Original subtitles

HI, I’M BILL PULLMAN.

FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS, MY FAMILY’S OWNED A RANCH IN MONTANA,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT FAR FROM\NYELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.\n

AND VISITING THE PARK

\h\h\h\h\hIS AN EXPERIENCE\NI NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED.\n

\hI’M NOT THE ONLY ONE\NDRAWN TO YELLOWSTONE.\n

\h\hMILLIONS OF PEOPLE\NVISIT HERE EVERY YEAR,\n

BUT VERY FEW COME IN WINTER, \h\hTHE MOST EXTREME SEASON,\n

WHEN ANIMALS ARE PUSHED \h\h\h\hTO THEIR LIMITS.\n

WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE

\h\h\h\hIS YELLOWSTONE\NAS IT’S RARELY SEEN--\n

\h\h\hWHEN THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT\NOF THE GEYSERS AND HOT SPRINGS\n

DRAWS WILDLIFE TO SHELTER

IN THE HEART OF THE PARK.

THIS IS THE GRIPPING DRAMA,

THE REAL MAGIC OF WINTER \h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE.\n

THERE IS A SOUND THAT SIGNALS \h\h\h\hTHE COMING OF WINTER.\n

A CLASH THAT ECHOES THROUGH YELLOWSTONE.

♪

[THUD]

[THUD]

♪

[THUD]

BIGHORN RAMS DO BATTLE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FIGHT\NFOR THE RIGHT TO BREED.\n

[THUD]

BUT IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING...

THE FIRST TRIAL OF THE SEASON,

FOR WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE

IS LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

♪

A COLLISION OF MIGHTY FORCES.

FIRE...

AND ICE.

MAGNIFICENT...

YET BRUTAL.

[GROWLING]

SOME FLEE ITS FURY.

ONLY THE TOUGHEST CAN SURVIVE \h\h\hTHE BITTERNESS TO COME.\n

THIS IS YELLOWSTONE IN WINTER,

LIKE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

♪

♪

WINTER’S FIRST BIG STORM

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBLANKETS\NYELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.\n

[BIRDS CALLING]

♪

♪

♪

THE BOBCAT,

NAMED FOR HIS SHORT BOBBED TAIL,

ISN’T BUILT FOR DEEP SNOW.

SMALL PAWS DON’T SUPPORT \h\h\hTHE CAT’S WEIGHT,\n

AND HE SINKS INTO THE DRIFTS.

\h\h\hTHE STEALTHY HUNTER\NBECOMES SLOW, INEFFICIENT.\n

BOBCATS USUALLY AVOID

THE SNOWIEST REGIONS \h\h\hOF YELLOWSTONE\n

WHEN WINTER ARRIVES.

BUT THIS CAT MAY HAVE BEEN LURED BY AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY.

♪

OPEN WATER.

AN OASIS IN A FROZEN WORLD.

THE MADISON RIVER IS WARMED

BY YELLOWSTONE’S FAMOUS GEYSERS AND HOT SPRINGS.

EVEN IN THE COLD, \hIT FLOWS EASILY.\n

IT BECOMES A REFUGE \h\hFOR WATERFOWL...\n

[QUACKING]

\h\h\hWHO, IN TURN,\NATTRACT THE BOBCAT.\n

BOBCATS ARE NOT BY HABIT CREATURES OF THE WATER.

THEY’RE ELUSIVE HUNTERS.

RARELY SEEN.

\h\h\hBUT THE HUNGRY CAT\NMUST TRY HIS LUCK HERE,\n

IN THE OPEN.

[QUACKING]

\h\h\h\hTHE BOBCAT MOVES TOWARDS\NWHAT MUST BE A TEMPTING SIGHT--\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hMALLARD DUCKS,\NWITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.\n

\hTHE CAT’S BOLD APPROACH\NSHOULD CONCERN THE DUCKS.\n

BUT THEY DON’T PANIC.

[QUACK]

\h\h\h\hWITH A QUICK PADDLE,\NTHEY’RE EASILY OUT OF RANGE.\n

THE BOBCAT IS LEFT \h\hWITH A PUZZLE.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE’LL TRY\NA DIFFERENT STRATEGY.\n

HIDE AND WAIT.

