America the Beautiful: Mighty Northwest (2018): Season 1, Episode 4 - Glacier Land - full transcript
Meet nature's bulldozers.
♪
An incredible force
that's carved the planet
and challenged its wildlife
for thousands of years.
♪
But america's glaciers
are on the run.
♪
Creatures must sink or swim
in their wake.
♪
(growling)
now, witness an extreme
transformation of winter
into an ever-warming
spring... (squeaks)
♪
...In a place where even
mountains seem to melt.
♪
In america's glacier land.
♪
(playing america the beautiful)
♪
♪
America's northwest
wears a white cap...
millions of acres
of snow-covered mountains.
♪
Too frigid in winter
for most life.
♪
Even colder are the glaciers,
tucked among the peaks.
♪
But believe it or not,
there are more creatures
inside some glaciers
than there are people
on the planet.
♪
Slithering
just below the surface
is a familiar face
you wouldn't expect to find
in a giant ice cube.
♪
Worms.
Not earthworms, but ice worms.
Billions of them.
♪
Anti-freeze proteins keep them
from freezing solid,
and at night they squirm to
the surface for a winter ball.
♪
♪
It starts with a feast.
♪
They dine on algae trapped
in the soft snow.
Then these kids dance.
♪
It's party time for the wiggles.
♪
♪
Sometimes more than a hundred
join in.
♪
Scientists think this is more
than a simple social event
or a way to get warm.
♪
It's when mr. And mrs. Worm
tie the knot.
♪
The mating balls
break up at dawn.
♪
♪
They quickly retreat deep into
the ice and away from the sun.
♪
A mere 40 degrees is enough
to start turning some worms
into mush.
♪
They'd be washed downstream in
the snowmelt without a trace.
♪
♪
In the warmer months,
glaciers are their salvation.
♪
But these icy homes
are disappearing fast.
♪
Glaciers tuck into mountains
across the western
united states.
♪
And although montana is known
as glacier country,
scientists think they'll all be
gone from here by 2080.
♪
Many creatures have
a lot to lose,
even those who don't mind
getting their feet wet.
♪
♪
Grizzly bears once roamed
as far south as mexico.
Now they're confined
to the mountains.
♪
Montana's wild glacier country
is their prized domain.
♪
This young grizzly lost
about a quarter
of his 600 pounds
hibernating over winter.
♪
♪
Trout will help him
put it back on.
♪
It's a welcome treat.
And a swim takes the edge
off the sun.
(growling)
fish are a small part
of his diet
compared to berries and nuts.
He moves on.
(growling)
insects and larvae might hide
under logs and branches.
♪
It's worth a look.
♪
To get the bugs out,
just add water.
♪
♪
(growling)
♪
A bit of a temper tantrum.
(growling)
♪
Or perhaps just fun.
♪
♪
His agility and speed
are remarkable for his size.
He can sprint
up to 35 miles an hour.
Over a short distance,
that'll keep him nose-to-nose
with a horse.
♪
He continues upstream on a
never-ending search for food.
♪
(growling)
♪
90 pounds of food a day
would keep him happy.
♪
And in glacier country,
he may just find it.
(chirping)
these rodents would certainly
make a great snack.
This standing pose is how
ground squirrels look out
for predators like bears.
Eat and look.
Dig and look.
Eat and look.
♪
There's good reason
for this vigilance.
♪
They're vulnerable
on the ground,
and trouble is never far away.
♪
Don't let this badger fool you
with his cuddly looks.
♪
Even coyotes have been known
to let badgers take the lead.
♪
♪
He moves in too close
for comfort.
(chirping)
and a lookout warns the colony.
(chirping)
they all get the message.
It's time to run.
Hide.
♪
(chirping)
♪
(chirping)
♪
The nearest hole is good
if you're hiding from a bird...
♪
But not from this guy.
He's designed to dig.
And squirrels
are his favorite meal.
(sniffing)
spring in montana's
glacier country
has left this soil soft.
Perfect for a badger
digging in pursuit
of a ground squirrel.
