Original subtitles

HI, I’M BILL PULLMAN.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO MONTANA \h\h\h\h\h\h\h40 YEARS AGO,\n

\h\h\hI DIDN’T REALIZE\NSOMETHING WAS MISSING\n

\h\hFROM THIS PLACE\NTHAT SEEMS SO WILD.\n

WOLVES WERE GONE,

AND GRIZZLY BEARS WERE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

BUT ALL THAT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK \h\h\h\h\hBECAME THE STAGE\n

FOR A GROUNDBREAKING COMEBACK--

THE RETURN OF THESE \h\hICONIC ANIMALS.\n

BUT WHILE WE IMAGINE THEM \h\h\h\h\h\hAS INVINCIBLE,\n

YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE THAT THEIR LIVES ARE FULL OF HARDSHIP.

A GRIZZLY MOM RAISING CUBS HAS TO ALWAYS BE ON GUARD,

AND A WOLF WITHOUT A PACK

DOESN’T HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SURVIVE.\n

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS THE STORY OF\NTHE RETURN OF THE PREDATORS.\n

YELLOWSTONE.

IT BEGAN WITH AN IDEA, \h\hA BOLD EXPERIMENT:\n

TO PROTECT THE WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

\h\hBUT FOR NEARLY A CENTURY\NA MIGHTY FORCE WAS MISSING.\n

ICONS, HUNTED AND FEARED.

\h\h\hFOR ALL ITS BEAUTY,\NYELLOWSTONE WAS IN CHAOS.\n

A LAND OUT OF BALANCE.

\hUNTIL THE RETURN\NOF THE PREDATORS.\n

[ROARING]

THE GRAY WOLF HAS RECLAIMED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS TERRITORY.\n

GRIZZLIES ARE TAKING BACK \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE THRONE.\n

IN THE STRUGGLE OF THE CHASE

AND THE TIRELESS BATTLE \h\h\h\hFOR SURVIVAL...\n

LIFE FOR A HUNTER IS NEVER EASY.

A LEGENDARY MOTHER GUARDS HER LEGACY.

\h\hAND A LONE WOLF SEARCHES\NDESPERATELY TO FIND A PACK.\n

[BARKING]

[HOWLING]

THIS IS YELLOWSTONE REBORN.

\h\h\hTHE DAWN OF A NEW ERA\NFOR BOTH PREDATORS AND PREY.\n

[GROWL]

[THUNDER]

[GROWLING]

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

[CHIRPING]

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS HERALD \h\hTHE ARRIVAL OF SPRING\n

IN YELLOWSTONE.

BUT NOTHING ANNOUNCES THE SEASON

\hLIKE A MIGHTY GRIZZLY\NWAKING FROM HIBERNATION.\n

♪

\hHUNGER DRIVES HIM\NDOWN TO THE VALLEY,\n

GUIDED BY A FAMILIAR SCENT.

HIS NOSE, SEVEN TIMES STRONGER \h\h\h\h\hTHAN A BLOODHOUND’S,\n

BRINGS HIM STRAIGHT \h\h\hTO THE SOURCE.\n

A WINTER-KILL BISON CARCASS.

[GRUNTS]

A RICH SOURCE OF PROTEIN

UNLOCKED BY FAST-MELTING \h\h\h\h\hICE AND SNOW.\n

♪

BUT IT’S ALSO ATTRACTED ANOTHER.

A LONE WOLF.

A CURIOUS ADOLESCENT \h\hNAMED BLACKTAIL.\n

LIKE MANY YOUNG MALES, HE’S LEFT BEHIND THE SECURITY OF HIS PACK

TO STRIKE OUT ON HIS OWN.

BUT BLACKTAIL IS ALREADY \hTREADING ON THIN ICE.\n

♪

IT’S A RARE ENCOUNTER:

TWO TOP PREDATORS GOING TOE-TO-TOE.

THE OLD BOAR HOLDS HIS GROUND.

POSITION IS EVERYTHING.

\hBUT WHAT BLACKTAIL\NLACKS IN EXPERIENCE,\n

HE MAKES UP FOR WITH BRAVADO.

\hHE TAUNTS THE BOAR\NWITH A PLAYFUL BOW.\n

\h\h\h\hHE’S HUNGRY, AND\NHE’S TESTING THE LIMITS.\n

A SINGLE SWIPE COULD KILL.

♪

[ROARING]

BLACKTAIL COULD OUTRUN THE BEAR,

\hBUT HE STAYS CLOSE,\NDARING HIM TO KEEP UP.\n

[ROARING]

LURING HIM FARTHER AND FARTHER \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE CARCASS.\n

[ROAR]

♪

THE BOAR HAS HAD ENOUGH.

BLACKTAIL IS PLAYING \hA DANGEROUS GAME.\n

\h\h\hBUT THIS TIME\NHIS STRATEGY WORKED.\n

THOUGH HE MAY NOT KEEP \hTHE PRIZE FOR LONG.\n

[HOWLING]

[BARKING]

COYOTES.

THREE OF THEM.

SEEING THAT BLACKTAIL’S ALONE,

THEY FORM AN ALLIANCE \h\h\h\h\hAND MOVE IN.\n

[GROWLING]

WOLVES ARE USUALLY TOP DOG,

BUT THE COYOTES COME AT HIM \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM ALL SIDES.\n

[GROWLING]

HE’S NEVER FACED A GANG \h\h\hLIKE THIS BEFORE.\n

[YIPPING]

♪

[GROWL]

RELENTLESS, ORGANIZED,

THE COYOTES CHASE HIM OFF,

AND SWIFTLY TAKE POSSESSION.

BLACKTAIL WILL GO HUNGRY.

[HOOVES RUMBLING]

OUT HERE, A LONE WOLF IS A VULNERABLE WOLF.

EVERY MOMENT WITHOUT ALLIES, \h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT TERRITORY,\n

BLACKTAIL’S AT RISK.

[GRUNTING]

[BISON BELLOWS]

\h\h\hLIFE ON HIS OWN\NISN’T JUST DIFFICULT;\n

IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE.

HE MUST FIND A PACK

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

♪

\h\h\hSPRING CRESTS\NWITH A WAVE OF GREEN\n

\h\h\h\hTHAT RISES UP\NFROM THE VALLEY FLOOR\n

AND RUSHES ACROSS THE PLATEAU.

YELLOWSTONE’S GREAT HERDS \h\h\h\h\h\hARE RETURNING\n

TO ONE OF THE LAST OPEN RANGES \h\h\h\h\h\hIN NORTH AMERICA.\n

BISON, ELK AND PRONGHORN MIGRATE INTO THE PARK BY THE THOUSANDS

\h\h\hIN PURSUIT OF\NLUSH, GREEN FORAGE.\n

THESE HERDS ONCE BECAME \h\h\h\h\h\hSO NUMEROUS,\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY OVERGRAZED\NYELLOWSTONE’S RICH VALLEYS,\n

LEAVING THEM DAMAGED \h\h\hAND DEPLETED.\n

BUT NOW, IN SPRING’S FERVOR,

\h\h\hA RESURGENT FORCE WORKS\NTO KEEP THE SYSTEM IN BALANCE:\n

THE WOLF PACK.

THIS IS THE WAPITI PACK.

THE LARGEST IN YELLOWSTONE.

A FAMILY IN ITS PRIME.

20 MEMBERS STRONG...

AND STILL GROWING.

[BARKING]

THEY ROAM THE VAST INTERIOR \h\h\h\h\h\hOF YELLOWSTONE,\n

A TERRITORY OF 200 SQUARE MILES.

PERFECT WOLF HABITAT.

BUT UNTIL RECENTLY, GRAY WOLVES WERE GONE FROM THIS LANDSCAPE.

A CENTURY AGO, PREDATORS WERE SEEN AS THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS.

ELIMINATED FROM NEARLY ALL \h\hOF THEIR FORMER RANGE.\n

SCIENTISTS HAD NOT \h\hYET DISCOVERED\n

THAT AN ECOSYSTEM CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT BOTH PREY AND PREDATOR.

IN 1926, PARK RANGERS SHOT \hYELLOWSTONE’S LAST WOLF.\n

NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THE CONSEQUENCES.

\hBUT 70 YEARS LATER,\NIN THE WINTER OF 1995,\n

TWO HORSE-DRAWN SLEIGHS \hCARRIED 15 GRAY WOLVES\n

CAPTURED IN CANADA

\h\h\h\hAND RELEASED THEM IN\NTHE YELLOWSTONE BACKCOUNTRY.\n

IT WAS THE BEGINNING

\h\hOF ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS\NRESTORATION PROJECTS IN HISTORY.\n

♪

\h\h\h\hNO ONE KNEW IF\NTHE WOLVES WOULD STAY,\n

\h\hIF THEY COULD THRIVE\NIN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE.\n

OR WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THEIR PRESENCE WOULD BRING

TO THE YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM.

BUT IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG

\hFOR THE WOLVES TO MAKE\NYELLOWSTONE THEIR HOME.\n

[BARKING]

THE REVIVAL OF THE HUNT

RETURNED THE MOST PRIMARY DYNAMIC TO YELLOWSTONE...

A PREDATOR PURSUING ITS PREY.

[BARKING]

THANKS TO THE RETURN \h\h\h\hOF THE WOLF,\n

THE WORLD’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK IS NOW RECOGNIZED

AS ONE OF THE ONLY INTACT \hECOSYSTEMS OF ITS KIND.\n

[HOWLING]

TODAY, MORE THAN 100 DESCENDANTS OF THIS ENDEAVOR

ROAM YELLOWSTONE.

THE THRIVING WOLF PACKS KEEP THE GRAZING HERDS IN CHECK.

BUT THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY FORCE \h\h\h\hRESHAPING YELLOWSTONE.\n

HIGH IN THE ALPINE, ANOTHER TOP PREDATOR IS ON THE RISE

AND BEGINNING A RITE OF SPRING.

A BOAR GRIZZLY, RACING TOWARDS \h\hTHE OBJECT OF HIS DESIRE:\n

A FEMALE.

[GROWL]

\h\hTHE MARATHON OF GRIZZLY\NCOURTSHIP, RARELY WITNESSED,\n

IS A TEST OF WILLS \h\hAND ENDURANCE.\n

THE RELUCTANT FEMALE CAN RUN IN BURSTS UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR.

\h\h\hTHE BOAR MUST KEEP PACE\NOR RISK LOSING HER TO A RIVAL.\n

[GRUNTS]

SO FAR, SHE SEEMS UNIMPRESSED.

THE PURSUIT COULD LAST FOR DAYS.

[ROAR]

FINALLY SHE SLOWS HER PACE \h\hAND ALLOWS HIM CLOSE.\n

[ROAR]

BUT NOT TOO CLOSE.

[ROARING]

AFTER A LONG CHASE, THE FEMALE \hTURNS AND GREETS HER SUITOR.\n

HIS TRIAL IS OVER.

A FLEETING MOMENT OF UNION \h\h\h\h\hTHAT MAY LIVE ON\n

\hWITH THE NEXT GENERATION\NOF YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLIES.\n

IF ALL GOES WELL, \hBY NEXT SPRING,\n

SHE’LL HAVE CUBS AT HER SIDE.

DOWN IN THE VALLEY,

TWO OF THIS YEAR’S CUBS HAVE JUST EMERGED FROM THEIR DEN.

[CUB GROANS]

A LEGENDARY MOTHER \h\hLEADS THE WAY.\n

HER NAME IS QUAD-MOM.

THE MATRIARCH OF YELLOWSTONE.

\h\h\hONE OF THE MOST REVERED\NGRIZZLY SOWS IN PARK HISTORY.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN SPRING 2010,\NSHE EMERGED WITH FOUR CUBS,\n

ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL \h\h\h\hOF QUADRUPLETS\n

EVER OBSERVED IN YELLOWSTONE.

QUAD-MOM EARNED HER NAME.

HER FAME SPREAD,

AND SO DID HER MANY OFFSPRING,

\h\hWHO NOW RANGE THROUGH THE\NGREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM.\n

HER LEGACY HAS HELPED \h\h\hBRING GRIZZLIES\n

BACK FROM THE BRINK \h\h\hOF EXTINCTION.\n

\h\h\h\h\h40 YEARS AGO,\NTHE YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLY\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS PLACED ON\NTHE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.\n

AT THE TIME, FEWER THAN 150 BEARS REMAINED IN THE PARK,

THEIR NUMBERS DECIMATED

BY A CENTURY OF CONFLICT \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH HUMANS.\n

\hBUT, ONCE PROTECTED,\NGRIZZLIES FLOURISHED.\n

TODAY, MORE THAN 700 GRIZZLIES \h\h\h\hCALL YELLOWSTONE HOME.\n

\h\h\h\hQUAD-MOM IS NOW\NMORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD.\n

TIME IS NO LONGER ON HER SIDE.

\h\h\h\hSHE’S AMONG THE OLDEST\NWILD GRIZZLIES EVER TO BREED.\n

\h\hTHESE YOUNG CUBS COULD BE\NTHE LAST OF HER MANY LITTERS.\n

AND THE RISING NUMBER OF BEARS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE\n

HAS CREATED A NEW CHALLENGE:

COMPETITION.

A GASH RAKED ACROSS HER FOREHEAD IS A SIGN OF RECENT TROUBLE.

\h\hIT’S THE MARK OF\NAN AGGRESSIVE BOAR.\n

A TERRITORIAL MALE \h\hWILL KILL CUBS\n

TO BRING A SOW BACK INTO ESTRUS.

SHE CAN’T LET HER GUARD DOWN.

♪

SHE CATCHES WIND OF SOMETHING...

JUST OVER THE HORIZON.

[GRUNTING]

\h\hTHE BOAR’S SCENT\NHAS GIVEN HIM AWAY.\n

TIME TO LEAVE...

AND QUICKLY.

♪

♪

[CUB CRIES]

[THUNDER]

[RAIN FALLING]

♪

BY LATE JUNE, ABUNDANT RAIN \h\h\h\hAND MAXIMUM DAYLIGHT\n

DRIVE AN EXPLOSION OF GROWTH.

♪

[THUNDER]

♪

ON CUE, YELLOWSTONE’S HERDS ARE BRIMMING WITH NEW LIFE.

♪

♪

BUT WHERE PREY ARE MANY, PREDATORS ARE NEVER FAR.

THIS IS THE MOLLIES PACK,

CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE FIRST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPACKS TO FORM\n

AFTER THE WOLF REINTRODUCTION.

\h\h\h\h\hFOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS\NTHEY’VE RULED THE LAMAR VALLEY,\n

LIMITING THE ELK HERD \h\hTO A HEALTHY SIZE.\n

BUT THEIR REIGN IS NO LONGER CERTAIN.

THE MOLLIES HONED THEIR SKILLS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHUNTING ELK.\n

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS TIME\NTHEY’VE SET THEIR SIGHTS\n

ON SOMETHING MORE DIFFICULT.

AS ELK BECOME LESS PLENTIFUL, \h\h\h\h\hBISON FILL THE VOID.\n

REVIVING THE BISON HUNT \h\h\h\h\hMAY BE THE KEY\n

\hTO THE MOLLIES’\NCONTINUED SUCCESS.\n

A WALL OF HORNS AND HOOVES \h\h\h\h\h\hSTANDS GUARD.\n

INSTINCTIVELY, MOTHERS \hSHIELD THEIR CALVES.\n

AND WHEN DANGER THREATENS, \h\hTHE HERD CLOSES RANKS.\n

[GROWLING]

[BARK]

THE PACK CREATES CONFUSION,

TRYING TO SHAKE THE CALF \h\hLOOSE FROM THE HERD,\n

PROBING FOR ANY WEAKNESS.

WOLVES ARE BUILT FOR STAMINA.

[GRUNTS]

THE CHASE IS ON.

♪

THE BISON HUNT IS A NEW TEST FOR BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY.

AN ANCIENT STRUGGLE MISSING FOR NEARLY A CENTURY HAS RETURNED.

AS THE MOLLIES PUSH \hTHE BISON UPHILL,\n

A LONE WOLF APPEARS \h\hOUT OF THE SAGE:\n

BLACKTAIL.

STILL ALONE, STILL HUNGRY,

AND STILL DESPERATE.

HE SNEAKS IN TO GRAB A SHARE \h\h\h\h\hOF THE ELK CARCASS\n

WHILE THE PACK’S DISTRACTED.

IN THE MOLLIES’ TERRITORY, \h\hIT’S A DANGEROUS MOVE.\n

\h\hAT ANY MOMENT, THE WOLF PACK\NCOULD RETURN TO DEFEND ITS KILL.\n

♪

THE INTERLOPER HAS BEEN SPOTTED.

♪

THE MOLLIES WON’T TOLERATE BLACKTAIL

STEALING FROM THEIR ELK KILL.

THIS IS THEIR TURF.

THE TRESPASSER MUST BE \h\h\h\h\hHUNTED DOWN.\n

\h\hIT’S AN AGGRESSIVE DISPLAY\NTHAT’S HARDLY EVER WITNESSED.\n

♪

[SNARLING, YELPING]

[SPLASH]

BLACKTAIL IS TRAPPED \h\h\hIN THE CREEK.\n

[BARKING]

THE PACK CLOSES IN.

[BARKING, HOWLING]

[GROANS]

[SQUAWKING]

TATTERED, SOAKED TO THE BONE,

BLACKTAIL IS LUCKY \hTO ESCAPE ALIVE.\n

[DRINKING]

♪

IF HE CAN’T FIND A PACK, \hHIS LUCK WILL RUN OUT.\n

♪

THESE ARE THE TRIALS \h\hOF A LONE WOLF.\n

ALL HE CAN DO IS LICK HIS WOUNDS AND STRUGGLE ON.

THE RESURGENCE OF WOLVES AND BEARS IN YELLOWSTONE

SHIFTS THE DYNAMIC NOT JUST FOR PREY,

BUT ALSO FOR OTHER PREDATORS.

[BISON GRUNTS]

CHIEF AMONG THEM, THE COYOTE.

WHEN WOLVES WERE GONE \h\h\h\hAND BEARS FEW,\n

THE COYOTE POPULATION \h\h\h\h\hSKYROCKETED.\n

NOW, THE BALANCE HAS CHANGED.

WOLVES CHASE DOWN COYOTES \h\hAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.\n

BEARS ARE EQUALLY MENACING.

[ROAR]

ONLY THREE YEARS AFTER \hWOLF REINTRODUCTION,\n

THE NUMBER OF COYOTES \h\h\hDROPPED BY HALF.\n

BUT THE GENIUS OF THE COYOTE \h\hIS IN ITS ADAPTABILITY.\n

WITH LARGER PREY CLAIMED \h\hBY BIGGER PREDATORS,\n

COYOTES SHIFT THEIR FOCUS \h\h\h\hTO SMALLER QUARRY.\n

TAKE AWAY ONE FOOD SOURCE, \h\h\hAND ANOTHER POPS UP.\n

A VOLE, A SMALL SOCIAL RODENT WEIGHING LESS THAN TWO OUNCES.

\hWITH SHARP HEARING\NAND SWIFT REFLEXES,\n

THE COYOTE MAKES QUICK WORK \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE COLONY.\n

♪

[SQUEAKING]

♪

[SQUEAKING]

IT LOOKS EASY.

BUT THERE’S A CATCH:

SMALLER PREY MEANS \h\hHE NEEDS MORE.\n

\h\h\h\h\hESPECIALLY BECAUSE\NHE HAS OTHER MOUTHS TO FEED.\n

♪

[GROWLING]

[YELPING]

AS WOLVES AND BEARS RECLAIM YELLOWSTONE,

COYOTE NUMBERS MAY NEVER \hRETURN TO THEIR PEAK.\n

BUT OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE, \h\hIT’S ANOTHER STORY.\n

UNLIKE LARGER CARNIVORES,

COYOTES HAVE ADAPTED WELL \h\h\h\hTO HUMAN HABITAT.\n

THEY’RE DRAMATICALLY EXPANDING \hFROM THEIR HISTORICAL RANGE,\n

SPREADING TO THE FARTHEST \hCORNERS OF NORTH AMERICA\n

AND BEYOND.

[GRUMBLING]

BY AUGUST, QUAD-MOM’S CUBS

\hARE GAINING ALMOST\NTWO POUNDS PER DAY,\n

AND GROWING FRISKIER \h\h\hBY THE MINUTE.\n

[CUB GROANS]

[CUB GROANS]

KEEPING THEM FED AND OUT OF TROUBLE IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

[GROANING]

BUT TAKING A BREAK TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT IS AWFULLY TEMPTING.

♪

♪

THE CUBS AREN’T SO SURE.

THEY’D RATHER STAY ON THE RUN.

BUT THEY’LL NEED ALL THE ENERGY THEY CAN MUSTER,

BECAUSE THEY’RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN EPIC JOURNEY.

\h\h\hTHE NURSING CUBS HAVE\NA CONSTANT DEMAND FOR FOOD.\n

QUAD-MOM KNOWS A SECRET SOURCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF CALORIES.\n

BUT IT MEANS LEAVING BEHIND \h\h\h\h\hTHE LUSH VALLEY...\n

[ROCKS CLATTERING]

\h\h\h\hLEADING THE CUBS INTO\NA COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD.\n

♪

[SCREECH]

♪

♪

♪

♪

♪

SHE CLIMBS TO A REMOTE FACE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF YELLOWSTONE\n

FEW HAVE EVER LAID EYES ON.

IT’S AN UNEXPECTED DESTINATION \h\h\h\hFOR A LARGE CARNIVORE.\n

BUT EACH AUGUST, A HIDDEN FEAST LURES BEARS TO THE HIGH ALPINE.

QUAD-MOM IS NOT ALONE.

THE MOUNTAINS ARE CRAWLING \h\h\h\h\hWITH GRIZZLIES.\n

♪

\h\h\h\hAT FIRST GLANCE,\NIT’S A BARREN LANDSCAPE.\n

BUT NESTLED AMONG THE ROCKS, \h\h\h\h\hA SPLASH OF COLOR.\n

ALPINE WILDFLOWERS.

THEIR SWEET NECTAR ATTRACTS

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ARMY CUTWORM MOTHS.

THESE ARE WHAT THE BEARS \h\h\h\h\hHAVE COME FOR.\n

\hEACH AUGUST, THE MOTHS MIGRATE\NIN SWARMS FROM THE GREAT PLAINS.\n

THE FATTENED INSECTS BURROW DEEP INTO CREVICES DURING THE DAY,

\hHIDDEN AWAY FROM\NINTENSE SUNLIGHT.\n

UNTIL A HUNGRY INTRUDER \h\hDISRUPTS THE PEACE.\n

DURING THE FEAST,

THE GRIZZLIES EACH GORGE ON 40,000 MOTHS PER DAY,

20,000 CALORIES,

THE RICHEST BOUNTY OF FAT AND PROTEIN IN ALL OF YELLOWSTONE.

QUAD-MOM HAS PERFECTLY \h\hTIMED HER ARRIVAL\n

\hTO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF\NTHIS BRIEF ABUNDANCE.\n

SHE’LL CONSUME HALF HER ANNUAL \h\hCALORIES IN ONLY 30 DAYS.\n

A VITAL STOCKPILE FOR WINTER.

EVEN THE CUBS HAVE CAUGHT ON,

RELISHING THEIR FIRST MOTHS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE ALPINE.\n

♪

\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE,\NSURVIVAL HINGES UPON\n

\h\hHEEDING NATURAL,\NPREDICTABLE CYCLES.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN RARE CASES,\NTHE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF NATURE\n

APPEAR TO TURN UPSIDE DOWN.

AND DAY TURNS INTO NIGHT.

♪

THE MIDDAY SUN IS FADING.

A SUDDEN CHILL GRIPS THE AIR.

THE BUZZ OF INSECTS QUIETS,

AND THE FEEDING FRENZY \h\h\hCOMES TO A HALT.\n

ALL ACROSS YELLOWSTONE,

DARKNESS DESCENDS.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hTRAVELING AT\N1,800 MILES PER HOUR,\n

\hTHE MOON’S SHADOW\NSLICES A NARROW PATH\n

ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

♪

A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE \hBLANKETS YELLOWSTONE\n

IN A FLEETING AURA OF DARKNESS.

♪

♪

♪

\hTHE COSMIC FIREWORKS\NLAST ONLY TWO MINUTES.\n

♪

AS SUDDENLY AS THEY VANISHED, \h\h\hLIGHT AND WARMTH RETURN.\n

♪

YELLOWSTONE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE TOTALITY AGAIN FOR 235 YEARS.

♪

[ELK BUGLES]

IN AUTUMN, ANOTHER CYCLE OF CHANGE IS UNDER WAY.

\h\hTHE GREAT HERDS\NREVERSE THEIR FLOW,\n

LEAVING THE HIGH COUNTRY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN DROVES.\n

AND WITH GOOD REASON.

WINTER COMES EARLY \hTO YELLOWSTONE.\n

♪

SUMMER’S BOUNTY IS GONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBY NOVEMBER,\NFOOD BECOMES TOO SCARCE.\n

QUAD-MOM HAS NO CHOICE \h\hBUT TO HIBERNATE.\n

SHE’S PREPARED WELL.

SINCE SPRING, SHE’S GAINED \h\h30% MORE BODY WEIGHT.\n

FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS,

SHE AND THE CUBS WILL RELY \h\hON THIS STORED ENERGY.\n

BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

ONLY HALF OF ALL CUBS REACH A SECOND SPRING.

♪

\h\h\h\hAS GRIZZLIES RETREAT\NTO THE SAFETY OF THEIR DENS,\n

ANOTHER PREDATOR RISES \h\hTO THE CHALLENGE.\n

[HOWLING]

THIS IS THE SEASON OF THE WOLF.

WHILE OTHERS BATTLE \h\h\hTHE ELEMENTS,\n

WOLVES ARE IN THEIR PRIME.

\h\hTHEIR SUCCESS IS TIED TO THE\NCOLLECTIVE STRENGTH OF THE PACK.\n

♪

BLACKTAIL HAS BEATEN THE ODDS \h\h\h\hTO SURVIVE THIS LONG,\n

BUT WINTER’S WRATH COULD BE \h\h\hFATAL FOR A LONE WOLF.\n

\h\hIN THIS LEAN SEASON,\NEVERY MEAL IS CRITICAL.\n

AND HIDING AMONG THE WILLOWS

\h\hIS WHAT LOOKS LIKE\NA PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.\n

\h\h\h\h\h\hA WOUNDED BULL ELK,\NHALF-FROZEN AT THE WATER’S EDGE.\n

\hA WOLF PACK WOULD GO\NSTRAIGHT FOR THE KILL.\n

BUT ALONE, BLACKTAIL HAS ALMOST NO CHANCE OF TAKING IT DOWN.

♪

\hHE MUST WAIT UNTIL\NTHE BULL GIVES OUT.\n

♪

BUT TIME IS NOT IN HIS FAVOR.

FAR ACROSS THE VALLEY, A LEGION IS GATHERING:

THE WAPITI PACK.

MORE THAN 20 WOLVES STRONG,

THEY TRAVEL IN FORMATION, \h\h\hSEARCHING FOR PREY.\n

THEY FOLLOW THE RIVER, \h\h\h\h\h\hUNHURRIED,\n

\hUNTIL, IN UNISON,\NTHEY SPOT SOMETHING.\n

[PANTING]

THE WOUNDED ELK.

BLACKTAIL HOLDS HIS GROUND \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE MEADOW.\n

HE CAN’T AFFORD TO ABANDON \h\hTHIS CHANCE OF A MEAL.\n

THE WAPITIS GATHER \h\hIN THE TIMBER.\n

THEY’RE STAGING FOR AN AMBUSH \h\hJUST AS NIGHT IS FALLING.\n

[HOWLING]

\hBUT IN THE RUGGED TERRAIN\NHIGH ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR,\n

\hANOTHER AMBUSH HAS\NALREADY TAKEN PLACE.\n

A WHITE-TAILED DEER IS CAREFULLY CACHED IN THE SNOW.

THE VICTIM OF YELLOWSTONE’S \h\h\hMOST ELUSIVE PREDATOR:\n

THE MOUNTAIN LION.

[PURRING]

♪

[PURRS]

♪

HER KITTEN FOLLOWS.

♪

THEY VISIT THE CACHE TOGETHER, \h\h\h\hFEEDING ONLY AT NIGHT.\n

[PURRING]

UNDER A CLOAK OF DARKNESS,

SHE AVOIDS DETECTION BY OTHER PREDATORS.

THE UNRIVALED STEALTH \h\hOF MOUNTAIN LIONS\n

ALLOWED A SMALL POPULATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PERSIST\n

EVEN AS WOLVES AND BEARS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hDECLINED.\n

ALONE ON TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN,

\h\hTHE BIG CATS HAD\NLITTLE COMPETITION.\n

THE KITTEN IS ONLY \hEIGHT WEEKS OLD;\n

FAR TOO YOUNG TO ACCOMPANY \h\h\h\h\h\hMOM ON HUNTS.\n

BUT THROUGHOUT ITS FIRST YEAR,

\h\h\hTHE CUB WILL DEVELOP\NTHE TRADEMARK KILLING BITE\n

THAT LIONS USE TO ATTACK PREY.

AND THEY’LL BEGIN TO HUNT TOGETHER.

♪

IN SECRET, MOM AND KITTEN \hHAVE GOTTEN THEIR FILL.\n

BUT AS DAYLIGHT APPROACHES,

\h\h\hTHEY CACHE THE DEER\NAND RETRACE THEIR STEPS...\n

BACK TO THEIR DEN.

♪

THE SUN RISES ON WHAT LITTLE REMAINS OF THE OLD BULL ELK.

THE WAPITIS’ NIGHT AMBUSH \h\h\h\h\h\hWAS A SUCCESS.\n

20 WOLVES FED ON THEIR PRIZE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND VANISHED,\n

\h\hLEAVING ONLY SCRAPS\NFOR RAVENS AND COYOTES.\n

BLACKTAIL IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

\hTHE WAPITIS ARE\NALREADY MOVING ON.\n

A PACK THIS SIZE NEVER RESTS.

\hTHEY MUST KILL AN ELK\NEVERY TWO TO THREE DAYS.\n

BUT THIS TIME, THEY’RE ON THE TRAIL OF AN EVEN LARGER PRIZE.

♪

\h\h\hON THE HEELS OF THE PACK,\NA LONE FIGURE STRAGGLES BEHIND.\n

BLACKTAIL.

FOLLOWING THE WAPITIS \h\h\hAS THEY MARCH ON\n

TO A BISON HUNT.

BY LATE WINTER, AS SNOW PILES \h\h\h\hHIGHER IN YELLOWSTONE,\n

GRAZERS BECOME LESS MOBILE; \h\h\h\h\h\hMORE VULNERABLE.\n

\hTHEIR WEAKNESS IS\NANOTHER’S STRENGTH.\n

FOR THE WAPITI PACK,

THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS \hIN WHICH THEY THRIVE.\n

[HOWLING]

\h\hTHEIR ENERGY IS\NAT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.\n

\h\h\hTHEY’RE FEEDING ON\NTHEIR BIGGEST KILL YET:\n

AN ADULT BISON.

IT’S A NEW ERA FOR BOTH \h\h\hPREDATOR AND PREY.\n

THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS SHIFTED TO THE WOLF PACK.

ONLY A FEW PACKS IN YELLOWSTONE HAVE EVER ACHIEVED

\hTHE MYTHICAL STATUS\NOF TRUE BISON HUNTERS.\n

NOW, THE WAPITIS ARE AMONG THEM.

AS THE ALPHAS FINISH THEIR TURN AT THE CARCASS,

A FAMILIAR FACE APPEARS:

BLACKTAIL.

♪

HE MAKES HIS MOVE.

[SQUAWKING]

♪

BUT BLACKTAIL HAS \hNOTHING TO FEAR.\n

HE’S ALREADY ONE OF THEM.

HE’S JOINED THE RANKS \h\h\hOF THE WAPITIS.\n

♪

IT’S A RARE CASE.

\h\hA YOUNG OUTSIDER\NHAS SECURED A PLACE\n

WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED PACK.

THEY’VE ACCEPTED HIM.

AND THEY WILL BE HIS LIFELINE.