LET THE DUCKS COME TO HIM.

BUT AN UNEXPECTED TARGET \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSURFACES.\n

A MUSKRAT...

\h\h\hBLISSFULLY UNAWARE\NOF THE UNLIKELY STALKER.\n

♪

♪

[DISTANT QUACKING]

A MOUTHFUL OF RIVER MUCK \h\h\h\h\h\hIS NO PRIZE.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THIS COLD,\NWATER IS THE CAT’S ENEMY.\n

THE ONLY THING WORSE \hTHAN BEING HUNGRY\n

IS BEING HUNGRY AND WET.

♪

THE SEEMING BOUNTY OF THE RIVER HAS DELIVERED DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT IT’S TOO LATE FOR THE BOBCAT TO CHANGE COURSE

TO ESCAPE THE SNOW.

THE RIVER IS ALL HE HAS.

IF HE’S GOING TO SURVIVE \hWINTER IN YELLOWSTONE,\n

\hHE MUST FIND A WAY\NTO OUTWIT THE DUCKS.\n

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S EASY\NTO IMAGINE YELLOWSTONE,\n

THE WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK,

AS A PROTECTED PARADISE \h\h\h\h\hFOR WILDLIFE.\n

ITS BOUNDARIES PRESERVE \h\h\hICONIC LANDSCAPES\n

OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST.

\h\h\hITS PEAKS SOAR\NBEYOND 10,000 FEET.\n

ITS HEART HOLDS THE WORLD’S \h\h\hLARGEST CONCENTRATION\n

OF GEOTHERMAL FEATURES,

FUELED BY A GIANT SUPERVOLCANO

LURKING JUST BENEATH \hTHE EARTH’S CRUST.\n

ITS BEAUTY IS FEARSOME.

♪

BUT ON MANY DAYS,

YELLOWSTONE IS THE COLDEST PLACE IN THE LOWER 48 STATES.

[WIND HOWLING]

SNOW BEGINS TO FALL IN SEPTEMBER

AND CAN LAST THROUGH MAY.

[SQUEAKING]

DECEMBER IS THE COLDEST MONTH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE.\n

THE AVERAGE LOW

\h\h\hHOVERS JUST ABOVE\NZERO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.\n

AND TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET \h\h\h\h\hBELOW NEGATIVE 50.\n

♪

EVEN TRUMPETER SWANS,

\h\h\h\h\hDRAWN TO THE REFUGE\NOF YELLOWSTONE’S OPEN WATERS,\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE TESTED\NON THESE MOST SEVERE DAYS.\n

♪

\h\h\h\hLESS THAN ONE PERCENT\NOF THE PARK’S ANNUAL VISITORS\n

BRAVE THE COLD.

MOST OF YELLOWSTONE’S ROADS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE CLOSED,\n

BURIED IN THE DRIFTS.

\h\hOVERSNOW TRAVEL\NBECOMES THE ONLY WAY\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO ACCESS\NTHE INTERIOR OF THE PARK.\n

\h\hSNOWMOBILES CARRY TRAVELERS\NTHROUGH A GLITTERING WONDERLAND.\n

♪

GHOST TREES HOVER OVER THEM,

CREATED WHEN GEOTHERMAL STEAM \hFREEZES ON LIMBS AND BOUGHS.\n

♪

\h\hCROSS COUNTRY SKIERS GLIDE\NACROSS SNOW-COVERED BOARDWALKS\n

THAT IN SUMMER WOULD BE CROWDED WITH TOURISTS.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST MAGICAL \hMOMENTS OF A WINTER VISIT\n

ARE EXPERIENCED IN STILLNESS.

\h\hTHOSE WHO COME IN WINTER ARE\NREWARDED WITH THE RAREST SCENES.\n

YELLOWSTONE’S MARVELS,

FRAMED BY THE WONDER \h\h\hOF THE SEASON.\n

WINTER’S FIRST DEEP FREEZE \h\h\h\h\h\hIS SO EXTREME\n

\hTHAT IT PRODUCES\NA RARE SPECTACLE.\n

[BIRD CALLING]

DIAMOND DUST.

