0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to my Nightmares of Nature.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11I'm Naomi Wilkinson, and I'm coming face-to-face
0:00:11 > 0:00:14with the nightmares of the animal world.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20The ones that make your spine tingle...
0:00:20 > 0:00:21SHE SCREAMS
0:00:21 > 0:00:23..your heart beat faster...
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Whoo!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..and your blood run cold.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28What's that noise?
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Are they truly terrifying?
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Or is there a twist in the tale?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34SHE SCREAMS
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Come with me as I shine a light
0:00:36 > 0:00:39on wildlife's deepest, darkest secrets...
0:00:41 > 0:00:45and see if you can guess which will be my worst nightmare.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53This time we're in the mighty US of A, baby!
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Look out America, we have arrived!
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It might be hot, sunny and glamorous,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03but life won't be a beach for me here.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06By land, sea and air, I'm on a mission to find some truly bizarre
0:01:06 > 0:01:08and dangerous wildlife.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10But don't let that put you off. I'm sure I'll find
0:01:10 > 0:01:13something cute and furry to look at too.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Just hope it hasn't got big teeth.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Keep up!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21First stop is the harbour
0:01:21 > 0:01:25where I've got a date with a slippery customer.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Some creatures of nightmares are disgusting. Come with me
0:01:29 > 0:01:33cos over here, I've got some really revolting characters to show you.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36In here, these are hagfish.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Now, these rather grotesque-looking creatures slither along
0:01:41 > 0:01:44the watery depths of the ocean looking for food.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46They are almost blind,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49but they do have a really well developed sense of smell and touch,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53so they use these whisker-like tentacles around their mouth
0:01:53 > 0:01:57to feel around and they use their noses to smell for a meal.
0:01:57 > 0:02:03They are really weird! They have no stomach, no jaws, no true eyes
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and teeth on their tongues! Eugh!
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Now when they find a meal,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11they'll use these quite terrifying-looking mouthparts
0:02:11 > 0:02:16to rasp and chew away at the food. If they find a dead or a dying fish
0:02:16 > 0:02:18they will bury their way inside
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and literally eat it from the inside out!
0:02:21 > 0:02:25They are really ugly! I'm sorry, boys, but you are!
0:02:25 > 0:02:27But it doesn't end there.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30They have one of the most horrific defence mechanisms.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35If a predator tries to bite one of these,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38the attacker will find its mouth and its gills
0:02:38 > 0:02:40gummed up with slime.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43That's why they're otherwise known as slime eels.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47I'm going to try to try and show you how they produce slime, by lifting
0:02:47 > 0:02:50one out of here and putting it into this tank so we can have
0:02:50 > 0:02:52a good old look at it!
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Which means that I've got to put my hands in there.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59I don't want to do that! Right, shall we do it?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- CREW:- Go on, Naomi!
0:03:03 > 0:03:09Will it bite me? I hope not. Right. Ooh!
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I don't know what it is going to feel like. Slippery, I think.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Ooh, I don't want to do it.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17Go!
0:03:19 > 0:03:20Oh!
0:03:20 > 0:03:23SHE SCREAMS
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Right. Get brave. Oh, oh!
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Gosh, it's slippery. It's just slipped straight out of my hand!
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Oh, my gosh, I don't like them!
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Right. Oh! That one is trying to bite me.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Just go ee-ee-ee!
0:03:42 > 0:03:45They kind of do this.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Right, come on, Mr Slippery from Slipsville.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55CHEERING
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I got a cheer from the restaurant!
0:03:58 > 0:04:01SHE LAUGHS
0:04:02 > 0:04:05That's very nice!
0:04:05 > 0:04:08You can see he's got mucus glands running along the side of his body.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12They can have up to 400 glands per fish, and these mucus glands
0:04:12 > 0:04:18secrete a mix of protein and sugar. When it mixes with the sea water,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21it becomes the slime. And the protein strands in the slime
0:04:21 > 0:04:23make it very, very sticky!
0:04:23 > 0:04:26OK, so I've managed to get one in there, I'm going to see
0:04:26 > 0:04:28if I can get a few more in with him,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31so we can get loads of slime going on.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Woah, come on, Naomi! Oh no!
0:04:34 > 0:04:35Woo-hoo!
