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♪
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♪♪
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-KITCHING: My goal is to follow
and film a mother moose
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00:00:15,082 --> 00:00:18,384
and her newborn calf
over the next year.
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00:00:18,386 --> 00:00:21,387
It's going to be really
interesting to see how it grows,
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00:00:21,389 --> 00:00:23,122
how it learns from its mother,
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00:00:23,124 --> 00:00:24,857
how it avoids danger.
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00:00:33,967 --> 00:00:37,069
Moose populations are declining
at an alarming rate
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00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:40,305
across North America.
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00:00:40,307 --> 00:00:42,474
And scientists are racing
against the clock
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00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:45,978
to try to discover why.
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00:00:45,980 --> 00:00:50,816
Any calf born now really
has the deck stacked against it.
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00:01:00,193 --> 00:01:02,694
This is gonna be
a challenging 12 months,
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00:01:02,696 --> 00:01:04,897
but I'm really excited to see
how this animal
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00:01:04,899 --> 00:01:08,233
survives its first year in
the Canadian Rockies.
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-KITCHING: I need to find
a mother moose with a calf.
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It's so rare
to see newborn calves.
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Before she gives birth,
an expectant mother
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00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:51,810
heads to the most isolated
and uninviting parts
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00:01:51,812 --> 00:01:55,314
of the forest.
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I can't say that I blame her.
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Some of North America's
largest predators live here.
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00:02:01,021 --> 00:02:03,822
So mothers need to be
elusive and super protective
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00:02:03,824 --> 00:02:05,624
of their young.
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00:02:08,728 --> 00:02:09,995
Finding any moose,
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00:02:09,997 --> 00:02:12,531
let alone one with a newborn,
in this terrain
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00:02:12,533 --> 00:02:14,600
is a daunting challenge.
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00:02:20,173 --> 00:02:23,308
But after 21 days, I got lucky.
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♪♪
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00:03:00,113 --> 00:03:02,047
I can't believe I've found her.
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00:03:04,384 --> 00:03:07,719
This calf is only
a few days old.
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00:03:07,721 --> 00:03:10,689
She's pretty sweet.
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00:03:10,691 --> 00:03:13,992
I think it's a she.
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00:03:13,994 --> 00:03:17,863
That mum definitely knows
I'm here,
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00:03:17,865 --> 00:03:21,500
but she seems okay
with me hanging around.
36
00:03:21,502 --> 00:03:23,535
That can change at any moment
though,
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00:03:23,537 --> 00:03:26,538
so I'm going to have to be
careful and keep my distance.
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00:03:29,709 --> 00:03:33,612
If I push it or get too close,
the mother will turn on me.
39
00:03:35,615 --> 00:03:38,617
I hope she's going
to let me stick with them.
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00:03:50,663 --> 00:03:53,966
Moose populations are declining
across North America
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00:03:53,968 --> 00:03:56,335
at an alarming rate.
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00:03:56,337 --> 00:03:58,203
One reason is that calves just
aren't
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00:03:58,205 --> 00:03:59,905
surviving their first year,
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00:03:59,907 --> 00:04:02,074
so it's never
been more important to learn
45
00:04:02,076 --> 00:04:04,076
what happens in that first year.
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00:04:06,346 --> 00:04:09,915
The only way to know
is to follow a calf every day
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00:04:09,917 --> 00:04:11,717
for the next 12 months.
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00:04:14,454 --> 00:04:16,688
No one
has really done this before,
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00:04:16,690 --> 00:04:20,225
so I feel really lucky
to have this chance...
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00:04:20,227 --> 00:04:21,960
and a little bit nervous, too.
51
00:04:26,633 --> 00:04:29,401
They move so quietly
through the woods.
52
00:04:29,403 --> 00:04:31,236
They blend in so well,
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00:04:31,238 --> 00:04:35,240
even though the mother
is like a thousand pounds.
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The calf, it's just born,
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it's already faster than me
in the bush.
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I mean, it's amazing.
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The rest of the camera team is
only here for a few days more.
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00:04:47,388 --> 00:04:48,954
They'll come and go
throughout the year,
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00:04:48,956 --> 00:04:50,656
but my job is to stay here
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00:04:50,658 --> 00:04:53,892
and to really get
to know these moose.
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This is only gonna work
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if this mother and calf decide
to let me into their world.
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00:05:00,767 --> 00:05:02,434
And their world is a wilderness
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00:05:02,436 --> 00:05:06,004
that covers over 4,000
square miles --
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00:05:06,006 --> 00:05:07,806
Jasper National Park,
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00:05:07,808 --> 00:05:10,676
the largest Park
in the Canadian Rockies.
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00:05:24,557 --> 00:05:26,591
-WESBROOK: Hugo's got
a unique challenge,
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00:05:26,593 --> 00:05:31,630
and he's uniquely prepared
for it.
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00:05:31,632 --> 00:05:33,899
He doesn't seem
to require a coat.
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00:05:33,901 --> 00:05:36,435
And he is able to get up way
before the sun gets up
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00:05:36,437 --> 00:05:38,537
and stays up way
after it goes down.
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00:05:38,539 --> 00:05:41,807
So he puts in really long days
tracking animals.
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00:05:44,010 --> 00:05:48,213
He'll sit, watching moose
for hours and hours and hours,
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00:05:48,215 --> 00:05:50,449
and it's awe-inspiring.
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00:05:54,220 --> 00:05:57,923
Maligne Valley is in the center
of Jasper National Park.
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00:05:57,925 --> 00:06:01,660
It's surrounded by mountains
and beautiful alpine.
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00:06:05,264 --> 00:06:09,534
It's a lifeline of energy
and water and wildlife.