♪

IT APPEARS WHEN TEMPERATURES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFALL SO LOW\n

THAT THE WATER VAPOR IN THE AIR CRYSTALLIZES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTINY RODS OF ICE\NPRECIPITATE IN THE CLEAR AIR\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND GLITTER\NAS THEY SCATTER SUNLIGHT.\n

\h\h\hTHIS PHENOMENON\NIS MORE TYPICALLY SEEN\n

IN THE MOST FRIGID PLACE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH--\n

ANTARCTICA.

♪

THE SPARKLE OF DIAMOND DUST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ALLURING.\n

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THE CONDITIONS\NTHAT CREATE IT MEAN TROUBLE.\n

♪

♪

IT’S JANUARY.

\h\h\h\hTHE COLD SNAP HAS FROZEN\NYELLOWSTONE’S NORTHERN REGIONS.\n

OPEN WATER IS NOW SCARCE.

\h\hONE FAMILY MUST FIND\NTHE POCKETS THAT REMAIN.\n

[SQUEAKING]

RIVER OTTERS.

FOUR LARGE PUPS,

ALMOST AS BIG AS THEIR MOTHER.

SHE’LL GUIDE THEM THROUGH THEIR FIRST WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE.

[SQUEAKING]

WHAT LOOKS LIKE SIMPLE PLAY \h\h\hIS ACTUALLY MUCH MORE.\n

IT’S SOCIAL BONDING,

GROOMING,

MARKING TERRITORY.

THE PUPS MUST MASTER \h\h\hTHESE ROUTINES\n

BEFORE THEY CAN VENTURE OUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THEIR OWN.\n

[SQUEAKING]

BUT NO SKILL

\hWILL BE MORE IMPORTANT\NTO THE OTTERS’ SURVIVAL\n

THAN FINDING FOOD.

AND NOW THEIR TERRITORY \h\h\h\hHAS BEEN REDUCED\n

TO THESE LAST FRAGMENTS \h\h\h\h\hOF OPEN RIVER.\n

OTTERS ARE BUILT FOR FISHING.

DENSE HAIR TRAPS AIR BUBBLES

AND KEEPS ICY WATER \h\hFROM WARM SKIN.\n

EARS AND NOSTRILS CLOSE

\h\h\h\hTO ALLOW DIVES\NSEVERAL MINUTES LONG.\n

\h\hRAPID DIGESTION\NAND QUICK METABOLISM\n

DEMAND CONSTANT FUEL.

TODAY, SUCCESS IS SHARED.

THE OTTERS FEAST.

\h\h\h\hTHE APPETITES\NOF SUCH A LARGE FAMILY\n

\h\h\h\hQUICKLY EXHAUST\NEVEN A BOUNTIFUL SUPPLY.\n

TOGETHER, THE OTTERS HAVE TAKEN ALL THAT THIS POOL HAS TO OFFER.

THEY NEED A FRESH CACHE.

AND IN THESE TRYING CONDITIONS,

\hTHE NEXT FISHING HOLE\NCOULD BE A LONG WAY OFF.\n

LED BY THEIR MOTHER,

THE TRAVELERS SET OUT \hWITH DETERMINATION.\n

[SQUEAKING]

OTTERS ARE CAPABLE OF OVERLAND TREKS.

BUT LEAVING THE WATER \hMEANS VULNERABILITY,\n

BECAUSE ON LAND,

THEY BECOME THE HUNTED.

\h\hTHEY MUST TRAVERSE FROM\NONE FISHING HOLE TO ANOTHER\n

WHILE AVOIDING PREDATORS.

THE OTTERS RUN QUICKLY...

AND SLIDE WITH EASE.

♪

♪

BUT BEFORE THEY REACH \h\hTHEIR DESTINATION,\n

THEIR JOURNEY IS HINDERED.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hSNOW FLURRIES\NMAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE,\n

HARDER TO FOLLOW.

♪

A PUP FALLS BEHIND.

SOON SHE’S SEPARATED.

AND THE STORM IS BUILDING.

\hTHE BLIZZARD COULD\NSETTLE IN FOR DAYS.\n

DISORIENTING.

RELENTLESS.

TRACKS DISAPPEAR.

DRIFTS SWALLOW DISTRESS CALLS.

