAR GET SO BIG OFF

OF JUST BERRIES, GRASS, AND

SALMON?

PLUS, WE SWIM WITH THE GIANTS OF

VANCOUVER ISLAND.

[BREAK]

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

- DYLAN: IF YOU LIKE SALMON, - YOU'RE NOT ALONE, ESPECIALLY

AMONG THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF

PROTEIN FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN

BLACK BEAR.

- THEY'LL SNATCH HUNDREDS OF - SALMON FRESH OUT OF THE STREAMS

- AND LEAVE THE REMAINS SCATTERED - THROUGHOUT THEIR SURROUNDINGS,

- BUT THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST - LEFTOVERS.

- THEY'RE THE MAIN COURSE FOR THE - FOREST AROUND THEM.

LET'S EXPLORE THE DELICATE

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLACK

BEARS, SALMON, AND THEIR

ECOSYSTEM.

VANCOUVER ISLAND HAS THE DENSEST

POPULATION OF BLACK BEARS IN THE

WORLD.

- THEY'RE DARKER THAN MAINLAND - BEARS AND SLIGHTLY LARGER,

WEIGHING UP TO SIX HUNDRED

POUNDS.

ALTHOUGH LARGELY VEGETARIAN,

FEEDING ON GRASSES AND BERRIES

FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, THEY ARE

THE ISLAND'S LARGEST PREDATOR.

- THE ANNUAL SALMON RUN PROVIDES A - MAJOR FOOD SOURCE FOR MANY

BEARS.

THE BRAIN, EGG, SKIN, AND BACK

MUSCLES CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF

FAT, AND IT'S THESE PARTICULAR

AREAS THE BEARS FOCUS ON.

THEY CAN EACH EAT UP TO 15

SALMON A DAY.

ONE-AND-A-HALF-INCH CURVED CLAWS

AND A SET OF FLESH-TEARING TEETH

AREN'T THE ONLY QUALITIES

KEEPING BLACK BEARS AT THE TOP

OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THEY CAN ALSO SCALE TREES WITH

EASE, RUN AT MORE THAN 30 MILES

PER HOUR, AND SWIM LONG

DISTANCES.

TO TOP IT OFF, THEIR SENSE OF

SMELL IS SEVEN TIMES SHARPER

THAN A BLOODHOUND'S.

- DESPITE THESE IMPRESSIVE - ATTRIBUTES, CATCHING LIVE SALMON

- IN THESE DEEPER WATERS IS EASIER - SAID THAN DONE.

- FARTHER UPSTREAM, THE WATER - LEVELS ARE TOO LOW FOR THE

SALMON TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY

HOME.

- UNTIL THE HEAVY AUTUMN RAINS - ARRIVE, THEY'LL JUST HAVE TO SIT

- TIGHT, AS WILL THE ISLAND'S MANY - BEARS.

BLACK BEARS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN

VANCOUVER ISLAND'S ECOSYSTEM.

NOT ALL SALMON ARE COMPLETELY

CONSUMED AFTER BEING CARRIED

INTO THE FORESTS, AND THIS HAS A

SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE

SURROUNDING LAND.

WHEN THESE CARCASSES BREAK DOWN,

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND OTHER

NUTRIENTS ARE ABSORBED BY THE

SURROUNDING VEGETATION.

UP TO 70 PERCENT OF THE NITROGEN

IN SOME AREAS COMES DIRECTLY

FROM THE FISH.

TREES TAKING ROOT CLOSE TO

SALMON RIVERS GROW THREE TIMES

FASTER THAN THOSE NEXT TO

FISH-FREE STREAMS.

HERE, SITKA SPRUCE TAKE JUST 86

YEARS TO REACH A THICKNESS OF 20

INCHES RATHER THAN THE USUAL

THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

VANCOUVER ISLAND IS HOME TO THE

TALLEST SITKA SPRUCE TREES IN

CANADA, POSSIBLY THE WORLD.

SOME REACH HEIGHTS OF MORE THAN

THREE HUNDRED FEET.

SITKA SEEDLINGS, HOWEVER, HAVE A

DIFFICULT TIME STARTING OUT.

DENSE MOSSES AND SMALLER PLANTS

CARPET THE FOREST FLOOR, MAKING

IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO TAKE

ROOT, BUT MANY ARE GIVEN A

HELPING HAND.

