0:00:02 > 0:00:04This is one of the remotest places on the planet.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06A huge Alaskan wilderness -
0:00:06 > 0:00:10a land of snowy mountains and rivers and forests...
0:00:10 > 0:00:12..and grizzly bears.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20There are more grizzlies here than anywhere else on earth.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Into this isolated world of bears,
0:00:23 > 0:00:27we sent a team of the best wildlife film-makers and expert guides
0:00:27 > 0:00:32to live alongside the bears for the next five months.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35They've brought their own specially-designed camera gear,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37to film bears in a totally new way.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43We're trying to get good, up-close shots of stuff that bears do when we're not around.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46The only way to do that is to set up these remote camera systems.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47By living in grizzly country,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51they'll get closer to the bears' lives than anyone thought possible,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54but they'll need to watch their backs.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57We're going to have to be very careful around these two,
0:00:57 > 0:00:59they are hyper, hyper aggressive.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- Van, we're not challenging you... - We're not challenging you.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05OK, you and I are down on our knees.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Over the next few months, their mission is to get closer
0:01:10 > 0:01:13to the lives of grizzly bears than ever before.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17During this one extraordinary season,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20they'll discover that every grizzly has a story to tell.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24People say bears are just like humans... Well, no,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26humans are just like bears.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32You'll never think of bears in the same way again.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55For the last four months,
0:01:55 > 0:01:57the crew having been living amongst the bears.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Pretty amazing, hey.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Not often you get to see a grizzly bear from the door of your tent,
0:02:03 > 0:02:04that's for sure.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Their mission is to get to know the bears' individual characters.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17They've been following the lives of a particular family -
0:02:17 > 0:02:20first-time mother Parsnip...
0:02:20 > 0:02:21and her cub Pushki.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Around here, cubs only have a 50/50 chance of surviving
0:02:27 > 0:02:31their first year, so Parsnip's challenge is to protect her cub
0:02:31 > 0:02:33and fatten them both up for the coming winter.
0:02:36 > 0:02:42But there's one problem - the bay is ruled by a bear like no other...
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Van.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49In 12 years of hanging around brown bears on the Alaskan peninsula,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52I've never seen a bear that even comes close to as big as he is.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Van and his mating partner Alice have dominated the other bears
0:02:55 > 0:02:58with violence and intimidation.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Holy smokes, I think he's going to kill that bear.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Desperate to protect her cub,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Parsnip has escaped to an island a mile away.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17But back in the bay, the biggest event in the bears' calendar is about to start.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Just off the coast, millions of salmon are gathering,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24waiting to run up the rivers to breed.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28For the bears, eating these fish will be
0:03:28 > 0:03:31the difference between life and death this winter.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35They only have a few weeks to pile on enough fat
0:03:35 > 0:03:38before they go into hibernation.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It's make or break, boom or bust, right now, for these bears,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and I don't think there is a more important time of the year for them.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49If Parsnip is going to get her cub through the winter,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51she has to return to the bay.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01The salmon run is about to start.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Guide Buck Wilde and cameraman Matt Aeberhard have been scouring
0:04:04 > 0:04:08the coast to see if Parsnip and Pushki have returned.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13After several days of searching, they head to the beach
0:04:13 > 0:04:14and find them.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19There she is. Man, what a relief.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21It's great to see them.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It's incredible how big that cub has grown.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28I'm just tickled that Pushki is still alive and they're together
0:04:28 > 0:04:30and they really look in good shape.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Oh, beautiful morning. I've seen bears do this before.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42They love to watch the sunrise and the sunset.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43They're mesmerised by it.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47They've made it halfway through the summer.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50On the island there was plenty of food and no other bears,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53but now they're back on the mainland, they'll have to face up to
0:04:53 > 0:04:55threats from bears like Van.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Now she's got to be aware of these other bears, but she also knows
0:05:00 > 0:05:04that her primary food source for the rest of the summer
0:05:04 > 0:05:08and the fall is right here, and so she's got to find a way to
0:05:08 > 0:05:12get enough food to make it through the winter and protect her cub.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19The salmon run will only last a few weeks,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21so the clock is ticking for Parsnip.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Her cub is growing fast.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28He only weighed 500 grams when he was born eight months ago,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32and he's likely to weigh as much as 50 kilograms by next year.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35He's relying on his mother's milk,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38but producing it is a huge drain on her reserves.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41And she needs to be putting on weight herself.