[SQUEAK]

\h\h\hTHE OTTER PUP ISN’T READY\NTO SURVIVE ALONE IN YELLOWSTONE.\n

[SQUEAK]

BUT IF SHE DOESN’T FIND FAMILY SOON,

THE WHITEOUT COULD BURY \hANY HOPE OF A REUNION.\n

♪

A WINTER BLIZZARD IN YELLOWSTONE

IS A SINGULAR COLLISION \h\h\hOF MIGHTY FORCES.\n

♪

DRIVING SNOW MEETS RISING HEAT.

THERMAL IMAGERY

REVEALS A REMARKABLE CONTRAST \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN TEMPERATURE.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hWATER HEATED\NABOVE THE BOILING POINT\n

\h\hMEETS AIR THAT’S\NFAR BELOW FREEZING.\n

JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE

LIES THE WORLD’S LARGEST \h\hACTIVE SUPERVOLCANO,\n

\h\h\h\hMOLTEN ROCK MORE THAN\NA THOUSAND DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.\n

TWO MASSIVE MAGMA CHAMBERS

EMITTING A SUBTERRANEAN \h\h\h\h\hTHERMAL GLOW.\n

FIRE...

AND ICE.

YELLOWSTONE’S EXTREMES.

AWAY FROM THE DIRECT IMPACT \h\h\hOF THE VOLCANO’S HEAT,\n

\hSNOWFALL ACCUMULATES\NIN STAGGERING DEPTHS.\n

♪

FEW SPECIES ARE PREPARED TO WITHSTAND THESE CONDITIONS.

BUT TWO MILLION WINTERS \hHAVE SHAPED A CREATURE\n

WHO ATTEMPTS TO SURVIVE HERE LONG AFTER OTHERS HAVE FLED.

THE BISON.

\h\h\h\h\hA MUSCULAR HUMP\NSUPPORTS A MASSIVE HEAD--\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA SNOWPLOW\NTHAT CLEARS AWAY DRIFTS\n

AND UNCOVERS BURIED GRASSES.

A DENSE COAT AND LAYERS OF FAT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTAVE OFF\NTHE PUNISHING WIND AND COLD.\n

[GRUNT]

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE BEASTS\NCARRY WINTER WITH THEM,\n

EVERY STEP.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE THE DESCENDANTS\NOF SURVIVORS FROM A PAST WORLD.\n

THE CONQUEST OF THE CONTINENT

NEARLY SPELLED THE EXTINCTION \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR SPECIES.\n

IN THE 1800s,

AS AMERICA EXPANDED WESTWARD,

\h\hHERDS THAT NUMBERED\NIN THE TENS OF MILLIONS\n

WERE SLAUGHTERED.

BY THE LATE 19th CENTURY,

ONLY A FEW HUNDRED BISON \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREMAINED.\n

THE LAST FREE-ROAMING HERD

LAY HIDDEN IN A REMOTE VALLEY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE.\n

♪

THESE TWO DOZEN BISON

\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAME THE SOURCE\NFOR A RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES.\n

YELLOWSTONE IS NOW HOME \hTO THOUSANDS OF BISON.\n

THEY WAGE AN ANCIENT BATTLE \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE STORM.\n

BUT EACH WINTER

\h\h\h\h\hTHERE COMES A TIME\NWHEN THE SNOW GETS TOO DEEP\n

FOR THESE ANIMALS \hTO FIND FORAGE.\n

THE BISON BEGIN TO STIR,

TO REARRANGE THEMSELVES.

A MATRIARCH,

THE LEADER OF THE HERD,

GIVES A SIGNAL.

IT’S TIME TO MOVE.

GUIDED BY INSTINCT \hAND EXPERIENCE,\n

THE BISON FALL INTO LINE \h\hTO FOLLOW HER TRAIL.\n

THIS IS THE BEGINNING \hOF THEIR MIGRATION.\n

♪

♪

\h\h\h\h\hAS DARKNESS FALLS,\NTHE HERD LEAVES THE VALLEY,\n

MARCHING TOWARDS THE HEART \hOF YELLOWSTONE’S WARMTH\n

AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RELIEF.

THROUGH THE BLIZZARD,

THE BOBCAT HAS FOUND SHELTER \h\hIN A CAVE IN THE CLIFFS.\n

BUT AT FIRST LIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hHIS PATIENCE\NGIVES WAY TO HIS HUNGER.\n

♪

♪

♪

A FAMILIAR SCENE...

AND A PROMISING START.

[QUACK]

THE BOBCAT HAS THE DUCK \h\h\h\h\hIN HIS SIGHTS.\n

THE STALKER HASN’T BEEN SPOTTED.

THE CAT KEEPS A LOW PROFILE...

AND PREPARES AN AMBUSH.

BUT THE DUCK PASSES

JUST OUT OF RANGE.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY DRIFTS AWAY.

[RUSTLING]

\h\hSOMETHING MUCH CLOSER\NRUSTLES BENEATH THE SNOW.\n

♪

\h\hEXACTLY WHAT IT IS\NTHE BOBCAT CAN’T TELL.\n

BUT THIS HUNT, ON LAND,

IS A FAMILIAR PURSUIT.

FOLLOW A SOUND...

ORIENT...

AND POUNCE.

WHATEVER IS MOVING BELOW \h\hHAS DODGED A STRIKE.\n

\h\h\hBUT ITS SOUND\NSTILL GIVES IT AWAY.\n

[SCRATCHING]

♪

[SCRATCHING]

♪

[SCRATCHING]

♪

[SQUEAKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFINALLY,\NA SMALL TASTE OF SUCCESS.\n

A RODENT ISN’T MUCH.

\h\hBUT THE BOBCAT\NSEEMS TO TAKE AWAY\n

MORE THAN A MEAGER MEAL.

IT’S AS IF THE CAT \h\hHAS REMEMBERED\n

HIS MOST POWERFUL WEAPON--

AGILITY.

HAVING A TARGET IS ONE THING.

[SPLASH]

HITTING IT PERFECTLY \h\h\h\hIS ANOTHER.\n

\h\h\hAND THE DUCKS\NARE A MOVING TARGET.\n

WHEN THEY SPOT THE BOBCAT,

THEY FIND THEIR SAFE ZONE--

THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.

BUT LOSE TRACK OF THE CAT,

AND THE TABLES TURN.

[SPLASH]

THE BOBCAT MUST GET INTO STRIKING RANGE

WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.

AND HE’S MASTERING HIS APPROACH.

♪

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERYTHING\NIS FLOATING INTO PLACE.\n

♪

[QUACKING]

THE PERFECT AMBUSH,

FOILED BY AN AWKWARD TAKEOFF.

[QUACKING]

WITH WINTER’S HARDEST DAYS \h\h\h\h\h\hSTILL TO COME,\n

\h\h\h\hTHE BOBCAT FACES\NEVER HEIGHTENED STAKES.\n

\h\h\hHE MUST MASTER\NTHIS HUNTING GROUND\n

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

THE BLIZZARD HAS PASSED.

BUT ITS CONSEQUENCES LINGER.

\h\hTHE OTTER PUP,\NLOST IN THE STORM,\n

\h\hCONTINUES HER SEARCH\NFOR ANY SIGN OF FAMILY.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CLEARING SKY\NMEANS THE PUP CAN SEE AGAIN.\n

BUT SHE CAN ALSO BE SEEN.

♪

A COYOTE.

ALWAYS ON THE HUNT.

IT HOMES IN ON THE STRANDED PUP.

OUT OF THE WATER AND ALONE,

SHE’S DEFENSELESS.

IT’S A RACE.

\h\hTHE OTTER MUST REACH\NTHE SAFETY OF THE WATER\n

BEFORE THE COYOTE ATTACKS.

♪

♪

IN THE WATER,

THE PUP IS BACK ON TOP \h\hOF THE FOOD CHAIN.\n

PURSUIT WOULD BE FUTILE.

[SPLASH]

AND WITH THE SOUND OF A SPLASH,

THE PUP DOUBLES HER LUCK.

♪

♪

[SQUEAKING]

TIME TO CELEBRATE A FAMILY REUNION.

♪

[SQUEAKING]

♪

IN THE HEART OF YELLOWSTONE,

\h\h\h\h\hANOTHER JOURNEY\NTHAT BEGAN IN THE BLIZZARD\n

IS ALSO ENDING WITH RELIEF.