FALLEN TREES REPAY HUNDREDS OF

YEARS' WORTH OF BENEFITS BY

ACTING AS NURSE LOGS.

SEEDS LANDING ON THESE DOWNED

GIANTS ALREADY HAVE A HEIGHT

HEAD START, AS WELL AS AN OPEN

AREA TO GERMINATE AND DEVELOP.

MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF SITKA

SEEDLINGS HERE START OUT THIS

WAY.

FUNGI ALSO FEED ON THE DECAYING

TREES AND PLAY THEIR PART IN

RECYCLING NUTRIENTS.

- AND JUST AS THE LAND BENEFITS - OFF OF EACH LIVING ORGANISM, THE

OCEAN SEES ITS FAIR SHARE OF

NUTRIENTS ITSELF.

COMING UP, WE EXPLORE THE OCEAN

ONE LAST TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN

FIND, OR AVOID, VANCOUVER

ISLAND'S UNDERWATER GIANTS.

[BREAK]

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NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

- DYLAN: VANCOUVER ISLAND HAS - SOME OF THE MOST FOOD-RICH

SHORES ON THE PLANET, WHICH ARE

HOME TO AN ABUNDANCE OF MARINE

CREATURES.

THIS INTERTIDAL ZONE IS A

COLORFUL COLD-WATER PARADISE

- THAT PUTS MANY TROPICAL REEFS TO - SHAME.

IN SUMMER, SUPER RICH PLANKTON

BLOOMS GIVE AQUATIC CREATURES A

HUGE STEROID BOOST.

DURING WINTER, THE WATER

TEMPERATURE DROPS TO JUST 41

DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

- THIS ALLOWS DEEPER OCEAN OXYGEN - AND NUTRIENTS TO RISE TO THE

SURFACE AND BE WASHED CLOSER TO

SHORE.

BARNACLES SWEEP FOR PLANKTON

WITH THEIR FAN-LIKE FEET.

- FEATHER DUSTER WORMS WAVE THEIR - STICKY TENTACLES, TRAPPING

EDIBLE DEBRIS MUCH LIKE A

SPIDER'S WEB.

STARFISH HERE GROW TO ENORMOUS

SIZES.

SOME, LIKE THE SUNFLOWER STAR,

REACH UP TO THREE FEET ACROSS.

THESE GIANTS CAN HAVE UP TO

15,000 TUBE FEET.

THEY CAN MOVE AT MORE THAN A FEW

FEET A MINUTE.

MANY TIDAL CREATURES PREFER TO

KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

CAMOUFLAGE IS OFTEN KEY TO

SURVIVAL.

FOR A CRAB, BREAKING COVER IS A

DANGEROUS DECISION.

THE INTERTIDAL ZONE IS PATROLLED

BY A MONSTER, AND CRUSTACEANS

ARE ALWAYS ON THE MENU.

- THE GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS IS THE - LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

IT CAN HAVE AN ARM SPAN OF MORE

THAN 30 FEET AND WEIGH MORE THAN

FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS.

FISH, SHARKS, EVEN BIRDS ARE

SOMETIMES EATEN.

PREDATORS ASIDE, THE INTERTIDAL

ZONE CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST

DANGEROUS HABITATS.

HIGH TIDES BRING CRASHING WATERS

CAPABLE OF CRUSHING ANYTHING

UNTETHERED OR NOT GLUED TO THE

ROCKS.

LOW TIDES CAN EXPOSE PLANTS AND

ANIMALS TO HOT SUN, FRESH WATER,

AND DEHYDRATING AIR.

- BUT WITH THE NUTRIENTS THAT - VANCOUVER ISLAND RECEIVES FROM

THE LIFE CYCLE FROM ALL LIVING

THINGS, ANIMALS CONTINUE TO

THRIVE IN THIS UNBELIEVABLE

HABITAT.

THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING TO

VANCOUVER ISLAND WITH US.

IT'S A REGION FULL OF GIANTS

BOTH ON LAND AND IN THE OCEAN

WHO HAVE LEARNED TO MASTER THE

COLD AND THE ELEMENTS TO MAKE A

HAPPY HOME FOR THEMSELVES AND

THEIR OFFSPRING.

- WE LOOK FORWARD TO DISCOVERING - MORE WITH YOU ON OUR NEXT "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]