0:05:43 > 0:05:49What this mother needs to do to survive the winter once she goes into hibernation
0:05:49 > 0:05:53is to nearly double her weight from three months ago,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56and as far as the fishing goes,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59I would say if she had six to ten fish a day
0:05:59 > 0:06:03during this peak fishing period, she would be in good shape.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Like most females, she has come back to fish where she was raised.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But the salmon run in this bay is notoriously unpredictable.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17And with only a few fish starting to run,
0:06:17 > 0:06:19she'll have to be very good at catching them.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04But Parsnip's not very skilled at fishing,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07and after several hours, she's caught nothing at all.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Too much chasing around here in her technique.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17She's burning too much energy - she's got to sharpen her game
0:07:17 > 0:07:21or she's not going to win this battle for survival.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23As more fish arrive in the coming days,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27so will other hungry bears - and it's not just fish they're after.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Adult bears will attack and kill spring cubs like Pushki,
0:07:34 > 0:07:39and it's commonly believed that it's just the males,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42but that's not true, females will as well.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45So, it's a threat, it's a real threat.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49The greatest threat to her cub at this point is another bear.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04And while Parsnip is distracted trying to catch fish,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06she's left Pushki alone and vulnerable.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11There are some bears around here
0:08:11 > 0:08:14that Parsnip needs to be very wary of...
0:08:14 > 0:08:16like Alice.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Good morning, girl.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26She's got a little company here.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32We've seen Alice can be a nasty character -
0:08:32 > 0:08:34she could go right for Pushki.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38And Parsnip's got her back turned to the whole situation.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41She's still focused on fishing.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44This could be trouble.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Pushki is totally unprotected - and Alice is heading straight for him.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Alice is making a beeline for the cub...
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Parsnip still hasn't seen her.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Still hasn't seen her.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Finally, Parsnip spots the danger.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35That was much too close.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Yep. They considered her a threat. I did, too.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52If Alice had been quicker, she could have had that cub.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Well, they survive another little incident here this morning.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Not easy raising a cub out here.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Protecting Pushki from other bears is preventing Parsnip from finding food.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13With not many salmon and so many threats to Pushki,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17has Parsnip made a mistake coming back to the bay?
0:10:21 > 0:10:25The crew have heard about a place where the salmon are already running.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Bear expert Chris Morgan takes his team 30 miles down the coast
0:10:31 > 0:10:35to a hidden valley, but it's a hike to get there.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Hey, bear.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42It's the perfect place for a mother bear and cubs.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46You see a lot of female bears in here.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49They seem to like it. It's a good place for females and cubs to be safe,
0:10:49 > 0:10:54and for young bears to really get to grips with what the salmon season is all about.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59And it's also the perfect place for the stakeout team to film bears fishing.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00Look how clear it is here.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03You can see the fish right through all this water here.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07If you were to get the right cameras in here and deploy them up and down this river,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10you could get some amazing stuff because it's so clear.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15And they've brought along the ideal tool for the job.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19We're going to put this underwater camera system in.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21We have to choose our moment carefully because
0:11:21 > 0:11:25the bears are going up and down all day looking for fish.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28They don't want to disturb the bears,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31so while the coast is clear, they have to work fast.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39While they're rigging the cameras, a mother and cubs come heading upriver.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43They're heading right past the crew.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50It's never a good idea to get between a mother and cubs,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53so to keep her calm, Chris avoids making eye contact.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00So just hang tight and let her go by.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03We may end up with her on one side and the cubs on the other side, but it's all good.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Hey, bear, it's OK. It's all right.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Oh, here come the cubs. This is pretty amazing, actually,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18she's a very, very healthy-looking female
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and we're just trying to give her some space and stay really calm,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and this is probably the best place along this entire coast
0:12:24 > 0:12:28for her to teach these cubs how to fish.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31And the cubs are right behind us, so don't move quickly there.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Look at these guys. Unbelievable. It's OK. It's OK.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Oh, my goodness.
0:12:37 > 0:12:42You can tell they've got one really experienced mother that knows how to fish and keep them fat.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47The crew have named this bear Scrunch.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50She's an older mother who is expert at fishing.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54She's successfully raised many cubs in this valley
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and these two are in great shape.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05Hey, John, the female and two cubs are just about to come around the corner and enter the river.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09As Scrunch reaches the cameras,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13everything is in place for the crew to film a fishing master-class.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20There are hundreds of salmon here,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and Scrunch knows exactly how to catch them.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28She uses the snorkelling method,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30ideal for tracking down salmon in deep water.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46And with a fish in her sights,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50she'll chase it into the shallows where it's easier to catch.