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00:06:18,044 --> 00:06:20,545
And the habitats for moose
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00:06:20,547 --> 00:06:23,248
are focused predominantly
along the bottom
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00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:25,183
where the drainages are
and there's lakes
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00:06:25,185 --> 00:06:27,919
and there's meadows
and damper areas for willows
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00:06:27,921 --> 00:06:29,488
and shrubbery to grow.
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00:06:31,724 --> 00:06:33,158
The moose population fluctuates
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00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,594
depending on the presence
of predators.
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00:06:35,596 --> 00:06:37,262
When we have done counts here,
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00:06:37,264 --> 00:06:41,600
we've found 19 moose
at its high, and around 10
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00:06:41,602 --> 00:06:44,102
at its lower population.
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00:06:44,104 --> 00:06:46,571
To distinguish between the moose
in the valley, it's easy
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00:06:46,573 --> 00:06:49,274
because the bells on their necks
are either longer or shorter,
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00:06:49,276 --> 00:06:50,475
they have scars,
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00:06:50,477 --> 00:06:53,078
or they're with different
sized calves.
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00:06:58,885 --> 00:07:02,220
-KITCHING: It's pretty magical
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00:07:02,222 --> 00:07:05,090
being this close
to this huge moose
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00:07:05,092 --> 00:07:07,626
and her baby calf.
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00:07:07,628 --> 00:07:10,262
I've only been with them
for a couple of days now,
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00:07:10,264 --> 00:07:11,463
and what I'm noticing
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00:07:11,465 --> 00:07:14,699
is that this moose
is a really good mother.
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00:07:14,701 --> 00:07:17,469
For a moose calf
to survive its first year,
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00:07:17,471 --> 00:07:21,306
it needs a little bit of luck
and a really good mum.
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00:07:32,819 --> 00:07:34,753
More moose calves
are killed by bears
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00:07:34,755 --> 00:07:37,823
than by any other predator.
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00:07:37,825 --> 00:07:41,560
So learning to recognize a bear
is a really big lesson.
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00:07:50,169 --> 00:07:52,404
This little calf has been born
into a world
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00:07:52,406 --> 00:07:55,073
that's teeming with life --
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00:07:55,075 --> 00:07:58,510
from the emerald lakes,
right up to the tree tops.
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00:08:00,580 --> 00:08:04,182
And everywhere I look, I see
parents tending their young.
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00:08:17,864 --> 00:08:19,898
[ Bleating ]
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00:08:56,435 --> 00:08:59,804
This calf and this cow
are easily identifiable.
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00:09:01,574 --> 00:09:04,743
The mother has a really distinct
scar on her shoulder.
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00:09:04,745 --> 00:09:06,678
I'm really curious
to know what did it.
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00:09:09,949 --> 00:09:12,918
This calf is timid
and super cute,
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00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,353
and she seems to be
learning all the time.
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00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,294
These young moose can put
on two to four pounds a day,
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00:09:22,296 --> 00:09:25,931
every day,
right up until winter.
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00:09:25,933 --> 00:09:27,732
She's around two weeks old now,
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00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:31,736
and she's just starting to learn
how to eat plants.
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00:09:31,738 --> 00:09:35,173
I can really see how the mum
shows her what to eat.
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00:09:38,210 --> 00:09:40,879
The mum is passing a bacteria
on to the calf
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00:09:40,881 --> 00:09:44,249
through the saliva
she left on those leaves.
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00:09:44,251 --> 00:09:46,017
When the calf eats the leaves,
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00:09:46,019 --> 00:09:49,254
she ingests the bacteria,
which is gonna grow in her gut
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00:09:49,256 --> 00:09:51,790
and allow the calf
to digest plants.
123
00:09:57,463 --> 00:09:59,397
This mum is really aware,
124
00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:02,233
and she doesn't let the calf
get very far from her.
125
00:10:02,235 --> 00:10:03,802
You know, I think that mother
is really concerned
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00:10:03,804 --> 00:10:05,637
about keeping that calf safe.
127
00:10:10,276 --> 00:10:12,277
There's wolves.
128
00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,216
There's black bears,
there's grizzly bears here.
129
00:10:18,218 --> 00:10:21,419
All of those animals
prey on baby moose.
130
00:10:25,257 --> 00:10:28,059
So this looks like this was done
by a grizzly bear.
131
00:10:28,061 --> 00:10:30,261
You can see
that there's claw marks
132
00:10:30,263 --> 00:10:32,564
that are taller than me
and these huge,
133
00:10:32,566 --> 00:10:35,867
I mean, imagine the power
to cut through this bark.
134
00:10:35,869 --> 00:10:37,669
I mean, that's gotta
be almost three feet.
135
00:10:37,671 --> 00:10:40,472
You can see it's raked its claws
into the bark.
136
00:10:40,474 --> 00:10:43,241
It's a sort
of a scent territory marking.
137
00:10:43,243 --> 00:10:46,411
I see black bears doing
similar things to trees a lot,
138
00:10:46,413 --> 00:10:49,481
but the marks
are nowhere near as long.
139
00:10:53,786 --> 00:10:55,987
-MOORE: It's a different world
for moose calves now
140
00:10:55,989 --> 00:10:58,323
than it was 20 years ago.
141
00:11:09,402 --> 00:11:12,771
Our moose population
declined by about 64%
142
00:11:12,773 --> 00:11:16,408
from 1990 to present,
and we have seen that same trend
143
00:11:16,410 --> 00:11:19,778
for the entire Minnesota moose
herd as well.
144
00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:23,348
I think it might be more open
down that way.
145
00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:25,483
Of more concern is the fact
146
00:11:25,485 --> 00:11:29,020
that it looks like moose
populations across North America
147
00:11:29,022 --> 00:11:30,955
are doing the same thing.