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Oh.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Oh, right, we've got three in here now!
0:04:42 > 0:04:45OK, I'm going to pretend I'm a predator,
0:04:45 > 0:04:46having a go at the hagfish,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and see if it does anything to get rid of me...
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Oh! Yes, it started to do it, I felt it! Straight away.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Yes, here we go, look. Eugh! Almost instantly it is producing tons
0:04:57 > 0:05:03and tons of egg-yolky slime! That's incredible!
0:05:03 > 0:05:09One single hagfish can turn a 25-litre bucketful of water
0:05:09 > 0:05:14into slime in minutes! This is crazy, just look. I can lift out
0:05:14 > 0:05:19handfuls of the stuff! If you chew on hagfish slime, it will expand!
0:05:19 > 0:05:21But I'm not going to demonstrate that bit!
0:05:24 > 0:05:28It's just like thick bogey, really.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Surely this has got to be my worst nightmare?
0:05:38 > 0:05:41After freaking myself out with the disgusting hagfish,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45I fancy taking it easy - and there's a nightmare creature
0:05:45 > 0:05:48living here in California that takes chilling out to a whole new level.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54I've heard the best way to hang out with them is to use paddle power.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Ha-ha, let's do it!
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Let's go.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02SEA LIONS BARK
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Listen to the sea lions!
0:06:04 > 0:06:09No, they're not the nightmare I'm looking for.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Perhaps the nightmare is underneath me,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19lurking in all that seaweedy kelp.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29It's a sea otter.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33That's it! My sea-faring Californian nightmare is...the sea otter!
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Hang on a minute. A sea otter?
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal in the world,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56and they spend pretty much all their time in the water, hunting, feeding,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00even sleeping. They'll sleep just like this, as you can see them now
0:07:00 > 0:07:02on their backs. They'll just wrap themselves
0:07:02 > 0:07:06around a little piece of kelp, so they don't float away!
0:07:06 > 0:07:08That one's just doing a roly poly!
0:07:08 > 0:07:12They've got the densest fur of any mammal.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15You think your dad's hairy -
0:07:15 > 0:07:19well, these guys have got 100,000 hairs per centimetre.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23So that's why they don't feel the cold sea water,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27it keeps them protected. Their fur's also got specials oils in it
0:07:27 > 0:07:29to keep it waterproof and it also helps them float.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33That's why they can just bob around on the surface like little corks!
0:07:34 > 0:07:37A nightmare of nature. Are you serious?
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Surely these guys are only a nightmare if you're a clam?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Clams are a sea otter's favourite food.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48They'll dive down to the kelp bed or sea floor to gather them,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51then bring them back to the surface together with a large stone.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Floating on their back, they balance the stone on their tummies
0:07:54 > 0:07:58and smash the hard-shelled seafood to pieces, so that they can get
0:07:58 > 0:08:00to the tasty stuff on the inside.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02I think that makes them pretty smart!
0:08:06 > 0:08:08This is the life, eh, sea otters?
0:08:08 > 0:08:10This is the life.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12SEAGULLS CALL
0:08:12 > 0:08:15But that's enough loafing around. I'm here to find out
0:08:15 > 0:08:19why these fluffy bundles are causing a nightmare here in California,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22so I need to get the gossip from the locals.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Ahoy there, Captain Christian!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I hear you're just the man who can tell me
0:08:30 > 0:08:31why sea otters are a nightmare.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- I will, I'll tell you why they're a nightmare to my boat.- OK.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- I'll just follow you, shall I? - Yeah, come this way.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41So, every once in a while we catch 'em over here on the bow of the boat.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44They like to swim up and have their backs along the bow there
0:08:44 > 0:08:49and smash their clams there on the bow. They rip up all the paint,
0:08:49 > 0:08:50they chip the fibreglass.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Believe it or not, these naughty nightmares are vandals.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59The crafty scallywags chip away at the fancy boats in the harbour
0:08:59 > 0:09:02to smash open their seafood suppers,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and Captain Christian is not best pleased.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08We have to haul the boat out,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so it's a pretty extensive bit of damage they end up doing.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- Yeah, and when are they doing this? - They'll do it at any time of the day,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18the worst time is three in the morning when I'm sleeping.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- Cos you sleep on your boat, do you? - I sleep on my boat, right here.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24So, your head's right next to where they're banging?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Right where they're banging! They wind up, get a good old crack on it.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- Do you catch them in the act? - Catch 'em in the act.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35I like to sneak up along the deck, so I scare 'em real good,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- so he gets away, yah!- Do you just shine a torch on them?