0:14:20 > 0:14:26But here, the water is so clear, she can just as easily sit patiently on the riverbank,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28waiting for the fish to come to her.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40What's amazing is watching these bears fish at this point
0:14:40 > 0:14:41when they've got all that fat
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and they've been eating fish every day for weeks now,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48and she's still fishing like she hasn't seen her first one this year,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51you know, she'll still excited and agitated -
0:14:51 > 0:14:55where's that next fish coming from? Amazing.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07With winter approaching, it's all about piling on as much fat
0:15:07 > 0:15:12as they can before hibernation, so Scrunch picks out skin and brain,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14which have the highest fat content.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21They can gain a pound of fat in a day, just from eating the salmon.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24It just shows how essential it is for them at this time of year.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So they've got to nail it - they can't mess up at this time of year,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30otherwise their entire winter is jeopardised.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31So the pressure is on.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43With no threats from other bears,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Scrunch is able to catch fish after fish
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and even her cubs are able to learn.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Compared to other cubs like Pushki, they're way ahead here,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and this one has just got a fish,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58although it hasn't quite mastered how to hang on to it.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13A little persistence pays off, and the reward is a salmon full of eggs,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15the most nutritious food of all.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Scrunch and her cubs are in good shape for when the season ends in a few weeks' time.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37But meanwhile, back in the bay,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Parsnip is still struggling to catch anything.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45And there is one bear around here
0:16:45 > 0:16:48who could make life even more difficult for her...
0:16:49 > 0:16:51..and that's Van.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55He's the biggest, baddest male in the area.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Since the beginning of the summer, he's terrorised the bay,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and even killed a bear.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Since Parsnip returned from the island,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Van has not been seen in the bay.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14My guess as to where Van is at the moment
0:17:14 > 0:17:16is up in the spawning grounds.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Upstream from here, there are actually several tributaries
0:17:19 > 0:17:21that shoot off from this main river
0:17:21 > 0:17:27and he and a lot of the other bears that are not here, I assume are up in those spawning grounds.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Hey, bear.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Hey, bear, coming through.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Bear guide Brad Josephs and cameraman Rolf Steinmann have
0:17:36 > 0:17:41ventured upriver to look for Van, but he's is nowhere to be seen.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Ah! Fresh bear trail right here.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It looks like bears were in this area for sure,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55but I would estimate, from the sign we've seen, probably about two weeks ago,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58so Van's definitely not going to be up here.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Van has just fascinated me for years.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04He's the biggest, massive,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06strongest most dominant bear in the area by far. By far.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11But while they're upriver, Van is spotted back in the bay.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19We've got our man Van coming back in to the bottleneck...
0:18:20 > 0:18:24..and Pushki the cub just noticed him, he's running for cover.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Parsnip's running for cover and Van's moving in to do some fishing.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31More drama.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38Brad, if you can here, we've got Van and Pushki and Parsnip
0:18:38 > 0:18:39down here at the bottleneck.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46Good morning, fella. That's where Pushki was sitting, right there.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47You smell it right.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Parsnip is learning. This time, she spots the danger.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Van's simply trying to maximise the amount of food he can get,
0:19:01 > 0:19:05the easiest way, before he goes into the den,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and if he could catch that cub,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12that would be double the food cache for him.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14He is the size of a house.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18Anything he wants is his.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23This is his place, and no bear is allowed to forget that.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32He knows exactly who it is, and she knows exactly who he is.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35There's no ambiguity here.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51She's moving the cub further away for safety.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Parsnip is desperate for food, but fishing will have to wait.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00She moves Pushki to higher ground.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05Parsnip's sitting up, full attention on Van.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10She's yawning, that's a displacement behaviour expressing her stress.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I wouldn't want to be betting on Parsnip if she was trying to
0:20:15 > 0:20:18defend this cub if Van were to take her on.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21He's too big, too strong, too mean.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32As Van closes in, Parsnip is reluctant to leave the beach.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54He's looking straight at her, she's looking straight at him.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57She's ready to either run off...
0:20:58 > 0:21:02If she's cool, she'll run up this bank.
0:21:02 > 0:21:08If she's less than cool, she'll go into a full on charge of him
0:21:08 > 0:21:12and anything could happen there.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Her strategy pays off this time.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Van moves off and she's free to keep fishing.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29It's now halfway through the salmon season
0:21:29 > 0:21:33and suckling her cub is draining Parsnip's reserves.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36She needs to be catching half a dozen fish a day,
0:21:36 > 0:21:41but with Van back on the scene, finding food just got harder.
