0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to my Nightmares of Nature.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11I'm Naomi Wilkinson and I'm coming
0:00:11 > 0:00:15face-to-face with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:17 > 0:00:24The ones that make your spine tingle, your heart beat faster
0:00:24 > 0:00:27and your blood run cold.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28What's that noise?
0:00:28 > 0:00:33Are they truly terrifying? Or is there a twist in the tale?
0:00:33 > 0:00:35SHE SCREAMS
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Come with me as I shine a light on wildlife's
0:00:38 > 0:00:39deepest, darkest secrets.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46And see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50This time I'm in America, cowboy country,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53in the heart of Yellowstone!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55In this natural wonderland
0:00:55 > 0:00:59live the wildlife that America is famous for -
0:00:59 > 0:01:02bears, wolves and bison. Yee-haa!
0:01:02 > 0:01:06But as well as getting a look at these big beasts,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10there are plenty of other creatures to keep me on my toes!
0:01:11 > 0:01:15First, I'm heading into the park on the trail of probably
0:01:15 > 0:01:19America's most iconic hunter, the wolf!
0:01:21 > 0:01:23HOWLING
0:01:23 > 0:01:26The haunting howl of a pack of ravenous wolves
0:01:26 > 0:01:30is the soundtrack to any wild nightmare.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33From fairy tales to myths
0:01:33 > 0:01:38and legends, wolves are cast as evil, bloodthirsty predators.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44But is this wicked reputation deserved?
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Should I really be afraid of the big, bad wolf?
0:01:48 > 0:01:51It's time to find out.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00We all got up at 4 o'clock this morning!
0:02:00 > 0:02:02We need to be wide awake
0:02:02 > 0:02:06and in the park early to stand any chance of seeing the wolves!
0:02:08 > 0:02:10But Yellowstone Park is huge, and wolves
0:02:10 > 0:02:14can effortlessly cover over 50 kilometres a day when hunting.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16They shy away from people
0:02:16 > 0:02:20and are easily hidden in this vast wilderness.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24I'm going to need some help to track them down.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Luckily, Linda is a professional wolf tracker.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30With her knowledge and tricks of the trade,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32we're in with a chance.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39We've heard that there's been a sighting of a wolf this morning.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42It seems to be a bit elusive, but we're on the hunt!
0:02:47 > 0:02:50There, there, there, there, there! Go, go, go, go.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55There, there, there! Mark!
0:02:55 > 0:02:58I'm on him. He's off the road.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00And a wolf on the prowl certainly
0:03:00 > 0:03:03moves a lot faster than me and the crew!
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Is everybody in?
0:03:11 > 0:03:13There it is, up there, going up the hill!
0:03:16 > 0:03:20So we just saw the wolf cross the road in front of our car,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and now it's heading away from us up the hill.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28So why is it on its own, Linda?
0:03:28 > 0:03:33He is out looking for prey right now. He's hunting, looking for prey.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34- All by himself?- Yes.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39Just trying to see if he comes across any elk, for instance.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So elk would be the main thing he's looking for?
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Yes, 90% of what these guys eat is elk.
0:03:45 > 0:03:51- So one wolf could take down an elk on his own?- He could, he could.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53The alpha male could.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Hopefully he'll hang around long enough for us
0:03:56 > 0:03:58to get a really good look at him.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Is he still there?
0:04:01 > 0:04:06He is still there, he just lay down. He's napping in the sun right now.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Wolves are a serious nightmare of nature
0:04:11 > 0:04:14as they're such a formidable predator.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16How do they actually hunt?
0:04:16 > 0:04:22They'll look for a herd of elk out here, and they need to get them
0:04:22 > 0:04:25running to assess a weakness.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Wolves will target a sick or old animal, but
0:04:29 > 0:04:33even an injured elk is a handful. A bull can weigh over 300kgs,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36easily six times more than a single wolf.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44And it isn't defenceless. But the wolf family is organised.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49The smaller, faster wolves lead the chase.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54And the larger ones move in to try and finish off the kill.
0:04:57 > 0:05:03Imagine trying to pull down something that size with your teeth!
0:05:03 > 0:05:07It may look like a one-sided battle, but not every chase ends in a kill.
0:05:07 > 0:05:14In fact, as little as one in ten hunts mean a meal for the wolves.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17When they do get food, they'll go
0:05:17 > 0:05:21and regurgitate some of it to the pups.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Meaning that the mother will literally vomit up the food
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and the pups will eat it?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Exactly! It does look just like they're throwing up!
0:05:29 > 0:05:30And it happens so quick.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33They go... and it flies through the air,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36and the pups eat it before it hits the ground!
