Original subtitles

Winter in Yosemite National Park.

For the coyote food hides deep below the snow.

It helps to muffle his steps.

Exceptional hearing...

pinpoints preyunder a foot of snow.

Timing is everything.

Yosemite is full ofhidden treasures...

if you knowwhere to find them.

Big, bold, beautiful.

Yosemite is filledwith famous landmarks,

El Capitan...

Half Dome...

Glacier Point...

Home to one of the largest natural water supplies

in California.

An oasis in a drying state.

The park has unique geography.

Clouds from thePacific Ocean

hit the 13,000-foot Sierra Nevada.

Bringing snow toits towering peaks...

Meltwater that will slowly release throughout the year.

A spring pulse sweeps across Yosemite Valley.

Snowpack thaws.

The park's firstwave of water unlocks.

Yosemite Fallsis in full flow.

The Merced Riverroars back to life.

Barren, white landscapes,

transform into lusciousgreen meadows.

20% of California's plant species flourish here.

The best time to see them is when Yosemite wakes

from its winter slumber.

Insects providea welcome feast

for acorn woodpeckers nesting under El Capitan.

Yosemite's granite rock faces have inspired people

for millennia.

Ahwahnee, meaning'large gaping mouth'

was the original Native American name for this iconic Valley.

Yosemite's 3,000 meadows are rich islands of life.

Spring grass, a surprising food source

for the park's biggest animal.

A male black bear.

He is part of Yosemite's unique bear research

running for almost 50 years,

it protects blackbears and people.

A GPS collar and an ear tag help to track his movements.

He recently emergedfrom hibernation...

and is starving.

But a 400-pound bear cannot survive on grass alone.

After sleeping for five months,

this big boy needsa shot of protein.

And he knows where to get one.

His sense of smell is at least 100 times better than a human.

He can sniff out calorie rich grubs hidden under tree bark.

But when you'vegot huge paws...

tiny treats are hard to reach.

It's easy to see whyhe'll need to feed...

all day.

He isn't the onlyhungry bear out here.

And others have more than one mouth to feed.

A Yosemite mom; who's been studied for seven years.

She has two new spring cubs.

They emerged from hibernation late so are playing catch up.

To find food they must explore vast areas of the park.

Her cubs need topile on the pounds.

At five months old they are underweight and vulnerable.

They need tostay close to mom.

Especially when there are crafty coyotes around.

Keeping up with momcan be difficult...

when you're an easily distracted pre-schooler.

Yosemite's coyotes usually feed on gophers,

squirrels and mice.

A cub could easilyweigh 25 times more,

a welcome feast.

The cub has the high ground...

And surprises the coyote.

Defending territory, a life lesson the bear cub has

just put to the test.

In Yosemite, there can be 20 competing bears

in just seven square miles

thanks to nearly half a century of research and protection.

But the preservation of the park began much earlier.

In Congress, Yosemite was said to be home

to 'some of the greatest wonders of the world'.

Over 160 years ago, photographer Carleton Watkins

ventured into a largely uncharted Yosemite Valley.

He captured jaw dropping landscapes of a secret

American wilderness.

The photos inspiredPresident Lincoln

to sign the first ever legislation...

protecting an area based solely on its natural beauty.

Yosemite National Park has expanded since the late 1800s.

Its boundaries encompass the Merced River Canyon...

One of the last, sections of undammed white water

in California.

Home to one of the park's most adventurous animals.

The Sierra newt.

She spends most of her life hidden from sight.

In spring, that all changes.

Her body releases hormones

and when the conditions are just right...

she'll start ajourney to find a mate...

That can be as long as two miles.

A huge task, when you're only five inches long.

One last obstaclestands in her way...

a Yosemite highway.

Despite the odds this Yosemite explorer

has made it.

Her skin releases a pheromone as she enters the water.

An irresistible signal.

Males respondalmost immediately.

A tumultuous ball ofmales surround her.

In this underwater rodeo,

the male who holdson the longest wins.

The chosen male must now show his gentler side.

He starts withsubtle toe movements.

And for his final big move, the chin rub.

Suitably impressed,

she allows for what passes

as newt intimacy.

And she deposits multiple large egg masses...

Which will hatchin seven weeks.

The next generation of Yosemite's most extreme,

romantic adventurer.

Yosemite is notonly home to small,

brightly colored animals...

the park also houses some of the world's largest organisms.

Giant Sequoias.

The Western Sierra Nevada is the only place on the planet

where they grow naturally.

They sit in a sweetspot on the landscape.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 feet.

An oasis wherethese giants thrive.

And no one spends more time in these old growth forests than researchers,

Anthony Ambroseand Wendy Baxter.

I've been studying trees for about 24 years.

The first time that you enter into a Sequoia Grove,

you're just immediately struck by these massive orange trunks.

They get over 300 feet tall.

They live for more than 3,000 years.

They are just incredibly majestic.

Like humans, plants require a set of

building blocks to grow.

Carbon from the atmosphere...

nutrients from the soil...

and finally, something essential...

Water.

Anthony monitors the water status of Yosemite's

largest tree species.

Like blood pressure in humans this indicates the health

of the tree and the wider conditions for all life

in the park.

They're very unique individuals.

Every tree that I've climbed is, is different.

There's that really cool sense of exploration when you go

up in them for the first time,

knowing that chances are you're the first person

that's ever been up in that particular tree.

Just to know that, that living organism has been

in that same spot for millennia is, is,

is really incredible to contemplate.

We're measuring the, the water flow at the very top here

because this is the most sensitive part of the tree.

Measuring here helps indicate the tree's health.

- Okay.

A crucial piece of research for giants

living under drought conditions.

In recent years California has experienced unnatural fires

that burn atimmense temperatures,

destroying everythingin their path.

Places like Yosemite, are essential for their survival.

The National parks are critical

for the conservation of the giant sequoias.

I encourage people to visit the giant sequoias themselves

and, and visit the national parks where they're located.

It is a really good way for people to reconnect

with nature and to be inspired and awestruck

by what nature can, can do.

In Yosemite Valley, summer temperatures hitover 100 degrees.

The park falls into a drought.

Meaning a low cropyear for berries,

the bears' favoritesummer snack...

And one is insearch of relief.

The Merced River, lifeblood of Yosemite...

And popular bearswimming pool.

When food is in short supply, territory is at a premium.

The park's orchard become prime bear real estate.

This Yosemite female is an apple picker extraordinaire.

But all the commotion attracts unwanted attention...

A large, hungry male.

He launches a sneak attack.

To show submissionshe flattens her ears.

And there's only one direction for her to go.

Adult bears are not the only ones exploring Yosemite's trees.

The cubs also enjoygetting some height.

Climbing is anessential life lesson.

All this activity burns up precious energy.

But for mom, things aren't so care free.

To keep her cubs safe, she avoids other adults...

But that means they never get to the juiciest fruit trees.

There are slim pickingsin her territory

but mom still provides.

In summer, she produces 30 ounces of milk for each cub,

every single day.

She is thin butwill never give up.

Her cubs are oblivious...

like any kids theyjust wanna play.

The search for newplaces to eat

drives mom to take a big risk.

Mom needsto find more food.

The Yosemite Highway.

A familiar obstacle for all the animals that live here.

214 miles of road,

where a dozen bearscan die every year.

Cubs are most likelyto be struck down.

Mom makes a dash, hoping her kids will follow.

But the cubs seem scared and rooted to the spot.

The cubs are clever, and time their crossing perfectly.

With a low summer berry crop this family has no choice

but to move on.

In search of new, richer pastures.

In their never-endingquest to feed,

Yosemite's blackbears will navigate the park's forests...

an environment that climbs 10,000 feet in only a few miles.

A steep change in elevation,

where close to 40tree species thrive.

Home to hundreds of animals.

One of them so perfectly evolved to life in the trees...

it can be hard to spot.

Dark brown feathers, interspersed with white dots,

camouflage this female.

Needle sharp talonsreveal her power.

She is a Californian spotted owl and she's not alone.

At 19 years old she has been the resident female here

for nearly two decades.

Her partner is much younger.

He's only seven andlacks experience.

Even so, his preening skills prove he is an attentive mate

It's unusual to see these owls out in the day.

But this pair has a good reason to be up past bedtime.

A new arrival.

At two months old, this fluff ball is demanding.

The parents must feed her at least three times a day.

They are theultimate aerial predators.

Specialized feathers allow near silent flight.

Phenomenalhearing and eyesight...

give pinpointhunting precision.

The hardworking parents leave their chick for long periods.

Like any kid left home alone, she gets antsy.

Without mom and dad she is at risk of falling from safety,

onto thedangerous forest floor.

Where a Yosemitebobcat waits for her...

to make a wrong move.

Thankfully the young owl's talons act like a ratchet...

an anchor that locks the chick on her perch.

The bobcat soonloses interest.

The owl chick livesto fight another day.

In Yosemite, snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada

continues to feedthe park's meadows.

It's the height of blooming season

for a very special plant.

One that holds apoisonous secret.

Milkweed a flowersteeped in history.

A natural material used by Native Americans

for basket weaving, twine, and rope.

Its leaves are toxic, and few animals can stomach them.

Like Yosemite'sCobalt Milkweed Beetle...

and Milkweed aphids.

The small yellow insects

are at the bottomof the food chain.

Prey for ladybugs, in a rich microscopic world...

that flourishes in the park's protected meadows.

The cobalt milkweed beetles are not just here to feed.

They're also here to breed.

This male is thelatest arrival...

To what looks like'60's Beatlemania.

Females mate withmultiple males.

So, competition is high.

Once they've mated, males ride on the backs of the females...

to fend off rivals.

It's a collection ofclingy boyfriends.

Who thrive in the park's flower rich meadows.