0:21:43 > 0:21:4760 miles over the mountains, it's a different story.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Here, there are plenty of fish,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52but also a whole gang of male bears to worry about.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Chris and his team follow the river to some falls,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59where salmon are running in huge numbers.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04It's a bottleneck for salmon, and for the bears,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07it's the best possible place to fish.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26I think we've found another load of bears.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30It's amazing, there's about 10 or 12 bears right in the waterfalls, here.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33This is where every bear in this entire area wants to be
0:22:33 > 0:22:38because it's where the first fish come in, and it's a really good run.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41With so many bears in one place, it's potentially
0:22:41 > 0:22:44dangerous for the crew, so to capture the action,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46they surround the falls with remote cameras.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Can you grab that with the other hand, Nate, if I help balance this?
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Don't forget to keep an eye out behind you.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59The cameras start to reveal how the bears organise themselves,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01staking their claim on the best fishing spots.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07And the best spot of all is in the middle of the whirlpool
0:23:07 > 0:23:12below the falls, where all the fish gather before jumping up river.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Here, the fish come to you, minimum effort, maximum reward.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27This is a grizzly turf war and it can take years for a bear to
0:23:27 > 0:23:29stake a claim on this prized fishing spot.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Holding on to it is worth fighting for.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50It doesn't take much for things to get out of hand,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54and there's one bear who always causes trouble.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Here's another one.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Big male, big male.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00Lurch!
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- Look at the size. - He's a big boy, isn't he?- Wow!
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Lurch does not play by the rules.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16He likes to remind the other bears that he's in charge around here.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20He's so dominant, he can even take their fish.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's a tough neighbourhood, but around here,
0:24:27 > 0:24:28it's the only place to fish.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34The remote cameras have picked up another bear
0:24:34 > 0:24:35heading towards the falls.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38It's a mother with three cubs.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45This is Kali.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48She's skin and bone.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51The whole family look like they could do with a good meal.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Despite the fact there are millions of salmon here,
0:25:00 > 0:25:02she's literally starving.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Lurch and the gang of bears that rule the falls,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11would tear Kali and her cubs apart.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Kali is faced with letting her cubs starve or risking them
0:25:20 > 0:25:22being eaten by other bears.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28It's the worst dilemma for any mother.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Up the tree.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59The three cubs have just run up the tree there.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02When faced with danger, the cubs' instinct is to run up a tree
0:26:02 > 0:26:04where larger bears can't follow.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18And they'll stay up there till their mother calls them back down again.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27She's done really well to have three cubs this far into the season.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30But the chances are, she's going to lose at least one of them.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32That's the thing about this place, you know,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34you've got all the benefits for a bear here.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37It's one of the best places for habitat, you've got the fish
0:26:37 > 0:26:40you've got the forest for cover, but there's so many bears around
0:26:40 > 0:26:42you've got to watch your back all the time.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45She's got to be constantly vigilant for males that could kill
0:26:45 > 0:26:46her cubs easily.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Her desperation forces her to return to the falls.
0:27:15 > 0:27:16But tensions are still high...
0:27:21 > 0:27:23..and when Lurch starts another fight,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27the cubs make a run for it, and Kali decides to leave.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33It's simply too dangerous.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38For Kali and her cubs, it's another day hungry.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Back in the bay, Parsnip and Pushki are not in their usual place.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51After their run-in with Van, they could be anywhere.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Brad and Rolf finally track them down.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05They've found another place to fish, but here, there's a new challenge.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Parsnip and Pushki are being watched.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15There's a pack of wolves, just a few hundred metres from where they are.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Brad calling Buck, Buck, do you copy?
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Yeah, Brad, go ahead.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Just want to give you an update.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26We came up here and the wolves are up here by the bluff and I do see
0:28:26 > 0:28:28wolves moving along the logs and it looks like they're
0:28:28 > 0:28:30finishing up their night of hunting.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Yeah, I would expect. That's interesting.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34Standing by.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40This whole back of the meadow here behind the river, is kind of what
0:28:40 > 0:28:44we think of as like a wolf zone, and there's almost always wolves back
0:28:44 > 0:28:48here watching everything that goes on from this high perch.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49Watching.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57Right, now I can see three wolves staring right at us.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Bears aren't something that they generally go after very often,
0:29:01 > 0:29:05because the mother bear is extremely dangerous, but the wolves
0:29:05 > 0:29:08could pose a serious threat to the cub at this point.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Parsnip is desperate to catch fish, but with wolves around,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17she can't drop her guard.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23But she seems to be taking some comfort
0:29:23 > 0:29:25from being close to the team.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28As soon as she saw us,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32she immediately seemed to relax and find a place and has bedded down now.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35It seems to me that these wolves are hunting during the night
0:29:35 > 0:29:38and it's probably a stressful time for Pushki and Parsnip.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40She got through another night.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44It's now dawn, she can rest and she comes over to us, maybe for security.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47She knows the wolves give us more of a safety distance.