148
00:11:30,957 --> 00:11:33,425
So the only way
to have a population to increase
149
00:11:33,427 --> 00:11:35,126
is to have more young calves
150
00:11:35,128 --> 00:11:37,729
survive than adults
die in a year,
151
00:11:37,731 --> 00:11:40,532
and we're not seeing that.
152
00:11:40,534 --> 00:11:42,467
She was just here.
153
00:11:42,469 --> 00:11:43,835
So if we can find her tracks
154
00:11:43,837 --> 00:11:47,205
and just see if there is
another calf track with her...
155
00:11:47,207 --> 00:11:48,473
What do you got for a signal?
156
00:11:48,475 --> 00:11:51,776
-MAN: She's still in this swath
ahead of us.
157
00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,482
-MOORE: Every day doing this
moose research is a surprise.
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00:11:57,484 --> 00:11:59,684
We've been surprised
at the high predation rates
159
00:11:59,686 --> 00:12:01,152
that we've seen on the calves.
160
00:12:01,154 --> 00:12:04,756
We've been surprised
at the poor health of the cows.
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00:12:04,758 --> 00:12:06,257
It's fascinating research,
162
00:12:06,259 --> 00:12:09,227
but it's also very concerning
in terms of the moose population
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00:12:09,229 --> 00:12:11,029
as a whole.
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00:12:16,836 --> 00:12:19,738
The calves can get up
and walk within 24 hours,
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00:12:19,740 --> 00:12:21,406
and within 48 hours,
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00:12:21,408 --> 00:12:24,008
we're almost too late
to be able to catch them.
167
00:12:27,146 --> 00:12:29,614
E.J., I see him --
over there.
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00:12:32,785 --> 00:12:34,586
I tracked her, E.J.
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00:12:34,588 --> 00:12:38,556
The collar is 15571.
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00:12:38,558 --> 00:12:40,658
-E.J.: You got hair?
-MOORE: We got hair.
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00:12:40,660 --> 00:12:45,063
-WOMAN: We got hair, sex,
blood -- just a weight.
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00:12:45,065 --> 00:12:46,698
-MOORE: A weight
and then we are out of here.
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00:12:49,468 --> 00:12:52,103
45.4.
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00:12:57,610 --> 00:12:58,843
Okay, good.
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00:12:58,845 --> 00:13:00,378
I'm just going
to grab the muzzle,
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00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:04,415
and then I am going to start
walking out this way.
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00:13:04,417 --> 00:13:07,318
Okay.
178
00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,020
Okay, let's go.
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00:13:09,022 --> 00:13:11,990
Then we'll just get on
out of here.
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00:13:11,992 --> 00:13:15,193
This is the most stressful time
for us as biologists --
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00:13:15,195 --> 00:13:17,328
just after we collar a calf,
182
00:13:17,330 --> 00:13:20,532
making sure that the cow
comes back to the calf,
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00:13:20,534 --> 00:13:22,734
and they are able to reconnect.
184
00:13:39,185 --> 00:13:41,953
We've done this enough times
that for all of our captures,
185
00:13:41,955 --> 00:13:43,254
the cows have always come back.
186
00:13:43,256 --> 00:13:44,789
But every time you do this,
187
00:13:44,791 --> 00:13:47,792
there's a risk that you scare
the cow too much to come back,
188
00:13:47,794 --> 00:13:50,995
and they end up, ultimately,
abandoning the calf.
189
00:13:55,701 --> 00:13:58,002
It's pretty tough
to be a moose calf,
190
00:13:58,004 --> 00:14:01,673
and the chances of survival
of an individual moose calf
191
00:14:01,675 --> 00:14:03,374
are quite low.
192
00:14:07,479 --> 00:14:10,515
Calves are dying
at alarmingly high levels,
193
00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:12,884
and I think
that's why we're seeing
194
00:14:12,886 --> 00:14:15,186
such a strong population
decline.
195
00:14:26,432 --> 00:14:28,933
It will have made it through the
most critical time of its life
196
00:14:28,935 --> 00:14:30,535
if it makes it one year.
197
00:14:32,638 --> 00:14:35,974
[ Thunder rolling ]
198
00:14:48,554 --> 00:14:51,256
[ Thunder crashes loudly ]
199
00:14:57,129 --> 00:14:59,998
You know, part of the challenge
of being out here every day
200
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,966
is dealing
with the different weather.
201
00:15:01,968 --> 00:15:05,103
And I am really cold right now.
202
00:15:05,105 --> 00:15:06,638
But I gotta keep going.
203
00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,273
I gotta keep the gear dry
204
00:15:08,275 --> 00:15:09,641
and stay with them,
205
00:15:09,643 --> 00:15:10,875
'cause, you know,
they're out here every day,
206
00:15:10,877 --> 00:15:13,544
and they don't mind
this cold weather.
207
00:15:17,216 --> 00:15:21,419
Lately, they seem a lot
more relaxed with me being here,
208
00:15:21,421 --> 00:15:24,122
and I think they are slowly
getting used to me,
209
00:15:24,124 --> 00:15:26,457
which is --
which is great.
210
00:16:46,638 --> 00:16:51,542
She's been waiting a long time
to feed on these water plants.
211
00:16:51,544 --> 00:16:53,845
It takes months
for these mountain lakes
212
00:16:53,847 --> 00:16:56,514
to warm up enough to provide
the mineral-rich plants
213
00:16:56,516 --> 00:17:00,551
she craves,
but can't get on land.
214
00:17:00,553 --> 00:17:01,819
Some of these water plants
215
00:17:01,821 --> 00:17:05,790
have 500 times more sodium
than land plants,
216
00:17:05,792 --> 00:17:09,894
and a moose needs sodium for
every part of their development,
217
00:17:09,896 --> 00:17:12,330
from growing hair
to reproducing.
