0:00:02 > 0:00:04# Wormy fish-killers Convoys of caterpillars
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- # Super-clever, brainless slime... # - Ugh!
0:00:06 > 0:00:08# Bunny rabbit swarms, raging storms
0:00:08 > 0:00:10# And pigs that swim at dinnertime
0:00:10 > 0:00:13# Tornadoes of fire Starfish going haywire
0:00:13 > 0:00:15- # Algae balls from space! # - What?!
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Prairie dogs that chat Birds going splat
0:00:17 > 0:00:19# And fish slapping in your face
0:00:19 > 0:00:21# They're wild and weird Wild and weird
0:00:21 > 0:00:23# Really, really wild and really, really weird
0:00:23 > 0:00:25# They're wild and weird Wild and weird
0:00:25 > 0:00:27# They're really, really wild
0:00:27 > 0:00:29# They're really, really wild and weird... #
0:00:29 > 0:00:33On today's show - lemmings terrorise an unlikely adversary...
0:00:33 > 0:00:37A freaked-out fish with a taste for flying...
0:00:37 > 0:00:38Knocked my hat off!
0:00:38 > 0:00:42And an angry dinosaur on the warpath...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45No, you do not go out there.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54# Run, rabbit Run, rabbit, run, run, run... #
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Naomi...
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Naomi!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58What's going on?
0:00:58 > 0:01:02You have got to get control of this rabbit.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06It's being totally unreasonable, acting all crazy.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Well, yeah, not now, obviously.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12But a minute ago, it was spitting carrots all over the place,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14it was firing cabbage left, right and centre.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16- It's like a thing possessed!- Oh.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Well, yeah, again, don't be fooled by the doe-y eyes and floppy ears.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22That thing is an animal!
0:01:22 > 0:01:24- Oh, well spotted(!) - You know what I mean!
0:01:24 > 0:01:27She does get a bit excited before dinner time, but...
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Excited?! I think the word you're looking for, actually, is "angry".
0:01:31 > 0:01:33An angry rabbit?
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Now, I think YOU'RE going crazy.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Animals aren't angry, Tim.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Oh, really?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Well, let me show you something.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- Would you mind?- Honestly!
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Can you...tidy this place up?
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Exhibit one - angry lemmings.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Lemmings aren't angry, Tim!
0:01:53 > 0:01:56They're rodents - positively shy and retiring.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00And for good reason - they're top of the menu for most predators.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Case closed.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05Then explain this.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09If I'm not very much mistaken,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12that's a cat being attacked by a lemming.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Whoa, he's gutsy!
0:02:14 > 0:02:17- Angry.- Certainly very confident.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- Angry.- Maybe a little assertive.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21Angry!
0:02:23 > 0:02:26So what's going on? Why is this lemming behaving so angril...
0:02:26 > 0:02:28so out of character?
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Well, zoologist Nick Crumpton
0:02:30 > 0:02:33doesn't think it's so out of character.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35I'm actually going to send him the clip now.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38- Yeah?- Yeah, so we can see the reaction on his little face.- Yeah!
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Huh! Wow!
0:02:42 > 0:02:44That is very, very brave.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Oh, you've got to love technology.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Nick thinks the clue
0:02:49 > 0:02:50to this weird behaviour
0:02:50 > 0:02:52lies in the lemming's appearance.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Usually, small mammals are quite dull - they're brown or grey.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00And that's what the American, the common lemmings look like.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04But the lemming in this video is brightly coloured and stripy!
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Exactly. And that tells Nick that it isn't a common lemming.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11This is its Norwegian cousin.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15It says that rather than hiding from their predators,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18they're actually advertising themselves.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Hold it. Hold it.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22You're telling me they actually want to be seen, by predators?
0:03:22 > 0:03:25I'm not, no, but Nick is, yeah.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27That doesn't make any sense. Look.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Insects use bright colours to advertise their stings and bites.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34So do amphibians, warning of their toxic skin.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37And you wouldn't want to mess with
0:03:37 > 0:03:40this unmistakable black-and-white stink bomb.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42The lemming doesn't stand a chance against a cat,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45so why is it so garishly coloured?
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I'm telling you, it's angry.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50It's in its blood. You don't believe me.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Just ask Nick.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Norwegian lemmings are different to other lemmings and other voles
0:03:57 > 0:03:59in that they're very, very aggressive.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02SQUEAKING
0:04:02 > 0:04:07And that, your honour, is the case for the defence.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Boom! Ha-ha-ha!