0:29:47 > 0:29:48She's worried about the wolves
0:29:48 > 0:29:50and she'd like the fact we were here.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Her instinct is still to fish.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04SHE GROWLS GENTLY
0:30:04 > 0:30:07But in her desperation, she's making strange decisions.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12It just really surprises me.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15300 yards away there's an entire pack of wolves
0:30:15 > 0:30:17watching this mother and cub.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20I would have thought she'd be somewhere else,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22but she has to do that because
0:30:22 > 0:30:24this is right now where most of the fish are,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28and that's the game that mothers and cubs have to play every day.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Balancing risk and food availability.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33Some mothers are good at it, some mothers aren't.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Just when it looks like things are finally settling down,
0:30:38 > 0:30:40there's a new arrival.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46Rolf, put your tripod up! There's a bull moose right there.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51Could this moose be a meal for Parsnip?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53That's something else.
0:30:53 > 0:30:54Looks like a big bull in rut.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Now it's walking right underneath the wolves -
0:30:58 > 0:31:00holey moley!
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Or will it tempt the wolves?
0:31:04 > 0:31:06All the wolves are watching him.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11They just seem to be watching right now,
0:31:11 > 0:31:14but one of the white adults has come down off the bluff
0:31:14 > 0:31:17and disappeared, so I don't know where it is now.
0:31:19 > 0:31:20Wow, look at that.
0:31:25 > 0:31:26Something spooked that moose,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29so I think maybe the wolves might mess with him a little bit, I don't know.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37But now Parsnip has spotted the moose and is checking it out.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41And the moose is checking out Parsnip.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Nobody seems to know what to make of each other.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49You can see Parsnip and Pushki
0:31:49 > 0:31:52looking at that moose and, like - wow!
0:31:52 > 0:31:54And these bears do eat moose on occasion,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57but it would definitely not be worth the risk.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Moose are very dangerous when they're healthy.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03They can kick and they can do serious damage.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06That's not something that's going to be on the potential menu
0:32:06 > 0:32:07for Pushki and Parsnip at all.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11So it's another day hungry for Parsnip.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21The following day she's is back in the bay
0:32:21 > 0:32:23where the salmon are beginning to run.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29Away from the wolves, and Van, she's finally catching fish.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35She just caught a fish. Bam, way to go, girl!
0:32:37 > 0:32:39It's a big moment for Parsnip, and it means
0:32:39 > 0:32:43a lot for the team who've spent several months following them.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47We worry about them every day we're out here.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49We've become very attached to this mother and cub,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52and the cub's gotten three times as big
0:32:52 > 0:32:55and we've gotten three times as attached pretty much.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Makes me happy.
0:32:59 > 0:33:00Unlike Scrunch,
0:33:00 > 0:33:04these two can't afford to be fussy eaters - they eat the entire salmon.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09But she'll need a lot more than this if they are going to survive.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18Back at the falls, the salmon run is in full swing.
0:33:21 > 0:33:22BEARS CALL OUT TO EACH OTHER
0:33:22 > 0:33:25The big males are still fighting for position.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33ANGRY GROWLING
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Kali has returned to the river.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50She's watching the males stuff themselves,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52while she and her family are starving.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12The falls is where she needs to be,
0:34:15 > 0:34:17but there are too many males there.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Kali tries her best to catch something, but it's hopeless.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30The fish are too spread out down here.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37She's using up the last of her energy reserves,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40while at the falls the big males are catching more than they can eat,
0:34:40 > 0:34:41with very little effort.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48They're so full they can barely move!
0:34:51 > 0:34:53As Kali watches,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56the biggest males are starting to haul out for an afternoon nap.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10And when Lurch finally takes a break, this is Kali's big chance!
0:35:51 > 0:35:55FLY BUZZES
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Apart from a couple of young bears, the falls are almost empty.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19But Lurch is dozing on the riverbank,
0:36:19 > 0:36:20so she'll have to be quick.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29She's timed it perfectly and climbs up above the falls.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Kali knows exactly where to she wants to be.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54She's done it. She's outsmarted the big males!
0:38:06 > 0:38:08At last Kali can feed her cubs.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12Brains over brawn!