♪
His forelimbs have thick claws
for breaking ground,
and his back legs act like
shovels to scoop out the dirt.
♪
Some burrows have
emergency exits.
But the badger is smart.
He breathes deeply
into each hole... (sniffing)
and smells his quarry below.
♪
Next he firmly plugs up
all but one entrance.
♪
Now the squirrel is trapped.
♪
The only way out is up.
And the badger has that covered.
♪
Game over.
♪
Instant death
from powerful jaws.
♪
And a hearty meal.
♪
♪
No wonder some small mammals
avoid digging burrows
altogether.
(birds chirping)
a little higher up,
the melted snow and ice
reveal mountains
of boulders and rocks.
It's a labyrinth
of nooks and crannies.
And the perfect domain
for a hardy and
well-camouflaged creature.
♪
♪
The pika darts around these
outcrops with ninja-like moves.
♪
Each dart, dash and sudden turn
helps protect him
from predators.
♪
He's hard to get a lock on.
But he claims his territory
with distinctive calls.
(squeaks)
his squeaks and yodels echo
off the barren landscape
as he sets about
his main mission.
♪
He's already preparing
for next winter.
♪
He'll spend the coldest months
in tunnels, buried under snow,
up to 16 feet of it.
To survive he stashes
a lot of food,
piling hay high
in several stacks.
♪
♪
Along with the grass and grain,
an unsavory supplement.
♪
He regularly eats his own feces.
♪
There is a catch
to all this preparation.
He runs a fine line.
He must work hard
to prepare for winter.
But if he works too hard
in summer, he may also die.
♪
He's an expert
at surviving the cold.
But not the heat.
Warmer days can be deadly.
Just half an hour
exposed to 77 degrees,
and he'll perish
from heat stress.
♪
And when you run as many
as 27 foraging trips per hour,
your odds of survival
swing with the sundial.
♪
It's what you have to do
to make it up here
in glacier land.
♪
Make hay while the sun shines.
♪
But now more than ever,
the pika has to pace itself.
♪
♪
The loose, broken-up boulders
of these upper scree fields
are fit for few mammals.
♪
♪
A marmot might move
into such terrain.
♪
But even he must make way for
the true king of the mountain.
♪
♪
♪
♪
This mountain goat fearlessly
climbs ever higher.
♪
Sunshine has him shed
his winter coat... ♪
and chase the receding snowline
to dine on new growth.
♪
He and his kin have
serious predators to avoid.
Rising temperatures
bring wolves and mountain lions
through here.
♪
And this grizzly bear is out of
hibernation earlier than usual.
He looks for a big meal.
♪
♪
The grizzly doesn't mind
a bit of a climb...
If it means filling his belly.
♪
The mountain goat's
muscular shoulders
help haul him up the steep sides
of montana's glacial mountains.
♪
His short legs lower
his center of gravity,
making it easier
for him to balance
on the narrowest of ledges.
♪
♪
It's a strategy
that comes with risk.
In these parts,
17% of goat deaths
are due to falling.
♪
But when stuck between a rock
and a hard place,
he chooses rock every time.
♪
He can scale 1,500 vertical feet
in just 20 minutes...
And make rapid
vertical descents.
♪
♪
Even the bravest of grizzlies
dare not follow.
♪
The mountain goat is
the most skilled rock climber
of all north american mammals.
♪
Goats hang on the sunny side
and mow the fresh grass.
♪
On the shady side
of montana's mountains,
some lakes can hold icebergs
all year round.
♪
♪
But even these chilled corners
contribute to spring cascades.
♪
♪
Among these flows,
the most unusual songbird
you'll ever meet.
♪
♪
This is a dipper.
It's easy to see
how she got her name.
♪
She dips in...
And plucks insects
straight from the flow.
♪
♪
She may plunge her head
under up to 60 times a minute.
♪
This songbird
is less of a diva...
And more of a diver.
♪
♪
Dippers are america's
only truly aquatic songbird.
♪
She'll happily travel
up to 20 feet underwater.
A nasal flap
closes her nostrils,
and transparent eyelids
act like goggles
to help her see water bugs.
♪
♪
♪
♪
Back on shore she
easily sheds water
from her oily,
almost waterproof, feathers.
Dippers never leave
the company of water.
(chirping)
they have a sweet tune.
(singing)
but it's hard to hear
over the flow.
(water rushing)
(water rushing)
♪
This mom has a nest
on the side of the cliff
behind the waterfall.
(chirping)
a safe place from predators.
♪
Mom flies to the nest
as many as 18 times an hour.
Her chicks demand it.
♪
These dippers may move
to bigger streams in winter,
but they don't migrate south.
♪
For many creatures,
glacier country is
their one and only home.
That's even true
for some of the fish below.
♪
Kokanee salmon were introduced
to montana
more than a hundred years ago.
They're early settlers
who stayed.
They don't migrate
to the ocean and back
like some other sockeye,
but live in lakes
or move up streams to spawn.
♪
♪
Rainbow trout are here
year-round, too.
They clear the streams
of insects
and can weigh in
at more than 30 pounds.
♪
But there's a growing problem.
The warmer the water, the less
chance their eggs will survive.
♪
The same can be said
for another aquatic creature.
One with an even stranger
life cycle
that uses spring
as a starting gun.
Ready... Set... Hop!
♪
In montana's glacier land,
this western toad hibernates
underground for winter.
♪
Now his pond is ready for him,
and he races in
to look for a mate.
♪
This toad lives at elevations
up to 12,000 feet.
Even in spring,
he likes things chilled.
Less than 50 degrees.
There aren't many romance
options in the clear.
But among the reeds he finds
his heart's desire.
♪
He's a partner
with attachment issues.
He has no intention
of letting go.
♪
No matter how far
or how fast she swims.
♪
♪
Nearby four or five other toad
couples have the same idea.
♪
They'll stay connected
for a few hours.
Or even a few days!
♪
The males just have to hope
that no nearby bachelors
try to join the fun.
♪
When she's ready, the female
releases thousands of eggs.
♪
The male fertilizes them
as they leave her body.
The result is like a necklace.
Two strings with as many
as 16,000 black pearls.
Fewer than 1% of these gems
will make it to toad-hood.
Even less if temperatures
get too warm.
♪
♪
Warmer summers change life
here in many ways.
Rivers flow fast with snowmelt.
These waterways bleed
into mountain basins
and turn fields
into shallow lakes and slush.
♪
♪
For some animals here,
it's like a day spa.
♪
Time to kick back
and enjoy the mud bath.
♪
A glacial facial.
♪
♪
Muskrat mornings
are made for this.
It's a more leisurely time...
With meticulous grooming
and big breakfasts.
♪
They eat about a third
of their body weight
in vegetation every day.
♪
Most of their busy work
they do in the evening.
They use sticks and mud
to build feeding platforms.
♪
The water, even in summer,
is still chilly,
and there are no robes
at this resort.
The platforms let them warm up
their naked feet and tails
while they eat.
♪
They also have special control
over their blood flow
that keeps their core warm.
When there's ample food,
muskrat populations can soar
to as many as 36 per acre.
That kind of abundance attracts
some unwanted attention.
♪
The kind that can get you eaten.
♪
The air may be clean and clear
in montana's glacier land.
♪
But that's no help
for a muskrat
under aerial attack.
♪
♪
Muskrats have poor eyesight
and hearing.
♪
♪
Her only hope for
escape... ♪
a last-minute duck dive.
♪
Her blood has a high tolerance
for carbon dioxide.
That allows her
to stay submerged
for as long as 17 minutes.
♪
♪
Too long of a wait
for this passing predator.
♪
♪
♪
♪
But there's something else
lurking below,
bubbling in the depths
of the marsh.
♪
You've heard of the 'creature
from the black lagoon'?
♪
Well, this... Isn't it.
♪
It's a ruddy duck.
♪
Within only a day of hatching,
a ruddy duck can swim and dive,
and they spend the vast
majority of their lives
in the water.
♪
They duck down for long periods
to scoop up mud
and filter it through
thin plates in their bills.