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- Ha ha! Catch the sick? Oh, eugh! - Yes!
0:05:41 > 0:05:45I think we've got quite lucky in finding this one
0:05:45 > 0:05:48because they cover a lot of miles.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54It's a great view of a wild wolf through the binoculars,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57but he doesn't look much of a nightmare from here.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58So, do wolves really
0:05:58 > 0:06:02deserve their evil, nightmarish reputation of fairy tales,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05when we know they're shy and elusive?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07They're fantastic family team members,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11and they have such a tough time bringing home a meal.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15I don't know. Could wolves really be anyone's worst nightmare?
0:06:17 > 0:06:21The wolves have shown that it is tough surviving out
0:06:21 > 0:06:24in the wilderness, but the green valleys of Yellowstone
0:06:24 > 0:06:28suddenly seem easy when I head up into the jagged mountains
0:06:28 > 0:06:30at the top of the world.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34On Nightmares of Nature we don't just look for
0:06:34 > 0:06:39nightmarish animals, but sometimes nightmarish places.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42It doesn't get much more breathtaking than here.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45It might look pretty, but it can also be lethal.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Check this out.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Bit of a nightmarish place to live!
0:06:57 > 0:07:01But believe it or not, there are some animals that manage it.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05These are the aptly-named mountain goats.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13# High on a hill was a lonely goatherd... #
0:07:13 > 0:07:15The sheer rocky cliffs
0:07:15 > 0:07:20they live on are extreme, buffeted by winds and terrifyingly high.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24But the goats traverse them with a mountaineer's ease,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29to nibble scraps of vegetation and essential minerals from the rocks.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36Their thick coats shield them from the harshest weather,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and their nimble hooves splay to help them grip loose rocky surfaces.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44They are so comfortable living on the edge
0:07:44 > 0:07:46they even have their babies up here.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56If an old nanny goat can climb these cliffs,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I'm definitely giving it a try.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Are you ready?
0:08:02 > 0:08:04As ready as I'll ever be!
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Oh! Don't look down!
0:08:23 > 0:08:27See the problem is, all this rock underfoot is so loose,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30its a real danger for the mountain goats.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Can you imagine that crashing down on top of your head?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35That's going to give you a headache!
0:08:49 > 0:08:56Climbing is all about balance, poise, skill and nerves of steel!
0:09:02 > 0:09:06The grips on my shoes work like the soles of a mountain goats feet.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Rough and textured, so they're really grippy.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13They don't have any trouble keeping a foothold.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17My leg doesn't go that far!
0:09:26 > 0:09:28This wind is crazy!
0:09:28 > 0:09:33The problem with these cliffs is you're so exposed to the elements.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37I'm nearly being blown off by the wind, the blazing sun
0:09:37 > 0:09:39is beating down on me, but other times of year
0:09:39 > 0:09:44there would be avalanches or lightning thunderstorms.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And look what I've found over here!
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Right on the mountain there's some mountain goat hair,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01which proves that a mountain goat has stood exactly
0:10:01 > 0:10:05where I'm standing now without a harness, without ropes,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08without a helmet - and they were absolutely fine!
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Woo-hoo!
0:10:10 > 0:10:15I'm on top of the world! Ha-haaa! Hooray!
0:10:15 > 0:10:18That is utterly terrifying terrain!
0:10:18 > 0:10:21To be out there 24 hours, seven days a week,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24whatever the weather, no, thank you!
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Surely a mountain goat's terrain has got to be a nightmare of nature.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34From a nightmare place to hang out, to a time of day
0:10:34 > 0:10:38when normally we're tucked up in bed having sweet dreams.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42The night time is when humans are out of their depth.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44In the wild, we're utterly exposed.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Nocturnal animals have big eyes
0:10:47 > 0:10:52to see in low light, and their acute hearing, sensitive noses
0:10:52 > 0:10:56and delicate whiskers help them get around with ease.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Compared to wild animals, our sense of smell is very poor.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03We can barely see by moonlight,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07so we need to rely heavily on our hearing to tell us what's around us.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10And the crew have something of a challenge for me.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Thank you.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16"Your challenge is to sit in the dark...
0:11:16 > 0:11:19"by yourself...
0:11:19 > 0:11:23"and we may have some surprises in store." Oh, great(!)
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Sitting here in the dark with just a night-vision camera,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I'm going to have to rely on my limited senses
0:11:36 > 0:11:38to guess what's around me.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Shadows and light shapes just start
0:11:41 > 0:11:43to look like they're things moving.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50I don't know if it is my eyes or the crew playing tricks on me.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56It's not happening, Naomi. Nothing is moving!
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Oh! I just heard some twigs snap straight ahead of me.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Oh my goodness. What's that?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23That is not a sound I want to hear!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25HOWLING
0:12:25 > 0:12:30I can't tell whether that is one of our crew pretending to be a wolf,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32or whether that is really a wolf howl!
0:12:34 > 0:12:37SHE HOWLS
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Ah, this is horrid! I tell you what, this is horrid!
0:12:42 > 0:12:45TWIG SNAPS
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Oh!
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Please be crew!
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I don't know if it is the crew or if it's nature.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58A nightmare of nature!
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Just as I've about had enough,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I hear the one sound I've been waiting for.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17- Naomi, crack your glow stick, we're coming to get you!- Hooray!
0:13:20 > 0:13:25I've done it! I did it! Yay! Where are you?
0:13:26 > 0:13:27Where are you?
0:13:27 > 0:13:29ANIMAL GRUNTS
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Are you over there?
0:13:35 > 0:13:39Eventually reunited with the crew, we head out bright and early
0:13:39 > 0:13:42to track down another Yellowstone nightmare.
0:13:42 > 0:13:48At this time in the morning, the wild woods are alive with sounds.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52BIRDS CHEEP
0:13:52 > 0:13:55But one creature I didn't expect was going to get me
0:13:55 > 0:13:58out of bed at 5 o'clock in the morning is an owl!
0:13:59 > 0:14:02But what is such a nightmare about an owl?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05I'm hoping forest expert Dan can explain.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14And he knows just where the owls might be.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Dan's very enthusiastic.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20He's raced on ahead and we're all getting left behind!
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Who's that?! Who's that up there?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- That looks like the female. - How do you tell?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33The female's the bigger of the two.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Look at how much she can turn her head.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39She's wonderful, isn't she?
0:14:39 > 0:14:40Very regal!
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I'm kind of encouraged that she's not sitting with the male.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46That means the male is out hunting.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Dad's bringing food to Mom, Mom decides which chick gets fed.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53This nest started with three chicks and the third rarely survives,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56because you need lots of food for three chicks to make it.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00About 10 days ago, I actually witnessed the third chick
0:15:00 > 0:15:03was fed to the other two chicks, piece by piece!
0:15:03 > 0:15:06At one time, I even saw the foot of the chick sticking out
0:15:06 > 0:15:08of the other chick's mouth.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Just part of nature. Nothing goes to waste.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14That's a nightmare start for the chicks, isn't it?
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- Shall we go see if we can find one? - Let's do that.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Yup, there he is.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Do you see, he's right there?
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
0:15:28 > 0:15:29Oh.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32He didn't really get Mum and Dad's good looks, did he?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34He will, it's coming.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36It'll take him till October to look like an adult.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40His feathers are all matted and look like mouldy, old wool!
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It's all for warmth.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Poor little thing.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- Hit with the ugly stick! - THEY LAUGH
0:15:48 > 0:15:49'Until they can fly,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53'the chicks get around by clambering along fallen branches,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55'and they're not always high up.'
0:15:55 > 0:15:57There he is!
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- Look at him looking at us! - He's looking at us!
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Straight through. Aren't you peculiar looking?!
0:16:03 > 0:16:05HE LAUGHS
0:16:05 > 0:16:08You can see how you could walk past them in the forest...
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- Yeah!- They blend in so well. He's like part of the wood.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Look at his funny old big feet!
0:16:12 > 0:16:15That's one thing he does have right now - big feet and a big bill.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17He's got the big eyes, big feet, big bill.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19His body has to grow into those.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21He's like a little...puppet!
0:16:21 > 0:16:22SHE LAUGHS
0:16:22 > 0:16:26'Whilst on the ground the chicks are quite vulnerable,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29'so Mum keeps a close eye on them.'
0:16:29 > 0:16:31She just flew overhead, she's right above us.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Be careful, she might not like us here.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35She's right up above us right now!
0:16:35 > 0:16:39You can see the bond between the mother and its offspring
0:16:39 > 0:16:41is just so strong.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43She has got her eye on us.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45She knows that we're trying to look at her chick,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48and I don't think she's very happy about it.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52We don't want to get dive-bombed by her, really!
0:16:52 > 0:16:57Because great grey owls strike with unnerving precision!
0:16:57 > 0:17:03They hunt using their phenomenal hearing to pinpoint prey.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Even a blanket of snow offers no protection.
0:17:06 > 0:17:12They use their piercing talons to hunt, punching through snow
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and down into the undergrowth to grab their unsuspecting dinner.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20'Now, the swooping hunt may be majestic,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24'but what happens next isn't so pleasant.'
0:17:24 > 0:17:27So how do they eat their prey?