THE BISON HAVE TRADED DEEP SNOW FOR THIS...

\hA PLACE WHERE THE HEAT\NFROM YELLOWSTONE’S CORE\n

RISES FROM THE GROUND

AND ERASES THE WEIGHT OF WINTER.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHILE MUCH\NOF YELLOWSTONE’S GRASSLANDS\n

LIE BURIED BY STORMS,

HERE HEAT FROM THE SUPERVOLCANO MELTS THE SNOW.

THE BISON HAVE FOUND REFUGE

\h\h\hIN THE WARMTH\NOF THE GEYSER BASIN.\n

♪

♪

THIS IS THE FIERY HEART \h\h\h\hOF YELLOWSTONE.\n

♪

ITS GEOTHERMAL CORE.

\h\hYELLOWSTONE BOASTS\NTHE LARGEST COLLECTION\n

OF GEOTHERMAL WONDERS \h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA STUNNING ARRAY\NOF MORE THAN 10,000 FEATURES.\n

GEYSERS SPEW WATER

THAT HAS BEEN SUPER HEATED \h\hUNDER EXTREME PRESSURE\n

\h\h\h\hTO TEMPERATURES\NABOVE THE BOILING POINT.\n

FUMAROLES HISS AND WHISTLE \h\h\h\hAS STEAM ESCAPES.\n

[HISSING]

[BURBLING]

MUD POTS BUBBLE WITH A MIXTURE \h\hOF SURFACE WATER AND CLAY\n

AND STINK OF SULFIDE GASES \hRISING FROM THE GROUND.\n

\h\h\hHOT SPRINGS SHOWCASE\NTHE COLOR OF RARE BACTERIA\n

THAT THRIVE IN EXTREME HEAT.

TERRACES FORM

AS THERMAL WATERS DEPOSIT LAYERS OF DISSOLVED LIMESTONE

IN CASCADING TIERS.

THESE EXTRAORDINARY SIGHTS

\h\hARE WHAT INSPIRED\NAN UNPRECEDENTED ACT--\n

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD’S \h\h\h\hFIRST NATIONAL PARK.\n

THE BOUNDARIES OF YELLOWSTONE, \h\h\h\h\h\hSET DOWN IN 1872,\n

WERE ORIGINALLY DRAWN TO PROTECT ITS GEOTHERMAL FEATURES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS WHAT\NEARLY VISITORS CAME TO SEE.\n

\h\h\h\hYELLOWSTONE’S\NMOST FAMOUS ATTRACTION\n

IS OLD FAITHFUL,

\h\h\h\hA GEYSER NAMED FOR\NITS PREDICTABLE ERUPTIONS.\n

\h\h\h\hTHE HISTORIC\NOLD FAITHFUL VILLAGE\n

\hWAS BUILT TO FRAME\NTHE ICONIC LANDMARK.\n

HAMILTON’S STORE HAS STOOD HERE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

BUT EVERY WINTER, IT’S TESTED.

\h\hTHE WEIGHT OF SNOW\NCOLLECTING ON ITS ROOF\n

COULD COLLAPSE THE BUILDING.

\h\h\h\hITS PRESERVATION\NDEPENDS ON INTERVENTION.\n

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE CALLED\NTHE WINTER KEEPERS...\n

\hTHE HARDY SOULS WHO WORK TO\NGUARD RELICS OF ANOTHER TIME.\n

THEIR CHALLENGE:

SAVING THE HAMILTON STORE FROM THE BURDEN OF WINTER.

♪

♪

\h\h\hTHEIR TECHNIQUE,\NPRACTICED AND PRECISE,\n

ALLOWS THEM TO REMOVE \h\h\h\hMASSIVE BLOCKS\n

WITH DRAMATIC EFFICIENCY.

\h\h\hA SINGLE SLAB CAN WEIGH\NAS MUCH AS A THOUSAND POUNDS.\n

♪

♪

WHEN ALL OF THE LOWER ROOF \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS CLEAR,\n

\h\h\h\hTHEY ATTEMPT THE FINAL\NAND MOST DANGEROUS PROCEDURE.\n

THEIR TOOL IS A SIMPLE ROPE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THE TEAM\NMUST POSITION IT PERFECTLY.\n

♪

\hTHE ROPE BECOMES\NA GIANT SNOW SAW.\n

[RUBBING]

AND WITH ONE LAST TUG...