218
00:17:16,502 --> 00:17:19,804
And they'll go to great lengths
to get it.
219
00:17:19,806 --> 00:17:22,473
They'll dive up to 18 feet
to get their teeth
220
00:17:22,475 --> 00:17:25,443
on this stuff.
221
00:17:25,445 --> 00:17:29,013
There is so much our calf needs
to learn to be a moose.
222
00:17:31,483 --> 00:17:34,986
And the only one
who can teach her is her mum.
223
00:17:53,305 --> 00:17:55,807
This is a tricky lesson.
224
00:17:55,809 --> 00:17:59,043
She's got to learn it's safe
to go in the water
225
00:17:59,045 --> 00:18:01,813
and to swim for the first time.
226
00:18:01,815 --> 00:18:05,516
And then, because all the really
good plants are at the bottom,
227
00:18:05,518 --> 00:18:08,786
she's gotta learn how to dive.
228
00:18:08,788 --> 00:18:12,423
This could take her weeks,
even a month, to learn.
229
00:19:44,383 --> 00:19:48,186
Not the most graceful thing
I've seen.
230
00:19:48,188 --> 00:19:50,721
But moose
are such strong swimmers,
231
00:19:50,723 --> 00:19:52,557
she'll get it soon enough.
232
00:19:57,796 --> 00:20:02,033
These guys really need to feast
on this sodium-rich pondweed
233
00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:05,336
while they can.
234
00:20:05,338 --> 00:20:08,239
Moose can store minerals
in their body so efficiently
235
00:20:08,241 --> 00:20:11,142
that they only need to load up
on essential elements
236
00:20:11,144 --> 00:20:13,811
like sodium
once or twice a year.
237
00:20:16,014 --> 00:20:19,350
These aquatic plants
will die out in about a month.
238
00:20:19,352 --> 00:20:21,285
Not all the lakes
here produce them,
239
00:20:21,287 --> 00:20:25,022
so this one is a magnet
for all the moose in the area.
240
00:20:28,093 --> 00:20:30,528
Moose normally keep
to their own territory,
241
00:20:30,530 --> 00:20:31,796
and up until now, our cow
242
00:20:31,798 --> 00:20:34,632
and calf have had
this lake to themselves.
243
00:20:34,634 --> 00:20:37,034
But now they've got company.
244
00:20:52,417 --> 00:20:55,286
Oh, man, their ears are back.
245
00:20:55,288 --> 00:20:56,887
That means our mother moose
246
00:20:56,889 --> 00:21:00,725
and this new cow want nothing
to do with each other.
247
00:21:00,727 --> 00:21:02,960
Oh, my gosh!
248
00:21:02,962 --> 00:21:04,662
Is that another calf?
249
00:21:07,065 --> 00:21:10,001
It looks so tiny
compared to our calf!
250
00:21:17,976 --> 00:21:20,978
He can't be more than three
or four weeks old.
251
00:21:35,527 --> 00:21:36,827
This little guy is gonna
252
00:21:36,829 --> 00:21:40,698
have to do a lot of growing up
before winter comes.
253
00:21:46,171 --> 00:21:48,072
I wonder how the little
calf's life is going to be
254
00:21:48,074 --> 00:21:49,974
different from the big calf's.
255
00:21:57,582 --> 00:22:00,785
It's late August,
and this is only the second calf
256
00:22:00,787 --> 00:22:04,355
I've seen in the entire park.
257
00:22:04,357 --> 00:22:06,724
This is so cool!
258
00:22:44,629 --> 00:22:48,532
There really are personality
differences between the calves.
259
00:22:48,534 --> 00:22:52,103
The little calf is kind of --
he's a little cheeky.
260
00:22:52,105 --> 00:22:55,840
He's more curious,
and he's more bold.
261
00:22:55,842 --> 00:22:58,209
And he'll wander off a lot.
262
00:23:14,426 --> 00:23:17,027
I really want to try
to follow this little calf
263
00:23:17,029 --> 00:23:19,597
and our original big calf.
264
00:23:22,534 --> 00:23:26,003
I love the chestnut color
on the mum -- she's gorgeous.
265
00:23:29,274 --> 00:23:31,675
They're both so relaxed
around me.
266
00:23:36,047 --> 00:23:38,082
This is going to be great.
267
00:24:22,928 --> 00:24:26,063
Now that it's fall,
I have to be really careful.
268
00:24:26,065 --> 00:24:28,666
The bull moose who have been up
in the mountains
269
00:24:28,668 --> 00:24:30,000
for the past couple of months
270
00:24:30,002 --> 00:24:32,203
are coming down
for the mating season.
271
00:24:32,205 --> 00:24:35,306
[ Moose calling ]
272
00:24:35,308 --> 00:24:38,909
This is the only time of year
the bull moose gather together.
273
00:24:44,282 --> 00:24:48,652
They are spending a lot of time
sizing each other up.
274
00:24:48,654 --> 00:24:51,889
I don't blame them -- these guys
can weigh 1,200 pounds
275
00:24:51,891 --> 00:24:54,758
and reach over seven feet
at the shoulder.
276
00:24:59,130 --> 00:25:01,465
They are very powerful animals,
277
00:25:01,467 --> 00:25:04,335
and at this time of year,
they're unpredictable.
278
00:25:17,916 --> 00:25:19,884
[ Moose bellowing ]
279
00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:54,585
This little calf is fearless.
280
00:26:05,830 --> 00:26:07,831
This is risky.
281
00:26:07,833 --> 00:26:10,935
That bull could kill him.
282
00:26:10,937 --> 00:26:12,536
If he tried to mount
the little calf,
283
00:26:12,538 --> 00:26:14,805
he'd break his back.