♪
They eat what's left:
Larvae, water fleas, worms
and bits of plants.
♪
♪
They dip, duck and scoop,
all day long.
Rain or shine.
♪
And the muskrat huts give them
a safe place to nest.
♪
♪
Summer might be warmer than
usual, but it's still short.
♪
September,
and a sudden flurry of snow.
♪
The best place for a nest
now is up in a tree.
Bird or not.
This squirrel
is strictly nocturnal.
A snack of pine cone seeds
is just as nutritious at night,
and the chances of being
spotted by a predator are slim.
Slim, but not zero.
♪
A pine marten.
A member of the weasel family.
A tree climbing specialist
and a savage carnivore.
This squirrel is
in deep, dark trouble.
A squirrel moves quickly
through the canopy
of montana's glacier land.
But out on a limb like this,
your average squirrel
has little chance
against a pine marten.
♪
♪
But this is
no ordinary squirrel.
♪
♪
(rustling)
he's a northern flying squirrel.
He has wings to glide.
All he needs is height
for his takeoff.
And the pines give him
plenty of that.
♪
The membrane between his limbs
keeps him aloft,
and his tail acts like a rudder.
If he chooses, he can make
a 90-degree turn in mid-flight.
♪
He's an impressive
escape artist.
♪
♪
But the pine marten
has super powers of his own.
♪
♪
He has no wings.
♪
♪
But the agility and strength
to jump from tree to tree.
♪
He follows the squirrel
into another cavity.
♪
♪
But when he gets there,
the cupboard is bare.
♪
♪
The northern flying squirrel
stays one step ahead.
♪
He'll live to see
another winter.
And he doesn't have long
to wait.
♪
An icy breeze begins to chill
glacier land once more.
♪
Down on the ground
this female moose
brings her calf
for a final fall harvest.
♪
One more snowstorm will take
grass off the menu for months.
♪
But their spots at today's
table are already taken.
(bellowing)
♪
This group of males
has the same idea.
(bellows)
and they can be dangerous.
Best to wait it out and
let the boys be boys.
(bellowing)
(urinating)
♪
(bellowing)
♪
(bellowing)
moose usually eat
at a table for one.
(bellowing)
but these males are here to
pack on the pounds in a rush.
And the best way to do that
is to watch each other's back.
The more eyes you have
on lookout,
the longer you can keep
your head to the ground.
The fall rut, when males fight
for females, has come and gone.
And the pecking order here
is clear.
The size and shape of antlers
say it all.
(bellowing)
the bigger and flatter
the better.
(bellowing)
this guy's the big boss.
Flat with eight points.
(bellowing)
♪
This male is
less than two years old.
And with only four points
on his antlers,
he's lucky the rut is over.
(bellowing)
but he'll keep his antlers
the longest.
The bigger the rack,
the sooner it'll be shed.
(bellowing)
♪
With a shake of the head,
some will lose
more than 70 pounds of weight
in an instant.
♪
♪
(bellowing)
moose welcome the white.
♪
The extra-hot temperatures
plagued them with swarms
of biting insects.
♪
Now some relief.
(bellowing)
they hit their quota of food
by eating needles, bark,
and branches,
as much as 45 pounds a day.
♪
Then winter buries it all.
(wind howling)
(wind howling)
snow covers the glaciers
in a protective cloak of cold.
For a short time,
it conceals the dramatic truth:
That every summer
the glaciers get smaller.
♪
Over the years,
these photos show
how much of the ice
we've already lost.
Within 60 years, most,
if not all the glaciers,
will be gone from montana.
Animals already struggle with
the rapid increase in warmth.
♪
Pikas are at a greater risk
of overheating.
♪
Fewer fish hatch
from their eggs.
♪
The same for toads.
♪
For most of us,
spring and summer
is a welcome escape
from the harshness of winter.
But here, life thrives
in the cold.
♪
In glacier land, it's relief
from summer that many crave.
♪
In a place of great extremes
there will still be snow...
And ice.
But as the glaciers diminish,
the greatest extreme of all,
and the biggest challenge,
is yet to come.
♪
An incredible force
that's carved the planet
and challenged its wildlife
for thousands of years.
♪
But america's glaciers
are on the run.
♪
Creatures must sink or swim
in their wake.
♪
(growling)
now, witness an extreme
transformation of winter
into an ever-warming
spring... (squeaks)
♪
...In a place where even
mountains seem to melt.
♪
In america's glacier land.
♪
(playing america the beautiful)
♪
♪
America's northwest
wears a white cap...
millions of acres
of snow-covered mountains.
♪
Too frigid in winter
for most life.
♪
Even colder are the glaciers,
tucked among the peaks.
♪
But believe it or not,
there are more creatures
inside some glaciers
than there are people
on the planet.
♪
Slithering
just below the surface
is a familiar face
you wouldn't expect to find
in a giant ice cube.
♪
Worms.
Not earthworms, but ice worms.
Billions of them.
♪
Anti-freeze proteins keep them
from freezing solid,
and at night they squirm to
the surface for a winter ball.
♪
♪
It starts with a feast.
♪
They dine on algae trapped
in the soft snow.
Then these kids dance.
♪
It's party time for the wiggles.
♪
♪
Sometimes more than a hundred
join in.
♪
Scientists think this is more
than a simple social event
or a way to get warm.
♪
It's when mr. And mrs. Worm
tie the knot.
♪
The mating balls
break up at dawn.
♪
♪
They quickly retreat deep into
the ice and away from the sun.
♪
A mere 40 degrees is enough
to start turning some worms
into mush.
♪
They'd be washed downstream in
the snowmelt without a trace.
♪
♪
In the warmer months,
glaciers are their salvation.
♪
But these icy homes
are disappearing fast.
♪
Glaciers tuck into mountains
across the western
united states.
♪
And although montana is known
as glacier country,
scientists think they'll all be
gone from here by 2080.
♪
Many creatures have
a lot to lose,
even those who don't mind
getting their feet wet.
♪
♪
Grizzly bears once roamed
as far south as mexico.
Now they're confined
to the mountains.
♪
Montana's wild glacier country
is their prized domain.
♪
This young grizzly lost
about a quarter
of his 600 pounds
hibernating over winter.
♪
♪
Trout will help him
put it back on.
♪
It's a welcome treat.
And a swim takes the edge
off the sun.
(growling)
fish are a small part
of his diet
compared to berries and nuts.
He moves on.
(growling)
insects and larvae might hide
under logs and branches.
♪
It's worth a look.
♪
To get the bugs out,
just add water.
♪
♪
(growling)
♪
A bit of a temper tantrum.
(growling)
♪
Or perhaps just fun.
♪
♪
His agility and speed
are remarkable for his size.
He can sprint
up to 35 miles an hour.
Over a short distance,
that'll keep him nose-to-nose
with a horse.
♪
He continues upstream on a
never-ending search for food.
♪
(growling)
♪
90 pounds of food a day
would keep him happy.
♪
And in glacier country,
he may just find it.
(chirping)
these rodents would certainly
make a great snack.
This standing pose is how
ground squirrels look out
for predators like bears.
Eat and look.
Dig and look.
Eat and look.
♪
There's good reason
for this vigilance.
♪
They're vulnerable
on the ground,
and trouble is never far away.
♪
Don't let this badger fool you
with his cuddly looks.
♪
Even coyotes have been known
to let badgers take the lead.
♪
♪
He moves in too close
for comfort.
(chirping)
and a lookout warns the colony.
(chirping)
they all get the message.
It's time to run.
Hide.
♪
(chirping)
♪
(chirping)
♪
The nearest hole is good
if you're hiding from a bird...
♪
But not from this guy.
He's designed to dig.
And squirrels
are his favorite meal.
(sniffing)
spring in montana's
glacier country
has left this soil soft.
Perfect for a badger
digging in pursuit
of a ground squirrel.
♪
His forelimbs have thick claws
for breaking ground,
and his back legs act like
shovels to scoop out the dirt.
