0:00:17 > 0:00:20My goal is to follow and film a mother moose and her newborn calf
0:00:20 > 0:00:22over the next year.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25It's going to be really interesting to see how it grows,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28how it learns from its mother, how it avoids danger.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Those mums could kill me whenever they wanted to.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42They can kill wolves with their hooves
0:00:42 > 0:00:45so they could definitely kill me on my snowshoes!
0:00:55 > 0:00:59This is going to be a challenging 12 months, but I'm really excited
0:00:59 > 0:01:03to see how this animal survives its first year in the Canadian Rockies.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I need to find a mother moose with a calf.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It's so rare to see newborn calves.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Before she gives birth, an expectant mother heads to the most isolated
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and uninviting parts of the forest.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38I can't say that I blame her.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Some of North America's largest predators live here
0:01:42 > 0:01:46so mothers need to be elusive and super protective of their young.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Finding any moose - let alone one with a newborn -
0:01:52 > 0:01:55in this terrain is a daunting challenge.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03But after 21 days, I got lucky.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41I can't believe I found her.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47This calf is only a few days old.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49She's pretty sweet.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52I think it's a "she".
0:02:53 > 0:02:56That mum definitely knows I'm here,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59but she seems OK with me hanging around.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02That can change at any moment though,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05so I'm going to have to be careful and keep my distance.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12If I push it or get too close, the mother will turn on me.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16I hope she's going to let me stick with them.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Moose populations are declining across North America
0:03:31 > 0:03:33at an alarming rate.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37One reason is that calves just aren't surviving their first year,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39so it's never been more important to learn
0:03:39 > 0:03:41what happens in that first year.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47The only way to know is to follow a calf every day
0:03:47 > 0:03:49for the next 12 months.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53No-one has really done this before
0:03:53 > 0:03:56so I feel really lucky to have this chance.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58And a little nervous, too.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05They move so quietly through the woods.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10They blend in so well, even though the mother's a thousand pounds.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15The calf - it's just born and it's already faster than me in the bush.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16I mean, it's amazing.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22The rest of the camera team is only here for a few more days.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25They'll come and go throughout the year but my job is to stay here
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and to really get to know these moose.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31This is only going to work if this mother and calf
0:04:31 > 0:04:33decide to let me into their world.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37And their world is a wilderness that covers
0:04:37 > 0:04:40over 11,000 square kilometres.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Jasper National Park -
0:04:42 > 0:04:44the largest park in the Canadian Rockies.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Hugo's got a unique challenge and he's uniquely prepared for it.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07He doesn't seem to require a coat.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10He's able to get up way before the sun gets up,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13stays up way after it goes down, so he puts in really long days
0:05:13 > 0:05:15tracking animals.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21He'll sit watching moose for hours and hours and hours
0:05:21 > 0:05:23and it's awe-inspiring.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Maligne Valley is in the centre of Jasper National Park.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34It's surrounded by mountains and beautiful alpine.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40It's a lifeline of energy and water and wildlife.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54And the habitats for moose are focused predominantly along
0:05:54 > 0:05:57the bottom, where the drainages are and there's lakes and meadows
0:05:57 > 0:06:00and damp areas for willows and shrubbery to grow.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04The moose population fluctuates
0:06:04 > 0:06:07depending on the presence of predators.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11When we've done counts here, we've seen 19 moose at its high
0:06:11 > 0:06:14and around ten at its lower population.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17To distinguish between the moose in the valley, it's easy,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20because the bells on their neck are either longer or shorter,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23they have scars, or they're with different size calves.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35It's pretty magical being this close to this huge moose
0:06:35 > 0:06:37and her baby calf.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40I've only been with them for a couple of days now
0:06:40 > 0:06:44and what I'm noticing is that this moose is a really good mother.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47For a moose calf to survive its first year,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50it needs a little bit of luck and a really good mum.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05More moose calves are killed by bears than by any other predator
0:07:05 > 0:07:10so learning to recognise a bear is a really big lesson.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22This little calf has been born into a world that's teeming with life,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26from emerald lakes right up to the treetops.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31And everywhere I look I see parents tending their young.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46SHEEP BLEATS
0:08:13 > 0:08:17This calf and this cow are easily identifiable.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21The mother has a really distinct scar on her shoulder.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I'm really curious to know what did it.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28This calf is timid and super cute
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and she seems to be learning all the time.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38These young moose can put on two to four pounds a day every day
0:08:38 > 0:08:40right up until winter.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43She's around two weeks old now
0:08:43 > 0:08:46and she's just starting to learn how to eat plants.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50I can really see how the mum shows her what to eat.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56The mum is passing her bacteria on to the calf
0:08:56 > 0:08:58through the saliva she left on those leaves.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02When the calf eats the leaves she ingests the bacteria,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06which is going to grow in her gut and allow the calf to digest plants.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13This mum is really aware
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and she doesn't let the calf get very far from her.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I think that mother is really concerned about
0:09:18 > 0:09:20keeping that calf safe.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22RUMBLE OF THUNDER
0:09:34 > 0:09:37LOUD CRASH OF THUNDER
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Part of the challenge of being out here every day
0:09:59 > 0:10:01is dealing with the different weather