284
00:26:14,807 --> 00:26:18,809
And one angry swipe with those
antlers would do serious damage.
285
00:28:09,254 --> 00:28:11,622
In the end,
286
00:28:11,624 --> 00:28:14,658
it's the cow who decides
who her mate will be.
287
00:28:44,255 --> 00:28:48,025
Having been here for so long,
doing this day after day,
288
00:28:48,027 --> 00:28:51,895
I spend more time with
these guys than anyone else.
289
00:28:58,436 --> 00:29:00,237
It's going to be tougher
to keep up with them
290
00:29:00,239 --> 00:29:02,673
when winter comes, though.
291
00:29:02,675 --> 00:29:06,477
I hear snow can get as deep
as five feet here.
292
00:29:06,479 --> 00:29:09,947
I'll have to deal
with extra clothes, snow shoes,
293
00:29:09,949 --> 00:29:12,583
and then there's all the food
I'm gonna have to carry.
294
00:29:18,490 --> 00:29:21,058
The amount of energy
you need snow shoeing,
295
00:29:21,060 --> 00:29:22,526
with all the gear --
296
00:29:22,528 --> 00:29:26,063
I mean, I am just eating bacon
like candy out here --
297
00:29:26,065 --> 00:29:28,098
anything with calories.
298
00:29:30,235 --> 00:29:32,269
And the moose have it worse.
299
00:29:35,774 --> 00:29:37,007
Now that winter's hit,
300
00:29:37,009 --> 00:29:39,376
there's very little
for them to eat.
301
00:29:43,181 --> 00:29:45,282
These guys are going
to find every last bit
302
00:29:45,284 --> 00:29:47,718
of green forage they can.
303
00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,754
But soon all this nutrient-rich
stuff will be gone,
304
00:29:50,756 --> 00:29:53,257
and they'll be left with a diet
of prickly evergreens,
305
00:29:53,259 --> 00:29:55,726
even twigs --
306
00:29:55,728 --> 00:29:57,928
whatever they can get
their teeth on.
307
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,435
Even after eating for hours
and hours on end, they're gonna
308
00:30:05,437 --> 00:30:09,239
lose weight every day
for the next five months.
309
00:30:09,241 --> 00:30:14,077
This is gonna be tough
for our big calf...
310
00:30:14,079 --> 00:30:17,981
but it's going to be even
tougher for our little calf.
311
00:30:17,983 --> 00:30:22,886
He's had so little time
to build up any fat reservesr.
312
00:30:35,934 --> 00:30:38,035
-MOORE: Moose
are under a firing line
313
00:30:38,037 --> 00:30:40,737
of things that are affecting
their population,
314
00:30:40,739 --> 00:30:43,006
and I think, ultimately,
all of these different things
315
00:30:43,008 --> 00:30:44,808
that are affecting
the moose population
316
00:30:44,810 --> 00:30:47,411
are driven by climate change.
317
00:30:47,413 --> 00:30:49,413
If you look
at the individual mechanisms
318
00:30:49,415 --> 00:30:51,615
that are impacting moose,
it's very complex.
319
00:30:51,617 --> 00:30:54,551
We have brainworm that are being
transferred by deer.
320
00:30:54,553 --> 00:30:56,019
We have high predator numbers
321
00:30:56,021 --> 00:30:58,021
because of the high
deer populations.
322
00:30:58,023 --> 00:30:59,323
We have winter ticks
323
00:30:59,325 --> 00:31:02,025
that are impacted
by snow depth in the spring.
324
00:31:02,027 --> 00:31:03,393
And so we think
that those things
325
00:31:03,395 --> 00:31:06,897
are all playing into causing
moose population decline.
326
00:31:09,734 --> 00:31:12,369
What we have found
in the last year is that five
327
00:31:12,371 --> 00:31:14,171
out of our six moose mortalities
328
00:31:14,173 --> 00:31:16,106
that occurred
on our collared animals
329
00:31:16,108 --> 00:31:19,877
were health-related issues,
not predation related issues.
330
00:31:19,879 --> 00:31:22,679
The moose cows
that we've been collaring,
331
00:31:22,681 --> 00:31:25,549
when they give birth,
are in much worse health
332
00:31:25,551 --> 00:31:27,084
than they should be.
333
00:31:27,086 --> 00:31:28,852
And we think
that that may contribute to them
334
00:31:28,854 --> 00:31:31,321
being less effective in terms
of protecting their calves
335
00:31:31,323 --> 00:31:33,123
from predation.
336
00:31:33,125 --> 00:31:34,324
-MAN:
Yeah, she's a big old girl.
337
00:31:34,326 --> 00:31:35,859
-MOORE: Mm-hmm. Well, I hope
that tick issue
338
00:31:35,861 --> 00:31:37,327
isn't too bad for her.
339
00:31:37,329 --> 00:31:41,665
I'm very concerned that winter
ticks are impacting moose.
340
00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,634
When tick populations are high,
341
00:31:43,636 --> 00:31:46,303
there can be very high tick
loads on an individual animal,
342
00:31:46,305 --> 00:31:49,673
and that can cause hypothermia
because they rub their hair off.
343
00:31:49,675 --> 00:31:51,208
And in addition to that,
it can cause the moose
344
00:31:51,210 --> 00:31:53,043
to become anemic
from blood loss.
345
00:31:53,045 --> 00:31:54,678
Put it in there?
-MAN: I did, I put it in.
346
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:55,812
-MOORE: Cool, thanks.
347
00:31:55,814 --> 00:31:57,314
Ticks aren't
the only tiny animal
348
00:31:57,316 --> 00:31:59,283
that can bring down a moose.
