All language subtitles for Arctic Secrets S02E03 Waiting for Winter 1080p AMZN WEB-DL DD+2 0 H 264-QOQ

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(Narrator) The largest land
predator on earth

faces a fearsome enemy.

Climate change threatens polar
bears throughout the Arctic.

*

A world once frozen for
much of the year

is increasingly free
of snow and ice.

And the sea takes
weeks longer to freeze.

*

While some residents of the
north are forced to adapt...

Others thrive in
this changing habitat.

*

Young bears gather knowledge
from their mothers.

Learning how to stay
alive in times of famine.

And how to avoid
deadly encounters.

*

Today, polar bears are under
unprecedented stress...

And need to find new ways to
survive in a warming world.

*

*

*

*

It's November in
Western Hudson Bay.

*

And this young male
polar bear has a problem.

*

The ice, which should be
forming by now

is nowhere to be seen.

*

Cape Tatnam, on the
shore of Hudson Bay,

is the summer home of
part of the world's most

southerly polar
bear population.

The bay is normally frozen
from November to June,

and the bears
live out on the ice,

hunting mostly ringed seals -

one of their favorite foods.

*

In the summer, some seal
species move north seeking ice,

while others disperse
to areas along the shore

where they're
difficult to hunt.

At Cape Tatnam,
the main food source of

polar bears vanishes,
until the ice returns.

*

The long, ice-free season
has been an especially

tough time for this young male.

This is his first
year without his mother.

Last winter he would have
traveled with her across

the vast, frozen
surface of Hudson Bay,

learning how to hunt.

This spring, two years old
and able to fend for himself,

she chased him away,

so she could mate again.

Since then, he's had to
find food the way

all adult polar
bears do - alone.

*

He still has a
lot to learn...

Like how to
navigate thin ice.

He's been born into
a dangerous time.

2016 is the
warmest year on record.

Climate change is wreaking
havoc across the North.

It's now late November,

and the temperature
in Western Hudson Bay is

about 18 degrees Fahrenheit
warmer than normal.

It needs to be colder
for seawater to freeze.

And this year in November,
the extent of the sea ice

is the lowest it's
ever been since 1978.

More ice-free days mean
this young bear's

first solo seal hunt is
perilously delayed.

If Hudson Bay
doesn't freeze over soon,

he's in danger of
starving to death.

*

While mostly dependent
on their own fat reserves

during the summer and fall,
polar bears in this region

have adapted to eating
less nutritious food,

like grass,
seaweed or bird eggs.

But they're not born
with this knowledge,

and must learn this
behavior from their mothers.

*

The young bear picks up some
kelp to sate his hunger,

as he probably
watched his mother do.

*

*

He has to be careful...

Because he's not alone.

These willow patches
along the shore

are hotspots for adult males.

*

Adult males are cannibals.

They're known to
prey on juvenile bears.

Bears from hundreds of
miles away

have converged on the area.

*

During the winter,

about 4,300 polar
bears spread out

across the vast
ice of Hudson Bay.

But during the
summer and fall,

about 1,000 cram into this
relatively small area

in Western Hudson Bay...

Averaging almost eight bears
per square mile.

It's an extremely
tight arrangement that's

especially difficult
for juvenile bears.

It's the first time the
young male has interacted

with the much larger
adults in the willow patch.

*

Polar bears have
distinct personalities.

One might be more timid...

While another is outgoing.

Some may be moody...

While others
are more playful.

And they form complex
relationships with each other.

*

Play is a vital part
of polar bear life...

Especially for the males.

Among this unique
group of bears,

who come together
here every summer,

it creates bonds that
can last a lifetime.

*

*

*

Bears can play for hours.

But this friendly skirmish
is over before midday.

*

The bears have wasted enough
precious energy and

settle down for a nap.

During these lean months,

they have to conserve
their strength.

With no seals to eat,
bears can lose up to

two pounds of
body weight every day.

*

In the summer, the bears
in Western Hudson Bay are

unable to hunt seals for
about 150 days each year.