0:38:24 > 0:38:29It's late September. The salmon season is coming to an end.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34So far here in the bay, the salmon have been few and far between.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36She's on it, she's on it.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Parsnip is catching some.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Her last hope is that the final high tide of the season
0:38:41 > 0:38:44could bring a big run of fish.
0:38:44 > 0:38:45And unless it does,
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Parsnip and Pushki may not survive the coming winter.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53We're waiting for spring tides here in the next coming days.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Hopefully things will heat up significantly with the fishing.
0:38:58 > 0:39:04This is their last chance to pile on enough fat to go into hibernation,
0:39:04 > 0:39:07but before the salmon arrive the weather takes a turn for the worse.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13We've got a big front coming in from the Bering Sea here,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16and it's liable to kick our butt before too long this morning.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20Not looking good, we're going to be put to the test today.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30THUNDER RUMBLES
0:39:34 > 0:39:38Like I always say, this is why bears live here and people don't.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Nobody is mad enough to go out in this.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42Yahoo!
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Except for Buck and Matt... And one big bear.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51We've got lucky and found Van here fishing on the river.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54He's the only bear out here smart enough to know
0:39:54 > 0:39:58that the salmon are running under the cover of this hard storm we're in here.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Being the top bear in this place,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04he knows nobody is going to sneak up on him.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07So he's not concerned about being robbed of his hearing
0:40:07 > 0:40:10and his scent, which most of the other bears
0:40:10 > 0:40:13are just absolutely paranoid about.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16He's the toughest bear in this bay, that's for sure.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21Only the most dominant bears will fish in these conditions.
0:40:21 > 0:40:22And the most desperate.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Despite the risk,
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Parsnip is making the most of every opportunity to fish.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37With the season almost over, every moment counts.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46The next morning, the storm has died down,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48and the highest tide of the season has arrived.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54Will this bring the salmon
0:40:54 > 0:40:57that Parsnip and Pushki have been waiting for?
0:41:08 > 0:41:12Oh, yeah! That's a lot of water out there.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15There's 20 feet of water all around us.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19This is the high point of this full moon tide that we're in here.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21And it'll bring salmon.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25The last of the salmon out there in that big bay are going to come
0:41:25 > 0:41:28up in this water and do their spawn.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30And Parsnip, she knows
0:41:30 > 0:41:35just from the smell of the vegetation and the colour of the vegetation,
0:41:35 > 0:41:40she knows this is the time of the last salmon meal.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45And straight away there's a sign.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50- There's a seal, Matt, right there.- OK.
0:41:50 > 0:41:51He's looking right at us.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55If you've got seals, you've got salmon.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00And there's a salmon right there making a wake.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08And if you've got salmon, you've also got bears.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14The salmon run has brought in every bear in the area
0:42:14 > 0:42:17for this last big fishing frenzy.
0:42:17 > 0:42:18SEAGULL SQUAWKS
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Parsnip has a final chance to feed up.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33But she'd better keep her wits about her because Van is around.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41And Alice is back, too.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53The seals are drifting back downstream now
0:42:53 > 0:42:57as the tide's turned and within an hour or so,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59they'll be back out in the bay.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02But one seal has left it too late
0:43:02 > 0:43:04and is caught out by the falling tide.
0:43:05 > 0:43:10Look at that guy in shallow water. There's nowhere for it to go.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13Oh, that seal is toast!
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Bears all around.
0:43:17 > 0:43:18It can't get away.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30Female is coming in is going to get it. It's nowhere to go.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40I think it's Alice. She's going in for the kill.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45SEAL BARKS
0:43:48 > 0:43:5120 years out here, I've never seen this.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54This is amazing. Wow!
0:43:54 > 0:43:56That's impressive.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06Young seal. No options - got caught in the wrong place.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10But Van is watching.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Van's right here, huffing. He sees it.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18He smells the blood and he's going after it.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31But Alice doesn't want to share the seal with Van.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34There's no love lost between these two.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37And there she goes.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40Oh, look at this. Van's coming around.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59Alice makes a dash for it and Matt's in danger of missing the action.
0:45:00 > 0:45:01OK, Buck.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09Oh, she's dropped it, we've missed it, Buck.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12He's moving in. He's going to claim it.
0:45:12 > 0:45:16This is not a safe situation for us to move in on.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17Stay right here.
0:45:19 > 0:45:23Van has not only stolen the seal, he's busy burying it.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29Alice has been pushed off. She's not going to take on Van.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35He is the main bear here in this bay.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Van and Alice may have been a couple earlier in the season,
0:45:40 > 0:45:42but this close to the winter, with food involved,
0:45:42 > 0:45:44it's every bear for himself.