349
00:32:21,973 --> 00:32:23,140
There are a lot
of different things
350
00:32:23,142 --> 00:32:24,841
that could be
affecting this animal,
351
00:32:24,843 --> 00:32:26,410
but the leading thing
that I would think of
352
00:32:26,412 --> 00:32:29,212
is probably brainworm.
353
00:32:43,328 --> 00:32:47,764
Brainworm is a parasite that's
carried by white-tailed deer.
354
00:32:47,766 --> 00:32:51,268
It doesn't really
affect the deer at all.
355
00:32:51,270 --> 00:32:52,869
But when it's in a moose,
356
00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:57,374
it looks for the same geography
that it finds in a deer.
357
00:32:57,376 --> 00:32:59,242
In looking for that geography,
358
00:32:59,244 --> 00:33:01,178
it tunnels through the brain
of a moose,
359
00:33:01,180 --> 00:33:05,315
and it causes a lot
of neurological damage.
360
00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:09,453
Essentially, the moose
becomes a walking zombie.
361
00:33:09,455 --> 00:33:11,788
It's a horrible way
for an animal to die.
362
00:33:13,591 --> 00:33:18,028
♪♪
363
00:33:20,865 --> 00:33:22,299
Given the fact
364
00:33:22,301 --> 00:33:25,635
that populations are declining
across the entire continent,
365
00:33:25,637 --> 00:33:29,006
I think this is a very important
time for studying moose.
366
00:33:32,276 --> 00:33:34,077
The moose population
in Minnesota,
367
00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:36,480
if it continues
at this current trajectory,
368
00:33:36,482 --> 00:33:38,615
will be gone in 50 years.
369
00:33:57,535 --> 00:33:59,036
-KITCHING: With all the snow
on the ground,
370
00:33:59,038 --> 00:34:00,637
it's actually really hard
371
00:34:00,639 --> 00:34:03,407
to find our moose
in this massive park.
372
00:34:06,044 --> 00:34:07,711
Each mother and calf
373
00:34:07,713 --> 00:34:10,881
roam a territory
of about two square miles.
374
00:34:10,883 --> 00:34:14,084
At their closest,
they're about six miles apart,
375
00:34:14,086 --> 00:34:17,154
so I have a lot of ground
to cover to keep track of them.
376
00:34:21,759 --> 00:34:24,294
You would think following
their tracks in the snow
377
00:34:24,296 --> 00:34:28,198
would be really easy...
378
00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:31,501
but it is really hard.
379
00:34:31,503 --> 00:34:33,103
You find a fresh track,
380
00:34:33,105 --> 00:34:36,073
and you just start following it.
381
00:34:36,075 --> 00:34:40,210
You would not believe how often
they criss-cross each other.
382
00:34:40,212 --> 00:34:42,746
So when you think
you're getting close,
383
00:34:42,748 --> 00:34:45,348
you actually find out
that you are still
384
00:34:45,350 --> 00:34:47,484
hours behind the moose.
385
00:34:55,693 --> 00:34:59,162
And the other big thing is the
snowshoes make so much noise.
386
00:34:59,164 --> 00:35:00,464
And with all your gear --
387
00:35:00,466 --> 00:35:04,034
you know, I have 50,
60 pounds of stuff with me,
388
00:35:04,036 --> 00:35:05,869
A big tripod over my shoulder --
389
00:35:05,871 --> 00:35:10,240
I mean, they hear me coming
from a mile away.
390
00:35:12,543 --> 00:35:14,344
The funny thing is if you
391
00:35:14,346 --> 00:35:16,713
are walking through the bush
following their tracks,
392
00:35:16,715 --> 00:35:20,183
and you can actually
make eye contact with them,
393
00:35:20,185 --> 00:35:23,553
I find if I talk to them gently
394
00:35:23,555 --> 00:35:26,289
and sort of let them know
it's me --
395
00:35:26,291 --> 00:35:28,024
it's not a wolf --
396
00:35:28,026 --> 00:35:31,228
they immediately relax.
397
00:35:39,770 --> 00:35:42,672
In this winter landscape,
all a mother can do
398
00:35:42,674 --> 00:35:46,143
is to show her calf how to find
everything possible to eat.
399
00:35:48,312 --> 00:35:50,747
Our little calf
is catching on pretty quick.
400
00:35:54,018 --> 00:35:55,952
Hey, little guy.
401
00:35:59,657 --> 00:36:02,692
Wow!
402
00:36:02,694 --> 00:36:05,028
So these moose...
403
00:36:05,030 --> 00:36:07,998
are really attracted to the salt
on my car.
404
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,601
The road salt
contains potassium, calcium,
405
00:36:11,603 --> 00:36:13,103
even magnesium.
406
00:36:13,105 --> 00:36:15,338
That's why the mothers
love it so much.
407
00:36:19,143 --> 00:36:21,244
It's like my car's a Popsicle.
408
00:36:37,929 --> 00:36:41,498
The snow is so deep,
despite their long legs,
409
00:36:41,500 --> 00:36:43,600
you know, the snow
is still draining their energy,
410
00:36:43,602 --> 00:36:47,204
so it really seems like every
step they take in this snow
411
00:36:47,206 --> 00:36:51,007
is calculated to expend
the least bit of energy
412
00:36:51,009 --> 00:36:52,776
that they can.
413
00:37:01,018 --> 00:37:03,420
Everything
that they do is really planned.
414
00:37:03,422 --> 00:37:05,755
Like, look at that.
415
00:37:05,757 --> 00:37:08,124
The cow is just planted.
416
00:37:08,126 --> 00:37:11,194
She is straining her neck,
stretching her neck,
417
00:37:11,196 --> 00:37:13,430
eating everything in sight.
418
00:37:19,270 --> 00:37:22,872
And then when she has cleaned up
everything she can reach,
419
00:37:22,874 --> 00:37:25,175
takes a step.