0:09:39 > 0:09:42No, I just lean over the top of the railing and go, "Get out of here!"
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Poor little things. And he'll go...
0:09:46 > 0:09:48- And they're gone. - They're gone, yeah.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- So, when they're done eating... - Ah, look, look, look down here!
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Would you believe it, is this something they've been munching on?
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- Yeah.- Nice bit of crab! - So when they eat this
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and the clam shells and everything,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06they poo it out and it's all chewed up, so when we run off the dock
0:10:06 > 0:10:09in bare feet, we step on it and cut our feet up.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- Cut your feet on crunchy crab poo?- Yeah!
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Do you dislike them because of it? Because I think they're so cute!
0:10:17 > 0:10:21You know, I dislike getting up at three o'clock in the morning
0:10:21 > 0:10:23to shoo them away, but for the most part, I like them!
0:10:23 > 0:10:25They're too cute not to like!
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- They have got really sweet little faces!- Yeah, little puppy dogs!
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So I can see why for some people like Captain Christian,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35they are an absolute nightmare, but for me, no way.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Sea otters are just furry fuzzballs, way too cute.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Couldn't possibly be my worst nightmare.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Well, not until I save up enough money to own my first yacht, anyway!
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Next, we're leaving the coast and heading inland.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01I'm going to meet a bird who is a real nightmare of nature
0:11:01 > 0:11:04in the looks department.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07# You ain't got no alibi
0:11:07 > 0:11:10# You ugly, hey, hey, you ugly. #
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Seriously, I'm talking this is a bird that has a head
0:11:13 > 0:11:17only a mother could love! So, I'll take you down to meet Joseph
0:11:17 > 0:11:18to get a close-up look at it.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22And he's part of the Californian Condor Recovery Programme.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- Hey there, Naomi! - Wow! What is going on here?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32So this is a juvenile California condor
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- who we're just about to let go.- We're going to release it into the wild?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- Yeah, releasing him right into the wild.- That's so special!
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Just processed him, we're ready to let him go.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- So what happens?- So I'm just going to set him down here.
0:11:43 > 0:11:49Get his feet on the ground and then he wants to go, so...there he goes!
0:11:53 > 0:11:58The Californian condor is the biggest bird in North America.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Its wingspan is nearly three metres from tip to tip -
0:12:00 > 0:12:03that's like the height of your living room.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08They've been brought back from the brink of extinction
0:12:08 > 0:12:10by the work of scientists like Joseph.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So, that's not the only one you're helping out today then?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16No, I've loads more to show ya! So come take a look.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Shall we get going? Wow! How many birds have you got in here?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Ah, there's about 20 birds in here,
0:12:22 > 0:12:27so it's a pretty good portion of the wild population.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- We're running around with a net, trying to catch one?!- Yeah, so James
0:12:30 > 0:12:33is going to start flushing them off these high perches.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37- You try and catch them in flight, do you?- No, we're going to wait
0:12:37 > 0:12:38until they get down on the ground.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Cor, the noise their feathers make is incredible!
0:12:40 > 0:12:45There you go. This guy here, he's making it easy on us.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48So I've got him in the net and I just got to get him out of the net...
0:12:48 > 0:12:50So I'm just going to set him down over here.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The reason we're doing this is to give them, like, a little check-up.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- Yes, we'll give them an exam. - Oh, he's watching you.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Yeah, so he's really interested in biting me,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02but if I move slow enough,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04I can just reach right up and get a hold of his head.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07It's kind of a trust issue.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- There, I got him.- Well done. - So there he is, out of the net.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14There he is, number 60. Oh, look at his face!
0:13:14 > 0:13:19- Do you think they're attractive? - Yeah, erm, you learn to like them.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Hmmm! Let's go and check you out then.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Naomi, do you think you can help me handle this condor?
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- Do you think I can handle it? - I definitely think you can.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31OK, so the first thing we're going to do is set the condor in your lap.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34He'll hold it out like the bird was in flight position,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36that's a comfortable position for the bird.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37That means it can't push down and fly away.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Now you're going to take this arm and hold that wing,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- hold it up against your body. - Cor, he's strong, isn't he?
0:13:44 > 0:13:47They are pretty strong, but you're stronger than him,
0:13:47 > 0:13:48- especially with his wings folded.- OK.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52So now we're going to have to control
0:13:52 > 0:13:54this nice, sharp beak that he's got here.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59- Could this take my finger off?- It definitely could go down to the bone!
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Aah!- Keep that thumb on top of his skull.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Hold onto the skull, and then you want to just press that head
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- back against the nape of the neck. - And this isn't hurting him at all?
0:14:08 > 0:14:12- It's not hurting him at all.- OK. - So you have control of the condor!
0:14:12 > 0:14:16The underside of his beak is so soft.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Can't quite get over how soft that skin feels.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22I want you, Naomi, to just kind of roll the bird up this way
0:14:22 > 0:14:26and we're going to slide one of the legs out in between your legs.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Now we can roll him back down.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31So now I have the leg to draw the blood.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33You're going to draw blood from him?
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Yes, we're going to draw blood. Unfortunately, this is like a trip to the doctor's for the condor.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41So this is a bit of a messy job here
0:14:41 > 0:14:44cos condors will wee all over their legs.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46What?!
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I have to clean all that excrement off their legs before I draw blood.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50Why do they do that?!
0:14:50 > 0:14:56Yeah, it seems kinda silly, but that's the way that condors stay cool.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Condors don't sweat like we do, they don't pant like dogs do,
0:15:00 > 0:15:05they wee on their legs, and that gets their legs nice and wet,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09then that wetness evaporates, and keeps them cool.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Now, if my ugly friend reminds you of a vulture,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16there's a very good reason for that.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Just like these vultures, condors are nature's cleaner-uppers.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24They scour the plains looking for dead stuff to eat.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Both condors and vultures have bald heads and necks,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29which they can stick into carcasses to get at the soft,
0:15:29 > 0:15:34grim stuff inside - without a face full of feathers,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36it's much easier to keep yourself clean.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39So does anyone find this bird attractive?
0:15:39 > 0:15:40Does he have a girlfriend?
0:15:40 > 0:15:45This bird just became an adult bird, so he's on the market!
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- So not yet.- Not yet!
0:15:48 > 0:15:53He is actively looking for a mate, and just by the look of him,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55I think he'll do well.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58He's a pretty good-looking bird.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03# You're beautiful, you're beautiful... #
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Once the birds have had their check-up, it's time to fly.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Once they're in the sky where they belong,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20you can see how stunning condors truly are.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27So graceful.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32It's really quite calming to watch.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And from here, I can't see his ugly mug!
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- It'd be pretty cool to fly like a bird, wouldn't it?- Yeah!
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Every time I watch a condor soar, that's what I think about.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- Yep.- Well, I do have something for you, speaking of which.- You do?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Joseph, that's very kind, you shouldn't have!
0:16:54 > 0:16:56"Click your fingers"?
0:16:57 > 0:16:58OK.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Oh, right!
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Looks like I'm going to be taking a flight of my own.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Well, the condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15And today there's going to be another big bird taking to the skies!
0:17:19 > 0:17:21This is about 11m of wing,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24I'm going to need all the help I can get to get me airborne!
0:17:24 > 0:17:28We've got the technical gadgets so you can come along with us for the ride,
0:17:28 > 0:17:33and also my pilot, Rob. He's going to keep me safe aren't you?
0:17:33 > 0:17:34- We'll try.- Ooh!
0:17:35 > 0:17:36I feel sick now.
0:17:39 > 0:17:46Look where we're going to run straight off the edge of a mountain!
0:17:46 > 0:17:47Got to be mad!
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Oh, this is crazy high!
0:17:53 > 0:17:57So, are we actually ready to go now? Are we actually going?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- Oh no!- Screaming is allowed.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Yeah, I might scream I'm sorry,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03- I'll try not to deafen you too much. - Do we have any ear plugs?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06I'm absolutely terrified now!
0:18:06 > 0:18:11I'm excited, I want to do it, but I'm really, really nervous!
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Clear.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Woo!
0:18:19 > 0:18:23My word! Ha!
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Oh, it takes your breath away, doesn't it?
0:18:31 > 0:18:36'Now I really know what it's like to fly like a condor.'
0:18:37 > 0:18:39This is so cool!
0:18:39 > 0:18:41It's making my eyes water.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Wow!
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Ah, I feel the air!
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Woo-hoo-hoo!
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I just totally felt the thermal.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58Hang gliders and condors use similar techniques to fly.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02So we're all looking for that hot air rising from the ground
0:19:02 > 0:19:03to provide us with the lift.
0:19:03 > 0:19:09They're called thermals to keep us up in the air. Woo!
0:19:13 > 0:19:19This is a proper bird's-eye view absolutely incredible!
0:19:20 > 0:19:22I can't believe how high we are.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28We're flying at about 1500m, a condor would be flying at about 4500m.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30That's so high!
0:19:30 > 0:19:36Makes you realise how incredible their eyesight is, because they can spot a carcass from up here,
0:19:36 > 0:19:40even with binoculars I wouldn't stand a chance!
0:19:40 > 0:19:44And they can see something as small as a rabbit. It's nuts!
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Oh, wow. I think I can see the crew I can make out a couple
0:19:49 > 0:19:52of tiny little dots down there.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Not sure if I'm waving at the crew!
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Just as we get ready to land. Coming in really quite fast!
0:20:02 > 0:20:06And there's our crew. Hi!
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Ooh, wow!
0:20:21 > 0:20:26Oh, I've got jelly legs, watery eyes, I'm shaking like a leaf!
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Thankfully, I haven't weed down my legs like a condor.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Rob, thank you that was just something else.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39Wow! What an incredible experience!
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I mean, first getting to meet a condor,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45then fly like one, I mean it's got to be said
0:20:45 > 0:20:47when it comes to looks and appearances,
0:20:47 > 0:20:52the condor is a nightmare of nature but they make that flying look so easy.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56For me, jumping off the top of that mountain has surely got to be
0:20:56 > 0:20:57one of my worst nightmares!
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Here in California, there is one nightmare of nature
0:21:04 > 0:21:06that is truly deadly.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09I'm talking about the rattlesnake.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Rattlesnakes get their name from the bracelet of dead scales at the end of their tail.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21They use it to warn predators to stay away -
0:21:21 > 0:21:25but over 800 Americans are bitten accidentally every year.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30I'm not sure there is anywhere safe from these slithering serpents.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Luckily, there are doctors on hand to help
0:21:32 > 0:21:35so I've come to the home of Dr Sean Bush, who is an expert in these
0:21:35 > 0:21:38snakes and their venom. I want to try to find out what all the fuss
0:21:38 > 0:21:42is about and what it might feel like to get bitten!
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- Hello, Sean.- Hi, Naomi. - Nice to meet you.- And you.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- Come on inside.- Thank you.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55I'd like to introduce you to my latest snakebite patient.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Sierra.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02She was bitten by a rattlesnake just two weeks ago.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07- No way! Oh, hello, Sierra.- Hi! - Can I shake your hand?
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Nice to meet you. How do you do?
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- You were bitten by a rattlesnake two weeks ago.- Yeah.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Tell me what happened.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16All right, I went to the shed with my dad,
0:22:16 > 0:22:22and then I went in the house, and then the snake was in our porch.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And then my dad carried me in the house and I was screaming
0:22:26 > 0:22:31- on the floor.- I bet you were. - And then my dad was freaking out.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34I'm not surprised!
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Where did it bite you?- Here.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42So the bite mark's gone, completely. Did you feel its teeth go in?
0:22:42 > 0:22:44- Yeah!- And then what happened to your body?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46It was swelled up like that.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50It changed colour, like black and red and blue.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54- Your leg went black and red and blue?- Mm-hmm.- But you feel better now?
0:22:54 > 0:22:55I'm really glad you're all right.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59What should I do so that I don't get bitten by a rattlesnake
0:22:59 > 0:23:01when I'm going out and about?
0:23:01 > 0:23:02You better watch out!
0:23:03 > 0:23:05And Sierra is absolutely right.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09I HAD better watch out and get kitted up, because Dr Sean
0:23:09 > 0:23:11is going to introduce me to one of California's most dangerous
0:23:11 > 0:23:16rattlesnake species - and this one was found in someone's back garden!
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Come on then, Dr Sean, let's take the snake out.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- All right.- I'm going to stand at a safe distance.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28OK. I'm going to just open this and set it on its side
0:23:28 > 0:23:32- and let the snake come out.- Where's the best place for me to stand?
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I think you're pretty good, you're out of the strike range, so that'll work.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42- And there he is.- There he is. - Oh my goodness!
0:23:42 > 0:23:48The Southern Pacific rattlesnake can grow to well over a metre long,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50have 2cm fangs which can grow back if broken.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53They also have potent venom,
0:23:53 > 0:23:58and one bite can kill a human within 24 hours.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03- Naomi, would you like to have a closer look at the snake?- Er, yes?
0:24:03 > 0:24:07- All right.- She says, tentatively. - Here we go,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I've got this tube that I'm going to see
0:24:10 > 0:24:14if I can persuade the snake to go into.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18By holding it in the tube, Dr Sean and I can study the snake
0:24:18 > 0:24:23without us hurting the snake or the snake hurting us.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28- And there he is. - Oh my goodness, I can see his eyes!
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Just can't believe I'm this close to a rattlesnake!
0:24:34 > 0:24:35So its fangs are hidden inside?
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Right, the fangs fold back against the roof of the mouth.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43And then venom comes from the venom glands, and goes down the hollow
0:24:43 > 0:24:48fangs and injects like a hypodermic syringe into the victim.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54By injecting lethal venom directly into its prey, the rattlesnake
0:24:54 > 0:24:58ensures its victim is dead before it's swallowed - whole.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- If you want, you can hold him. - Really?- Yeah!
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- And you stay right there. - I'm going to stay right here.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08He's strong!
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Wow!
0:25:12 > 0:25:17- Holding something that has the power to kill me?- Absolutely.- Cor.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22- As long as you don't panic, we're good.- I'm panicking!
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- If you get bit, then it's OK to panic!- Ha-ha!
0:25:28 > 0:25:32We want to tag this snake, so that whenever we release him,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34we want to see if he crops up again in someone's yard.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39- We'll get a little nail polish here.- Nail polish?!
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Yeah, cos that stays on. I got a nice blue colour to match.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Would you like to do the honours?
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Yeah, sure.- Let me get a hold of the snake, as it makes me
0:25:47 > 0:25:49more comfortable when I'm holding it.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- Me too.- Don't let go until I'm sure I've got a good grip.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- No worries. Not letting go of that. - All right, now let go.- Sure?
0:25:55 > 0:25:56- Yep.- OK.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Do you mind if I use this colour?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- It's more my shade.- Um, yeah.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06OK.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10So I'm just going to paint all around that last rattle, yeah?
0:26:10 > 0:26:11Ready?
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Is that too much?- Perfect.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17- Put a lot on there, so we'll be able to see it.- Bright pink.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19And this won't do any damage to it?
0:26:19 > 0:26:22No, it's just like painting your fingernails.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Once this rattlesnake is back in the wild,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27he'll be easily recognisable with his bright pink tail.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Looks lovely suits you, that colour!
0:26:32 > 0:26:33Not sure he agrees.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37So rattlesnakes are extremely well-equipped for hunting,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41and as we have seen, they can inflict a very nasty bite.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44People here in California? They just have to get used to living
0:26:44 > 0:26:45side-by-side with them.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I'm not sure if they're my worst nightmare or not
0:26:47 > 0:26:50but at least I made one look a bit prettier!
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I wonder if they'd like eye shadow and lipstick as well.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55I dunno do snakes even have lips?
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Well, I've had some pretty scary nightmares here in California,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04from the hideous hagfish to the air-conquering condor
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and yacht-wrecking otters.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10But which one gets the title of California's worst
0:27:10 > 0:27:12nightmare of nature?
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Well, it has to be the snake that could have me
0:27:14 > 0:27:17fighting for my life in intensive care.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21The rattlesnake is definitely my California nightmare of nature.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28And here is a clam an otter's bite-size treat.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Hard, tough outer shell, hiding a tasty morsel inside.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I've just got to work out how to get into it.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Argh!
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Nope.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Oh. This'll do it.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Easy if you've got the right tools.