Yosemite's bedrock isalmost entirely granite.

Cliff faces, domes and boulders dominate the high country.

Between these formidable barren peaks are meadows...

bursting with life.

Tuolumne.

Based on the Native American Miwok word talmalamne,

meaning stone houses.

It's the park'slargest meadow.

The final place to make use of this year's snow melt.

Usually quiet and tranquil it now rings out with sound.

Thanks to a resident high-pitched choir...

of Belding's ground squirrels.

Summer up here is short.

So, these lightning-fast alpine specialists

don't mess around.

Life is one bigrace against time...

to feed and breed.

They are alsotenacious tunnelers.

Their burrows aerate the soil, which help the meadow

store and filter water.

A cleaning service benefiting all of Tuolumne.

But they have to always be on guard

for the park's most skilled predators.

A red-tailed hawk.

A whistle indicatesan aerial attack and is quickly understood!

A multiple-note trill signifies a ground-based predator.

But not everyoneunderstands the calls.

A young pup strays on the edge of its family range.

He doesn'trealize he's in danger.

A long-tailed weasel, prolific predator of pups.

With keen eyesight and sharp, powerful teeth...

he's on the lookoutfor his next meal.

More warning calls ring out from the pup's family.

He gets the message...

just in time.

Outfoxed, the weasel gives up,

and returns to his rocky burrow.

Yosemite's stone comes in all shapes and sizes.

And the most iconic

is a 3,000-foot monolith.

El Capitan.

Twice the height of the Empire State Building.

American Icon.

Once thought to be unscalable.

Now a mecca of big wall rock climbing.

But in Yosemite, humans aren't the only vertigo hunters.

Western Fence Lizards.

Capable of gripping onto large rock overhangs...

and making death-defying leaps.

In breeding season males are all about their ego.

A bright blue chin and stomach are the lizard's equivalent

of washboard abs!

If you've got it, flaunt it.

To show what he's working with...

it's time for some push-ups.

And one female takes notice...

But is he her perfect muscle man?

Looks like he needs to work on his moves.

Not all behavior in the park is dominated by macho males,

sometimes females take the lead.

From Yosemite's iconic green Valley

to its secret eastern edge.

Little rain reaches this arid landscape,

blocked by over 13,000 feet of solid Sierra Nevada.

An alien, desert-like habitat.

Home to one of the park's strangest females.

A praying mantis.

It's the last days of summer in Yosemite,

and she's coming to the end of her seasonal feeding spree.

Her main weapons, prominent front legs,

lined with shark tooth shaped spikes.

The praying mantis is the only insect on the planet

with three-dimensional vision.

Her lightning-fast strike clocks at one-twentieth of a second.

But this is only a cricket drumstick appetizer...

She releases a concoction of alluring pheromones into the air.

Eau du mantis.

One lucky guy picks up the signal.

Maybe some eye contact can smooth out this first date.

Or maybe not!

In exchange for his would be wooing,

the Casanova is attacked.

It's impossible for him to free himself.

The male's head is ripped off.

The female's final main course.

It's an abrupt end to a first date.

Or is it?

The decapitated male is still moving.

The headless torso of the male praying mantis

is still controlled by nerves in the abdomen.

In a final mating act,

his body completes what his head started.

The female on the other hand, is busy finishing dinner.

She'll mate with multiple males each breeding season...

not all of them will suffer the same fate.

But the males who are decapitated may father the most eggs.

The ultimate sacrifice in a unique Yosemite love story.

In Yosemite Valley the season turns...

transforming into vivid fall colors.

And the sound of change rings across the park.

Male mule deer are rutting.

In fall, Yosemite produces one last bumper crop of acorns.

A staple food source for local Miwoks.

Animals across the park fatten up before winter...

and store for leaner times.

A young black bear family arrives in Yosemite.

They're here at the right time to flex some climbing muscles.

Fall is the last chance for them to feed before hibernation.

Mom could easily eat up to 20,000 calories a day...

that's 40 Big Macs!

Dropping branches full of food might seem wasteful...

but bears are smart.

Dinner with a view at the top of the tree...

And an acorn dessert on the ground.

Essential fat reserves for the cold months ahead.

Winter comes quick in this true American wilderness.

Where temperatures need to drop to 32 degrees

for snowfall to replenish the park's precious water supply.

The driver of all life in this unique landscape.

Yosemite's water holds one more hidden treasure.

Fire falls.

On the Eastern rock-face of El Capitan,

under the perfect frosty conditions.

Color punches through the white landscape.

And this waterfall comes to life...

In this picture-perfect paradise.

More than four million people visit Yosemite each year...

It's a land of wonder whose iconic mountains

and resilient residents live protected.

Winters in Yosemite are becoming shorter

and temperatures are predicted to rise by ten degrees

in the next century.

A hotter climate with less water could alter this pristine landscape.

Luckily, we have America's National Parks,

time capsule to a vivid past

and a blank canvas for a bountiful future.

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