0:10:01 > 0:10:05and I am really cold right now but I've got to keep going,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I've got to keep the gear dry and stay with them
0:10:08 > 0:10:10because they're out here every day
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and they don't mind this cold weather.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Lately, they seem a lot more relaxed with me being here
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and I think they are slowly getting used to me,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24which is great.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12For three weeks, I've been able to find our cow and calf almost every day.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16But over the past couple of days, things have changed.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I've been bushwhacking, looking and looking,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22and after a lot of time searching, I found the mother.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26But I can't see any sign of the calf.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34For the past few weeks, that mum and calf have always been together.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So, it's very strange to suddenly find the mother
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and see no sign of the calf.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45About half of these calves are killed in their first month of life.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50So, I'm getting really nervous something's happened.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01You know, those females have a lot of things that are hunting them
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and hunting their young.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05So, it's not easy being mother moose.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10There's wolves...
0:14:12 > 0:14:15..there's black bears, there's grizzly bears here.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19All those animals prey on baby moose.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20PANTING
0:14:23 > 0:14:25So, this looks like this was done by a grizzly bear.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30You can see there's claw marks that are taller than me and these huge...
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I mean, imagine the power that cut through this bark.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I mean, that's got to be almost three feet.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37You can see it's raked its claws into the bark.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It's sort of a scent territory marking.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I see black bears doing similar things to trees a lot,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45but the marks are nowhere near as long.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02At this point, I really don't know what to do about our missing calf.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I mean, live in hope, I guess.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09So, I'm going to keep looking.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It's been over two weeks since the last time we saw our calf
0:15:49 > 0:15:51and there is not a sign of her.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56We have looked everywhere, and nothing.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Park warden, all of our contacts, everyone thinks she's gone.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19The only meaningful relationship a cow is going to have in her life
0:16:19 > 0:16:21is the relationship with her calf.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24It's the only other animal in this entire park
0:16:24 > 0:16:26she is going to let get close to her.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29So, this is going to be really tough on her.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50HOWLING
0:17:10 > 0:17:12CHIRPING
0:17:15 > 0:17:20I am so excited. We just got a call saying that a cow and calf
0:17:20 > 0:17:22were spotted right where we've been filming.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27The cow apparently has a huge scar on her shoulder, so it's got to be ours.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30So, I'm just going to pack up this and then head right over there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Gosh, I hope it's them!
0:17:34 > 0:17:36HOOTING
0:17:42 > 0:17:43BIRDSONG
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Hey, girl. Where have you been?
0:18:12 > 0:18:17It just goes from days of nothing, and then, it's magical.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23I can't believe it.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26This calf must have been with her mum the whole time.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31I bet she was bedded down just off in the distance.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36These calves can disappear into their surroundings so well.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41It's a survival strategy. And, man, is it effective!
0:19:01 > 0:19:03BIRDSONG
0:19:06 > 0:19:08BUZZING
0:19:28 > 0:19:32She's been waiting a long time to feed on these water plants.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36It takes months for these mountain lakes to warm up enough
0:19:36 > 0:19:40to provide the mineral-rich plants she craves, but can't get on land.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47Some of these water plants have 500 times more sodium than land plants.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50And a moose needs sodium for every part of their development.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53From growing hair to reproducing.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00And they'll go to great lengths to get it.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04They'll dive up to 18 feet to get their teeth on this stuff.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09There's so much our calf needs to learn to be a moose.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14And the only one who can teach her is her mum.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34This is a tricky lesson.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37She's got to learn it's safe to go in the water
0:20:37 > 0:20:40and to swim for the first time.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43And then, because all the really good water plants
0:20:43 > 0:20:45are at the bottom, she's got to learn how to dive.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50This could take her weeks, even a month, to learn.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02CHIRPING
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Not the most graceful thing I've seen.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38But moose are such strong swimmers. She'll get it soon enough.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02BUZZING
0:23:10 > 0:23:12She's got the hang of it just in time.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15These guys really need to feast on
0:23:15 > 0:23:17this sodium-rich pondweed while they can.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Moose can store minerals in their body so efficiently
0:23:23 > 0:23:26that they only need to load up on essential elements
0:23:26 > 0:23:28like sodium once or twice a year.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35These aquatic plants will die out in about a month.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Not all the lakes here produce them,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40so this one is a magnet for all the moose in the area.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Moose normally keep to their own territory.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Up until now, our cow and calf have had this lake to themselves.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53But now they've got company.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Oh, man, their ears are back.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10That means our mother moose
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and this new cow want nothing to do with each other.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Oh, my gosh, is that another calf?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24It looks so tiny compared to our calf.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35He can't be more than three or four weeks old.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53This little guy is going to have to do a lot of growing up before winter comes.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03I wonder how the little calf's life is going to be different to the big calf's?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13It's late August and this is only the second calf
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I've seen in the entire park.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19This is so cool!
0:25:56 > 0:25:59There really are personality differences between the calves.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02The little calf is kind of... He's a little cheeky,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06he's more curious and he's more bold.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09And he'll wander off a lot.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27I really want to try to follow this little calf
0:26:27 > 0:26:28and our original big calf.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I love the chestnut colour of the mum. She's gorgeous!
0:26:38 > 0:26:40They're both so relaxed around me.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46This is going to be great!
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Now that it's fall, I have to be really careful.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37The bull moose, who've been up in the mountains for the past couple of months,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39are coming down for the mating season.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45This is the only time of year the bull moose gather together.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53They are spending a lot of time sizing each other up.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I don't blame them. These guys can weigh 1,200 pounds
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and reach over two metres at the shoulder.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26They are very powerful animals
0:28:26 > 0:28:29and at this time of year, they're unpredictable.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24Things have gotten so much more intense in the past little while.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28It's safer just to take in all the action from out here.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33The cows are only just starting to come into heat
0:29:33 > 0:29:35and the bulls seem to be getting impatient.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42They're charging through the forest, calling out,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45thrashing little trees, trying to find a mate.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49There's so much going on in the woods right now
0:29:49 > 0:29:52that it's really hard to track our two calves.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56MOOSE CALLS
0:29:56 > 0:29:57(Wow!)
0:30:25 > 0:30:29The bulls are going to hang around for a few weeks, but you know what?
0:30:29 > 0:30:32The cows are only fertile for one day a month.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35And they want to stay away from those bulls until that day.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Because some of these bulls can be really aggressive.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55When she's ready to pick a mate,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57she'll check out the size of the bull's antlers.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Moose antlers are the fastest-growing bone mass on the planet.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07At the peak of summer, they can grow an inch a day.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10I wouldn't be surprised if the bulls can hear them growing.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16By fall, they can weigh in at 40-50lbs.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22But before a cow can be impressed by his rack, a bull has to lure her in.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30The rest of the crew say I'm weird, but I actually like the smell
0:31:30 > 0:31:33of the oil that the bulls rub on the trees.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36It's earthy, musky, maybe a little sweet.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39And it comes from special glands just above their eyes.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Each bull leaves his scent behind on the trees he thrashes.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47And that smell says a lot about his mood, his status,
0:31:47 > 0:31:49even his sexual power.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54It's a subtle smell,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57but obviously, it's working on our little calf's mum.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02MOOSE CALLS
0:33:02 > 0:33:04This little calf is fearless.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09He's learned so much mimicking his mother the last few months.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12And now he's copying a bull.
0:33:12 > 0:33:13I hope he keeps his distance.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33This is risky. That bull could kill him.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39If he tried to mount the little calf, he'd break his back.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42And one angry swipe with those antlers would do serious damage.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49MOOSE CALLS
0:35:37 > 0:35:41In the end, it's the cow who decides who her mate will be.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10BIRDSONG
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Having been here for so long, doing this day after day,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16I spend more time with these guys than anyone else.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27It's going to be tougher to keep up with them when winter comes, though.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30I hear snow can get as deep as five feet here.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I'll have to deal with extra clothes, snowshoes,
0:36:34 > 0:36:37and then there's all the food I'm going to have to carry.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48The amount of energy you need snowshoeing with all the gear,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52I'm going to be just eating bacon like candy out here.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Anything with calories.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58And the moose have it worse.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Now that winter's hit, there's very little for them to eat.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12These guys are going to find every last bit of green forage they can.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16But soon, all this nutrient-rich stuff will be gone
0:37:16 > 0:37:19and they'll be left with a diet of prickly evergreens, even twigs.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Whatever they can get their teeth on.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Even after eating for hours and hours on end,
0:37:29 > 0:37:34they're going to lose weight every day for the next five months.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36This is going to be tough for our big calf.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41But it's going to be even tougher for our little calf.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46He's had so little time to build up any fat reserves.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08HOWLING
0:38:14 > 0:38:16HOWLING
0:38:47 > 0:38:49In this winter landscape, all a mother can do
0:38:49 > 0:38:52is to show her calf how to find everything possible to eat.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Our little calf is catching on pretty quick.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Hey, little guy.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Wow! Huh!
0:39:08 > 0:39:13So, these moose are really attracted to the salt on my car.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18The road salt contains potassium, calcium, even magnesium.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21That's why the mothers love it so much.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26It's like my car is a popsicle.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41When they're not licking my car,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45it's actually really hard to find our moose in this massive park.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Each mother and calf roam a territory of about five square kilometres.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59At their closest, they're about 10km apart.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02So, I have a lot of ground to cover to keep track of them.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09You'd think following their tracks in the snow would be really easy.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14But it is really hard.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19You find a fresh track and you just start following it.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22You would not believe how often they crisscross each other.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25So, when you think you're getting close,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29you actually find out that you're still hours behind the moose.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41The other big thing is the snowshoes make so much noise
0:40:41 > 0:40:46and with all your gear, you know, I have 50-60lbs of stuff with me.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48A big tripod over my shoulder.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51I mean, they hear me coming from a mile away.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57The funny thing is,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59if you're walking through the bush following their tracks
0:40:59 > 0:41:02and you can actually make eye contact with them,
0:41:02 > 0:41:08I find if I talk to them gently and sort of let them know it's me -
0:41:08 > 0:41:12it's not a wolf - they immediately relax.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Winter is such an endurance test for moose.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51The longer it goes on, the closer they come to starving to death,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53and this does happen.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57For our little calf who was born so late in the season,
0:41:57 > 0:41:59this is going to be a real struggle.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14Our little calf is such a fighter, though.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17No matter how tough it is for him, he just never gives up.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23He just needs to get through five,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26maybe six more weeks of this snow and he's home free.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40The snow is so deep, despite their long legs, you know,
0:42:40 > 0:42:42the snow is still draining her energy.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45So, it really seems like every step they take in this snow
0:42:45 > 0:42:49is calculated to expend the least bit of energy that they can.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Everything that they do is really planned.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Like, look at that.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07The cow has just planted, she's straining her neck,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10stretching her neck, eating everything in sight.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19And then, when she's cleaned up everything she can reach,
0:43:19 > 0:43:21takes a step.
0:43:21 > 0:43:22Another step.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26And there we go again.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36It is just amazing they find enough food to eat here.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39They really are twig-eaters.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45It's incredible to think that they can eat 8,000-9,000 twigs a day.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04You've got that greening of spring
0:44:04 > 0:44:06and, er...the green veg that's going to come out.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13I haven't seen our little calf and his mum for two days now.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15I decided to leave them alone
0:45:15 > 0:45:17because they were so high up the mountain.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19I don't know what's driving them up
0:45:19 > 0:45:22but I've stayed away in case it was me.
0:45:22 > 0:45:27I can't go too long without checking on them, though.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30So, today, it's going to be a climbing day.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33HE PANTS
0:45:40 > 0:45:41Oh, my gosh.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Look at those tracks. That's crazy.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52Wow! I think I'm on the trails of wolves...
0:45:53 > 0:45:55..judging by the tracks.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59And they're going exactly the same way I'm going.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02I'm about 500 metres from the last known location of the calf.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08OK, looks like there might be at least two here.
0:46:09 > 0:46:10I'm kind of nervous.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Just because our little calf in this snow, I mean... I don't know...
0:46:16 > 0:46:20I think a wolf would...or a pack of wolves would have no problem.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21I mean, the mum has...
0:46:21 > 0:46:24If the mum protected it, that would be its only hope.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29This is such a weird feeling.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33I'm kind of half expecting to see
0:46:33 > 0:46:36maybe our moose killed any second now.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39Or, I don't know what I'm...
0:46:39 > 0:46:41I mean, you know, these tracks could...
0:46:41 > 0:46:44This could be the first part of a hunt.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47If they did kill the moose, it could be kilometres away.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50But wow - there's a lot of wolf tracks.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54I'm hearing ravens over there.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56It could mean it's a kill.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59We're really close to where our cow and calf were.
0:47:00 > 0:47:04Now that being said, they were still 500 metres away
0:47:04 > 0:47:08last time I saw them, which isn't that far, except it was vertical.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11Almost vertical, up the hill!
0:47:12 > 0:47:13Man!
0:47:15 > 0:47:17I've just got to wonder if this is our calf.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21OK, I'm going to keep searching.
0:47:27 > 0:47:28Oh, no.
0:47:29 > 0:47:31Uh-oh.
0:47:32 > 0:47:33Uh-oh.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36That is moose hair.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41Ooh! This isn't good.
0:47:41 > 0:47:42This isn't good at all.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49HE SIGHS
0:47:49 > 0:47:50Man!
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Well, I think the only thing to do
0:47:54 > 0:47:58is to keep following these wolf tracks and see what happens.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09Ooh! This is a brutal climb.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16Her tracks are right there.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18It's definitely the mother.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20And I just saw a calf track back there.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22Ah!
0:48:22 > 0:48:23Oh!
0:48:25 > 0:48:27Come on, guys.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29Please have got uphill.
0:48:29 > 0:48:30Oh, man...
0:48:33 > 0:48:34Ah!
0:48:38 > 0:48:40Look at all these broken branches.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44There's been an epic chase or battle here.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Broken branches everywhere.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50Hair, clumps of hair, tracks.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56The wolf tracks converge here.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Oh, my God. Look at that...
0:49:03 > 0:49:04Oh, no.
0:49:10 > 0:49:11Oh, no.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Oh!
0:49:17 > 0:49:19Oh, man. Oh, my God.
0:49:21 > 0:49:22Oh, my God.
0:49:23 > 0:49:24Oh.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27Oh, poor calf.
0:49:30 > 0:49:31BIRD CAWS
0:49:34 > 0:49:36This is just unbelievable.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40HE SIGHS
0:49:44 > 0:49:46You can't help but get attached to these animals.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50I've spent so many hours - hundreds and hundreds and hundreds
0:49:50 > 0:49:56of hours with this moose and now, to just know it died this way...
0:50:00 > 0:50:03And it was so close to making it through the winter.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05I mean, a few more weeks now
0:50:05 > 0:50:08and it could have been in the clear.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11I just hope our cow is doing OK.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13It looks like she ran off that way.
0:50:47 > 0:50:48BIRD SQUAWKS
0:51:57 > 0:51:59BIRDS TWEET
0:52:31 > 0:52:35Despite the hard winter, I'm glad to say our first calf has survived.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38She's a yearling now and she's big.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43She was only about 40lbs when I met her
0:52:43 > 0:52:45and now she must weigh well over 400lbs.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Considering that only around 30% of moose calves
0:53:10 > 0:53:11survive their first year,
0:53:11 > 0:53:16it's a real triumph for our big calf that she's made it to spring.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19She's past the tough stuff now.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22Food is no longer scarce
0:53:22 > 0:53:24and she's had the protection and guidance of her mother
0:53:24 > 0:53:25for a whole year.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29But things are about to change.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38Her mum is pregnant, but before she gives birth,
0:53:38 > 0:53:41she will turn on her calf and drive her out.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02GROANING
0:54:03 > 0:54:06She'll chase off her yearling in order to ensure
0:54:06 > 0:54:08the best possible chance for her newborn.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16She'll keep shunning and shunning her until the message is clear -
0:54:16 > 0:54:19you are not welcome here any more.
0:54:27 > 0:54:28GROANING
0:54:34 > 0:54:35I guess it's tough love.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40The mother's focus has turned to nurturing the next generation.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46WHIMPERING
0:54:50 > 0:54:52Now our yearling has to head out into the world
0:54:52 > 0:54:54and make it on her own.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01Despite everything her mother has taught her,
0:55:01 > 0:55:03she still has so much left to learn.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43I heard that a chestnut-coloured moose was seen
0:55:43 > 0:55:47on a small island, five miles up Maligne Lake.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50It's got to be our little calf's mum.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53I'd never seen another moose that colour in the park.
0:56:08 > 0:56:09Hi, little guy.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50She has survived so much.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52She must be completely exhausted.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01And, yet, here she is again, using all her strength
0:57:01 > 0:57:03to mother another little calf.
0:57:04 > 0:57:08And at a time when moose populations are in such decline,
0:57:08 > 0:57:11each calf is precious.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19Our feisty little calf showed me just how hard
0:57:19 > 0:57:22life could be for a moose born late in the season.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27This new calf was born two months before his brother was
0:57:27 > 0:57:30last year, which gives him a huge advantage for surviving
0:57:30 > 0:57:32that critical first year.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46I've been so lucky to experience, first-hand,
0:57:46 > 0:57:49the strong bond that develops between a calf and its mother.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54She is such a remarkable animal.
0:57:54 > 0:57:57I feel better about leaving here now that I know she's had a chance
0:57:57 > 0:57:58to be a mother again.
0:58:33 > 0:58:35HOWLING