0:45:49 > 0:45:53And that's the last the team see of Alice.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56Van is already fat enough to hibernate,
0:45:56 > 0:45:58so full of fish he can't fit anything more in,
0:45:58 > 0:46:02but as long as no other bears get the seal, he's happy.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09But maybe burying the seal on the rising tide
0:46:09 > 0:46:11wasn't the brightest idea?
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Like a lot of big bullies, Van is more brawn than brain.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23He might be the boss around here,
0:46:23 > 0:46:25but he can't take on the Pacific Ocean.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40The next morning the tide has gone out and washed Van's seal away.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43He can smell where it was but there's no sign of it here.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47If Van thinks his prized seal has been stolen,
0:46:47 > 0:46:49he could become very dangerous.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53He would be very protective of this seal.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58If he were to decide that something we were doing here
0:46:58 > 0:47:01were contesting his seal,
0:47:01 > 0:47:05he would give us one hair-raising charge
0:47:05 > 0:47:08and you don't want to see that. We don't want to see that.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12So, I'm taking this situation pretty seriously, actually.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15VAN SNORTS GENTLY
0:47:15 > 0:47:18And the reason I don't want to back off, right now, Matt,
0:47:18 > 0:47:22is when he's challenging us, which he is right now,
0:47:22 > 0:47:25- backing up is not the best move.- Yeah.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28We're submissive, but we're not scared.
0:47:30 > 0:47:34Maybe he thinks the crew have taken his seal?
0:47:34 > 0:47:38I actually consider this to be one of the riskier situations that
0:47:38 > 0:47:40we've been in on this project. Right now.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47He's coming here now, guys, maybe we should just...
0:47:47 > 0:47:48He's coming at us.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10The crew are unarmed,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13but they do carry bear pepper spray in case a bear attacks.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26- This is the real deal. - Yeah, um, well...
0:48:26 > 0:48:29- what are we going to do?- Be aware, this is potentially dangerous.
0:48:32 > 0:48:36- Van, we're not challenging you. - We're not challenging you, Van.
0:48:36 > 0:48:41- Good boy, Van.- Good boy, Van. - Yeah, Van's a good boy.
0:48:41 > 0:48:42OK, you and I are down on our knees.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48Good boy, Van. Yeah...
0:48:48 > 0:48:49Good move, Matt.
0:48:49 > 0:48:54I'm going to come over to your left for the sake of the windage on this.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58It's OK, Van. Be a good boy.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02Be good boy, yeah.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11Be a good boy, Van.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14That's OK, buddy. Yeah, we don't want your seal.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17No, he's a good boy.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25You're a nice bear, Van. I know what you're doing.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29You're just saying you want us to know that you're the boss
0:49:29 > 0:49:31and we understand that.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35Yep, we understand it's yours.
0:49:38 > 0:49:39Good boy.
0:49:45 > 0:49:46(Well played.)
0:49:48 > 0:49:50- I told you it was the real deal. - Yeah, I know, I know.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53That was the riskiest thing we've done on this project.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57OK.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Getting down was a good thing. That was submission.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05Did you have the safety off? >
0:50:05 > 0:50:08Oh, yes, I had the safety off and I was ready to go, trust me.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11That was a serious situation.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15He was cool about it, we did the right thing, we were cool,
0:50:15 > 0:50:19but this is how people get in trouble, right here,
0:50:19 > 0:50:22the wrong body language was sent to that bear,
0:50:22 > 0:50:25such as standing up like you're often told to do,
0:50:25 > 0:50:28and start screaming at him.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30That would have been the wrong thing to do.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33it's a great lesson in how the bears
0:50:33 > 0:50:37are reading your body language all the time.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40- I'm glad you were here.- So am I!
0:50:48 > 0:50:51It's been a good day for Parsnip and Pushki.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53She's been catching fish since sunrise,
0:50:53 > 0:50:56but has she done enough to get through the winter?
0:50:59 > 0:51:01The salmon run is almost over.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12Even after sunset, they're still out on the beach.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15Just one last meal might be enough to guarantee their survival.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20With all the other bears out in the bay,
0:51:20 > 0:51:24Parsnip spots something very tempting washed up on the sand.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27SHE BARKS
0:51:31 > 0:51:33It's Van's seal!