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Imagine now. The female will fly in,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and the chick will reach out with his bill and they'll hand off,
0:17:33 > 0:17:34bill-to-bill,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- so he gets the head...- Yeah.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39..and then he will then start putting it down his throat,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!" - just gobble, and you'll see it
0:17:41 > 0:17:44slowly go down his throat until it disappears.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47He looks at you with the tail sticking out, then it'll go on down.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Then his body will absorb the flesh from the prey,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and then, after a few hours,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55he will regurgitate the fur and bones
0:17:55 > 0:17:57that his body couldn't absorb.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- And that's an owl pellet.- Yes.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02So, if I break it open...
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Oh, wow, look!
0:18:05 > 0:18:09So are these little bones of rodents and things?
0:18:09 > 0:18:10Yeah, a leg bone.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Hold on, what else have we got?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I've got a whole skull here!
0:18:16 > 0:18:17Yes.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22(Wow!) And that was inside this pellet!
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Their table manners really do leave a lot to be desired then!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31The more I find out about these great grey owls,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33the more I discover they are a nightmare of nature
0:18:33 > 0:18:36in the way they look and almost everything they do!
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'Surely, the gruesome gobbler that swallows its own brothers
0:18:39 > 0:18:43'and sisters has got to be my worst nightmare!'
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Right, I'm going for my very own teddy bears' picnic.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Pretty excited,
0:18:50 > 0:18:56because I'm heading up into the woods with local expert, Nathan.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00We're going to see if we can try and track down some black bears.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02# Picnic time for teddy bears... #
0:19:02 > 0:19:06- Nathan, I am all ready to go, I'm set!- Wow, what do you have there?
0:19:06 > 0:19:10I've got my supplies with me... Honey sandwiches!
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Ooh, honey, that's a bear's favourite food.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15- We might have to leave that behind.- Oh.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Doesn't matter, I've got crisps.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Ooh, those might be too loud.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Doesn't matter, I've got a drink,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- in case I get thirsty. - Too sweet, I think.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Well, what DO we need to take?
0:19:27 > 0:19:31There's one very important thing. It's this pepper spray,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34which, in the unlikely event a bear charges you,
0:19:34 > 0:19:35you can spray it.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- So aren't these bears friendly? - They may not be.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42This is not turning into the picnic I had in mind.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49Black bears are big and powerful, armed with strong teeth and claws.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53And bears don't like surprises...
0:19:53 > 0:19:56especially if they're with their cubs.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Lured by the smell of people's food, some head into our towns,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and they quickly learn when there is an easy meal on offer.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13Using their brute strength, they can rip their way into anything...
0:20:14 > 0:20:16..and become a real nightmare neighbour...
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- DOORBELL RINGS - ..of nature.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27'I want to find out if, here in the woods,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29'the bears are such a problem.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35'But the thought of those claws means I'm sticking close to Nathan.'
0:20:35 > 0:20:39This is quite nerve-wracking,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42as we have no idea where they might be hiding.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- TWIG RUSTLES - What was that noise?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Oh, watch your step there.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Oh, hang on, what's this?!
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Ah, look at this.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58That looks like some fairly fresh...
0:20:58 > 0:21:00bear poo.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Is this an average amount of poo that a bear makes?
0:21:03 > 0:21:05It can be a lot more than that, actually,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- so that's kind of a modest pile... - Is it?!
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- ..of poo.- And can we tell what it's been eating, by looking at it?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Mostly vegetation. If we kind of pick through it a little bit,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17there's some shoots of plants within it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22- Yeah, ugh! There's maggots in it! - Ah, perfect!- "Perfect"?!
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Oh! Gross!
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Well, that's what comes in and eats the bacteria in the poo,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31after the bear poops it out!
0:21:31 > 0:21:33And will they become flies or something?
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Absolutely, yeah, they will become flies.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37It doesn't really smell very much, does it?
0:21:37 > 0:21:39It's not that strong.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43But, maggoty poo, that's disgusting!
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'So, some fairly fresh sign
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'means we're definitely in a bear's backyard.'
0:21:51 > 0:21:54This little stand of trees right here looks promising.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59For actually coming across a bear?
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Hopefully not this close!
0:22:03 > 0:22:07- Whoa, lots of poo!- LOTS of poo!
0:22:07 > 0:22:11And then over here is like a big hollow, so what's that?
0:22:11 > 0:22:13This is the bear's bed.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- The bear has dug itself... - It scoops a hollow to sleep in?
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Yeah. Just pull that stuff back
0:22:20 > 0:22:24so they have a nice, cool resting place, and curl up in that.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Why does it poo right by its bed?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- I guess it's convenient, right? - Your bed, your bathroom...