420
00:37:25,177 --> 00:37:28,311
Another step.
421
00:37:28,313 --> 00:37:30,080
And there we go again.
422
00:37:36,721 --> 00:37:41,424
It is just amazing that they
find enough food to eat here.
423
00:37:41,426 --> 00:37:43,426
They really are twig-eaters.
424
00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:48,298
It's incredible to think
that they can eat 8,000
425
00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:50,467
to 9,000 twigs a day.
426
00:37:57,608 --> 00:38:00,944
For our little calf who was
born so late in the season,
427
00:38:00,946 --> 00:38:02,946
this is gonna be
a real struggle.
428
00:38:05,416 --> 00:38:07,651
He is such a fighter, though.
429
00:38:07,653 --> 00:38:09,352
No matter
how tough it is for him,
430
00:38:09,354 --> 00:38:11,121
he just never gives up.
431
00:38:31,175 --> 00:38:35,111
I bet they're dreaming of spring
and all the green veg
432
00:38:35,113 --> 00:38:36,880
that's going to come out.
433
00:39:34,605 --> 00:39:38,208
I haven't seen our little calf
and his mum for two days now.
434
00:39:38,210 --> 00:39:40,443
I decided to leave them alone
because they are so high
435
00:39:40,445 --> 00:39:42,645
up the mountain.
436
00:39:42,647 --> 00:39:44,614
I don't know
what's driving them up,
437
00:39:44,616 --> 00:39:48,218
but I've stayed away
in case it was me.
438
00:39:48,220 --> 00:39:52,088
I can't go too long without
checking on them, though.
439
00:39:52,090 --> 00:39:56,126
So today is gonna be
a climbing day.
440
00:40:05,836 --> 00:40:07,437
Oh, my gosh!
441
00:40:09,573 --> 00:40:11,441
Look at those tracks.
442
00:40:11,443 --> 00:40:14,944
That's crazy.
443
00:40:14,946 --> 00:40:16,980
Wow.
444
00:40:16,982 --> 00:40:20,016
I think I'm on the trails
of wolves,
445
00:40:20,018 --> 00:40:21,451
judging by the tracks.
446
00:40:21,453 --> 00:40:25,655
And they are going exactly
the same way I am going.
447
00:40:25,657 --> 00:40:28,458
I'm about 500 meters
from the last known location
448
00:40:28,460 --> 00:40:31,194
of the calf.
449
00:40:31,196 --> 00:40:33,229
Okay...
450
00:40:33,231 --> 00:40:36,266
Looks like there might be
at least two here.
451
00:40:36,268 --> 00:40:38,968
I'm kind of nervous.
452
00:40:38,970 --> 00:40:43,473
Just because of our little calf
in this snow, I mean...
453
00:40:43,475 --> 00:40:45,341
I don't know,
I think a wolf would --
454
00:40:45,343 --> 00:40:48,144
or a pack of wolves
would have no problem.
455
00:40:48,146 --> 00:40:50,513
I mean the mum is --
if the mum protected it,
456
00:40:50,515 --> 00:40:52,549
that would be its only hope.
457
00:40:52,551 --> 00:40:55,452
But -- wow -- there's a lot
of wolf tracks.
458
00:40:55,454 --> 00:40:56,953
[ Birds calling ]
459
00:40:56,955 --> 00:40:59,689
I'm hearing ravens over there.
460
00:40:59,691 --> 00:41:01,891
It could mean it's a kill.
461
00:41:01,893 --> 00:41:05,895
We are really close
to where our cow and calf were.
462
00:41:05,897 --> 00:41:07,230
Now that being said,
463
00:41:07,232 --> 00:41:11,201
they were still 500 meters
away last time I saw them,
464
00:41:11,203 --> 00:41:14,370
which isn't that far,
except it was vertical --
465
00:41:14,372 --> 00:41:18,107
or almost vertical up the hill.
466
00:41:18,109 --> 00:41:19,943
Oh, man!
467
00:41:21,545 --> 00:41:25,715
I just gotta wonder
if this is our calf.
468
00:41:25,717 --> 00:41:27,484
Okay, I'm going
to keep searching.
469
00:41:33,757 --> 00:41:36,593
Oh, no.
470
00:41:36,595 --> 00:41:40,630
Uh-oh.
Uh-oh.
471
00:41:42,366 --> 00:41:43,900
That is moose hair.
472
00:41:46,737 --> 00:41:48,605
Ooh, this isn't good.
473
00:41:48,607 --> 00:41:50,206
This isn't good at all.
474
00:41:56,413 --> 00:41:58,314
Man.
475
00:42:00,351 --> 00:42:03,953
Well, I think the only thing
to do is to keep
476
00:42:03,955 --> 00:42:06,389
following these wolf tracks
to see what happens.
477
00:42:14,098 --> 00:42:16,499
Phew...
Oh!
478
00:42:16,501 --> 00:42:18,067
This is a brutal climb.
479
00:42:21,972 --> 00:42:23,273
Ah, here!
480
00:42:23,275 --> 00:42:25,141
Her tracks are right here.
481
00:42:25,143 --> 00:42:27,510
That's definitely the mother,
482
00:42:27,512 --> 00:42:30,046
and I just saw a calf track
back there.
483
00:42:34,652 --> 00:42:38,655
Come on, guys.
Please have gone up hill.
484
00:42:38,657 --> 00:42:40,023
Oh, man.
485
00:42:47,998 --> 00:42:51,634
Look at all these broken
branches.
486
00:42:51,636 --> 00:42:54,671
There has been an epic chase
or battle here.
487
00:42:54,673 --> 00:42:58,107
Broken branches everywhere.
