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(growling)
(gentle music)
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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Top predators steal the show.
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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But in their shadows, a family of small wild dogs
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uses cunning and adaptation to make ends meet
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in a dog eat dog world.
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From the hardy Arctic fox to the desert jackal,
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the shy raccoon dog to the much loved red fox,
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these wonderful successful survivors
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are the real headliners.
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They might be underdogs, but with their resilience,
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they always come out on top.
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There is one wild dog that fires the imagination
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and has the power to send shivers down our spines.
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The wolf.
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An incredible predator that stalks our dreams
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and haunts the forests.
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But there are other dogs just as remarkable
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living in their shadows.
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A young wolf has picked up the scent of a red fox.
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But the fox knows what to do.
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This is a dog eat dog world,
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where only the smartest survive.
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The wolf can't locate the source of the smell.
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And eventually gives up.
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It's not easy being the underdog,
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but foxes have had plenty of practice.
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And as a result, they have become masters of stealth
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and adaptability.
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There are some benefits to having wolves
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in your neighborhood.
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The bigger pack hunting cousins can bring down
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much larger prey.
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The fox knows they are probably tired after the hunt
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and sleeping off full stomachs.
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Magpies and ravens have beaten him to the kill,
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but they will be useful watchdogs
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as he makes his cautious approach.
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Luckily, the wolves seemed preoccupied.
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They would kill any other kind of dog on site,
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not for food, but to get rid of any competition.
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A second fox appears on the scene.
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You'd think they'd never met, but they know each other well.
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Exaggerated body postures are a way of avoiding conflict.
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But before they have the chance for a food fight,
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the bouncers arrive.
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The party is by invite only.
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As the day draws to a close,
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the hungry fox completes one last patrol of his territory
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and finds the other fox.
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This is his mate.
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Foxes are usually monogamous and this pair
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has mated several times before.
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Now, as the air carries the tiniest hint of spring,
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they begin to gain their courtship rituals.
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It's been a long, harsh winter,
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but finally there are signs of change.
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The female's been using the den to escape the cold,
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but it will soon have new purpose.
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February, the perfect time to start family planning.
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Their sex life is intense for a while.
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The female only ovulates for a week or so.
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And the male only has a brief window
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when he's at his most virile.
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After several attempts, it will take nearly two months
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to find out if their efforts were successful.
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While the red foxes wait for winter's end,
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other underdogs face very different conditions.
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Apart from Antarctica,
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the dog family has colonized the world.
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Here in Namibia, the force of the southern ocean
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pounds a beach that's the daily beat
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for an African black backed jackal.
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She's hungry, and today there are slim pickings,
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unless she's willing to risk her life.
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Her territory overlaps with the breeding beaches
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of tens of thousands of Cape fur seals.
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These blubbery behemoths are very aggressive
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and way beyond the female's hunting capabilities.
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But in the midst of the throng,
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there are much more manageable seal pups.
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The challenge is finding a safe path to get to them.
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The stakes are high.
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Her mate made a bad choice and paid the ultimate price.
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He has left the female to raise their cubs alone.
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She's feeling the pressure, but try as she might,
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she can't penetrate their defenses.
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She's forced to go home empty handed.
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It's not easy being a single mum.
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Looks like it's flies for supper.
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Not much to quell a growing pup's hunger.
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A spring evening in the north finds our male fox
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heading back to the den.
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But things have changed.
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The female's gone to ground and she does not want company.
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Despite the brush off, the male won't give up on his mate.
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During the vulnerable last days of pregnancy,
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he'll bring food to her and do his best
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to stay out of her way.
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Under the cover of darkness, another underdog emerges.
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This is the lowest of the low,
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bullied and out competed by red foxes
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and undoubtedly killed by wolves,
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the secretive raccoon dog keeps a low profile.
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This female has carved out her own niche,
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staying close to the edge of waterways,
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trying to avoid interactions with her larger cousins.
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But it's not all bad.
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As darkness falls, the ponds become alive with tasty frogs.
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Unlike the agile fox, the raccoon dog is a plodder,
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taking its time to sniff out any potential meal.
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It's eyesight is unusually poor for a dog,
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but it's compensated for by its powerful sense of smell
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Tonight she's jumpy, not wanting to run into her neighbors,
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but she doesn't need to worry,
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the female red fox wouldn't be making her rounds tonight.
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In the dead of night, she goes into labor.
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She's an experienced mum and helps with each delivery.
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Red foxes have between one and 13 pups,
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but tonight there are six new faces,
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an average sized litter.
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Smaller than a stick of butter,
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the cubs are deaf and blind.
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They can't control their temperatures yet
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and will be totally dependent on their mother's
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care and warmth.
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For the next three weeks, she won't leave their sides.
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Raising a family is the biggest challenge
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the underdogs face,
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and the next few months will be critical.
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It's especially hard when you have to do it alone.
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The jackal pups are starving,
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and with new urgency, their mother is forced
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to once again brave the beach.
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Success, a stillborn pup.
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Not much, but enough to ensure the survival of her brood.
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(gentle music)
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Underdogs are well-established almost pole to pole.
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In the furthest north of their range,
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a bleak windswept landscape does not look very inviting.
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Though the northern hemisphere is enjoying spring,
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it has yet to break here.
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But life goes on for the hardy Arctic fox.
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These are ice age survivors,
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their thick coats blocking some of the winds bite.
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They have got by through adaptability, but tired of scraps,
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they are drawn to new arrivals.
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The snow geese have arrived to breed.
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Alert and aggressive, they are not easy targets for the fox.
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But the fox knows if she's patient,
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the geese will lay on quite a feast.
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To the south, spring has transformed the landscape.
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Love is in the air.
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The sweetest serenade,
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but the great bustards are doing their best
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to attract the ladies.
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The racket doesn't seem to bother the mother fox,
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who's stretching her legs after weeks underground.
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He's got the moves, but the Barry White of birds
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is quickly forgotten when his ladies spot the fox.
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But mum needs to get back to her den.
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(gentle music)
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The pups are totally dependent on her care.
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She'll provide rich creamy milk for 10 weeks,
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giving her little ones the best possible start in life.
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Their faces are developing and in the next few days
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they will open their eyes.
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She knows there is a dangerous world out there
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where only the fittest will survive.
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But for now, the litter can depend on the safety of the den
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and their mother's love.
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By her woodland pond, the raccoon dog mum is alert.
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She's weary.
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Her cubs mature faster than the red fox cubs,
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and for the first time she's letting them leave the den.
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All of the dog family has a natural curiosity
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and the youngsters are fascinated by their surroundings.
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Curiosity doesn't just kill cats,
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so their mother is constantly on guard.
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She has plenty to worry about.
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Raccoon dog fur is highly prized by the fashion industry.
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And of course, she's at threat from larger predators.
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But ironically, despite the threat,
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it's a disused fox den that has become
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the raccoon dogs home.
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There are 32 kinds of parasites that prey on raccoon dogs,
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so it's good to get out of the den and air their coats.
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The raccoon like face masks that give
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these little dogs their names are already
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well-developed in the pups.
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Though they are enjoying fun and games now,
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these are the least social of dogs
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and the pups will all go their separate ways
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by the end of summer.
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The appearance of the larger red fox vixen
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brings family time to an end.
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The snow is finally clearing from the Arctic tundra
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and in a gap between boulders,
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another litter of underdogs has arrived.
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Small and compact, Arctic foxes are well adapted
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for the cold.
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But because of their chilly home in the north,
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their breeding cycle kicks off about two months later.
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But not only does it start late, it needs to finish early.
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The race is on.
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These pups must be ready to leave the den
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in just four weeks.
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During the summer months,
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the sun barely dips below the horizon.
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The male fox stays close to the den,
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ready to defend his family from intruders
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and collect food for his mate.
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Beachcombing, he strikes it lucky.
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Living in the toughest place on earth,
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Arctic foxes can't afford to be choosy,
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and a washed up fish caucus is foxy fine dining.
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What he can't manage, he scent marks so that
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no one else steals his leftovers
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while he delivers takeout to his mate.