♪
Some burrows have
emergency exits.
But the badger is smart.
He breathes deeply
into each hole... (sniffing)
and smells his quarry below.
♪
Next he firmly plugs up
all but one entrance.
♪
Now the squirrel is trapped.
♪
The only way out is up.
And the badger has that covered.
♪
Game over.
♪
Instant death
from powerful jaws.
♪
And a hearty meal.
♪
♪
No wonder some small mammals
avoid digging burrows
altogether.
(birds chirping)
a little higher up,
the melted snow and ice
reveal mountains
of boulders and rocks.
It's a labyrinth
of nooks and crannies.
And the perfect domain
for a hardy and
well-camouflaged creature.
♪
♪
The pika darts around these
outcrops with ninja-like moves.
♪
Each dart, dash and sudden turn
helps protect him
from predators.
♪
He's hard to get a lock on.
But he claims his territory
with distinctive calls.
(squeaks)
his squeaks and yodels echo
off the barren landscape
as he sets about
his main mission.
♪
He's already preparing
for next winter.
♪
He'll spend the coldest months
in tunnels, buried under snow,
up to 16 feet of it.
To survive he stashes
a lot of food,
piling hay high
in several stacks.
♪
♪
Along with the grass and grain,
an unsavory supplement.
♪
He regularly eats his own feces.
♪
There is a catch
to all this preparation.
He runs a fine line.
He must work hard
to prepare for winter.
But if he works too hard
in summer, he may also die.
♪
He's an expert
at surviving the cold.
But not the heat.
Warmer days can be deadly.
Just half an hour
exposed to 77 degrees,
and he'll perish
from heat stress.
♪
And when you run as many
as 27 foraging trips per hour,
your odds of survival
swing with the sundial.
♪
It's what you have to do
to make it up here
in glacier land.
♪
Make hay while the sun shines.
♪
But now more than ever,
the pika has to pace itself.
♪
♪
The loose, broken-up boulders
of these upper scree fields
are fit for few mammals.
♪
♪
A marmot might move
into such terrain.
♪
But even he must make way for
the true king of the mountain.
♪
♪
♪
♪
This mountain goat fearlessly
climbs ever higher.
♪
Sunshine has him shed
his winter coat... ♪
and chase the receding snowline
to dine on new growth.
♪
He and his kin have
serious predators to avoid.
Rising temperatures
bring wolves and mountain lions
through here.
♪
And this grizzly bear is out of
hibernation earlier than usual.
He looks for a big meal.
♪
♪
The grizzly doesn't mind
a bit of a climb...
If it means filling his belly.
♪
The mountain goat's
muscular shoulders
help haul him up the steep sides
of montana's glacial mountains.
♪
His short legs lower
his center of gravity,
making it easier
for him to balance
on the narrowest of ledges.
♪
♪
It's a strategy
that comes with risk.
In these parts,
17% of goat deaths
are due to falling.
♪
But when stuck between a rock
and a hard place,
he chooses rock every time.
♪
He can scale 1,500 vertical feet
in just 20 minutes...
And make rapid
vertical descents.
♪
♪
Even the bravest of grizzlies
dare not follow.
♪
The mountain goat is
the most skilled rock climber
of all north american mammals.
♪
Goats hang on the sunny side
and mow the fresh grass.
♪
On the shady side
of montana's mountains,
some lakes can hold icebergs
all year round.
♪
♪
But even these chilled corners
contribute to spring cascades.
♪
♪
Among these flows,
the most unusual songbird
you'll ever meet.
♪
♪
This is a dipper.
It's easy to see
how she got her name.
♪
She dips in...
And plucks insects
straight from the flow.
♪
♪
She may plunge her head
under up to 60 times a minute.
♪
This songbird
is less of a diva...
And more of a diver.
♪
♪
Dippers are america's
only truly aquatic songbird.
♪
She'll happily travel
up to 20 feet underwater.
A nasal flap
closes her nostrils,
and transparent eyelids
act like goggles
to help her see water bugs.
♪
♪
♪
♪
Back on shore she
easily sheds water
from her oily,
almost waterproof, feathers.
Dippers never leave
the company of water.
(chirping)
they have a sweet tune.
(singing)
but it's hard to hear
over the flow.
(water rushing)
(water rushing)
♪
This mom has a nest
on the side of the cliff
behind the waterfall.
(chirping)
a safe place from predators.
♪
Mom flies to the nest
as many as 18 times an hour.
Her chicks demand it.
♪
These dippers may move
to bigger streams in winter,
but they don't migrate south.
♪
For many creatures,
glacier country is
their one and only home.
That's even true
for some of the fish below.
♪
Kokanee salmon were introduced
to montana
more than a hundred years ago.
They're early settlers
who stayed.
They don't migrate
to the ocean and back
like some other sockeye,
but live in lakes
or move up streams to spawn.
♪
♪
Rainbow trout are here
year-round, too.
They clear the streams
of insects
and can weigh in
at more than 30 pounds.
♪
But there's a growing problem.
The warmer the water, the less
chance their eggs will survive.
♪
The same can be said
for another aquatic creature.
One with an even stranger
life cycle
that uses spring
as a starting gun.
Ready... Set... Hop!
♪
In montana's glacier land,
this western toad hibernates
underground for winter.
♪
Now his pond is ready for him,
and he races in
to look for a mate.
♪
This toad lives at elevations
up to 12,000 feet.
Even in spring,
he likes things chilled.
Less than 50 degrees.
There aren't many romance
options in the clear.
But among the reeds he finds
his heart's desire.
♪
He's a partner
with attachment issues.
He has no intention
of letting go.
♪
No matter how far
or how fast she swims.
♪
♪
Nearby four or five other toad
couples have the same idea.
♪
They'll stay connected
for a few hours.
Or even a few days!
♪
The males just have to hope
that no nearby bachelors
try to join the fun.
♪
When she's ready, the female
releases thousands of eggs.
♪
The male fertilizes them
as they leave her body.
The result is like a necklace.
Two strings with as many
as 16,000 black pearls.
Fewer than 1% of these gems
will make it to toad-hood.
Even less if temperatures
get too warm.
♪
♪
Warmer summers change life
here in many ways.
Rivers flow fast with snowmelt.
These waterways bleed
into mountain basins
and turn fields
into shallow lakes and slush.
♪
♪
For some animals here,
it's like a day spa.
♪
Time to kick back
and enjoy the mud bath.
♪
A glacial facial.
♪
♪
Muskrat mornings
are made for this.
It's a more leisurely time...
With meticulous grooming
and big breakfasts.
♪
They eat about a third
of their body weight
in vegetation every day.
♪
Most of their busy work
they do in the evening.
They use sticks and mud
to build feeding platforms.
♪
The water, even in summer,
is still chilly,
and there are no robes
at this resort.
The platforms let them warm up
their naked feet and tails
while they eat.
♪
They also have special control
over their blood flow
that keeps their core warm.
When there's ample food,
muskrat populations can soar
to as many as 36 per acre.
That kind of abundance attracts
some unwanted attention.
♪
The kind that can get you eaten.
♪
The air may be clean and clear
in montana's glacier land.
♪
But that's no help
for a muskrat
under aerial attack.
♪
♪
Muskrats have poor eyesight
and hearing.
♪
♪
Her only hope for
escape... ♪
a last-minute duck dive.
♪
Her blood has a high tolerance
for carbon dioxide.
That allows her
to stay submerged
for as long as 17 minutes.
♪
♪
Too long of a wait
for this passing predator.
♪
♪
♪
♪
But there's something else
lurking below,
bubbling in the depths
of the marsh.
♪
You've heard of the 'creature
from the black lagoon'?
♪
Well, this... Isn't it.
♪
It's a ruddy duck.
♪
Within only a day of hatching,
a ruddy duck can swim and dive,
and they spend the vast
majority of their lives
in the water.
♪
They duck down for long periods
to scoop up mud
and filter it through
thin plates in their bills.
♪
They eat what's left:
Larvae, water fleas, worms
and bits of plants.
♪
♪
They dip, duck and scoop,
all day long.
Rain or shine.
♪
And the muskrat huts give them
a safe place to nest.
♪
♪
Summer might be warmer than
usual, but it's still short.
♪
September,
and a sudden flurry of snow.
♪
The best place for a nest
now is up in a tree.
Bird or not.
This squirrel
is strictly nocturnal.
A snack of pine cone seeds
is just as nutritious at night,
and the chances of being
spotted by a predator are slim.
Slim, but not zero.
♪
A pine marten.
A member of the weasel family.
A tree climbing specialist
and a savage carnivore.
This squirrel is
in deep, dark trouble.
A squirrel moves quickly
through the canopy
of montana's glacier land.
But out on a limb like this,
your average squirrel
has little chance
against a pine marten.
♪
♪
But this is
no ordinary squirrel.
♪
♪
(rustling)
he's a northern flying squirrel.
He has wings to glide.
All he needs is height
for his takeoff.
And the pines give him
plenty of that.
♪
The membrane between his limbs
keeps him aloft,
and his tail acts like a rudder.
If he chooses, he can make
a 90-degree turn in mid-flight.
♪
He's an impressive
escape artist.
♪
♪
But the pine marten
has super powers of his own.
♪
♪
He has no wings.
♪
♪
But the agility and strength
to jump from tree to tree.
♪
He follows the squirrel
into another cavity.
♪
♪
But when he gets there,
the cupboard is bare.
♪
♪
The northern flying squirrel
stays one step ahead.
♪
He'll live to see
another winter.
And he doesn't have long
to wait.
♪
An icy breeze begins to chill
glacier land once more.
♪
Down on the ground
this female moose
brings her calf
for a final fall harvest.
♪
One more snowstorm will take
grass off the menu for months.
♪
But their spots at today's
table are already taken.
(bellowing)
♪
This group of males
has the same idea.
(bellows)
and they can be dangerous.
Best to wait it out and
let the boys be boys.
(bellowing)
(urinating)
♪
(bellowing)
♪
(bellowing)
moose usually eat
at a table for one.
(bellowing)
but these males are here to
pack on the pounds in a rush.
And the best way to do that
is to watch each other's back.
The more eyes you have
on lookout,
the longer you can keep
your head to the ground.
The fall rut, when males fight
for females, has come and gone.
And the pecking order here
is clear.
The size and shape of antlers
say it all.
(bellowing)
the bigger and flatter
the better.
(bellowing)
this guy's the big boss.
Flat with eight points.
(bellowing)
♪
This male is
less than two years old.
And with only four points
on his antlers,
he's lucky the rut is over.
(bellowing)
but he'll keep his antlers
the longest.
The bigger the rack,
the sooner it'll be shed.
(bellowing)
♪
With a shake of the head,
some will lose
more than 70 pounds of weight
in an instant.
♪
♪
(bellowing)
moose welcome the white.
♪
The extra-hot temperatures
plagued them with swarms
of biting insects.
♪
Now some relief.
(bellowing)
they hit their quota of food
by eating needles, bark,
and branches,
as much as 45 pounds a day.
♪
Then winter buries it all.
(wind howling)
(wind howling)
snow covers the glaciers
in a protective cloak of cold.
For a short time,
it conceals the dramatic truth:
That every summer
the glaciers get smaller.
♪
Over the years,
these photos show
how much of the ice
we've already lost.
Within 60 years, most,
if not all the glaciers,
will be gone from montana.
Animals already struggle with
the rapid increase in warmth.
♪
Pikas are at a greater risk
of overheating.
♪
Fewer fish hatch
from their eggs.
♪
The same for toads.
♪
For most of us,
spring and summer
is a welcome escape
from the harshness of winter.
But here, life thrives
in the cold.
♪
In glacier land, it's relief
from summer that many crave.
♪
In a place of great extremes
there will still be snow...
And ice.
But as the glaciers diminish,
the greatest extreme of all,
and the biggest challenge,
is yet to come.