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Go on, then, press play, loser.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- You're the lo...- Silence in court!
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Like the Vikings, these Nordic inhabitants
0:04:23 > 0:04:25are bloodthirsty hairy berserkers.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Norwegian lemmings have been known to kill weasels and fight off skuas.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36In fact, the Norwegian lemming will take on perceived predators
0:04:36 > 0:04:39of almost any size, including our cameraman!
0:04:42 > 0:04:47It looks like this cat picked on the wrong type of lemming.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Oh, there's the basketball, picks it up, hook shot...
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Ooh, three points! He shoots, he scores, he wins!
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Ha-ha-ha! Just remind me again - was the lemming angry?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- Can't remember(!)- Yes. - He was. Where's your money going on
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- a fight between a cat and a lemming? - The lemming.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03Yeah, I think it probably would.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Shall we ask Nick? Nick, what do you think?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Yeah, my money's on the lemming.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Case closed.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- All right!- Where are you going?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- Er...- Oh.- Yeah.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21You know, with that lemming and your rabbit,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- I need to wind down a little bit. - Fishing?- Yeah.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26That may not be as relaxing as you might expect.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- Really?- Let me explain.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Our next story takes place in the small riverside city of Havana,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40near Chicago. It's a peaceful kind of place, but under the surface
0:05:40 > 0:05:43something is stirring.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Whoa! Oh! My God!
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Every time the locals hit the river for a spot of fishing,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59the river starts hitting them back!
0:05:59 > 0:06:03SCREAMING
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Now, it might look like fun,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08but these aquatic acrobats can pack a punch.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Did I just see that right?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Did that guy just get smacked in the head by a flying fish?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- Yep.- I've got to see that again!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Ha-ha! Brilliant!
0:06:20 > 0:06:24No fish... Bang! No fish... Bang!
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- No fish...- Bang!
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- Can we carry on?- Yeah.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Oh...
0:06:31 > 0:06:35I equate it to like being hit with a flying bowling ball.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39- Knocked my hat off!- Some days it can get real interesting out there.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41We had a guy get hit right in the daddy parts.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43And it folds him right over.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Ooh!
0:06:47 > 0:06:51So why are there so many of these frenzied flying fish?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Levi Solomon, from the Illinois River Biological Station,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59has studied these aquatic acrobats.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01They grow very rapidly.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05They're very fecund, which means they produce a lot of eggs.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09They're a very adaptable fish, and they're excellent at what they do.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And what are fish excellent at doing?
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- Swimming.- And...?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Having b...
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- Baths.- Babies.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Correct.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25In this marina where we are, we saw clouds,
0:07:25 > 0:07:30I mean literally clouds of baby fish in the water.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33These airborne invaders are silver and big-head carp,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37and their original home lies thousands of miles away
0:07:37 > 0:07:38in South-East Asia.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40So what happened to bring the fish here, then?
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- They were first brought... - No, I'm not asking you.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44- I was asking Levi.- Oh. OK.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48They were first brought here in the 1970s, into Arkansas,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52to help water quality in their aquaculture facilities.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54During flood events, they would escape from the facility
0:07:54 > 0:07:57into the main stem of the Mississippi River -
0:07:57 > 0:08:00and they've expanded their range from there.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Oh, my God!
0:08:01 > 0:08:04HE LAUGHS
0:08:04 > 0:08:08When they first turned up, they found a river packed with food,
0:08:08 > 0:08:13and with no major predators, nothing stood in their way.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15All very interesting.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17But why do these schools of fish torpedo themselves into the sky?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Oh, I know this.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26Well, it turns out that the fish are flying into a panic because of us.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30When the carp hear a boat's engine or sense its movement in the water,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33their anti-predator instincts kick in,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and they fling themselves into the air to escape.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40And when one does, just to be on the safe side, they all do.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45So these fast-breeding aquatic invaders are simply trying to evade
0:08:45 > 0:08:47a predator that isn't even there.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Knocked my hat off!
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Oh! Animals are angry, aren't they?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- Told you!- Crabby carp, leery lemmings.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- Raging rabbits. - Oi. Come to think of it,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03there is another angry animal
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- that could give that lot a run for their money.- Oh, yeah?
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- Yep. I give you a delinquent dinosaur.- Ooh!
0:09:11 > 0:09:14The north-eastern coast of Queensland.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16People come here for the relaxing lifestyle,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and a chance to live amongst the beautiful beaches
0:09:19 > 0:09:22and pristine rainforest. But lately,
0:09:22 > 0:09:27local gardens have become the scene of some very alarming encounters.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31No, you do not go out there.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Even a simple car journey is more like living in a scene
0:09:34 > 0:09:36from Jurassic Park.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39SQUAWKING
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Wait, let him come. Let him come.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Oh, God.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46CRASH
0:09:46 > 0:09:48THEY SCREAM
0:09:48 > 0:09:54It's big, it looks threatening, and up close it's even more startling.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01More startling even than that.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- So, what are these velociraptor-like visitors?- Ah!
0:10:05 > 0:10:09The creature is in fact a southern cassowary.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10It's as tall as a man,
0:10:10 > 0:10:15but one rather frightening feature makes them stand out -
0:10:15 > 0:10:17its three-clawed foot,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21reaching nearly 12cm in length, and razor-sharp.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25A kick from one of these bad boys could unzip a human.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I don't think I'd like to come up against a cassowary in a, erm,
0:10:30 > 0:10:31kung fu competition.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Oh, don't be silly. Cassowary would never enter a kung fu competition.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- Couldn't fill in the entry forms! No opposable thumbs!- Ah, good one.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42I suppose you're wondering, though, what would provoke an attack.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45No. I'm wondering...what would provoke an attack.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Well...
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Cassowaries are fiercely territorial
0:10:52 > 0:10:56and defend their patch of forest from other birds.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59They're also caring parents and, if they need to,
0:10:59 > 0:11:00they'll protect their chicks
0:11:00 > 0:11:03by striking out with their fighting feet.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So no wonder people are a bit concerned when they find a bird
0:11:06 > 0:11:09armed with a flick knife in their garden.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13I'm standing in my house, and there's a cassowary in my yard.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Ooh, that's a bit freaky.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Don't...
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Don't go out there. But it's very curious.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Wow, isn't that amazing, Jonah?
0:11:24 > 0:11:25Yeah.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Extremely.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33So why are they raiding gardens?
0:11:33 > 0:11:38Well, in 2006, a cyclone destroyed huge swathes of forest,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41and the cassowaries lost their food source.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- What do they eat?- Fruit.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49And a lot of it - up to five kilograms a day.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54And fruit is something that gardens in Mission Beach have in abundance.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Oh, wow.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It's eating the Davidson plums.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Hello, there.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07The truth is, left alone and treated with respect,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09cassowaries are actually quite shy
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and not the angry birds we might think.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15But with the cassowary's fearsome reputation,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18looks and their newfound love of grow-your-own,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21the consequences are potentially deadly.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23DRAMATIC MUSIC
0:12:26 > 0:12:30All this talk of angry animals has put me right on edge.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Mm, tell me about it. We need an antidote to all this aggression.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34Yeah. Any ideas?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Let me think. Oh, do you want to see
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- a man get super excited about a rainbow?- Nah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- No?- I'd prefer to see a man get super excited
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- about a DOUBLE rainbow. - Like your style!
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Double rainbow - oh, my God!
0:12:49 > 0:12:52It's a double rainbow all the way!
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Double complete rainbow!
0:12:54 > 0:12:56HE SOBS
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Oh, right in my front yard!
0:12:59 > 0:13:03SOBBING CONTINUES
0:13:03 > 0:13:05But how...? Why is he...?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Don't ask. Just enjoy.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10It's so bright and vivid.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Oh! Ah!
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Ah...
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Double rainbow all the way across the sky!
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Oh, my God!
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Whoo!
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Yeah!
0:13:25 > 0:13:27That's better.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30You know, maybe the world's not such an angry place after all.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33- Cup of tea?- Oh, yes, please.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36No sugar, though. I am sweet enough!
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Hey, stop throwing cabbage.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- I'm not!- Well, if you're not throwing cabbage, who is?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46RABBIT CHUCKLES
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Agh! Naomi!
0:13:47 > 0:13:50HE GASPS
0:13:50 > 0:13:52RABBIT CHUCKLES
0:13:52 > 0:13:55# They're wild and weird Wild and weird
0:13:55 > 0:13:57# Really, really wild and really, really weird
0:13:57 > 0:13:59# They're wild and weird Wild and weird
0:13:59 > 0:14:00# They're really, really wild
0:14:00 > 0:14:05# They're really, really wild and weird... #
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Wild and weird! #