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The Arctic summer's short, but in the forests to the south,
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it's in full swing.
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The lush green canopy costs cool shadows over the foxes den.
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(gentle music)
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The female red fox has used this den for years.
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The chambers cover several square meters,
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but it's still not enough space for her growing young.
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The six week old pup's feeling the need
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to broaden his horizons.
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And while the rest of his family is sleeping,
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the little male takes his first tentative steps.
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The smells, sights and sounds are sensory overload
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for the little male.
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He sits in awe, trying to take it all in.
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He doesn't yet know what it means to be an underdog,
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but he might be about to find out.
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(dramatic music)
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A wolf has picked up his scent.
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Luckily, the pup seems to sense the danger.
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Now he just needs to find his way home.
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That's one adventure he won't forget in a hurry.
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Life's tough for these little guys,
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and with many dangers to face,
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most won't make it to their first birthdays.
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The pup seems relieved to be back with his siblings.
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In another month or so, they'll leave the den all together,
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then the challenges really begin.
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But for now, mother keeps them close.
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This quality time will be short-lived
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and all seem happy to make the most of it.
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The frustrated wolf will go hungry.
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It's not always top dogs that come out on top.
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The goose colony is now well-established
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on the Arctic tundra,
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and the Arctic fox is on his way to find breakfast.
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His morning mission is to find unguarded goose eggs.
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The first is an abandoned nest.
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Perhaps the eggs were infertile,
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or maybe the wolves have already claimed the parents.
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Either way, it's a great start,
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00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:08,070
if the fox can get clear of the colony.
262
00:23:12,130 --> 00:23:13,860
He stashes this one.
263
00:23:13,860 --> 00:23:16,450
Caching is a common fox behavior,
264
00:23:16,450 --> 00:23:19,363
gathering as much as he can while there are rich pickings.
265
00:23:21,050 --> 00:23:23,810
And putting some aside in case he falls on hard times
266
00:23:23,810 --> 00:23:24,733
in the future.
267
00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,220
Not all geese are willing to hand over their eggs,
268
00:23:38,220 --> 00:23:41,273
but the Fox has agility and cunning on his side.
269
00:23:50,174 --> 00:23:53,033
He tries to draw their fire away from the nest.
270
00:23:57,078 --> 00:23:59,813
Then completes the perfect heist.
271
00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:11,067
It takes a bit of practice, but he's soon on a roll.
272
00:24:27,747 --> 00:24:30,963
He seems to mark the empty nests off on his list.
273
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,425
The geese do their best, and luckily plenty will hatch
274
00:24:38,425 --> 00:24:40,610
to ensure the goose colony stays healthy
275
00:24:40,610 --> 00:24:42,003
for next year's plundering.
276
00:24:51,180 --> 00:24:54,310
With a well-stocked larder, the father fox grabs a gosling
277
00:24:54,310 --> 00:24:55,793
to take home for dinner.
278
00:25:00,350 --> 00:25:02,540
Although they are only a few weeks old,
279
00:25:02,540 --> 00:25:05,730
the cubs have already cultured a taste for meat.
280
00:25:05,730 --> 00:25:08,253
They will be fully weaned at just one month old.
281
00:25:10,007 --> 00:25:13,763
In the shortest of seasons, every calorie counts.
282
00:25:18,630 --> 00:25:21,050
The pups already resemble their parents,
283
00:25:21,050 --> 00:25:23,793
with the compact bodies and tiny rounded ears,
284
00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,780
features to minimize surface area against heat loss
285
00:25:27,780 --> 00:25:28,943
in their frigid home.
286
00:25:30,860 --> 00:25:34,083
The little ones are already fiercely competitive over food.
287
00:25:35,678 --> 00:25:38,780
The toughest have worked their way up the pecking order
288
00:25:38,780 --> 00:25:40,570
and eat first.
289
00:25:40,570 --> 00:25:42,170
And it's these youngsters who will have
290
00:25:42,170 --> 00:25:43,663
the best chance of survival.
291
00:25:46,874 --> 00:25:51,023
Here more than anywhere, the underdogs have to be tough.
