All language subtitles for Fortress of the Bears PBS Nature 2011 720p HDTV EN Sub

Narrator: IN THE RUGGED
WILDERNESS OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

THERE ARE ISLANDS PATROLLED
BY ENORMOUS BEARS...

THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION
OF BROWN BEARS IN THE WORLD.

THE STREAMS ARE
THEIR HUNTING GROUNDS,

AND THOUGH OCEAN GIANTS
PLY THE WATERS OFFSHORE,

THE RUNS OF SALMON
BELONG TO THE BEARS.

THEIR ONLY FEAR
IS A BIGGER BEAR.

BUT THIS SEASON,
SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG.

THE FEAST OF SALMON
DOES NOT COME.

SOME WAIT IN VAIN
FOR FISH...

OTHERS CHANGE
THEIR TACTICS.

BUT THEIR ISLAND WILDERNESS
IS FAILING THEM,

AND FOR ONE FATEFUL SUMMER,

THE BEARS ARE PUT TO
THE ULTIMATE TEST.

Narrator: MASSIVE BROWN BEARS

PATROL THE SHORES OF
SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

WHERE REMNANTS OF THE ICE AGE
STILL LINGER.

YET THE GLACIERS

THAT ONCE FORMED GIANT HIGHWAYS
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

ARE IN THEIR FINAL RETREAT,

AND THE ICE HAS TURNED TO OCEAN
ALONG ALASKA'S COASTAL RANGE.

THE MOUNTAINS ARE ISLANDS NOW,

AND THE BEARS ARE CASTAWAYS,

MAROONED OUT ON
ISOLATED WORLDS.

CONFINED BY RISING WATERS,
THEY STALK THE ROCKY BEACHES,

VIGILANT FOR WHATEVER
FORTUNE -- AND FATE --

MAY BRING IN FROM THE SEA.

A MOOSE FROM THE MAINLAND
SEEKING NEW GROUND

WILL FIND
MIGHTY PREDATORS,

AND NO SANCTUARY HERE.

THE BEAR IS ABOUT TO
RUN OUT OF HUNTING GROUND,

BUT THE MOOSE IS TOO BIG A PRIZE
FOR HIM TO LET HER SWIM AWAY.

THE SPINDLY-LEGGED MOOSE

IS A SURPRISINGLY
STRONG SWIMMER.

THE BEAR, THOUGH POWERFUL
IN THE WATER,

HAS NO HOPE OF
CATCHING HER.

A HUNDRED YARDS OUT,
HE'S REACHED HIS LIMIT

AND HEADS FOR HOME...

TO WATCH AND WAIT
FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

THIS ONCE FROZEN WORLD

NOW FORMS THE PANHANDLE
OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

WHERE SHEER ROCK WALLS

RISE LIKE A FORTRESS
FROM THE SURROUNDING SEA.

BUT IT'S WATER
THAT HOLDS THIS WORLD TOGETHER

AND MAKES THIS FORTRESS
SO POWERFUL.

UP TO 200 INCHES
OF RAIN A YEAR

CASCADE DOWN SLOPE
AFTER SLOPE,

BUILDING INTO THOUSANDS OF
FAST-FLOWING STREAMS.

FOR PREDATORS CONFINED ON

THESE ISLAND MOUNTAINS,

IT'S THE WATERS
RUSHING OVER HARD GRANITE

THAT HAVE BECOME
PRIME HUNTING GROUNDS.

A YOUNG BROWN BEAR
STEPS OUT ONTO THE ROCKS.

HE CHECKS TO SEE IF
THE COAST IS CLEAR,

THEN GOES AFTER

WHAT HE CAME FOR --

FISH, FRESH IN FROM THE SEA.

THE MOMENT A BIGGER BEAR
EMERGES FROM THE FOREST,

HE IS QUICK TO
DROP HIS FISH.

HE WON'T RISK AN ENCOUNTER.

THE BIG BEAR SNAPS HIS JAWS
IN AGGRESSION.

ABOVE THE ROAR OF THE FALLS,
TENSION IS TIGHT IN THE AIR.

WHAT EVERY BEAR FEARS MOST HERE,
IS ANOTHER BEAR.

AND IT'S SMART
TO BE VIGILANT.

ONCE HE'S MADE A CATCH,

HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO EAT IT
OUT IN THE OPEN.