If that threshold is pushed by
just thirty more ice-free days,

up to fifty percent of young
bears could die of starvation.

The Western Hudson Bay
population has dropped

nearly a quarter,
from 1,200 to 900 bears

in the last three decades.

Mothers and their nursing
young are hit the hardest.

Two thirds of
litters are twins.

And protecting two cubs at
once is a very tough task.

*

This mother has done an
impressive job

keeping both her cubs alive.

But she's exhausted.

*

For the first
three or four months,

her cubs nursed up
to six times a day.

Now,
almost a year old,

she nurses them less regularly.

*

It's been over four months

since Mum's eaten a fatty seal.

The nutrition in
her milk is depleted.

*

The cubs' scruffy appearance
is a sign that they are

spending too much
time on land

waiting for the ice to come.

The mother would
normally keep them clean.

But along these
muddy shores,

it's a near-impossible task.

A year ago,
the young male

had his mother to protect him.

Alone, he could
be in danger.

Even at 550 pounds,

he's still not too big for
the adult males to kill him.

*

The average life expectancy
of these bears is about

18 years, though some
live even longer.

*

*

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They sleep in the willow
brush with the supreme

confidence of an
apex predator.

*

The young bear warily
lays down among them,

keeping an eye out...

*

But he's chosen a
dangerous neighbor.

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The much bigger
male approaches him.

*

He hangs his huge head low
and hisses and snorts...

Clear signs of aggression
to the young bear.

*

Polar bears tend to
avoid confrontation,

but adult males are
notoriously volatile.

*

The situation for this juvenile

could suddenly turn deadly.

He retreats...

To where the big
male can't follow.

Onto thin ice.

*

It's been so warm,
even shallow lakes and ponds

are barely frozen over.

*

He's already an
expert ice walker,

with huge paws,
up to 12 inches across.

*

His black footpads
are covered with small,

soft bumps that grip the ice
and keep him from slipping.

Tufts of fur between his
toes and long claws

also help him with traction.

Spreading his legs,
the young bear attempts to

distribute his
weight more evenly.

*

He tests the ice,

something he probably
learned from his mother.

*

*

*

*

The big male
decides not to follow.

This late in the year,
conserving energy is crucial.

Just walking expends

13 times more energy
than resting.

Instead, he dedicates some
time to personal grooming.

Polar bears take extremely
good care of their coats.

Matted, dirty,
and wet fur

is a poor insulator.

The prickly willows are a
natural hairbrush and

after some
determined scrubbing,

he's good as new.

*

*

This mother and her cub
have been walking all day.

As most litters are twins,

she likely had another
cub that died -

possibly killed
by an adult male bear,

or through starvation,
or even by wolves.

*

Almost half of the cubs in
Western Hudson Bay

don't survive their
first summer.

*

Now this mother and cub are
looking for something to eat

and for a safe
place to rest.

*

She approaches the
willow patch with caution.

*

She carefully weighs
her options -

a potential resting place
versus dangerous males.

*

Her cub doesn't understand the
seriousness of the situation.

She's busy imitating mum.

Balancing on two legs is
still a bit of a challenge.

*

Cubs in Hudson Bay spend about
two years with their mothers,

who pass on
knowledge for survival,

both on and off the ice.

Polar bears have
exceptional memories.

They can recall landmarks in
places that are

under snow and ice
half the year.

Anything the mother teaches
will be critical for the cub

once she is on her own.

As the mother's attention
is focused on the males...

Danger approaches
from behind.

*

A lone timber wolf has been
tracking the two bears all day.

She's trailed them
through the willows...

Perhaps hoping the mother
might be too exhausted

to defend her cub.

*

She would never be able
to overpower the mother.

But she could outsmart her
with stealth and cunning,

and kill the cub.

Sneaking by, she seems
to weigh her chances.

*

*

But any aspirations
are futile...

Both mother and cub
are healthy and alert.

Clearly not threatened,
the mother gives her

but a passing glance.

Finally, they can
settle in for a nap.

The wolf moves on,
looking for easier prey.