292
00:25:54,393 --> 00:25:58,040
In a few months, they'll have to take care of themselves,
293
00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,020
which will be especially difficult
294
00:26:00,020 --> 00:26:02,513
when they have to face their first Arctic winter.
295
00:26:07,198 --> 00:26:09,781
(gentle music)
296
00:26:17,030 --> 00:26:19,255
Although they had a headstart in life
297
00:26:19,255 --> 00:26:22,090
and are about a month ahead of the Arctic foxes,
298
00:26:22,090 --> 00:26:24,710
the reds are at a similar state,
299
00:26:24,710 --> 00:26:27,303
now spending much of their time outside the den.
300
00:26:30,180 --> 00:26:32,820
They never wander too far and are drawn back
301
00:26:32,820 --> 00:26:33,783
by mother's milk.
302
00:26:36,930 --> 00:26:38,740
But even staying this close to home
303
00:26:38,740 --> 00:26:40,573
doesn't guarantee their safety.
304
00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:46,490
The bank of the den opens out into a sunny playground,
305
00:26:46,490 --> 00:26:49,283
but it also puts them in view of another family.
306
00:26:50,950 --> 00:26:53,170
Sandstone cliffs above the den are home
307
00:26:53,170 --> 00:26:54,990
to a nest of eagle owls,
308
00:26:54,990 --> 00:26:57,613
the largest and most deadly of their kind.
309
00:26:58,695 --> 00:27:01,940
Like the foxes, their young are growing fast
310
00:27:01,940 --> 00:27:03,740
and will soon leave home.
311
00:27:03,740 --> 00:27:05,720
Right now, they need as much food
312
00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:07,313
as their parents can supply.
313
00:27:11,660 --> 00:27:14,070
These are the eagles of the owl world
314
00:27:14,070 --> 00:27:16,863
and can bring down prey heavier than themselves.
315
00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:21,860
A three kilo fox cub versus a four kilo bird
316
00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:24,966
with a two meter wingspan and deadly talons.
317
00:27:24,966 --> 00:27:27,799
(dramatic music)
318
00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:44,890
The first death in the family,
319
00:27:44,890 --> 00:27:48,030
but the loss of one cub will give the eagle owl chicks
320
00:27:48,030 --> 00:27:49,273
the best start in life.
321
00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,090
Parents everywhere are preparing to send their little ones
322
00:27:58,090 --> 00:27:59,753
out into the dangerous world.
323
00:28:01,830 --> 00:28:04,680
Snow only sits in the last shadowed gullies,
324
00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,033
providing a playground for the Arctic foxes.
325
00:28:09,602 --> 00:28:12,110
Their hunting instinct is strong,
326
00:28:12,110 --> 00:28:14,560
and they practice their mouse catching maneuvers.
327
00:28:26,820 --> 00:28:29,123
But childhood can't last forever.
328
00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:40,100
Despite their pleading,
329
00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:42,183
mum isn't willing to feed them anymore.
330
00:28:48,277 --> 00:28:51,380
They are being forced to fly the nest.
331
00:28:51,380 --> 00:28:53,823
The time has come for them to prove their worth.
332
00:28:57,260 --> 00:28:59,090
Left alone, they are confused,
333
00:28:59,090 --> 00:29:01,040
looking around for their parents and wondering
334
00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:02,783
when the next meal might arrive.
335
00:29:07,250 --> 00:29:10,023
Scraps around the den won't keep them going for long,
336
00:29:10,890 --> 00:29:13,973
but a bit of movement nearby draws their attention.
337
00:29:20,190 --> 00:29:22,240
Hundreds of kittiwake chicks that have
338
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,400
recently flown the nest gather here
339
00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,030
to practice their foraging skills.
340
00:29:27,030 --> 00:29:29,253
Soon they will leave the breeding grounds.
341
00:29:32,290 --> 00:29:34,270
But when there are hundreds of animals,
342
00:29:34,270 --> 00:29:35,870
there will always be casualties.
343
00:29:39,619 --> 00:29:42,760
The sick and injured get left behind,
344
00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,810
and their misfortune might just give the fox cubs
345
00:29:45,810 --> 00:29:47,383
the helping hand they need.
346
00:29:49,755 --> 00:29:52,255
(tense music)
347
00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:14,870
They might be sitting ducks
348
00:30:14,870 --> 00:30:17,110
but they are also great target practice
349
00:30:17,110 --> 00:30:18,833
and packed with nutrition.
350
00:30:28,270 --> 00:30:29,780
The pups are soon realizing
351
00:30:29,780 --> 00:30:31,953
their Arctic playground is a buffet.
352
00:30:33,060 --> 00:30:36,503
For the underdogs, opportunism and adaptability are the key.
353
00:30:40,270 --> 00:30:43,400
They'll learn not only to hunt, but to scavenge,
354
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:46,010
dig for insects and sample berries.
355
00:30:46,010 --> 00:30:48,073
Here, they must eat anything edible.
356
00:30:59,438 --> 00:31:02,021
(gentle music)
357
00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:05,830
On the banks of his wetland home,
358
00:31:05,830 --> 00:31:08,933
the male raccoon dog is searching for food for his family.
359
00:31:10,710 --> 00:31:12,083
He can smell success.
360
00:31:14,569 --> 00:31:18,160
Pond turtles lay their eggs in the soft dirt
361
00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:19,883
and now the young are hatching.
362
00:31:25,350 --> 00:31:27,700
The tiny reptiles instincts tell them to head
363
00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:29,550
straight for the protection of water.
364
00:31:33,350 --> 00:31:36,333
The male is ready to intercept any he finds.
365
00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,470
But he also knows there will be another
366
00:31:42,470 --> 00:31:44,413
even easier feast awaiting him.
367
00:31:47,650 --> 00:31:49,740
Not all of the turtles will hatch,
368
00:31:49,740 --> 00:31:51,750
and where their nests have been opened,
369
00:31:51,750 --> 00:31:54,013
an egg breakfast awaits.
370
00:32:01,245 --> 00:32:04,463
There is a lot of food, but not enough to share.
371
00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,653
A golden jackal has the same idea.
372
00:32:11,265 --> 00:32:13,616
If the raccoon is the underdog,
373
00:32:13,616 --> 00:32:16,147
then the jackal is the middleman.
374
00:32:16,147 --> 00:32:18,711
An in-between, bigger than a fox,
375
00:32:18,711 --> 00:32:20,413
but not quite a wolf.
376
00:32:21,310 --> 00:32:24,700
Because of its larger size, the jackal is a true threat
377
00:32:24,700 --> 00:32:26,513
to the other smaller wild dogs.
378
00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:30,070
But secretive in its behavior,
379
00:32:30,070 --> 00:32:32,507
this family is staying deep in the forest.
380
00:32:32,507 --> 00:32:35,883
Perhaps their distant wolf cousins are keeping them on edge.
381
00:32:37,750 --> 00:32:41,540
The pup nozzles mum to encourage her to regurgitate food.
382
00:32:41,540 --> 00:32:44,113
But before she has the chance, she's mobbed.
383
00:32:50,538 --> 00:32:53,820
Jackals are big enough to bring down small deer.
384
00:32:53,820 --> 00:32:55,623
A powerful boar would be pushing it.
385
00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:04,620
But the threat of jackals is enough
386
00:33:04,620 --> 00:33:06,603
to stop the wild pig in its stride.
387
00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,070
The cubs are curious, but it's a dangerous game.
388
00:33:13,070 --> 00:33:14,893
Boar can be very aggressive.
389
00:33:17,342 --> 00:33:20,193
But this time, its nerves get the better of it.
390
00:33:31,821 --> 00:33:35,370
As summer draws in, the mother red fox spends
391
00:33:35,370 --> 00:33:37,223
ever more time away from the den.
392
00:33:41,868 --> 00:33:45,151
Her pups have totally outgrown their nursery
393
00:33:45,151 --> 00:33:48,063
and will only have a few short days left to enjoy it.
394
00:33:59,837 --> 00:34:02,790
They're ever more intrigued by the sights and sounds
395
00:34:02,790 --> 00:34:04,263
of the outside world.