HE HEADS FOR COVER,

TO DISAPPEAR
AS FAST AS HE CAN

INTO THE DEEP GREEN
OF THE TREES.

HE HAS ENTERED
NO ORDINARY FOREST.

ITS INTERIOR IS A VAST CATHEDRAL
OF ANCIENT TREES.

HERE, THERE ARE TREES THAT HAVE
STOOD FOR A THOUSAND YEARS,

HARBORING ONE OF THE RICHEST
NATURAL COMMUNITIES ANYWHERE.

THIS IS
THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST...

17 MILLION ACRES

OF THE GREATEST TEMPERATE
RAINFOREST ON EARTH,

WHERE WESTERN HEMLOCK
AND SITKA SPRUCE

TOWER 200 FEET TALL.

LIVING TREES

ARE THE SCAFFOLDING
FOR ONE WORLD...

DEAD TREES FOR ANOTHER.

FALLEN TIMBERS
SLOW THE RUSHING WATERS,

CREATING QUIET POOLS

WHERE LITTLE FISH
CAN GROW.

IT'S IN THESE
BRIGHT, CLEAR STREAMS

THAT OCEAN GOING SALMON
GET THEIR START.

SHELTERED BY OLD TREES,

THEY WILL PREPARE FOR
A LIFE AT SEA.

THOUGH THEY MAY SPEND YEARS
FAR FROM THE FOREST,

THEY WILL STILL BECOME

A PRINCIPAL SOURCE OF
ITS BOUNTY.

WHEN THE TIME COMES
TO START THE NEXT GENERATION,

THE SALMON RETURN
BY THE THOUSANDS

TO SPAWN, LAY THEIR EGGS,

AND DIE IN THE GRAVEL BEDS
OF THEIR BIRTH.

HERE THEY WILL FACE
THE BEARS.

WITH SO MANY STREAMS

AND SO MANY SALMON,

THESE ISLANDS HOST
THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION

OF BROWN BEARS
KNOWN IN THE WORLD.

AN ESTIMATED 1,800
LIVE ON ADMIRALTY ISLAND

AT THE HEART OF
THE ARCHIPELAGO.

NEARLY 100 MILES LONG,

AND FROM 2 TO 22 MILES WIDE,

THE ISLAND IS HALF THE SIZE OF
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK,

YET IT SUPPORTS
FOUR TIMES THE GRIZZLIES.

RUSSIAN EXPLORERS
APPROACHING THE ISLAND BY BOAT

SAW ENORMOUS BEARS
PROWLING THE WATER'S EDGE.

THEY CALLED THE PLACE
"OSTROV KUTSNOI" --

"FEAR ISLAND."

BUT THE NATIVE TLINGIT PEOPLE
NAMED THE ISLAND KOOTZNOOWOO --

FORTRESS OF THE BEARS.

A FORTRESS WHERE
BEARS DEPEND ON FISH,

FISH DEPEND ON TREES,

AND THE TREES
DEPEND ON FISH-EATING BEARS

TO SPREAD THE NITROGEN-RICH
BODIES OF SALMON

THROUGHOUT THE FOREST.

AT LEAST, THAT'S HOW
THIS REMARKABLE FOREST

IS SUPPOSED TO WORK --

AND THAT'S THE STORY
WE CAME HERE TO TELL.

BUT SOMETIMES THE PIECES
FALL OUT OF PLACE,

AND THIS SUMMER WILL PUT
THE FORTRESS

TO A TERRIBLE TEST.

A YOUNG FEMALE
HAS COME DOWN TO

THE WATER MEADOWS
OF WINDFALL HARBOR.

SHE CAN HAVE NO IDEA
OF THE ORDEAL THAT WILL UNFOLD

FOR HER IN THE COMING MONTHS.

ALL SHE KNOWS NOW

IS THAT THE GRAZING IS GOOD
ON THE SEDGE AND GRASS FLATS

WHERE STREAMS SPILL OUT
INTO THE SALTY COVE.

SURPRISINGLY,
SHE HAS BROUGHT

HER TINY CUBS...

ALL THREE OF THEM.

MAYBE SHE IS
A FIRST-TIME MOTHER

AND DOESN'T KNOW THAT
BRINGING FIRST YEAR CUBS

OUT INTO THE OPEN
IS RISKING THEIR LIVES.

SHE'S THE ONLY MOTHER WITH CUBS
WE SAW IN THE MEADOW ALL SPRING.

THEY ARE NOT
LONG OUT OF THE DEN.

SHE'S STILL WEARING
HER HEAVY WINTER COAT.

THOUGH EAGER
FOR NOURISHMENT HERSELF,

SHE STOPS TO FEED
THE CUBS.

BUT THIS IS
NO PLACE TO LINGER.

TROUBLE HAS JUST EMERGED
FROM THE FOREST.

HE'S A BIG MALE,

AND SO USED TO SIGNPOSTING
HIS PRESENCE

THAT HE HAS RUBBED OFF
MUCH OF THE FUR ON HIS BACK.

AS SOON AS THE MOTHER
GETS WIND OF HIM,

SHE REALIZES
THE DANGER.

ON AN ISLAND OF SO MANY BEARS,
AGGRESSION IS PART OF SURVIVAL.

A MALE IS MORE THAN LIKELY
TO KILL THE CUBS,

AND SHE HUSTLES THEM
OUT OF THE MEADOW

AS FAST AS SHE CAN.

HE USES THE TREE
TO MAKE A STATEMENT --

TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER BEARS
WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE CONTACT.

HE RUBS HIS SCENT AS HIGH UP
THE TREE AS HE CAN REACH.

HE'LL LEAVE PATCHES OF FUR
AND CLAW MARKS --

ALL INDICATIONS OF HIS SIZE
AND ROBUST HEALTH.

BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,

A RIVAL COMES UP FROM THE BEACH
TO CONFRONT HIM.

THEY APPROACH EACH OTHER
WITH LOWERED HEADS

AND A MARKED SWAGGER --

A STRIDE MEANT TO
INTIMIDATE.

BUT SWAGGER ALONE
IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

THE CHALLENGER
IS FORCED TO BACK DOWN.

THE BEAR THAT WAS
MARKING THE TREES

TURNS OUT TO BE
AS GOOD AS HIS ADVERTISING.

HE PROVES IT
BY TURNING AWAY --

A SURE SIGN OF HIS CONFIDENCE.

THIS WILL BE JUST THE FIRST
OF MANY BATTLES

AMONG THE MALES
ON ADMIRALTY ISLAND.

MATING SEASON IS BEGINNING,

AND THESE CONFLICTS
WILL ONLY ESCALATE...

UNLESS A MALE
GETS LUCKY.

THIS ONE HAS CLAIMED A FEMALE
ALL TO HIMSELF,

WITHOUT HAVING TO
FIGHT FOR HER.

HE LOOKS LIKE HIS BEST YEARS
ARE BEHIND HIM,

BUT FOR SOME REASON,
SHE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT HIM.

THE BEARS MAY HAVE KNOWN
EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

PERHAPS HE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL
IN HIS DAY,

OR HAS EARNED HER RESPECT
AS A SURVIVOR.

BUT THEY WASTE NO TIME
ON ROMANCE.

WHEN THEIR MATING IS DONE,
SHE LETS HIM KNOW IT'S OVER.

THE TLINGIT PEOPLE SAY,

"WHEN THE TIDE IS OUT,
THE TABLE IS SET."

AND AT LOW TIDE,
MILES OF FRESH FORAGING GROUNDS

ARE EXPOSED
ALL AROUND THE ISLAND.

A FLEET OF GOLDENEYES

AND SHOVELERS
CRUISES INTO THE SHALLOWS

TO FEED ON AQUATIC INSECTS
AND INVERTEBRATES

STIRRED UP
BY THE RETREATING WATER.

A MINK CAN SWIM
FROM BEACH TO BEACH

TO SCOUR THE KELP LINE

FOR SMALL FISH
AND SHELLFISH.

THE KELP IS
A TANGLE OF FISHING GEAR

FOR SNARING JUST SUCH
A TINY CATCH.

IN WASHED-UP POPWEED,

VARIED THRUSHES ARE POKING ABOUT
FOR INSECTS.

LOW TIDE BRINGS THEM OUT OF
THE DENSE, WET FOREST

WHERE THEY ARE
MOST AT HOME.

A BEAR HAS FOLLOWED THE TIDE

OUT TO WHERE SHE CAN FIND
A REAL DELICACY...

CLAMS.

LEFT HIGH AND DRY
BY THE RECEDING TIDE,

THE CLAMS GIVE THEMSELVES AWAY,

SQUIRTING WATER
FROM THEIR SIPHONS TO BREATHE

AND TO FLUSH OUT THE SAND.

CLAMMING TAKES SKILL,

AND THE BEAR HAS
A WELL-PRACTICED TECHNIQUE.

SHE CRACKS THE SHELL
WITH HER JAWS,

THEN, USING HER FOUR-INCH CLAWS
WITH GREAT DEXTERITY,

SHE DELICATELY PICKS OUT
THE CLAM MEAT.

THE FEAST ONLY LASTS
A FEW HOURS.

NO SOONER IS THE TIDE OUT
THAN IT TURNS,

AND BEGINS TO
SLIP BACK IN TO SHORE.

ON THE EAST COAST OF
ADMIRALTY ISLAND,

IT RUSHES IN
LIKE A FLOOD.

SPRING TIDES CAN SWING
BY AS MUCH AS 15 FEET.

IN THE WATER MEADOWS
OF WINDFALL HARBOR,

THE YOUNG MOTHER
HAS RETURNED TO GRAZE.

ALREADY, SHE HAS LOST
ONE OF HER CUBS.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
AN AGGRESSIVE MALE

ATTACKED AND KILLED IT.

THERE ARE ONLY
TWO LITTLE ONES NOW.

SHE NEEDS TO MOVE THE FAMILY
OUT OF THE MEADOW.

THE ONCOMING TIDE
COULD PROVE

TOO MUCH FOR
THE TINY SURVIVORS.

BUT THEIR MOTHER
IS FAMISHED

AND INTENT ON GRAZING.

SHE NEEDS TO RESTORE THE WEIGHT
SHE LOST DURING HIBERNATION,

AND DOESN'T NOTICE
THE APPROACH OF TWO OTHER BEARS.

LUCKILY, THEY ARE JUST
TWO ADOLESCENTS,

TEENAGERS,

SCARED THEMSELVES OF
RUNNING INTO OTHER BEARS.

AT LAST, THE FAMILY
AND THE TEENAGERS

CATCH SIGHT OF EACH OTHER,

AND EVERYBODY IS ALARMED BY
THE CLOSE ENCOUNTER.

IT'S TIME TO
GET THE CUBS TO SHELTER.

THEY'RE ALREADY WET AND COLD,

AND THE WEATHER IS ABOUT TO TAKE
A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

IT CAN RAIN FOR DAYS ON END
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

AND THIS SPRING
IS UNUSUALLY COLD AND SOGGY.

BUT THE RAINS LEAVE THE AIR
FRESH AND CLEAN.

INSECTS EMERGE
AFTER THE DOWNPOUR

IN HATCH AFTER HATCH,
ALL THROUGH SPRING AND SUMMER.

FLOWER FLIES HAVE DESCENDED
TO FEED ON THE RYE GRASS,

COLLECTING THE POLLEN THEY NEED
FOR THEIR EGGS TO DEVELOP.

GRASSES PRIMARILY
RELY ON THE WIND,

BUT THE FLIES SERVE AS
BACK-UP POLLINATORS.

A LONG-JAWED ORB SPIDER
HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT,

READY TO FEED NOT ON THE GRASS,
BUT ON THE FLIES.

BEARD LICHEN
FESTOONS THE FOREST,

ABSORBING MOISTURE AND MINERALS

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE AIR.

SENSITIVE TO AIR POLLUTION,

THE LICHEN IS AN INDICATOR OF
PRISTINE ATMOSPHERE,

AND IT HANGS IN PROFUSION
ON THE COAST OF ADMIRALTY.

THE DREARY WEATHER

HASN'T DAMPENED THE SPIRITS OF
A BEAR EAGER FOR SALMON.

BEARS HAVE A SIXTH SENSE
FOR WHEN AND WHERE

THERE IS SOMETHING TO EAT,

BUT SHE SEEMS TO HAVE
JUMPED THE GUN.

THE SALMON HAVEN'T
STARTED TO RUN YET.

STILL, SHE'S A VETERAN OF
THESE SALMON STREAMS --

HER TIMING CAN'T BE
THAT FAR OFF.

SHE WORKS THE CREEK
FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR,

BUT THE FEW FISH IN THE STREAM
HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO ESCAPE.

FINALLY, SHE ACCEPTS DEFEAT.

NO LONGER YOUNG,
SHE BEARS THE SCARS

OF A LONG LIFE
ON A DANGEROUS ISLAND.

HER NOSE HAS BEEN CUT
STRAIGHT THROUGH,

AND HER COAT
IS WELL WORN.

TURNING BACK TO THE GRASS,
SHE SETTLES IN TO WAIT.

AS JULY REACHES
SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

THE ALPINE MEADOWS
BEGIN TO FLOWER.

THE LAST POCKETS OF SNOW

ARE FINALLY MELTING FROM
THE PEAKS OF ADMIRALTY ISLAND.

DIMINUTIVE SITKA
BLACK-TAILED DEER

VENTURE OUT OF THE FOREST
FOR FRESH GRAZING...

OR MAYBE TO SPEND A MOMENT
ADMIRING THE SPECTACULAR VIEW.

OUT IN FREDERICK SOUND,

TWO SURE SIGNS OF SUMMER
ARE MOVING UP THE CHANNEL --

GIANT CRUISE SHIPS

PLYING THE WATERS
OF THE INSIDE PASSAGE...

AND HUMPBACK WHALES
ALL THE WAY FROM HAWAII.

AFTER FASTING ALL WINTER,

THE WHALES HAVE COME
ALMOST 3,000 MILES

TO FEAST ON SUMMER SHOALS
OF HERRING.

BALD EAGLES SOAR OUT
TO MEET THEM

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE EASY FISHING

THE WHALES STIR UP.

THE EAGLES INDULGE IN
AERIAL ACROBATICS,

PASSING THE CATCH
IN MID-AIR.

WORKING UP CHATHAM STRAIT
IN TIGHT-KNIT GROUPS,

THE HUMPBACKS
TRAVEL AND FEED

LONG INTO
THE MIDSUMMER NIGHT.

WHILE THE HERRING
AND THE HUMPBACKS

HAVE ARRIVED ON SCHEDULE,

THERE IS, STRANGELY,
STILL NO SIGN OF SALMON.

IT'S LATE IN JULY,

AND CHUM SALMON SHOULD ALREADY
HAVE STARTED THEIR RUN.

BUT THERE'S JUST
A SCATTERING OF FISH.

OLD CUTNOSE COMES DOWN TO
THE CREEK EVERY DAY.

ALL HER LIFE, SALMON HAVE
SURGED UP THIS STREAM.

SURELY, THERE MUST BE
FISH TO EAT,

IF SHE JUST WORKS
HARD ENOUGH.

ANOTHER BEAR HAS COME
LOOKING FOR FISH.

HE'S YOUNG, BUT EVEN MORE
RAGGED LOOKING THAN CUTNOSE.

FROM THE LOOK OF HIS COAT,

HE'S NOT GETTING
ALL THE NUTRITION HE NEEDS.

HE WATCHES AS CUTNOSE WORKS
THE EMPTY WATERS,

AND THOUGH SHE FINDS NO FISH,

SHE WON'T TOLERATE
THE YOUNG BEAR IN HER STREAM.

RELUCTANTLY, THEY BOTH
TURN BACK TO THE GRASS.

THE BEARS AREN'T
THE ONLY ONES FISHING.

IN A SMALL BACKWATER
JUST OFF THE CREEK,

A LESSER YELLOWLEGS
IS POKING ABOUT FOR A MEAL.

HE'S NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE
FINDING THE TINY FISH HE NEEDS.

BUT HIS SKILL

DOESN'T COMPARE TO
THE UNNERVING ACCURACY

OF A GREAT BLUE HERON.

THE HERON MAKES IT LOOK
SO EASY.

A COUPLE OF RAVENS
STUDY THE HERON'S METHOD,

BUT CAN'T QUITE
SEEM TO WORK IT OUT.

YET, THE CLEVER RAVEN ALWAYS
COMES AWAY WITH SOMETHING.

THE BEARS, HOWEVER,
ARE IN TROUBLE.

THE WHOLE SUMMER HAS BEEN
ABNORMALLY WET AND COOL.

WATER TEMPERATURES
TWO DEGREES BELOW NORMAL

ARE KEEPING SALMON FROM ENTERING
THE SWOLLEN STREAMS.

A WEATHER ANOMALY
CALLED "LA NINA"

THAT BEGAN LAST WINTER
FAR OUT IN THE PACIFIC

HAS PUSHED COLD WATER
INTO SOUTHEAST ALASKA.

THE RUN OF CHUM SALMON
NEVER CAME.

NOW, PINKS SHOULD BE
CROWDING THE STREAMS,

AND THERE ARE
NEXT TO NONE.

EAGLES...

GULLS --
THE WHOLE COASTAL COMMUNITY

IS FEELING THE TERRIBLE
PANGS OF HUNGER.

JUST TWO DEGREES OF CHANGE,

TWO DEGREES
OF DESPERATION.

IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE
THAT CALL FOR INGENUITY.

LATE IN THE DAY,
A SMALL BEAR HAS COME OUT

TO FORAGE ON
THE TIDAL FLATS.

HE'S NOT MUCH MORE THAN A CUB,
AND HE'S OPEN TO NEW IDEAS.

THE SALMON MAY NOT HAVE
TURNED UP,

BUT BEACH-COMBING IS ALWAYS

FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.

HIS NOSE IS TELLING HIM

THERE'S SOMETHING INTERESTING
HIDING IN THE KELP...

NOT CLAMS OR MUSSELS,

BUT SOMETHING
MUCH MORE REWARDING...

DUNGENESS CRABS.

STARTLED, THE CRAB
PUTS UP A FIGHT,

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
MUCH OF A CONTEST.

THE BEAR HAS
JUST THE RIGHT TOOLS

TO DISMANTLE
THE CRAB'S ARMOR.

IS THIS YOUNG BEAR IMPROVISING?

DISCOVERING A NEW FOOD SOURCE
ALL ON HIS OWN?

DID A CLEVER MOTHER
TEACH HIM WHAT TO DIG FOR

AND HOW TO HANDLE IT?

FROM ALL ACCOUNTS,
THIS IS NEW BEHAVIOR --

YET THE YOUNG BEAR SEEMS TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DOING.

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE
A TASTE FOR THIS ONE,

BUT THERE'S A FEAST OF CRABS
OUT HERE ON THE EBBING TIDE,

AND LATE INTO THE EVENING LIGHT,
HE'S THE ONLY BEAR ENJOYING IT.

BACK ALONG
THE BANKS OF PACK CREEK,

THE VIGIL FOR SALMON
WEARS ON.

ANOTHER BEAR JOINS THE HOPEFULS,
BRINGING HER SECOND YEAR CUB.

THEY'VE KEPT WELL AWAY FROM
THE OPEN FISHING GROUNDS,

FORAGING IN THE FOREST
FOR OTHER THINGS TO EAT.

BUT BERRIES
AND SKUNK CABBAGE ROOTS

CANNOT TRUMP THE PROTEIN AND FAT
IN A NICE, BIG FISH.

AS HER CUB
SCRAMBLES TO KEEP UP,

THE FIT MOTHER SWEEPS
RIGHT PAST OLD CUTNOSE,

WHO TURNS HER GAZE AWAY
IN DEFERENCE TO A STRONGER BEAR.

THE NEWCOMER BRINGS
FRESH ENERGY TO THE CHASE...

INSPIRING CUTNOSE
TO DOUBLE HER EFFORTS.

WITH CUTNOSE DISRUPTING
THE WATERS UPSTREAM,

THE NEWCOMER
MAKES A TACTICAL CHOICE.

SUDDENLY, AND WITH JUST
A FEW MINUTES OF EFFORT,

SHE LANDS A BIG
CHUM SALMON.

THE EAGLES ERUPT
IN EXCITEMENT.

THE BEAR AND HER CUB MAKE
NO ATTEMPT TO HIDE THE FISH.

THEY DEVOUR IT ON THE SPOT,
IN A FEW MINUTES FLAT.

AN EAGLE SNATCHES
A DROPPED MORSEL,

BUT CUTNOSE,
WITH HER GRASS-FILLED STOMACH,

CAN ONLY WATCH.

IT MUST BE
VERY HARD TO TAKE.

THE CATCH WAS
AN ISOLATED FISH.

IT'S WELL INTO AUGUST,

AND NEITHER THE CHUMS
NOR THE PINKS

HAVE STARTED TO RUN.

DEEP IN THE FOREST,

ANOTHER FAMILY
IS FEELING THE PINCH.

THE MOTHER IS GAUNT
AND ON EDGE.

THE CUBS HAVE NO ENERGY
OR INCLINATION TO PLAY.

SHE BARELY GETS
TO TEST THE WATERS

BEFORE THE CAUSE OF HER CONCERN

STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS
TO CLAIM HIS FISHING SPOT.

HE'S HUGE
AND VERY WELL FED.

HE SETTLES ONTO THE FALLEN TREE
LIKE A JAGUAR,

SCANNING
THE RUSHING STREAM

FOR THE OCCASIONAL FISH.

HIS BELLY FLOP METHOD
PROVES SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL.

AND NO SOONER
DOES HE FINISH ONE FISH

THAN HE'S BACK FOR ANOTHER --
AND ANOTHER.

EVEN IN HARD TIMES
HE'S MANAGING TO DO WELL,

DOMINATING THIS SPOT
WITH ITS HANDY PLATFORM

AND HIS
UNORTHODOX TECHNIQUE.

BUT WHILE THE STREAM HAS ENOUGH
SALMON TO KEEP HIM FAT...

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
FOR EVERYONE.

BACK DOWN AT PACK CREEK,
CUTNOSE WAITS...

AND WAITS.

BUT THIS IS LIKE NO SUMMER
SHE HAS EVER SEEN.

ALL OVER ADMIRALTY ISLAND,

BEARS THAT HAVE
RELIED ON SALMON EVERY SUMMER

SEARCH IN VAIN.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO EAT,

AND BROWN BEARS ARE FLEXIBLE
AS A SPECIES.

BUT EACH ONE
IS AN INDIVIDUAL,

AND MANY CANNOT SEEM TO

CHANGE THEIR WAYS.

THE SALMON SEASON
HAS BEEN A DISASTER.

ALL THROUGH ALASKA'S
NORTHERN INSIDE PASSAGE,

THE RUNS ARE
DECLARED A FAILURE.

IT'S THE WORST SALMON RETURNS
IN ALMOST 40 YEARS.

FACING RECORD HIGH FUEL PRICES,
MUCH OF THE SALMON FLEET

STAYS IN PORT --

THERE'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH FISH
TO COVER THEIR COSTS.

THE YOUNG MOTHER WHO BEGAN
SUCH A PROMISING YEAR

WITH THREE LITTLE CUBS

NOW HAS ONLY ONE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
GAINING WEIGHT ALL SUMMER,

PREPARING FOR HIBERNATION.

INSTEAD, SHE LOOKS TO HAVE LOST
MORE THAN 100 POUNDS.

ON THIS ISLAND OF
FAMOUS ABUNDANCE,

A LITTLE CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
HAS TURNED FEAST

INTO FAMINE.

IT'S SEPTEMBER,

AND UP IN THE FOREST,

EVEN THE TREES SEEM TO BE
HOLDING THEIR BREATH.

THE GIANTS THAT HAVE
STOOD FOR CENTURIES

WILL TAKE THIS STRANGE SUMMER

AS JUST ANOTHER IN
THE TWISTS AND TURNS

OF A LONG LIFE.

BUT EVEN THEY WILL MISS
THE NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS

THAT SALMON BRING IN
FROM THE SEA.

AND THE STREAMS THAT FLOW
ALL ACROSS THIS ISLAND

WILL NOT OFFER THE NUTRIENTS
THAT FUEL THE FOOD CHAIN

FROM HATCHES OF INSECTS
TO THE TALLEST OF TREES.

AND WHAT OF
THE SALMON THEMSELVES?

THEY'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR YEARS
FOR THIS MOMENT --

TO LEAVE SALTWATER

AND MAKE THEIR RUN
UP A FRESHWATER STREAM.

CAN THEY WAIT
ANOTHER YEAR?

WILL THEY DIE WITHOUT
COMPLETING THE CYCLE?

THEN, OUT IN THE CHANNEL,

TWO MONTHS LATE
AND GIVEN UP FOR THE YEAR...

SALMON!

IT'S TAKEN
ALL SPRING AND SUMMER,

BUT THE ANOMALY OF LA NINA

HAS FINALLY WASHED THROUGH
THE WEATHER.

HEROICALLY, THE SALMON TRY TO
MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

PINKS AND CHUMS
THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

CONDITIONS THEY CAN TOLERATE

NOW MAKE THEIR MOVE.

AS WATER TEMPERATURES
ROUND BACK TO NORMAL,

THEY BEGIN TO TRANSFORM
THEIR SILVER BODIES

FOR THE RUSH
OF FRESH WATER.

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW.

ALL OVER ADMIRALTY,
RAVENOUS BEARS

SPRING INTO ACTION.

THE STARVING YOUNG MOTHER
AND HER CUB

MAY NOW HAVE
A CHANCE TO MAKE IT.

AFTER SATISFYING AN APPETITE

THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING UP
FOR MONTHS,

BEARS HAVE THE LUXURY
OF BEING CHOOSY.

THEY CAN PEEL OFF JUST
THE DELECTABLE, FAT-RICH SKIN,

OR DISCARD A MALE
FOR A FEMALE FULL OF EGGS.

THE EGGS,
GLOWING RUBY RED,

ALWAYS ATTRACT
A GRATEFUL CROWD.

THE SALMON THAT MAKE IT
PAST THE GAUNTLET

FINALLY GET TO
FULFILL THEIR MISSION.

THE CHUMS ARE IN
FULL BREEDING COLORS NOW.

THE MALE HAS STRONG VERTICAL
STRIPES OF GREEN AND MAROON

THAT REFLECT HIS STRENGTH
AND SOCIAL STATUS.

HIS JAW HAS ELONGATED

AND NOW BRANDISHES
LARGE SPAWNING TEETH.

THE SMALLER FEMALE WEARS A LONG
HORIZONTAL STRIPE,

A SIGN OF HER SEX

THAT TEMPERS THE AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOR OF THE MALE.

USING HER TAIL,

SHE DIGS OUT A HOLLOW
IN THE GRAVEL,

PREPARING A BED FOR HER EGGS.

AS THE COUPLE SPAWNS,

A LESS DOMINANT MALE
MOVES ALONGSIDE,

DISGUISED WITH THE HORIZONTAL
STRIPE OF A FEMALE.

IF HE TIMES IT JUST RIGHT,

HE'LL BE ABLE TO FERTILIZE
SOME OF THE EGGS.

THE FEMALE WILL GUARD HER EGGS
FOR A WEEK OR TWO.

BUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS
OF SPAWNING,

ALL THE SALMON WILL DIE --

THEIR ENERGIES
AND THEIR BODIES SPENT.

THEN, THEY WILL ENRICH THESE
WATERS WITH NUTRIENTS

AND FEED THE FOREST
AND ALL WHO DWELL HERE

WITH THE FRUITS OF
THEIR OWN REMAINS.

EAGER FOR LEFTOVERS,
THE EAGLES ARE CELEBRATING, TOO.

AND A RAVEN NEVER
MISSES OUT ON A MEAL.

NOW, A FLEDGLING
GETS TO CLAIM A SHARE.

ADMIRALTY ISLAND HAS COME
THROUGH A TERRIBLE SUMMER.

ITS BIG TREES, ITS BEARS,
AND ITS SALMON

HAVE KEPT THEIR
SACRED TRUST.

BUT IT NO LONGER
FEELS LIKE A FORTRESS.

INSTEAD OF RISING FROM THE SEA
IN ISOLATION,

IT STANDS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO
THE WATERS AROUND IT...

PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY

EVENTS AN OCEAN AWAY.

THE YOUNG MOTHER
STALKS THE STREAM BANK,

CHECKING FOR
THE SCENT OF OTHER BEARS.

A SIGN OF CAUTION AT LAST.

SHE HAS FINALLY BEGUN TO
PUT ON WEIGHT.

IT'S THE CUBS THAT SUFFER
THE MOST IN HARD TIMES...

BUT SHE HAS KEPT HER LAST
LITTLE CUB ALIVE.

MAY NEXT YEAR BRING A FAIR
SUMMER TO ADMIRALTY ISLAND,

AND SALMON
ENOUGH FOR THEM ALL.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE
SEEN ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,

VISIT pbs.org.