0:51:44 > 0:51:48It's just amazing, another Parsnip and Pushki, dramatic day,
0:51:48 > 0:51:51she's found the seal carcass.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54Van stole it from the female that killed the seal.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58Now he's out fishing and then she finds the carcass
0:51:58 > 0:51:59and has claimed it
0:51:59 > 0:52:02and she'll probably be the one to eat it tonight.
0:52:02 > 0:52:06She is taking in a meal.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08Fantastic.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10What a life they live!
0:52:14 > 0:52:19And she's trying to keep it and Pushki away from this bear
0:52:19 > 0:52:21that's approaching now.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29The other bear's approaching.
0:52:31 > 0:52:34- We've got an approach here. - Who is it?
0:52:34 > 0:52:38I'm not sure. It's a big male.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40THEY GROWL
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Is she going to run or fight?
0:52:49 > 0:52:51GROWLING INTENSIFIES
0:52:51 > 0:52:53Ooh, it's getting real.
0:52:54 > 0:52:55Back off!
0:53:03 > 0:53:05She could lose it.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07BEAR PAWS THUD
0:53:09 > 0:53:13She's... oh my goodness, girl, back off.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19The seal isn't worth dying for
0:53:19 > 0:53:22because without his mother, Pushki wouldn't survive.
0:53:25 > 0:53:26Back off!
0:53:26 > 0:53:29THEY GROWL
0:53:32 > 0:53:34BEAR PANTS
0:53:37 > 0:53:40Wow!
0:53:40 > 0:53:41HE LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY
0:53:41 > 0:53:44Just when you think you've seen it all!
0:53:47 > 0:53:50The story is not over. She took some tough hits there.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52He was boxing her around seriously.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56But she seems to be OK.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01She's going to go back into the bushes and lick her wounds.
0:54:06 > 0:54:10She may have lost the seal, but she put up a good fight,
0:54:10 > 0:54:12protected Pushki, and made the right decision.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24BIRDS SQUAWK
0:54:29 > 0:54:32The last of the salmon are running into the bay.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Parsnip's gamble has paid off.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38This is a good place to be.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45She's earned the right to be here
0:54:45 > 0:54:48and can now make the most of the last run of fish.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55Even Pushki is starting to show a few technical skills.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00He'll be fishing for himself next summer.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16They're well-fed and worn out from fishing.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19Nothing is going to disturb their well-earned rest.
0:55:21 > 0:55:22Not even Van.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33This time he moves off.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53This is a special place where bears have shared their lives with us
0:55:53 > 0:55:54over an entire season.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58The crew have got closer to their lives
0:55:58 > 0:56:00than they ever imagined possible.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08But autumn is turning into winter. It's time to leave.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14They've got to know some incredible bears.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18In this world ruled by big dominant males,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21the mother bears have shown themselves to be the real heroes.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28They face incredible challenges to get their cubs through,
0:56:28 > 0:56:31and ensure the survival of the next generation of bears.
0:56:34 > 0:56:38The last salmon have spawned, and the days are getting shorter.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41It's time for Van and Alice
0:56:41 > 0:56:45and all the other bears to head up to the mountains and hibernate.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49But what about Parsnip and Pushki?
0:56:54 > 0:56:57I think Pushki and Parsnip are going to be just fine.
0:56:57 > 0:57:01They've made it through many, many adventures,
0:57:01 > 0:57:05and Parsnip has learned some hard lessons as a mother.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10There's been a lot of drama and a lot of risk,
0:57:10 > 0:57:13and the margins for error are small.
0:57:14 > 0:57:18It's a real world out here. It's tough stuff.
0:57:18 > 0:57:20But, she knew what she was doing.
0:57:21 > 0:57:22She's a survivor.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28Parsnip has come through all the challenges
0:57:28 > 0:57:29this place has thrown at her...
0:57:32 > 0:57:35..protecting Pushki from wolves and other bears,
0:57:35 > 0:57:37standing up to Van,
0:57:37 > 0:57:39and sticking with her fishing spot,
0:57:39 > 0:57:42when it looked like no fish would turn up.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47In the end it's all paid off,
0:57:47 > 0:57:50and she's got one strong, healthy cub to prove it.
0:57:53 > 0:57:58I think Pushki is as well set for a cub after his first summer
0:57:58 > 0:58:01as any cub could be.
0:58:01 > 0:58:05He's had a great teacher. His mother is fantastic.
0:58:05 > 0:58:09He's learned a lot of tricks about survival out here
0:58:09 > 0:58:12and who knows,
0:58:12 > 0:58:16one day maybe he may be big and strong enough to take Van on.
0:58:16 > 0:58:20He's going to be one tough, smart little bear.
0:58:26 > 0:58:28Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd