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- You know, the origin story
of Yellowstone National Park
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really is the ultimate battle
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00:00:12,929 --> 00:00:15,398
between David and Goliath,
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00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:20,020
the regular guy against the
impossibly huge behemoth
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00:00:20,053 --> 00:00:22,072
that is the United
States government.
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00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,176
Ferdinand Hayden
spearheaded the whole thing.
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00:00:29,012 --> 00:00:30,146
The truth was,
he'd been fighting
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00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:32,148
against the odds his whole life.
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00:00:35,635 --> 00:00:36,569
He grew up destitute.
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00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:41,541
His dad was an alcoholic
who died when Hayden was 10
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00:00:42,926 --> 00:00:44,394
and his mother abandoned him.
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00:00:45,929 --> 00:00:47,630
He went to work on
his uncle's farm,
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00:00:47,664 --> 00:00:51,985
and when he turned 18, he
packed the few things he had
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00:00:52,018 --> 00:00:55,288
and walked, I mean,
actually walked,
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00:00:55,321 --> 00:00:58,191
300 miles to Oberlin
College in Ohio.
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Imagine that, he just
walked to a college,
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went to the president's
office and said,
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"Hey, I don't have any
money, but if you enroll me,
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I intend to change the
world for the better."
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And they did.
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And he did too.
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00:01:47,924 --> 00:01:50,126
They didn't expect
to see what they saw,
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and when they saw it, they
could never forget it.
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00:02:04,057 --> 00:02:05,859
Ferdinand Hayden was
hired to lead a team
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00:02:05,892 --> 00:02:07,410
into the Northwest Territories,
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00:02:10,747 --> 00:02:12,148
and the 32 men headed west.
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00:02:17,987 --> 00:02:20,106
They weren't here to
protect Yellowstone.
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00:02:21,207 --> 00:02:24,194
They were here to tear it to
shreds in the name of progress.
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00:02:25,879 --> 00:02:30,466
Gold interests, railroad
parents, Congress.
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00:02:32,435 --> 00:02:35,088
Powerful people wanted
this land for themselves.
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00:02:39,242 --> 00:02:42,095
But something happened during
their three month journey,
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and slowly but surely,
their mission changed.
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So, as we celebrate
the 150th anniversary
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00:02:54,824 --> 00:02:56,259
of Yellowstone National Park,
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we take a look back in
time at the events that led
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00:03:01,364 --> 00:03:06,402
to the preservation
of this magical place.
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00:03:34,063 --> 00:03:36,482
After nearly six months
under the crushing grip
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00:03:36,516 --> 00:03:40,436
of winter in Yellowstone, the
brutal conditions ease up,
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00:03:43,006 --> 00:03:45,208
temperatures rise, and
it's finally time for
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00:03:45,241 --> 00:03:48,978
Yellowstone's wildlife to
take center stage again.
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00:03:53,399 --> 00:03:57,153
Some are returning from long
journeys away from the park,
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00:03:57,186 --> 00:03:59,455
some have been taking
refuge for the winter,
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00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:04,093
and some are seeing spring
for the very first time.
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00:04:05,962 --> 00:04:08,514
This is an entirely
new Yellowstone,
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00:04:08,548 --> 00:04:11,601
transformed and filled with
vibrant burgeoning life
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00:04:11,634 --> 00:04:12,435
in every corner.
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00:04:13,953 --> 00:04:15,488
Even the Hayden Expedition
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00:04:16,356 --> 00:04:19,075
hard at work surveying
the land took note
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00:04:20,209 --> 00:04:23,179
as the newest members of each
species were put on display.
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00:04:53,343 --> 00:04:56,112
A little nicer than when
we were here last time, no?
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00:04:58,031 --> 00:05:00,984
You know, spring is
definitely on its way.
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00:05:02,518 --> 00:05:06,439
All that snow up there, that's
lifeblood of Yellowstone.
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00:05:07,307 --> 00:05:10,159
You can see a lot of
it's already melted off.
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00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,379
You know, the runoff
here feeds the park
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00:05:13,413 --> 00:05:17,000
with over 60,000 gallons of
fresh water every second.
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00:05:18,017 --> 00:05:20,269
It's like the alarm
clock that wakes up
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00:05:20,303 --> 00:05:24,040
all of Yellowstone,
signals of coming seasons.
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00:05:25,558 --> 00:05:29,045
Maybe life's gonna get a
little easier here for a while.
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00:05:29,078 --> 00:05:31,097
All the animals
come out to play.
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00:05:34,017 --> 00:05:36,102
This whole place
gets reborn now.
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00:05:47,013 --> 00:05:49,098
As the days get
longer and warmer,
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snow and ice melt into life
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00:05:56,089 --> 00:05:57,990
giving water that
soaks the ground
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00:05:58,024 --> 00:06:00,043
and trickles into
Yellowstone Lake.
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The water refreshes the lake,
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00:06:23,015 --> 00:06:24,851
and the sudden
overflow drains through
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00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:26,903
to Yellowstone River at roughly
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00:06:26,936 --> 00:06:29,972
20,000 cubic feet per second.
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00:06:34,110 --> 00:06:36,979
The longest un-dammed
river in North America,
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the Yellowstone is
wild and untame.
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00:06:43,219 --> 00:06:46,122
Nothing can stop it from
doing what it wants to do.
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00:06:49,192 --> 00:06:53,513
And as it drops in elevation,
it only grows stronger
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00:06:53,546 --> 00:06:57,033
and the power of its force
goes on full display.
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00:07:06,209 --> 00:07:09,178
The lower falls feed the
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone,
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00:07:11,030 --> 00:07:13,416
where rushing water has
plowed through the earth
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00:07:13,449 --> 00:07:15,318
for 160,000 years,
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00:07:18,971 --> 00:07:21,958
leaving behind a ravine
4,000 feet across,
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00:07:21,991 --> 00:07:26,062
1,200 feet deep
and 24 miles long.
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00:07:27,130 --> 00:07:29,665
It's a testament to
the river's power
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00:07:29,699 --> 00:07:31,234
and the vastness of time.
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00:07:43,146 --> 00:07:45,648
But sometimes the river
shows off its strength
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00:07:45,681 --> 00:07:47,900
in much more destructive ways.
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00:07:50,286 --> 00:07:55,158
In 2022, higher than expected
rains in the spring combined
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00:07:55,191 --> 00:07:58,094
with the melting snow to
create an unprecedented series
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00:07:58,127 --> 00:08:00,196
of floods that
overtook the park.
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00:08:03,015 --> 00:08:04,700
The river spilled
over their banks
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00:08:04,734 --> 00:08:06,302
to never before seen heights,
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00:08:09,138 --> 00:08:12,091
causing some of the roads
and bridges to be washed away
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00:08:12,124 --> 00:08:15,161
and affected all of
Yellowstone's residents.
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00:08:15,194 --> 00:08:17,330
- Things were changing
in the matter of minutes.
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00:08:17,363 --> 00:08:19,882
- It's left us totally
severed from the outside world
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00:08:19,916 --> 00:08:21,384
- And it's utter devastation.
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00:08:24,170 --> 00:08:27,156
- [Kevin] The park had to
evacuate over 10,000 visitors
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00:08:29,091 --> 00:08:32,128
as entire sections became
submerged in water.
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00:08:35,381 --> 00:08:38,134
The damage to the manmade
structures in the park
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00:08:38,167 --> 00:08:41,204
and gateway communities
will take years to replace.
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00:08:43,222 --> 00:08:46,192
But even though this was a
once every thousand years flood
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00:08:48,094 --> 00:08:50,563
the ecosystem will fix itself.
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00:08:52,448 --> 00:08:55,418
Flooding is just a part of the
cycle of Yellowstone's life.
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00:08:56,519 --> 00:09:00,056
Balance will be restored
without any help from mankind.
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00:09:06,345 --> 00:09:09,582
Destruction is actually
needed for the park
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00:09:09,615 --> 00:09:11,400
to maintain balance.
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00:09:13,469 --> 00:09:18,040
Sometimes it's in the form of
water, sometimes it's fire.
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00:09:19,158 --> 00:09:21,310
When the Hayden Expedition
first approached Yellowstone
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00:09:21,344 --> 00:09:24,931
150 years ago, they
took note of multiple
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00:09:24,964 --> 00:09:27,266
forest fires in the distance.
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00:09:27,300 --> 00:09:30,169
They'd arrived at the
beginning of fire season,
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00:09:30,202 --> 00:09:33,072
which runs from July
to late September.
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00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,175
Hayden and his men were
laying eyes on something
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00:09:36,208 --> 00:09:38,277
that affected
Yellowstone repeatedly
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00:09:40,396 --> 00:09:44,283
ever since the last
great glacial retreat
14,000 years ago.
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00:09:47,286 --> 00:09:50,139
Put simply, Yellowstone
had burned before
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00:09:53,926 --> 00:09:55,244
and it would burn again.
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00:09:57,697 --> 00:09:59,181
- In the American West,
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00:09:59,215 --> 00:10:01,050
fires continue to
crackle through thousands
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00:10:01,083 --> 00:10:03,085
of acres of brush
and timberland.
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00:10:04,136 --> 00:10:07,073
- [Kevin] In 1988,
Yellowstone faced
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its largest fire on record.
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00:10:11,444 --> 00:10:13,212
- [Reporter] Firefighters
say they are battling
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00:10:13,245 --> 00:10:15,665
the worst fire conditions
they've ever seen
121
00:10:15,698 --> 00:10:17,133
in Yellowstone National Park.
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00:10:19,085 --> 00:10:20,419
- [Kevin] A perfect
storm developed
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00:10:20,453 --> 00:10:23,356
when several smaller fires
merged into a single raging
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00:10:23,389 --> 00:10:28,277
inferno that scorched nearly
800,000 acres of park land.
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00:10:30,896 --> 00:10:33,149
More than a third
of Yellowstone.
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00:10:42,375 --> 00:10:44,410
- [Reporter] Firefighters
are hosing down roofs
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00:10:44,443 --> 00:10:47,146
at Mammoth Hot Springs, the
Yellowstone Park's headquarters,
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00:10:47,179 --> 00:10:49,231
directly in the
path of the fires.
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00:10:50,583 --> 00:10:53,269
- [Kevin] It led to America's
largest firefighting effort
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00:10:53,302 --> 00:10:57,206
at the time, costing
120 million dollars
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00:10:59,058 --> 00:11:00,426
- Army soldiers are being sent
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00:11:00,459 --> 00:11:03,612
to the front lines to battle
a very stubborn enemy:
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00:11:03,646 --> 00:11:04,930
forest fires.
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00:11:07,233 --> 00:11:09,352
- But despite the money
and the manpower...
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00:11:16,175 --> 00:11:18,294
it was mother nature that
did what it always does;
136
00:11:26,402 --> 00:11:29,438
restoring order through
massive rain and snowstorms.
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00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:43,519
Fire is actually a necessary
part of Yellowstone's balance.
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00:11:45,571 --> 00:11:50,526
High above, the cones of
lodgepole pine trees require
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00:11:52,144 --> 00:11:53,362
the extreme heat of
forest fires to open.
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00:12:02,822 --> 00:12:04,073
They then release their seeds
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00:12:04,106 --> 00:12:06,108
over newly charred areas...
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00:12:13,616 --> 00:12:15,017
and replant the forest.
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00:12:22,291 --> 00:12:25,127
The burn scars from 1988's
fire will take several
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00:12:25,161 --> 00:12:27,396
more decades to fully disappear.
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00:12:28,864 --> 00:12:30,316
But one thing is certain;
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00:12:32,084 --> 00:12:34,670
the forest, just like
everything else in the park,
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00:12:34,703 --> 00:12:36,472
will be reborn.
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00:12:59,178 --> 00:13:01,030
The animals in
Yellowstone also go
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through periods of transition.
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00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:08,471
Each year in the spring, many
of them began their migration
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00:13:08,504 --> 00:13:12,091
from winter grounds back to
their spring and summer homes.
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00:13:22,368 --> 00:13:26,105
As many as 20,000 elk
begin an epic migration
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to the higher
plateaus of the park.
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There they'll be met
by fresh green grass
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that will keep them fed
for the next six months.
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00:13:42,671 --> 00:13:44,306
But as the waters dash downhill
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and thousands of bison
embark on a journey uphill...
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it's only a matter of time
before there's a conflict.
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This bison herd has been on
the move for several days.
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This calf was born in April
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and she's about to face
her first big test.
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She finds herself on the banks
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of the raging Yellowstone River
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cutting clear across her path.
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The entire herd must cross it
to get to greener pastures.
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00:14:30,252 --> 00:14:33,055
Bison are the largest
mammal in North America,
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but even the adults struggle
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00:14:36,992 --> 00:14:39,061
against the power of
the spring runoff.
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00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:48,103
For the young,
it's trial by fire.
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Or in this case, water.
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00:14:55,511 --> 00:14:58,447
The calf is especially
susceptible to the
rushing current.
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Mom thinks fast,
using her massive body
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to break up the current,
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00:15:28,978 --> 00:15:31,046
Other members of the
herd are less lucky
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00:15:34,950 --> 00:15:37,052
and a fully grown
cow is taken under.
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The calf survives her
first test in Yellowstone.
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There will be another
test tomorrow.
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In spring, all of Yellowstone's
animals are on the move
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00:16:18,193 --> 00:16:21,563
as they spread across the
park's 2.2 million acres.
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00:16:25,517 --> 00:16:27,936
But the rocky mountainous
terrain makes traveling
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a slow and treacherous process.
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00:16:44,386 --> 00:16:47,156
The bald eagle doesn't have
to worry about the terrain,
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gliding effortlessly
over the massive canyons,
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building nests atop
the mighty forest
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00:16:57,016 --> 00:16:59,301
of ferns and cypress trees
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00:17:03,722 --> 00:17:05,641
and resting comfortably
near the top
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00:17:05,674 --> 00:17:07,042
of Yellowstone's food chain.
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00:17:11,113 --> 00:17:13,849
Every inch of the
park is their kingdom.
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00:17:18,404 --> 00:17:21,123
Bad news for the ground
squirrels that dot the valley.
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00:17:31,433 --> 00:17:34,336
But the bald eagles aren't
the only guns in town.
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00:17:37,489 --> 00:17:41,593
Yellowstone is also home to
an ever growing population
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00:17:41,627 --> 00:17:43,679
of golden eagles.
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00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:51,470
With a young
hatchling in her nest,
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00:17:51,503 --> 00:17:55,023
this female golden eagle will
be hunting for two this spring
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00:17:56,458 --> 00:17:59,394
which means the bald eagle
will face stiff competition.
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00:18:16,962 --> 00:18:20,682
With dive speeds of
150 miles per hour,
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00:18:20,716 --> 00:18:22,050
there's no land animal on earth
198
00:18:22,084 --> 00:18:24,052
that can outrun
the golden eagle.
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00:18:25,904 --> 00:18:28,357
And she swoops in for the kill.
200
00:18:33,479 --> 00:18:36,398
But the bald eagle won't
give up his meal so easily.
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00:18:49,328 --> 00:18:51,463
This chase is costing
the bald eagle
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00:18:51,497 --> 00:18:55,083
valuable calories that he could
be using to hunt other prey.
203
00:18:58,871 --> 00:19:00,105
So he relents.
204
00:19:07,212 --> 00:19:12,167
And the golden eagle brings
the kill back to the nest.
205
00:19:47,603 --> 00:19:50,822
While many species rely on
seasonal migration to escape
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00:19:50,856 --> 00:19:52,140
the effects of winter,
207
00:19:53,091 --> 00:19:55,527
some endure the
months of brutal cold
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00:19:55,561 --> 00:19:59,081
by hunkering down into
states of suspended slumber.
209
00:20:01,466 --> 00:20:05,070
The Boreal chorus frogs
freeze into balls of ice.
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00:20:06,238 --> 00:20:10,125
Their hearts stop beating and
they shut down their lungs.
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00:20:14,346 --> 00:20:17,165
But when the spring thaw
brings them back from the dead
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00:20:18,016 --> 00:20:19,985
their bass-filled guttural croon
213
00:20:20,018 --> 00:20:21,937
is the soundtrack
of Yellowstone.
214
00:20:35,217 --> 00:20:38,220
Grizzly bears also emerged
from their winter long slumber.
215
00:20:40,222 --> 00:20:43,108
This adult male has
been living off body fat
216
00:20:43,141 --> 00:20:46,245
for five months and
hasn't had anything to eat
217
00:20:46,278 --> 00:20:49,081
or drink since entering
his den for the winter.
218
00:20:51,199 --> 00:20:53,268
It's a misconception
that grizzlies wake
219
00:20:53,302 --> 00:20:56,171
up from hibernation
ravenous with hunger.
220
00:20:57,539 --> 00:21:00,242
While they do immediately
begin searching for food,
221
00:21:01,994 --> 00:21:04,196
they're lethargic for
the first two weeks.
222
00:21:07,215 --> 00:21:09,468
It's like a state of
walking hibernation
223
00:21:09,501 --> 00:21:12,154
while they wait for their
metabolism to restart.
224
00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:24,216
Fortunately, for this bear,
225
00:21:24,249 --> 00:21:26,468
he doesn't have to
hunt for a meal today.
226
00:21:44,052 --> 00:21:46,471
This elk carcass is what's
known as winter kill,
227
00:21:47,389 --> 00:21:49,958
the end result of the
incredibly harsh winter.
228
00:21:53,095 --> 00:21:55,547
The meat stays fresh,
preserved by the snow.
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00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:59,785
As the snow retreats,
the easy feasts
230
00:21:59,818 --> 00:22:01,136
are first come first serve.
231
00:22:07,192 --> 00:22:10,278
The bear eats his fill,
but he's not alone.
232
00:22:11,396 --> 00:22:14,449
The scent of the decaying flesh
has attracted a lone wolf.
233
00:22:16,218 --> 00:22:18,603
He'll wait for the
grizzly to fill up,
234
00:22:39,891 --> 00:22:42,060
When the wolf is done,
235
00:22:43,161 --> 00:22:46,081
a pack of coyotes will
enjoy the leftovers.
236
00:22:50,986 --> 00:22:53,155
And later, birds will
pick the bones clean.
237
00:22:54,106 --> 00:22:56,858
One dead elk taken by the winner
238
00:22:56,892 --> 00:22:58,293
has given life to several.
239
00:23:02,247 --> 00:23:04,933
Thanks to Ferdinand
Hayden and his men,
240
00:23:04,966 --> 00:23:08,019
the food chain is
still perfectly intact,
241
00:23:08,053 --> 00:23:11,573
just like it was 150
years ago when they fought
242
00:23:11,606 --> 00:23:13,058
to protect Yellowstone.
243
00:23:14,593 --> 00:23:18,063
Many of the sites they saw are
the same ones we see today.
244
00:23:20,148 --> 00:23:23,068
But still, I wonder
what it would've been
245
00:23:23,101 --> 00:23:25,353
like laying eyes on this
land for the first time.
246
00:23:45,323 --> 00:23:48,043
You know, sometimes
I wish I could jump
247
00:23:48,076 --> 00:23:49,728
into a time machine and go back
248
00:23:49,761 --> 00:23:55,050
and join Hayden in
his Expedition just
to see what they saw.
249
00:23:56,034 --> 00:23:58,120
Times like now
when I'm starving,
250
00:23:59,221 --> 00:24:02,140
I'm just happy to
follow the journals.
251
00:24:02,174 --> 00:24:06,962
But these guys, Congress
sent 'em back here to figure
252
00:24:06,995 --> 00:24:08,914
out how to mine, how
to exploit this land.
253
00:24:08,947 --> 00:24:10,148
So a lot of the men
254
00:24:10,182 --> 00:24:15,170
on the expedition were
scientists, academics.
255
00:24:16,087 --> 00:24:19,141
They weren't necessarily
burly mountain men.
256
00:24:19,174 --> 00:24:22,277
And so after a long
day of traversing
257
00:24:22,310 --> 00:24:25,030
they still had to
find something to eat.
258
00:24:25,063 --> 00:24:26,948
They didn't hunt,
they didn't eat,
259
00:24:26,982 --> 00:24:28,984
and they weren't used to that.
260
00:24:29,017 --> 00:24:31,086
Judging by the journals,
261
00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:34,306
they spent a lot of time
thinking about food.
262
00:24:38,343 --> 00:24:40,378
When they did get
the occasional deer
263
00:24:41,329 --> 00:24:47,052
or elk or even a black
bear, times were good.
264
00:24:49,471 --> 00:24:54,409
But other times, 32 men were
sharing a couple of grouse.
265
00:24:57,028 --> 00:24:58,430
I'm sure it was times
like that when they all
266
00:24:58,463 --> 00:25:01,933
questioned the monumental task
that was in front of them.
267
00:25:04,052 --> 00:25:05,420
You know, it's a lot easier
268
00:25:05,453 --> 00:25:10,058
for David to defeat Goliath
when David's well fed.
269
00:25:15,213 --> 00:25:16,031
Hot.
270
00:25:25,323 --> 00:25:28,293
Much like the men on
the Hayden Expedition,
271
00:25:28,326 --> 00:25:30,228
every living thing
in Yellowstone is
272
00:25:30,262 --> 00:25:32,414
in constant search
for its next meal.
273
00:25:41,256 --> 00:25:44,226
As the park's newest arrivals
enjoy their first spring
274
00:25:44,259 --> 00:25:47,212
they grow bigger and
require more food.
275
00:25:48,964 --> 00:25:51,733
This means learning new skills.
276
00:25:53,385 --> 00:25:56,204
These grizzly cubs
were born in February,
277
00:25:57,222 --> 00:25:59,024
After two months of
nursing and sleeping,
278
00:25:59,057 --> 00:26:01,243
it's time to leave the den so
279
00:26:01,276 --> 00:26:04,079
that their mother can teach
them the ways of the world.
280
00:26:06,147 --> 00:26:08,316
They'll need me to
sustain their body weight,
281
00:26:12,787 --> 00:26:14,289
and that means
learning how to hunt.
282
00:26:18,443 --> 00:26:21,229
It may look like they're
playing because they are,
283
00:26:23,148 --> 00:26:25,133
but that's not
all they're doing.
284
00:26:26,651 --> 00:26:28,136
It's called play fighting,
285
00:26:31,273 --> 00:26:33,508
and it's how the young
cubs learn to use
286
00:26:33,541 --> 00:26:34,976
their teeth and claws.
287
00:26:47,155 --> 00:26:49,741
These young mountain
lions do the same.
288
00:27:00,135 --> 00:27:02,337
Harmlessly chasing and
pouncing on each other
289
00:27:05,273 --> 00:27:08,026
as they practice the art
of survival in the wild.
290
00:27:27,445 --> 00:27:30,749
Wolves also play fight to keep
their hunting skills sharp.
291
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,356
Wolves are a native
species in Yellowstone
292
00:27:54,389 --> 00:27:56,658
and were abundant when
the Hayden Expedition
293
00:27:56,691 --> 00:27:59,310
came through in 1871.
294
00:27:59,344 --> 00:28:01,846
But shortly after the
park was established,
295
00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,481
they were hunted
nearly to extinction.
296
00:28:04,616 --> 00:28:09,437
There were no wolves in the
park for a century, but in 1995,
297
00:28:10,288 --> 00:28:13,742
they were reintroduced
in Yellowstone.
298
00:28:17,779 --> 00:28:19,647
The revival in the park exceeded
299
00:28:19,681 --> 00:28:21,449
conservationists' expectations.
300
00:28:23,284 --> 00:28:25,754
Exploding elk populations
were brought back
301
00:28:25,787 --> 00:28:27,772
to sustainable level.
302
00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:29,841
In turn, plants that the elk fed
303
00:28:29,874 --> 00:28:32,310
on once again began to thrive,
304
00:28:32,343 --> 00:28:35,346
allowing eroding riverbeds
to return to their true form.
305
00:28:37,265 --> 00:28:39,384
Some scientists
believe that the wolves
306
00:28:39,417 --> 00:28:42,237
have helped rebalance
the entire ecosystem.
307
00:28:47,192 --> 00:28:50,311
Now, on Yellowstone's
150th anniversary,
308
00:28:51,429 --> 00:28:53,782
the springtime here
looks and feels every bit
309
00:28:53,815 --> 00:28:55,166
as it did when Ferdinand Hayden
310
00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,853
and his team first
arrived in the 1870s.
311
00:29:04,843 --> 00:29:06,961
As serene as the
verdant valleys are,
312
00:29:09,214 --> 00:29:11,399
as playful the parade
of youth may be,
313
00:29:13,985 --> 00:29:16,671
along with it comes a
dangerous undercurrent.
314
00:29:22,944 --> 00:29:24,996
Spring is the first time
when the newest member
315
00:29:25,029 --> 00:29:27,549
of each species learns
the ways of the world.
316
00:29:30,235 --> 00:29:33,121
Yesterday, this bison calf
learned a dangerous lesson
317
00:29:33,154 --> 00:29:35,190
about crossing the
Yellowstone River.
318
00:29:37,258 --> 00:29:40,145
Unfortunately, she'll
learn another today.
319
00:29:45,934 --> 00:29:47,035
While winter kill leaves plenty
320
00:29:47,068 --> 00:29:49,037
of easy meals for the wolves,
321
00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:53,374
eventually, those run out
322
00:29:56,227 --> 00:29:59,414
and bison calves are
the next in line.
323
00:30:19,484 --> 00:30:22,270
The bison know exactly
why the wolves are here.
324
00:30:33,832 --> 00:30:35,300
The wolves use a wide range
325
00:30:35,333 --> 00:30:38,603
of vocalizations to
communicate their strategy.
326
00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:46,244
And that strategy is to
cut off the bison's path.
327
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,398
The bison can't escape,
328
00:30:53,535 --> 00:30:56,337
so the females form a tight
circle around the young
329
00:30:56,371 --> 00:31:01,376
in the middle and the
males form the perimeter
330
00:31:02,544 --> 00:31:03,862
circling the females.
331
00:31:05,947 --> 00:31:07,732
These bulls are not giving up
332
00:31:07,765 --> 00:31:10,018
their offspring without a fight.
333
00:31:38,363 --> 00:31:40,531
The bison have won
the standoff today.
334
00:31:44,903 --> 00:31:46,404
There will be another tomorrow.
335
00:32:45,913 --> 00:32:47,565
The Hayden Expedition
was dazzled
336
00:32:47,598 --> 00:32:51,119
by the confluence of wolves
and bison and grizzly bears.
337
00:32:52,337 --> 00:32:54,455
They wrote about it in
their journals often.
338
00:32:55,373 --> 00:32:57,742
But there's another
creature that they wrote
339
00:32:57,775 --> 00:33:00,695
about even more,
one that emerges
340
00:33:00,728 --> 00:33:02,664
from hibernation each spring.
341
00:33:03,948 --> 00:33:07,035
This beast so
terrified the pioneers
342
00:33:07,068 --> 00:33:09,721
that they had to find
a defense against it
343
00:33:09,754 --> 00:33:11,339
or risk their entire mission.
344
00:33:14,926 --> 00:33:16,494
When the snow melts, it runs
345
00:33:16,527 --> 00:33:20,114
to the lower elevation and
fuels the rivers and streams.
346
00:33:21,816 --> 00:33:24,085
But it also creates
stagnant pools,
347
00:33:25,153 --> 00:33:28,156
giving mosquitoes the perfect
opportunity to lay eggs.
348
00:33:29,490 --> 00:33:32,326
Their onslaught is a theme
in their journal entries.
349
00:33:40,385 --> 00:33:42,804
One of the geologists
even considered leaving
350
00:33:42,837 --> 00:33:44,305
to protect his sanity.
351
00:33:47,308 --> 00:33:50,378
That was all until they came
across some ancient knowledge.
352
00:33:55,733 --> 00:33:56,484
Here's a good one.
353
00:34:00,405 --> 00:34:02,790
Indigenous Americans have
been burning bison dung
354
00:34:02,824 --> 00:34:04,926
for thousands of years.
355
00:34:04,959 --> 00:34:07,845
It's actually a
great replacement
356
00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:10,031
for wood if you need
to start a fire.
357
00:34:10,064 --> 00:34:12,133
And for some reason,
mosquitoes just,
358
00:34:12,917 --> 00:34:14,368
well, they just hate it.
359
00:34:15,219 --> 00:34:17,755
So about halfway
through the expedition
360
00:34:17,789 --> 00:34:19,107
they started smudging.
361
00:34:19,874 --> 00:34:21,509
That's what they called it.
362
00:34:21,542 --> 00:34:26,013
And after that, no more journal
entries about mosquitoes.
363
00:34:27,432 --> 00:34:30,118
You know, if there's something
I like less than picking
364
00:34:30,151 --> 00:34:34,088
up bison patties, it's being
eaten alive by mosquitoes.
365
00:34:36,824 --> 00:34:39,160
You know, the funny thing is
366
00:34:39,193 --> 00:34:40,545
there's so many things that
could have derailed Hayden
367
00:34:40,578 --> 00:34:44,332
and his men from finishing
their mission out here,
368
00:34:46,417 --> 00:34:49,103
but it wasn't the wolves,
it wasn't the grizzlies,
369
00:34:49,754 --> 00:34:51,055
it wasn't even the US Congress
370
00:34:51,089 --> 00:34:53,074
that almost knocked
'em off course,
371
00:34:56,911 --> 00:34:58,346
it was the damn mosquitoes.
372
00:35:04,969 --> 00:35:07,105
Just don't throw the bison crap
373
00:35:07,138 --> 00:35:09,340
into the fire until
after you've eaten.
374
00:35:14,011 --> 00:35:15,930
Hayden and his men found a cure
375
00:35:15,963 --> 00:35:18,132
for the scourge
of biting insects,
376
00:35:19,267 --> 00:35:23,121
but one man's wildly annoying
pest is the main attraction
377
00:35:23,154 --> 00:35:25,907
for some of Yellowstone's
more colorful visitors.
378
00:35:33,748 --> 00:35:36,450
Over 150 species
of birds migrate
379
00:35:36,484 --> 00:35:41,689
to Yellowstone each spring to
feast on the ample insects.
380
00:35:57,572 --> 00:36:00,341
For many of these birds,
where there's mosquitoes,
381
00:36:01,859 --> 00:36:03,144
there's a full belly.
382
00:36:07,448 --> 00:36:08,349
But that's not all.
383
00:36:10,034 --> 00:36:12,670
The abundance of insects
lured fish to the surface
384
00:36:12,703 --> 00:36:14,288
of lakes and rivers.
385
00:36:21,045 --> 00:36:23,064
Those fish are a handsome
catch for Yellowstone's
386
00:36:23,097 --> 00:36:28,169
birds of prey, including
the mighty osprey.
387
00:36:36,277 --> 00:36:40,164
When these raptors hunt,
it's a sight to behold.
388
00:36:44,235 --> 00:36:46,737
They use their excellent
vision to spot fish
389
00:36:46,771 --> 00:36:48,406
in the river below
390
00:36:48,439 --> 00:36:51,893
and dive talons first to
latch onto their meal.
391
00:37:18,486 --> 00:37:21,155
The birds, the insects,
392
00:37:22,723 --> 00:37:25,426
the fish, the trees,
393
00:37:27,211 --> 00:37:31,399
even the rivers, they're all
part of the cycle of life
394
00:37:33,968 --> 00:37:36,120
in a land that is
reborn each spring.
395
00:37:43,294 --> 00:37:47,148
It's an incredible time to
see Yellowstone National Park
396
00:37:47,932 --> 00:37:50,384
so full of life and color.
397
00:37:53,170 --> 00:37:56,123
The vibrance is exactly
what Ferdinand Hayden
398
00:37:56,157 --> 00:37:58,292
and the men who joined
him wanted to preserve.
399
00:37:59,894 --> 00:38:01,112
It's exactly what
they were talking
400
00:38:01,145 --> 00:38:04,332
about when they pleaded
with the US Congress,
401
00:38:04,365 --> 00:38:07,168
promising that the American
people would benefit more
402
00:38:07,201 --> 00:38:10,121
by just seeing this
place than they would
403
00:38:10,154 --> 00:38:13,207
from any railroad or any
gold pulled from the ground.
404
00:38:16,027 --> 00:38:17,928
He believed that
Yellowstone would be a place
405
00:38:17,962 --> 00:38:20,147
where anyone could
come and visit,
406
00:38:20,181 --> 00:38:23,067
come and be inspired by
the sight and sounds,
407
00:38:27,438 --> 00:38:28,806
and he was right.
408
00:38:35,379 --> 00:38:38,299
There's something about staring
out at the landscape here,
409
00:38:41,352 --> 00:38:44,305
taking in the natural world
just as it was intended to be,
410
00:38:47,908 --> 00:38:50,011
just gives you a little reset.
411
00:38:54,248 --> 00:38:59,153
Even if it only lasts a day or
only an hour, it's priceless.
412
00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:11,198
You know, sometimes I
think what I might say
413
00:39:11,232 --> 00:39:13,351
if I ever got a chance to
talk to people who lived
414
00:39:13,384 --> 00:39:14,168
in the past,
415
00:39:16,087 --> 00:39:17,955
I think if I met
Ferdinand Hayden,
416
00:39:17,988 --> 00:39:22,443
it'd probably be, probably
be just two words.
417
00:39:24,395 --> 00:39:25,179
Thank you.
33699
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