THE WEIGHT OF WINTER COMES CRASHING DOWN.

♪

HAMILTON’S STORE IS RELIEVED OF THE BURDEN OF THE SEASON.

♪

THE BISON HAVE ALSO FOUND RELIEF

\h\h\hIN THIS PLACE WHERE\NTHEY CAN STILL REACH FOOD.\n

♪

♪

[SNORTING]

LIKE A WATERING HOLE \hON THE SERENGETI,\n

THIS OASIS DRAWS BOTH REFUGEES \h\h\h\h\h\hAND OPPORTUNISTS.\n

SKULKING IN THE CURTAINS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF STEAM\n

IS ONE OF THE SEASON’S \hMOST DEADLY FORCES.\n

THE LARGEST PACK OF WOLVES \h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE...\n

DRAWN HERE BY THE GROWING \h\h\h\h\hNUMBERS OF BISON\n

SEEKING SHELTER IN THE HEAT.

UNLIKE MANY SPECIES,

THE WOLVES FIND ADVANTAGE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WINTER.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLONG LEGS\NCAN FORD THE DEEP SNOW.\n

WOOLLY COATS

WITH A PROTECTIVE LAYER \h\h\h\h\hOF GUARD HAIR\n

KEEP HEAT IN AND MOISTURE OUT.

[HOWLING]

THE WOLF IS STRONG.

AND THE BISON IS AT ITS WEAKEST.

[SNORT]

[GROWL]

\h\h\hFOR MONTHS, IT’S EXPENDED\NMORE ENERGY THAN IT CAN REPLACE.\n

THE WOLVES HAVE LITTLE CHANCE

OF TAKING DOWN A BISON \h\h\h\hIN ITS PRIME.\n

BUT NOW THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

AS DARKNESS FALLS,

THE PACK CLOSES IN.

[HOWLING]

THEIR HOWLS BETRAY SUCCESS.

[HOWLING]

BY FIRST LIGHT,

THE WOLVES HAVE STRIPPED THE BISON TO THE BONE...

EACH CONSUMING MORE THAN \h\h\h20 POUNDS OF MEAT.\n

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

[GROWLING]

\h\h\hWHEN THE PACK\NHAS TAKEN ITS FILL,\n

\h\hTHE CARCASS BECOMES\NA FOOD SOURCE FOR MANY.\n

♪

[SQUAWKING]

A RED FOX IS LAST TO THE SCENE.

♪

♪

\h\h\h\hBUT THERE’S NOTHING\NIT CAN GLEAN FROM THE BONES.\n

THE FOX MUST FIND MORE.

UNLIKE ITS RELATIVE, THE WOLF,

\h\h\hTHE FOX MOVES THROUGH\NYELLOWSTONE’S WINTER ALONE,\n

WITHOUT A PACK.

BUT EVEN WHEN THERE’S NO ONE ELSE IN SIGHT,

IT MARKS ITS TERRITORY,

RUBBING SCENT GLANDS \hAGAINST THE SNOW.\n

THE FOX CAN SENSE LIFE HERE

AND OPPORTUNITY--

MOVEMENTS THAT CAN’T BE SEEN.

WITH ACUTE HEARING,

THE FOX TRACES THE SOUND

\h\h\hOF RODENTS TUNNELING\NDEEP BENEATH THE SURFACE.\n

THE FOX LISTENS...

CALCULATES...

AND COMMITS.

NO LUCK.

AND MAYBE EVEN A HEADACHE.

\h\h\hTHIS LANDSCAPE\NMIGHT LOOK UNIFORM,\n

AN ENDLESS FIELD OF WHITE.

BUT SINCE THE LAST STORM,

THE WIND HAS SHIFTED THE TERRAIN AND LOADED DANGEROUS DRIFTS.

ANY STEP COULD BE A LETHAL TRIGGER.