\h\h\hBUT HE OFFERS\NSOMETHING IN RETURN.\n

NOW THAT THE WAPITIS HAVE \h\h\h\hA TASTE FOR BISON,\n

AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER INCREASES \h\hTHEIR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.\n

\hIN BLACKTAIL, THE PACK HAS\NGAINED A LOYAL FOOT SOLDIER\n

WHO WILL HUNT AND DEFEND \h\h\h\h\hAT ALL COSTS.\n

\hAFTER THE TRIALS\NHE’S FACED ALONE,\n

\h\h\hHE’S FINALLY FOUND\NA LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY:\n

THE STRONGEST PACK \hIN YELLOWSTONE.\n

[HOWLING]

\h\h\hBUT AS THE SEASONS TURN\NAND SPRING BANISHES THE SNOW,\n

\h\h\hEVERYTHING IS\NONCE AGAIN IN FLUX.\n

SO BEGINS ANOTHER CYCLE \h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE.\n

AND THE COMPETITION \h\h\hHAS RETURNED.\n

\h\h\hIT’S QUAD-MOM\NWITH BOTH HER CUBS.\n

THE FAMILY HAS SURVIVED \h\h\hITS FIRST WINTER.\n

\h\hAND IT’S TIME TO MAKE UP\NFOR SIX MONTHS WITHOUT FOOD.\n

THIS TIME, THE YEAR-OLD CUBS \h\h\h\h\hARE READY TO HUNT.\n

♪

SPRING DELIVERS THEIR \h\hFIRST OPPORTUNITY:\n

NEWBORN ELK CALVES.

[CALF YELPS]

DURING PEAK CALVING, THE BEARS \hWILL HUNT AROUND THE CLOCK.\n

ELK CALVES ARE BORN SCENTLESS.

\hONLY ABLE TO RUN\NFOR SHORT BURSTS,\n

\hTHEY STAY HIDDEN\NDEEP IN THE SAGE.\n

♪

THE ONLY WAY TO FIND THEM \h\hIS TO FLUSH THEM OUT.\n

\hIT’S LIKE LOOKING FOR\NA NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.\n

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS IS A GAME\NQUAD-MOM HAS PLAYED BEFORE.\n

[CALF YELPS]

♪

[GROWLS]

SENSING AN OPPORTUNITY, A COYOTE JOINS THE HUNT.

[BEAR GROWLS]

HE’S ON TO SOMETHING.

[GRUNTS]

♪

BUT IT’S ONLY A HARE; \h\h\h\hMUCH TOO FAST.\n

[GRUNTING]

♪

♪

NOW, HE’S ON TARGET.

[ROARING]

[BUGLING]

[CALF SQUEALING]

BUT THE CALF ISN’T GOING DOWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT A FIGHT.\n

[BUGLING]

\hALERTED BY THE STRUGGLE,\NQUAD-MOM JOINS THE CHASE.\n

♪

[CALF SQUEALING]

[YELP]

[BUGLING]

\h\hTHE COW ELK RUSHES\NTO HER CALF’S DEFENSE.\n

[SQUEALING]

♪

BUT THERE’S NOTHING SHE CAN DO.

♪

WITH THEIR MOTHER’S GUIDANCE,

\hTHE CUBS HAVE LEARNED\NTHE WAY OF THE PREDATOR.\n

THEY WILL NOW PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING YELLOWSTONE.

\h\hIN THE SPAN OF\NA SINGLE LIFETIME,\n

\hQUAD-MOM HAS PRESIDED OVER\NA REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION.\n

\hTHE RESTORATION OF\NAN ANCIENT BALANCE.\n

THE RETURN OF YELLOWSTONE’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWILD HEART.\n

A PLACE WHERE THE STORY \hOF PREDATORS LIVES ON.\n

BUT BEYOND THESE BORDERS, \hA NEW FRONTIER BECKONS.\n

WOLVES AND GRIZZLIES \h\h\hARE STILL GONE\n

FROM MOST OF THEIR \hHISTORIC RANGE.\n

BUT GIVEN FREEDOM TO ROAM,

THEIR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW,

FROM THE PLACE WHERE \h\h\hIT ALL BEGAN:\n

YELLOWSTONE, THE WORLD’S \h\hFIRST NATIONAL PARK.\n

\h\h\h\hIT’S RARE TO HAVE SUCH\NA CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY,\n

\hAND IT’S ANOTHER REASON\NTO CELEBRATE YELLOWSTONE.\n

BUT WHILE WOLVES AND BEARS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE BECOME\n

ICONIC SYMBOLS OF THIS PLACE,

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ANIMALS

THAT MAKE YELLOWSTONE \h\h\h\h\hEXCEPTIONAL.\n

THE PARK IS HOME TO MORE THAN \h\h\h\h150 SPECIES OF BIRDS.\n

THE NEXT "EPIC YELLOWSTONE" \h\h\hFOLLOWS THEIR STORIES,\n

\h\h\hSHOWING THE PARK FROM\NAN ENTIRELY NEW PERSPECTIVE.\n