488
00:42:58,109 --> 00:43:02,278
Hair -- clumps of hair --
tracks.
489
00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:08,117
The wolf tracks converge here.
490
00:43:08,119 --> 00:43:10,920
Oh, my God.
Look at that.
491
00:43:13,891 --> 00:43:16,659
Oh, no.
492
00:43:16,661 --> 00:43:20,129
Oh.
493
00:43:20,131 --> 00:43:21,931
Oh, our poor calf.
494
00:43:25,302 --> 00:43:27,170
This is just unbelievable.
495
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:32,408
You can't help but get attached
to these animals.
496
00:43:32,410 --> 00:43:35,211
I've spent so many hours --
hundreds and hundreds
497
00:43:35,213 --> 00:43:37,981
and hundreds of hours
with this moose,
498
00:43:37,983 --> 00:43:42,585
and now to just know
it just died this way.
499
00:43:46,390 --> 00:43:49,392
And it was so close to making it
through the winter.
500
00:43:49,394 --> 00:43:52,395
I mean, a few more weeks now
501
00:43:52,397 --> 00:43:55,264
and it could of been
in the clear.
502
00:43:55,266 --> 00:43:58,568
And I just hope our cow
is doing okay.
503
00:43:58,570 --> 00:44:01,337
Looks like she ran off that way.
504
00:45:48,612 --> 00:45:50,413
Despite the hard winter,
505
00:45:50,415 --> 00:45:54,150
I'm glad to say
our first calf has survived.
506
00:45:54,152 --> 00:45:58,387
She's a yearling now,
and she's big.
507
00:45:58,389 --> 00:46:00,990
She was only about 40 pounds
when I met her,
508
00:46:00,992 --> 00:46:04,393
and now she must weigh well
over 400 pounds.
509
00:46:26,150 --> 00:46:29,152
Considering that only around 30%
of moose calves
510
00:46:29,154 --> 00:46:31,120
survive their first year,
511
00:46:31,122 --> 00:46:33,456
it's a real triumph
for our big calf
512
00:46:33,458 --> 00:46:35,958
that she's made it to spring.
513
00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,861
She's past
the tough stuff now.
514
00:46:38,863 --> 00:46:41,230
Food is no longer scarce,
515
00:46:41,232 --> 00:46:42,932
and she's had the protection
516
00:46:42,934 --> 00:46:47,203
and guidance of her mother
for a whole year.
517
00:46:47,205 --> 00:46:49,605
But things are about to change.
518
00:46:55,679 --> 00:46:57,346
Her mum is pregnant.
519
00:46:57,348 --> 00:46:59,215
But before she gives birth,
520
00:46:59,217 --> 00:47:02,418
she will turn on our calf
and drive her out.
521
00:47:24,708 --> 00:47:26,375
She'll chase off her yearling
522
00:47:26,377 --> 00:47:29,011
in order to ensure
the best possible chance
523
00:47:29,013 --> 00:47:30,813
for her newborn.
524
00:47:33,917 --> 00:47:35,618
She'll keep shunning
and shunning her
525
00:47:35,620 --> 00:47:38,754
until the message is clear,
526
00:47:38,756 --> 00:47:41,424
"You are not welcome
here anymore."
527
00:47:56,506 --> 00:47:59,508
I guess it's tough love.
528
00:47:59,510 --> 00:48:02,979
The mother's focus has turned to
nurturing the next generation.
529
00:48:13,390 --> 00:48:15,591
Now, our yearling
has to head out into the world
530
00:48:15,593 --> 00:48:17,360
and make it on her own.
531
00:48:22,432 --> 00:48:25,401
Despite everything
her mother has taught her,
532
00:48:25,403 --> 00:48:27,837
she still
has so much left to learn.
533
00:49:07,010 --> 00:49:10,313
I heard that a chestnut-colored
moose was seen on a small island
534
00:49:10,315 --> 00:49:12,615
five miles up Maligne Lake.
535
00:49:12,617 --> 00:49:15,885
It's got to be
our little calf's mum.
536
00:49:15,887 --> 00:49:18,754
I'd never seen another moose
that color in the park.
537
00:49:34,438 --> 00:49:36,238
Hi, little guy.
538
00:50:15,879 --> 00:50:18,447
She has survived so much.
539
00:50:18,449 --> 00:50:21,450
She must be completely
exhausted.
540
00:50:26,923 --> 00:50:28,591
And, yet, here she is again,
541
00:50:28,593 --> 00:50:33,929
using all her strength to mother
another little calf.
542
00:50:33,931 --> 00:50:39,335
And at a time when moose
populations are in such decline,
543
00:50:39,337 --> 00:50:41,337
each calf is precious.
544
00:50:46,643 --> 00:50:49,378
Our feisty little calf
showed me just how hard
545
00:50:49,380 --> 00:50:54,150
life can be for a moose
born late in the season.
546
00:50:54,152 --> 00:50:56,752
This new calf was born
two months before his brother
547
00:50:56,754 --> 00:50:59,889
was last year,
which gives him a huge advantage
548
00:50:59,891 --> 00:51:02,858
for surviving
that critical first year.
549
00:51:11,568 --> 00:51:15,704
I've been so lucky to experience
firsthand the strong bond
550
00:51:15,706 --> 00:51:19,942
that develops between a calf
and its mother.
551
00:51:19,944 --> 00:51:23,245
She is such a remarkable animal.
552
00:51:23,247 --> 00:51:25,181
I feel better
about leaving here --
553
00:51:25,183 --> 00:51:28,484
now that I know she's had
a chance to be a mother again.
554
00:52:42,025 --> 00:52:45,227
To learn more about what you've seen on this "Nature" program,
555
00:52:45,229 --> 00:52:47,429
visit pbs.org.
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