396
00:34:21,701 --> 00:34:25,310
It's time the youngsters mastered the art of hunting.
397
00:34:25,310 --> 00:34:27,160
Red foxes are generalists,
398
00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:30,330
turning their hands to almost anything edible,
399
00:34:30,330 --> 00:34:32,283
but rodents are their favorite prey.
400
00:34:38,597 --> 00:34:41,010
But there is someone else looking for a game
401
00:34:41,010 --> 00:34:42,123
of cat and mouse.
402
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:54,143
Sensitive ears hone in on a potential victim.
403
00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:04,370
Huge, soft feet enable it to move silently
404
00:35:04,370 --> 00:35:05,413
through the forest.
405
00:35:13,340 --> 00:35:15,790
Dogs are supposed to chase cats,
406
00:35:15,790 --> 00:35:18,323
but here it can be the other way round.
407
00:35:19,336 --> 00:35:21,836
(tense music)
408
00:35:41,808 --> 00:35:44,480
The mother fox returns too late.
409
00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,440
From her litter of six, only two have survived.
410
00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:50,063
A male and a female.
411
00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:54,300
These are the mother's last hope
412
00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:56,773
and soon they will have to go it alone.
413
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,720
The pups get ever more independent and are soon
414
00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:08,713
competently moving away from home in search of food.
415
00:36:15,570 --> 00:36:17,743
Meadows are a great place to go hunting.
416
00:36:20,570 --> 00:36:23,430
She's after rodents, but her presence still puts
417
00:36:23,430 --> 00:36:24,480
the roe deer on edge.
418
00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,320
One doe is especially nervy.
419
00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:43,653
She has a late fawn hiding in the hedgerow.
420
00:36:47,973 --> 00:36:50,010
While their mothers are busy,
421
00:36:50,010 --> 00:36:53,057
roe fawns instinctively know to lie perfectly still
422
00:36:53,057 --> 00:36:56,880
using their dappled coats to blend in with the ground.
423
00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:59,710
But lying still when there are predators on the prowl
424
00:36:59,710 --> 00:37:00,583
is a gamble.
425
00:37:08,143 --> 00:37:11,605
The mother barks, trying to draw the fox away.
426
00:37:11,605 --> 00:37:14,253
But the young vixen is only after mice.
427
00:37:22,980 --> 00:37:26,260
Even huge red deer are unnerved when the male cub
428
00:37:26,260 --> 00:37:28,523
tries the same hunting techniques.
429
00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:44,230
Both pups are off to a great start,
430
00:37:44,230 --> 00:37:47,043
proving that they are capable of feeding themselves.
431
00:37:54,714 --> 00:37:57,881
(bright gentle music)
432
00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:03,960
The young vixen is hugging the woods,
433
00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:05,110
the place of her birth.
434
00:38:06,873 --> 00:38:09,537
But her brother's venturing further afield.
435
00:38:13,020 --> 00:38:16,710
For both foxes, this is a time of great change
436
00:38:16,710 --> 00:38:18,370
and they must be ready to take anything
437
00:38:18,370 --> 00:38:19,840
the world throws at them.
438
00:38:48,242 --> 00:38:51,010
Late summer rains are just a taster
439
00:38:51,010 --> 00:38:52,420
of the hardships to come.
440
00:39:04,359 --> 00:39:07,880
Colder air brings changes to the landscape,
441
00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:10,803
as lush greens are replaced with the goals of autumn.
442
00:39:19,860 --> 00:39:22,470
The raccoon dog family have dispersed,
443
00:39:22,470 --> 00:39:24,023
leaving mum in peace.
444
00:39:32,303 --> 00:39:35,930
These incredible little underdogs have a unique trait
445
00:39:35,930 --> 00:39:38,719
that sets them apart from all others.
446
00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:40,323
They can hibernate.
447
00:39:42,950 --> 00:39:44,860
But to get them through the winter,
448
00:39:44,860 --> 00:39:47,400
they need to build up their fat reserves.
449
00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,690
The female's bulging belly is testimony to her success.
450
00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:00,510
Soon she'll need to find a quiet spot
451
00:40:00,510 --> 00:40:03,020
where she can curl up and switch off,
452
00:40:03,020 --> 00:40:05,390
lowering her metabolism until warmer weather
453
00:40:05,390 --> 00:40:06,543
tempts her back out.
454
00:40:12,020 --> 00:40:14,960
A stranded fish is the idea of high protein meal
455
00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:16,450
she's been craving.
456
00:40:16,450 --> 00:40:18,323
Perfect for a bedtime snack.
457
00:40:26,733 --> 00:40:28,710
It's not long before the forests
458
00:40:28,710 --> 00:40:30,393
have their first dusting of snow.
459
00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:54,783
In the northern forests, winter's come hard and fast.
460
00:40:58,430 --> 00:41:00,740
The raccoon dogs might sleep it off,
461
00:41:00,740 --> 00:41:04,180
but most animals have to face their biggest challenges,
462
00:41:04,180 --> 00:41:07,783
finding food and staying warm in the unforgiving snowscape.
463
00:41:11,740 --> 00:41:14,963
An eagle spots the male fox trying to cross a lake.
464
00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:22,900
Like most predators, it hones in on weakness.
465
00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:24,273
The fox is limping.
466
00:41:37,155 --> 00:41:40,060
Who knows what accident befell him,
467
00:41:40,060 --> 00:41:44,060
whether he was hit by a car or attacked by another predator.
468
00:41:44,060 --> 00:41:46,753
But the eagle seems to sense his time is near.
469
00:41:49,460 --> 00:41:52,010
Weak and unable to feed himself,
470
00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:54,363
the young male doesn't last long in the cold.
471
00:41:56,370 --> 00:41:59,063
His body, a welcome feast for hungry birds.
472
00:42:03,060 --> 00:42:06,593
Only around 20% of foxes survive their first year.
473
00:42:10,336 --> 00:42:13,420
The weather gets worse and the young vixen
474
00:42:13,420 --> 00:42:15,373
also struggles against the elements.
475
00:42:19,532 --> 00:42:23,223
She hangs out around the birds, hoping for scraps.
476
00:42:27,980 --> 00:42:28,980
But she has company.
477
00:42:30,448 --> 00:42:32,948
(tense music)
478
00:42:38,220 --> 00:42:41,420
Dogs of all sizes have to struggle against the elements
479
00:42:41,420 --> 00:42:43,913
and take every feeding opportunity they can.
480
00:42:47,130 --> 00:42:49,473
None of them can afford to be choosy.
481
00:43:05,962 --> 00:43:09,313
But this time it's she who is following them.
482
00:43:12,295 --> 00:43:14,830
Because they have numbers on their side,
483
00:43:14,830 --> 00:43:17,590
wolves are well-equipped to bring down the other weakened,
484
00:43:17,590 --> 00:43:19,293
hungry creatures of the forest.
485
00:43:24,510 --> 00:43:26,190
The ravens know to follow the wolves
486
00:43:26,190 --> 00:43:27,573
if they want to find food.
487
00:43:28,535 --> 00:43:32,114
And this time the vixen is using the same trick.
488
00:43:32,114 --> 00:43:34,358
Of course, wolves are still deadly.
489
00:43:34,358 --> 00:43:36,570
They'd kill her on sight.
490
00:43:36,570 --> 00:43:39,210
So she hangs back at a safe distance
491
00:43:39,210 --> 00:43:41,423
and respectfully lets them eat first.
492
00:43:45,060 --> 00:43:47,063
Luckily they wolf their food.
493
00:43:52,001 --> 00:43:55,084
And, with bellies full, turn to play.
494
00:44:01,950 --> 00:44:04,083
This is the moment she's been waiting for.
495
00:44:05,850 --> 00:44:08,470
With such courage and adaptability,
496
00:44:08,470 --> 00:44:10,370
her chances are looking good.
497
00:44:10,370 --> 00:44:13,508
She's learning to exploit every possible food resource.
498
00:44:13,508 --> 00:44:15,513
Even her big, bad neighbors.
499
00:44:18,170 --> 00:44:22,020
Winter is the ultimate test and she's passed.
500
00:44:22,020 --> 00:44:25,410
Slowly, the days get longer and warmth breeds life
501
00:44:25,410 --> 00:44:26,453
into the landscape.
502
00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,180
It's the tail end of winter for the Arctic underdogs
503
00:44:53,492 --> 00:44:55,780
and a few of the litter has survived
504
00:44:55,780 --> 00:44:57,943
the six months of freezing darkness.
505
00:45:00,750 --> 00:45:03,203
And they have done so through their adaptability.
506
00:45:05,850 --> 00:45:08,740
As the first ice-free beaches open up,
507
00:45:08,740 --> 00:45:11,393
one of the yearling males explores the tide line.
508
00:45:13,528 --> 00:45:16,773
Seafood makes for an exciting seasonal treat.
509
00:45:19,536 --> 00:45:22,110
Though getting into a big, healthy mussel
510
00:45:22,110 --> 00:45:23,923
is a problem that's hard to crack.
511
00:45:26,580 --> 00:45:29,280
Though he's not yet reached his first birthday,
512
00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:31,510
the young male's fully mature.
513
00:45:31,510 --> 00:45:33,460
He starting to feel the urge to set up home
514
00:45:33,460 --> 00:45:34,563
and begin a family.
515
00:45:40,780 --> 00:45:43,573
He barks, proclaiming his territory.
516
00:45:51,423 --> 00:45:53,563
A nearby female sings back.
517
00:45:57,809 --> 00:46:00,559
(dramatic music)
518
00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:14,823
But as he gets closer, he recognizes her scent.
519
00:46:16,010 --> 00:46:16,963
It's his mother.
520
00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:21,280
Enthusiastically, he rushes to greet her,
521
00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:22,963
but the feeling is not mutual.
522
00:46:31,402 --> 00:46:33,940
The female's ready to breed again
523
00:46:33,940 --> 00:46:36,853
and doesn't want previous offspring hanging around.
524
00:47:06,877 --> 00:47:09,250
She makes her feelings clear.
525
00:47:09,250 --> 00:47:11,557
From now on, he is on his own.
526
00:47:27,150 --> 00:47:30,070
In the warmer south, another young fox
527
00:47:30,070 --> 00:47:31,713
has survived her first winter.
528
00:47:35,330 --> 00:47:38,833
The young vixen is in great shape and mousing like a pro.
529
00:47:42,578 --> 00:47:45,150
But instead of eating the rodents,
530
00:47:45,150 --> 00:47:47,073
she carries them back into the forest.
531
00:47:52,166 --> 00:47:55,673
She's enthusiastically greeted by hungry cubs.
532
00:48:03,300 --> 00:48:04,803
But these are not her own.
533
00:48:09,425 --> 00:48:12,313
They are her new brothers and sisters.
534
00:48:15,770 --> 00:48:17,160
She has stayed with her parents
535
00:48:17,160 --> 00:48:19,752
to help raise their next brood.
536
00:48:19,752 --> 00:48:21,672
Unlike the Arctic foxes,
537
00:48:21,672 --> 00:48:24,513
she won't be ready to breed for another year.
538
00:48:31,882 --> 00:48:34,690
Though they are not considered pack animals,
539
00:48:34,690 --> 00:48:36,940
it's quite common for red foxes to live
540
00:48:36,940 --> 00:48:38,323
in extended families.
541
00:48:43,983 --> 00:48:46,710
Mum is still here to provide milk,
542
00:48:46,710 --> 00:48:49,163
but she has less pressure to hunt as well.
543
00:48:54,446 --> 00:48:58,530
It means the young female gets to practice at being a mum
544
00:48:58,530 --> 00:49:00,323
until her turn comes around.
545
00:49:05,610 --> 00:49:08,633
And with an extra carer, it will give the pups
546
00:49:08,633 --> 00:49:11,023
the best possible start in life.
547
00:49:13,720 --> 00:49:16,823
Though they might be underdogs, they excel at it,
548
00:49:18,244 --> 00:49:21,917
and always seem to come out on top.
549
00:49:21,917 --> 00:49:25,334
(gentle uplifting music)
40849
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