♪

A NARROW ESCAPE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE LUCKY FOX\NCAN CONTINUE HIS QUEST.\n

BENEATH THE SNOWPACK

LIES AN INVISIBLE WORLD BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY.

HUNDREDS OF SMALL RODENTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED VOLES\n

\h\h\h\hSCURRY THROUGH\NA NETWORK OF TUNNELS,\n

NESTLED IN THE AIRY LAYER

BETWEEN SOLID EARTH AND THE SNOW ABOVE.

♪

THE FOX SCORES HIS PRIZE.

♪

VOLES ARE ONE OF THE MOST \h\hIMPORTANT PREY SPECIES\n

IN YELLOWSTONE,

FOR CREATURES LARGE AND SMALL.

THE ERMINE IS SWIFT,

\h\h\h\hPERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED\NBY ITS SNOW WHITE WINTER COAT.\n

♪

THE COYOTE,

NOT AS GRACEFUL IN ITS APPROACH,

BUT JUST AS EFFECTIVE.

♪

\h\h\h\hAN ABUNDANCE OF VOLES\NMAY GIVE EACH OF THESE HUNTERS\n

\h\hA CHANCE OF SURVIVING\NTHIS RELENTLESS SEASON...\n

FOR WINTER’S MOST LETHAL FORCE \h\hMAY WELL BE ITS DURATION.\n

♪

♪

\h\hWINTER CONDITIONS\NPREVAIL IN YELLOWSTONE\n

FOR MORE THAN HALF THE YEAR.

\h\hENDLESS EXPOSURE\NAND SLOW STARVATION\n

\hHAVE TAKEN A TOLL\NON THIS GREAT BEAST.\n

\h\hNEARLY ONE IN TEN BISON\NWILL NOT SURVIVE THE WINTER.\n

♪

PREDATORS CANNOT BE BLAMED \h\h\h\h\hFOR THIS DEATH.\n

♪

IT HAS A SIMPLE NAME--

WINTER KILL.

AT THE BISON’S CARCASS,

HUNTERS BECOME SCAVENGERS.

♪

BUT THE BOBCAT HAS NOT GIVEN UP HIS PURSUIT ON THE RIVER.

WHILE THE CAT HAS GOTTEN BY \h\h\h\h\hWITH SMALL MEALS--\n

THE RODENTS HE’S CAUGHT \h\h\hON THE RIVERBANK--\n

HE STILL HAS HIS SIGHTS \h\hON SOMETHING RICHER.\n

SITTING DUCKS.

IT’S TIME TO PUT EVERYTHING \hHE’S LEARNED INTO ACTION.\n

♪

HE KNOWS HIS STRATEGY.

♪

\hWHILE THE DUCKS\NREMAIN OBLIVIOUS,\n

HE MANEUVERS INTO POSITION.

♪

♪

♪

THE PERFECT STRIKE.

[QUACK]

♪

\h\hAT LAST, THE BOBCAT\NHAS MASTERED THE RIVER,\n

AND WITH IT...

WINTER.

HE HAS DEFIED THE ICE,

THE DEPTHS OF SNOW.

♪

FOR ALL WHO HAVE SURVIVED

THE TRIALS OF THIS SEASON \h\h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE,\n

\h\hTHERE WILL SOON\NBE SIGNS OF CHANGE.\n

WINTER WILL RETREAT.

SPRING WILL COME...

BRINGING FIRST STEPS...

NEW BEGINNINGS...

AND INDEPENDENCE.

♪

♪

\hTHAT WET BOBCAT PULLING\NTHE DUCK OUT OF THE WATER,\n

IT’S A RARE SIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE WOLVES\NAPPEARING FROM THE STEAM.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE NOW ABLE\NTO SEE LIFE IN YELLOWSTONE\n

AS WE’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT LONG AGO,\NTHAT SCENE WITH THE WOLVES,\n

\h\h\hTHAT COULDN’T HAVE\NBEEN FILMED IN THE PARK.\n

THERE WEREN’T ANY.

THE NEXT "EPIC YELLOWSTONE"

TELLS THE STORY OF THE RETURN \h\h\h\hOF THE TOP PREDATORS.\n

THEY’RE TRANSFORMING \hTHE NATIONAL PARK,\n

RESTORING AN ANCIENT BALANCE.