Wolves are opportunists,
hunting alone or together,

to kill any prey
they encounter.

Even though they're
considered highly intelligent,

they still sometimes go
days without success.

*

As winter approaches,
the wolves are in a race

against time to build
up fat reserves.

*

Blizzards will soon cover
everything here in a

deep blanket of snow,
making hunting difficult.

*

*

*

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The lone wolf will have much
better odds focusing on the

muskrats living in
this marshy pond.

*

Muskrats normally live in
groups consisting of a male,

a female and their young,
up to eight in each litter.

*

Their carefully constructed
lodges are made of mud and

vegetation, and can be up
to 3 feet high.

Their entrances
are under water,

so land predators
can't get in

when the marsh is fully frozen.

Now, the muskrats take
advantage of the

prolonged warmth and
partially open water

by doing some home renovations.

*

Staying downwind,
the wolf sneaks up

to pounce on the
unsuspecting rodent.

*

*

A muskrat can stay underwater

for up to 15 minutes...

And with multiple push-ups
and holes in the ice

to choose from, the wolf
has no way of knowing

where or when it
will surface again.

Today has not been her day.

*

*

(Howling)

But tonight,
her pack hunts again.

(Barking & Yipping)

*

Morning reveals the mauled
remains of their kill...

A moose,
and there's little left.

Wolves can eat up to 20 pounds
of meat in a single meal.

This female moose is small,

and weighed about 330 pounds.

The pack must
have been ravenous.

*

The mother polar bear
wakes from her slumber.

Her sensitive nose has
caught a dangerous scent.

This time, she immediately
knows it's serious.

*

She and her cub
need to leave...

Now.

*

A big male is
interested in the duo.

*

Heading out onto
the tidal flats,

the mother aims to
put some distance

between them and the male.

*

*

She shields her
cub behind her body.

To the male, her body
language is clear:

"If you want my cub, you'll
have to go through me."

The male appears undecided.

He examines the place where the
pair was resting more closely.

He sniffs and
rolls in the spot,

saturating himself in the
scent of the female and her cub.

*

The mother watches
his every action,

trying to anticipate
his next move.

*

Suddenly, the male
goes into pursuit.

*

Mother and cub panic.

And the race is on.

It is a battle of
stamina and determination.

His hunger pitted
against her resolve

to keep her cub alive.

*

The chase continues all day
across the muddy tidal flats.

*

Survival comes down
to one thing:

how long her cub can run.

*

The male's in no hurry.

He's bigger, stronger,

and he should be able
to outrun them.

*

The mother
refuses to give up,

and her cub seems to
share her tenacity.

*

By evening,
the male falls back.

*

Whatever swayed
his decision...

Mother and cub are safe...

For now.

*

A "supermoon" looms large.

It's when the full moon
orbits closest to the earth.

*

It hasn't been this close
in almost seventy years,

resulting in higher
than normal tides.

The ocean is in upheaval...

And it's still not freezing.

*

*

The following morning,
the young male from

the willow thicket seems
wary and restless.

*

Last year, when the
sea didn't freeze,

his mother most likely took
him along the coastline...

Further north,
where they finally found ice,

and could venture out to
hunt seals on Hudson Bay.

*

Now,
he sets off on his own,

with only his memory
to guide him.

*

*

While the bears wait
for the ice to arrive,

and the lean times to end...

This red fox has
had a banner summer,

gorging on lemmings,
eggs, and young birds.

But in the coming
brutally cold winter,

most of his prey
migrates, hibernates,

or is blanketed in snow.

In preparation, he's stashing
supplies everywhere.

Burying food in
numerous holes,

2-4 inches deep,
to last all winter.

If another animal
finds a cache,

at least he won't
lose his entire supply.

*

There's a lemming
colony nearby.

It's hard to catch
what he can't see.

But the fox,
unlike most mammals,

can hear low-frequency
sounds extremely well.

*

He listens intently, and
picks up on tiny noises,

including lemmings
scampering three feet

under earth and snow.

*

*

But today, the lemmings
elude their adversary.

*

*

After escaping
the male pursuer,

the mother bear relaxes
and cleans her fur.

*

Her young cub
mimics her every move;

it's a critical lesson.

*

A clean coat is vital to
keeping warm

in the winter months.

*

But for the young cub,
it's mostly fun.

*

*

A blizzard zeroes in
on Western Hudson Bay.

*

Winter conditions are
finally on the way.

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On his long journey north,
the young male seeks shelter.

*

*

*

*

He digs a bed in
the lee of a ridge.

Any snow piling up
on top of him

provides an insulating blanket.

He could stay here for days,

snoozing right through
the worst of storms.

*

But this blizzard
passes quickly...

Too quickly.

The temperature still
doesn't fall enough

to begin freezing Hudson Bay.

No ice means no seal hunt.

*

Against the ticking
clock of starvation,

the young bear
continues on his quest.

*

While polar bears spend the
majority of their life

on the move, ruffed grouse
don't venture far from home.

Summer or winter,
they spend their lives

within just a few acres.

While the bears go hungry,
these birds take

full advantage of the
late arrival of winter.

Dense stands of
young willow,

alder and poplar are
a grouse's favorite.

Their buds are its
staple winter food.

*

This grouse got lucky:

it's found some
leftover cranberries.

*

When it comes to
winter adaptations,

it's tough to beat
the ruffed grouse.

Fleshy projections grow on
the sides of their toes

in the fall,
like natural snowshoes...

Giving the grouse a
firm grip on icy branches.

They can easily
withstand the bitter cold.

Puffing up their feathers,
they sit almost motionless -

unseen to predators.

When the weather
gets too severe,

they burrow in the snow,
and can wait out

the entire winter in
this cozy huddle.

Early December, as the
days become shorter,

the temperature
finally starts to drop.

*

The ocean water
begins to freeze...

Forming small needle-like
ice crystals called "frazil."

*

These crystals are tiny,

only an eighth
to a quarter inch.

But when they accumulate
in the thousands at the surface,

they have the power
to turn the ocean into ice.

*

This morning, the incoming
waves are transformed

into what's called grease ice.

*

The ocean is roiling
as if fighting itself.

*

*

*

Out in the rougher waters,

grease ice can't fuse into
a continuous blanket.

This slush forms
circular disks.

The first pancake ice of
the season rides the surf.

*

In smaller inlets,
grease and pancake ice

near the shore begin to
consolidate and

bond into larger sheets.

If the temperature
continues to drop,

it will be only days now until
Western Hudson Bay freezes.

*

For the mother
with two cubs,

it won't come a
moment too soon.

She's grown more gaunt
with each passing day.

Even through her thick coat,
her hip bones jut out.

The family has taken
advantage of

the freshly fallen snow,

and the cubs have
cleaned up nicely.

As they grow,
they become more independent.

*

Each has a mind of its own,

and their distinct personalities
are beginning to show.

While one is more cautious,
sticking close to mum...

The other walks ahead,
undeterred.

*

Mom remains on
constant watch,

and eventually convinces
her adventurous youngster

to rejoin her for protection.

*

Five months have passed since
the family tasted seal meat.

*

Their mother's
milk is depleted.

Their need for nutrition is now
a matter of life and death.

*

*

She leads them to
the rocky shore.

They'd much prefer
seal over seaweed,

but they don't
have a choice.

*

With a longer
ice-free period,

the sight of one of the
world's fiercest predators

grazing on seaweed is
becoming more common.

*

If the climate
trend continues,

these young polar bears
will have to do much more

foraging than
their mother ever did.

*

Finally, the
temperature plummets.

*

Overnight, the sea locks
into a solid sheet of ice.

*

*

The freeze-up is
about three weeks late.

*

The young male made the
right decision to walk north.

His gamble has paid off.

*

Soon, the seals will be
returning with the ice.

He's made it through
his first summer alone.

*

Now,
he ventures out on

the start of a new
phase of life...

His first winter alone,
hunting seals...

On the frozen expanse
of Hudson Bay.

*

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