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- SHE LAUGHS - Yeah, I guess, like an en suite?
0:22:34 > 0:22:38So can you get a scale of how big the bear is by looking at this bed?
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Often, you can.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42This part that's a little bit dug-in is cooler,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44so they'll have their belly in there,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46and the rest of them will kind of sprawl out.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Shall I try it out for size?
0:22:48 > 0:22:52- I think you should. Give us an idea of how big this bear was.- OK.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- You can say you've been in a bear bed.- Yeah, that's quite cool!
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Hope the bear doesn't come back while I'm in here,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- wanting his bed back! - HE LAUGHS
0:22:59 > 0:23:03So how do I compare to the size of this bear, do you think?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05I think the bear was a little bit bigger than you are...
0:23:05 > 0:23:07- Is it comfortable?- Not really!
0:23:07 > 0:23:12So many pine cones and bugs and poo. I don't think I want to stay here!
0:23:12 > 0:23:13HE LAUGHS
0:23:13 > 0:23:17'Well, the life of a bear
0:23:17 > 0:23:18'isn't quite for me.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22'But, keen to spot one, the crew and I head off into the park.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25'And we're in for a big surprise.'
0:23:25 > 0:23:30We've just pulled over cos a mother black bear and her two cubs
0:23:30 > 0:23:34have apparently been sighted there in the meadow, so we'll hang about,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38and, fingers crossed, we'll get another appearance.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45'In Yellowstone Park, you can watch wildlife right from the road.'
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I just saw something move right on the distance... Big, black head.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57There she is, there, there, there!
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Right on the horizon of the green grass!
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Big, lumbering black shape... and there's her cub!
0:24:04 > 0:24:05My hands are trembling so much,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I can't even keep my binoculars still!
0:24:08 > 0:24:10She's looking right at us!
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Really shiny black coat,
0:24:14 > 0:24:15brown nose.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Even from this far away, she looks huge!
0:24:29 > 0:24:31'And she is drawing quite a crowd.'
0:24:36 > 0:24:38This is what you call a true bear jam.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Everybody just slowing down to get
0:24:40 > 0:24:44a great view of the bear and her two little cubs playing.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Can't say I blame everybody for having a look.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's really quite exciting to be here,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52and this just happened in a matter of minutes.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Those little cubs are adorable!
0:25:01 > 0:25:02Little fluff balls!
0:25:07 > 0:25:10'This bear is totally chilled out.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16'So relaxed, she's even taking her cubs for their first-ever swim.'
0:25:20 > 0:25:24So even in the middle of the day, the cubs are really active,
0:25:24 > 0:25:28just playing around like little kids, just having fun in the sun!
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Oh, I'm happy we've seen them today!
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Oh, this is great!
0:25:46 > 0:25:47'In the wild where they belong,
0:25:47 > 0:25:52'could these bears really be seen as a nightmare of nature?
0:25:57 > 0:26:00'Well, Yellowstone has been full of surprises.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03'Getting close to a black bear and her cubs...
0:26:03 > 0:26:08'spotting a wild wolf, and meeting some rather 'orrible owlets.'
0:26:08 > 0:26:09Huh?!
0:26:09 > 0:26:11'Let alone the crew playing tricks on me in the dark,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14'and dangling off the side of a mountain.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16'So, which is my worst nightmare?'
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Well, actually, it's none of those.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23But it is an animal that's been with us everywhere in Yellowstone.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Ooh, go away! Ooh! Woh!
0:26:26 > 0:26:29While we've been filming, it's been a right pain in the neck,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32cheek, forehead,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34leg and bottom.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35The mosquito!
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Ooh!
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Oh-oh-oh!
0:26:46 > 0:26:49They're everywhere!
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Ew! I hate that noise
0:26:51 > 0:26:53when it's right by your ear. Zizz!
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Zizz!
0:26:55 > 0:26:56Eurgh!
0:26:57 > 0:26:59'And, whilst they're annoying for me...
0:26:59 > 0:27:03'they can be a real menace to wildlife.'
0:27:03 > 0:27:07It's only the females that bite, and they need blood to make their eggs.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11They track us down by our movement, our smell,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14and by the carbon dioxide in our breath.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17So, if you want to avoid being bitten, don't move,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19don't pong and don't breathe!
0:27:20 > 0:27:23So is there anything good about mosquitoes?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Well, they are food for a huge amount of animals,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28but, quite frankly, that is not enough to convince me.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32They are definitely my Yellowstone Nightmare of Nature.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34EVIL LAUGHTER
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Oh-ho!
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Oh-ho-ho-ho!
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd