No Place to Hide

Narrator: THE PRAIRIE -- UNFORGIVING... [ THUNDER CRASHES ] ...AND UNPREDICTABLE. [ BUZZING ] IN THIS ENDLESS OCEAN OF GRASS, THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES. [ SQUAWKING ] AND ONLY THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE IT ON... ...WILL EARN THE RIGHT TO CALL IT HOME. [ BON JOVI'S "ARMY OF ONE" PLAYS ] ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ NEVER ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ NEVER LET UP ♪ ♪ EVER ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE IN ♪ ♪ YOU'RE AN ARMY OF ONE ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ NEVER ♪ ♪ NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU'RE FROM ♪ ♪ NEVER GIVE UP ♪ [ HORSES NEIGH ] ♪ YOU'RE AN ARMY OF ONE ♪ MID-MAY ON THE PLAINS OF ALBERTA. [ SNORTING ] A HERD OF BISON ARE ON THE MOVE. THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND WAS ONCE HOME TO OVER 30 MILLION BISON, MORE THAN THE ENTIRE HUMAN POPULATION OF AMERICA AT THE TIME. PULLED BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION... ...TODAY, SOME 15,000 STILL ENDURE. JUST WEEKS OLD, THIS CALF IS AN INNOCENT NEWCOMER TO LIFE ON THE GREAT PLAINS. HE'S HIS MOTHER'S ONLY OFFSPRING. AND SHE'LL DO ANYTHING TO DEFEND HIM. [ SNORTING ] AN OLD FOE HAS THE HERD ON EDGE. GRAY WOLVES. PACK PREDATORS THAT ATTACK AS A GANG, THEY'VE BEEN *** THE HERD FOR DAYS. THE CALF HASN'T LEARNED HOW TO DEFEND HIMSELF AND IS EASY PICKING. BUT THERE'S 1,000 POUNDS OF TICKED-OFF MOTHER IN THE WAY. [ SNORTING ] THE WOLVES ARE PATIENT. THEY MAKE THEIR MOVE. [ LOWING ] THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EVOLUTION HAVE HONED PREDATOR AND PREY INTO A PERFECT MATCH OF SPEED AND ENDURANCE. THIS IS A BATTLE OF WITS AND STRATEGY. HOPING TO SHAKE THE WOLF PACK, THE BISON FLEE INTO THE RIVER. FAST-MOVING WATER IS EXHAUSTING FOR THE LITTLE ONES... [ MOOS ] ...BUT THE MOTHERS KNOW THEY MUST KEEP ON. THE PURSUIT IS RELENTLESS. [ LOWING ] THE MOMENT THE WOLVES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. CUT OFF FROM THE HERD, NOW IT'S TWO AGAINST THREE. [ BARKS ] EVERY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE PROVOKES A NEW ATTACK. [ BARKS ] [ MOOS ] [ YELPS ] THE DESPERATE MOTHER CAN ONLY DO MUCH TO PROTECT THE PETRIFIED CALF. HE MUST LEARN TO FIGHT OR DIE. [ SNORTS ] THE WOLVES SMELL BLOOD. [ PANTING ] THEN SUDDENLY... ...A KICK FROM THE CALF. IN AN INSTANT, IT'S A WHOLE NEW GAME. NOW MOTHER AND CALF MOVE AS ONE. BUT THEY KNOW THEY MUST STILL REJOIN THE HERD. SOMEWHERE, AHEAD IN THE TREES, THEY CAN HEAR THE THUNDER OF HOOVES. [ RUMBLING, LOWING ] SAFE AT LAST. THE WOLVES HAVE MISSED THEIR CHANCE. TONIGHT THEY'LL GO HUNGRY. MADE STRONGER BY THE STRUGGLE, THIS YOUNG AMERICAN HAS LEARNED TO FIGHT BACK. HERE, ONLY THE TOUGH SURVIVE. HARSH. UNFORGIVING. ENDLESS. THIS IMPOSSIBLE LANDSCAPE TESTS ALL WHO SET FOOT ON IT. ONE PIONEER WHO CROSSED IT SAID IT WAS LIKE SETTING SAIL ON AN OCEAN OF GRASS WITHOUT A COMPASS. YET THE PROMISE OF OPPORTUNITY DREW MILLIONS INTO THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA TO WORK THE LAND AND TRANSFORM IT INTO THE BREADBASKET THAT FEEDS AN ENTIRE CONTINENT. HALF A BILLION ACRES OF SHELTERLESS PLAINS, WIDE-OPEN FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH POLE. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST CONTROL THE WEATHER. THEY STEER ICY WINDS FROM THE NORTH INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTH, SPAWNING STORMS LIKE NO OTHER ON EARTH. [ THUNDER CRASHING ] [ THE ROLLING STONES' "GIMME SHELTER" PLAYS ] FROM TEXAS TO WISCONSIN, NOTHING IS SAFE FROM MOTHER NATURE'S VIOLENT TEMPER. [ THUNDER CRASHES ] ♪ OH, A STORM IS THREAT'NING ♪ ♪ MY VERY LIFE TODAY ♪ ♪ IF I DON'T GET SOME SHELTER ♪ ♪ OH, YEAH, I'M GONNA FADE AWAY ♪ ♪ WAR, CHILDREN ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST A SHOT AWAY ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST A SHOT AWAY ♪ Narrator: THE LAND AND EVERYTHING IN IT MUST BRACE FOR A FEROCIOUS BEATING. ♪ IT'S JUST A SHOT AWAY ♪ BUT HAIL IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WITH WINDS OF UP TO 300 MILES PER HOUR... [ THUNDER CRASHES ] ...TORNADOES ARE ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE FORCES ON THE PLANET. THESE ARE THE ROUTES OF SOME 400 TORNADOES THAT RIP INTO THE PRAIRIE EVERY YEAR. [ WIND HOWLING ] IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, THEY'VE TOUCHED DOWN IN VIRTUALLY EVERY STATE. [ RUMBLING ] OUT ON THE GREAT PLAINS, THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE FROM MOTHER NATURE. YOU JUST TOUGH IT OUT AS BEST YOU CAN. [ BIRD CALLS ] [ SQUEAKING ] BUT THESE BUNKER-BUILDING HOMESTEADERS HAVE FIGURED OUT A WAY. [ SQUEAKS ] THE PRAIRIE DOGS HAVE BANDED TOGETHER AND BUILT AN UNDERGROUND VILLAGE. A SINGLE SETTLEMENT LIKE THIS CAN BE HOME TO THOUSANDS OF COUSINS. [ SQUEAKING ] LIFE HERE IS ALL ABOUT KEEPING TABS ON YOUR NEIGHBOR AND AN EYE OUT FOR INTRUDERS. PRAIRIE DOGS HAVE A COMPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND BARK OUT DISTINCT CALLS TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT PREDATORS. [ YIPPING ] [ RATTLING ] [ YIPPING ] A SNAKE HAS SLITHERED INTO DOGTOWN AND CURLED UP OUTSIDE A DEN FULL OF YOUNG PUPS. [ SQUEAKING ] BUT ONE BRAVE DOG IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE DEADLY RATTLER ON. [ RATTLING ] [ YELPS ] A STANDOFF -- SERPENT VERSUS RODENT. SHE MUST DRIVE THE SNAKE AWAY AND NOT INTO THE TUNNELS WHERE HER BABIES ARE HIDING. [ RATTLES ] THE SNAKE HAS ENOUGH VENOM TO KILL A 200-POUND MAN, LET ALONE A 3-POUND RODENT. [ RATTLES ] BUT THE DOG'S SHARP CLAWS AND TEETH ARE NOTHING TO MESS WITH. SHE LURES THE SNAKE AWAY FROM THE PUPS AND, STEP BY STEP, GETS HIM OUT OF TOWN. [ SQUEAKS ] THE ALL-CLEAR SOUND. TIME TO CELEBRATE. [ SQUEAKING ] WITH ONE OUTSIDER GONE, ANOTHER MOVES RIGHT IN. ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, A FAMILY OF BURROWING OWLS HAS SET UP CAMP IN AN ABANDONED PRAIRIE DOG DEN. AN ODD BUNCH, THESE NEWCOMERS HAVE STRANGE EATING HABITS. GRASSHOPPERS. A SINGLE, BOUNCING CALORIE. BUT THESE HIGH-PROTEIN CRITTERS AREN'T EASY TO CATCH. PUTTING DINNER ON THE TABLE ONE BUG AT A TIME. BUT TO BE ACCEPTED IN DOGTOWN, YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF. [ SQUEAKING ] A NEW ALARM CALL SOUNDS. A BADGER -- A DEADLY DIGGING MACHINE THAT FEEDS ON PRAIRIE DOGS, AND OWL CHICKS ARE JUST AS TASTY. MOM GUARDS THE ENTRANCE. DAD FLIES OFF. HE'S GOT A PLAN. [ CHITTERING ] A SUDDEN COUNTERATTACK. THE BADGER CAN'T TAKE THE AERIAL ASSAULT AND RETREATS. THESE OWLS HAVE EARNED THEIR PLACE IN DOGTOWN. IN THE TIGHT-KNIT OUTPOST OF THE WEST, COWARDS DON'T LAST LONG. OUT HERE, THOSE THAT GO IT ALONE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS. BUT FOR SOME, A RUTHLESS LANDSCAPE IS A REFUGE. AT THE EDGE OF THE PRAIRIE IS A PLACE SO UNFORGIVING ONLY OUTLAWS AND SKELETONS CALLED IT HOME. A HIDEOUT FOR HORSE THIEVES AND TRAIN ROBBERS -- THE BADLANDS. CARVED BY 500,000 YEARS OF EROSION, THIS IS A LAND OF RAZOR-SHARP RIDGES AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES. IT'S SO FORBIDDING, FEW SETTLERS DARED SET FOOT IN IT. [ SHRIEKS ] A FERRUGINOUS HAWK. [ CHICKS CHIRPING ] SHE'S BUILT HER NEST HIGH ATOP A SPIRE OF STONE, SAFE FROM PREDATORS. BUT THE SOUTH DAKOTA SUMMER HAS ARRIVED SOONER THAN EXPECTED, AND HER HATCHLINGS ARE TRAPPED IN THE EXPOSED NEST UNTIL THEY CAN FLY. WITHOUT TREES, THERE'S NO SHADE. [ CRIES ] THE SCALDING STONE BECOMES AN OVEN. TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO NEARLY 100 DEGREES. SHE STRUGGLES TO SHADE THEM, BUT THEY'VE NOW OUTGROWN HER FIVE-FOOT WINGS. ONLY TWO OF HER HATCHLINGS WILL MAKE IT. NATURE'S CRUEL INDIFFERENCE IS A FACT OF LIFE. IT'S CARVED RESILIENCE INTO THE FRONTIER SPIRIT AND SHAPED OUR NATION'S CHARACTER. AND EVEN IN AMERICA'S MOST UNLIKELY PLACES, THERE ARE BOUNDLESS OPTIMISTS. [ BOING! ] DEEP IN THE GRASS, A MALE JUMPING SPIDER, AND HE'S LOOKING FOR LOVE. BUT HE'S NOT A STAY-AT-HOME, BUILD-A-WEB KIND OF GUY. JUMPING SPIDERS LIKE TO WANDER. [ BOING! ] AS SMALL AS A GRAIN OF RICE, HE CAN USE THE GRASS AS A HIGHWAY. ONE OF HIS EIGHT EYES SPOTS A FEMALE. SHE'S BEING WOOED BY ANOTHER MALE. [ AWWs ] BUT A SINGLE MISSTEP AND SHE'LL KILL HIM. SHE SPOTS HER NEXT DATE -- OR IS IT "VICTIM?" FOR THE MALE JUMPING SPIDER, FLIRTING WITH A FEMALE IS A DANGEROUS GAME. IF HE FAILS, SHE'LL STAB HIM WITH HER POISON FANGS AND SLURP OUT HIS INSIDES. BEFORE HE GETS ANY CLOSER, HE'LL HAVE TO IMPRESS HER WITH A DANCE. SHE'S PLAYING HARD TO GET. BUT HE'S NOT GONNA GIVE UP. IT'S TIME TO MAKE HIS MOVE. HE'S GOT TO PUT ON HIS BEST SHOW TO CONVINCE HER HE'S A BETTER MATE THAN A MEAL. FOR HIS GRAND FINALE, HE SINGS HER A SONG. [ BUZZING ] SPIDERS DON'T HAVE EARS, BUT SHE CAN FEEL HIS VIBRATIONS BUZZING UP THROUGH HER LEGS. [ BUZZING ] HE CASTS HIS SPELL... [ BUZZING CONTINUES ] ...AND SHE IS MESMERIZED. WITH THE COURTSHIP OVER, THE MALE GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS. HE PRODUCES WEBS OF *** AND INSERTS THEM INTO HER GENITAL OPENING. HE ESCAPES WITH HIS LIFE, AND SHE IS LEFT PREGNANT WITH DOZENS OF BABIES. [ BOING! ] A SWELTERING PRAIRIE SUMMER HAS GOT THE BISON ALL HOT AND BOTHERED. [ LOWS ] TESTOSTERONE HAS PUMPED UP A FRESH CLASS OF HOT-HEADED RIVALS. [ SNORTING ] DRIVE TO MATE SURGES THROUGH THEIR VEINS AND THROWS THEM INTO BATTLE. THE OLD-TIMER IS DEFEATED. THE NEWCOMER HAS TAKEN THIS ROUND, AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE, HAS THE RIGHT TO MATE. BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME. THE CLOCK ON SUMMER IS RUNNING OUT. IT'S ALMOST SEPTEMBER, AND FOR THE POCKET GOPHER, THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE. [ SQUEAKS ] THIS BUSY LITTLE HOARDER'S BEEN PREPPING FOR WINTER. UNLIKE THE PRAIRIE DOG, HE'S A COMPLETE LONER -- NERVOUS AND SUSPICIOUS. [ SQUEAKING ] HE'S GOT SPECTACULARLY BAD EYESIGHT, AND HE'S ALMOST COMPLETELY DEAF. BUT HIS WHISKERS CAN PICK UP EVEN THE SLIGHTEST VIBRATION. [ BUZZING ] [ SQUEAKS ] THE BOBCAT IS AMONG THE STEALTHIEST HUNTERS ON THE CONTINENT, BUT AS ANY GARDENER KNOWS, CATCHING A GOPHER ISN'T EASY. HE ALMOST NEVER LEAVES THE SAFETY OF HIS HOLE. INSTEAD, HE MOVES BY DRILLING THROUGH THE DIRT. AND FOR THE CAT, PREDICTING WHERE THE LITTLE PROSPECTOR WILL POP UP NEXT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. JUST THE SLIGHTEST MISSTEP CAN SPOIL THE ATTACK. [ SQUEAKING ] THE GOPHER HAS AMAZING REFLEXES AND CAN VANISH IN LESS THAN A TENTH OF A SECOND. THIS IS A LESSON IN PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE. [ SQUEAKING ] [ YELPING ] TWO HOURS TO MAKE A SINGLE KILL, AND WHEN IT TAKES THIS LONG TO CATCH YOUR FOOD, WHY RUSH MEALTIME? [ HUFFING ] [ SNORTS ] ON THE PRAIRIE, SUMMER CAN COME TO AN ABRUPT END. THE SUDDEN CRASH INTO WINTER WEATHER -- A DEADLY SWITCH THAT CAN HAPPEN OVERNIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. [ WHINES ] [ SQUAWKING ] LATE SEPTEMBER. FOR THOSE WITH NOTHING TO TIE THEM DOWN, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. AS WINTER CLOSES IN, 400 MILLION BIRDS TAKE TO THE SKIES OVER THE HEARTLAND AND HEAD SOUTH. A FLOCK OF SANDHILL CRANES LINGERS. BUT THEY CAN'T DELAY MUCH LONGER. THE FIRST SNOWFALL IS A WARNING. [ TRILLS ] AHEAD OF THEM IS A 1,500-MILE JOURNEY TO MEXICO. IT'S THE FINAL PHASE IN THE MASS EVACUATION OF THE PRAIRIE. THOSE LEFT BEHIND NOW HAVE NO ESCAPE. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE AIR MASSES BATTLING OVER THE CONTINENT REACHES A TIPPING POINT. THE WARM SOUTHERN FRONT STRUGGLING AGAINST THE NORTHERN WINDS IS DEFEATED. ICY POLAR AIR NOW RUSHES DOWN THE OPEN PRAIRIE. ONLY THE STRONG WILL SURVIVE. DAYBREAK, 100 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DENVER. A SUDDEN COLD SNAP HAS TRANSFORMED THE LAND. NOTHING BUT FROZEN EARTH FROM THE NORTHERN YUKON TO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. IN WINTER, SETTLERS IN THEIR SOD HUTS FOUND THEMSELVES MAROONED IN A FEATURELESS VOID. DISTANCES ON THE PRAIRIE SEEMED TO MULTIPLY, THE HORIZON TWICE AS UNREACHABLE. IN THIS EXPOSED LANDSCAPE, PREY CAN CLEARLY SEE THEIR STALKERS. AMBUSH ATTACKS... [ GRUNTING ] ...BECOME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. IN EARLY WINTER, PRONGHORN HAVE THE UPPER HAND. ONE OF THE FASTEST LAND ANIMALS ON EARTH, THEY CAN OUTRUN EVEN A CHEETAH. ON THE ROCK-HARD SOIL OF THE FROZEN PRAIRIE, THEY CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 60 MILES PER HOUR. CHEETAHS CAN ONLY SPRINT AT THAT PACE. PRONGHORN CAN RUN AT 40 FOR MILES WITHOUT STOPPING. BUT WINTER HAS JUST BEGUN. [ WIND HOWLING ] SNOWSTORM AFTER SNOWSTORM SWEEPS DOWN FROM THE NORTH. 60-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS. FOR THE BISON, WINTER IS A FIGHT AGAINST STARVATION. THEY MUST CONSUME OVER 20 POUNDS OF GRASS A DAY TO STAY ALIVE. [ HOWLING CONTINUES ] THE BISON BURN MORE CALORIES THAN THEY CONSUME. AS THE WEEKS GRIND ON, THEY GROW WEAKER. FOR SOME, IT'S SIMPLY TOO MUCH. THE 9-MONTH-OLD CALF, EXHAUSTED AND DISORIENTED. THE HERD MUST MOVE ON WITHOUT HIM. IN NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS, THE DEAD ARE GUIDED INTO THE AFTERLIFE BY THEIR ANCESTORS. IN THE DARK OF THE WINTER NIGHT, THE FLAMES OF THEIR TORCHES LIGHT THE WAY. AROUND THE WINTER SOLSTICE, THESE NORTHERN LIGHTS SEEM TO PLUNGE SOUTH OVER THE PLAINS, VISIBLE AS FAR DOWN AS EVEN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, FURTHER SOUTH THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET. THEY'RE OUR FLEETING GLIMPSE OF THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD, A FORCE THAT'S OTHERWISE INVISIBLE, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A COMPASS. BUT THERE'S ONE AMAZING HUNTER WHO'S GOT THAT NAVIGATIONAL BEACON HARDWIRED INTO HIS BLOOD. THE FOX. THIS CLEVER CANINE HAS AN AMAZING SET OF SKILLS. DEEP SNOW COVERS THE BLACK HILLS OF THE DAKOTAS, AND HIDDEN UNDER THAT ICY BLANKET, FIELD MICE ARE STIRRING. THE ODDS OF CATCHING ANYTHING MIGHT SEEM HOPELESS, BUT NOT TO HIM. AN ENORMOUS LEAP TO CATCH A CRITTER UNDER THREE FEET OF SNOW. BUT HOW THE HECK DID HE DO IT? HE'S HOMING IN ON SOMETHING. BUT IT TAKES IMMENSE CONCENTRATION, AND HE NEEDS COMPLETE QUIET. HIS EARS CAN PICK UP THE FAINTEST SCAMPER FROM BENEATH THE SNOW. BUT THERE'S A CATCH. HE ALMOST ALWAYS COMES UP EMPTY-HANDED, UNLESS HE'S FACING NORTH. BUT HOW'S THAT POSSIBLE? AS UNBELIEVABLE AS IT SOUNDS, SCIENTISTS NOW THINK HE'S ACTUALLY HOMING IN ON THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE PLANET, USING IT TO CALCULATE AND PLOT HIS TRAJECTORY -- THE KIND OF MATH MISSILES USE TO HIT THEIR TARGETS. JUST THE SLIGHTEST DISTRACTION CAN THROW HIM OFF. BUT IF HE'S GOT THE NORTH POLE IN HIS SIGHTS... HE'S GUARANTEED A MEAL NEARLY 75% OF THE TIME. [ SQUEAKING ] [ SQUEAKING STOPS ] [ WIND HOWLING ] THE LENGTH OF WINTER HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE, SUMMER NOW JUST A VAGUE MEMORY THAT'S GROWN COLD. BUT JUST AS IT SEEMS THAT TIME HAS STOPPED COMPLETELY, THE SOUND OF LIFE RETURNS. [ HONKING ] SNOW GEESE ARE THE FIRST WAVE OF INVASION INTO WINTER. OPTIMISTIC MILLIONS HEAD NORTH ACROSS THE PLAINS. JUST OUTSIDE KANSAS CITY, THOSE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR FIND THIS LAKE STILL FROZEN. LANDINGS ARE HARD TO CONTROL. [ HONKING CONTINUES ] THESE GEESE MUST WAIT FOR THE ICE TO MELT BEFORE THEY CAN CONTINUE NORTH. THE MASTERS OF THE LAKE WELCOME THEIR GUESTS. [ CHIRPING ] [ HONKING ] WITH EACH PASSING DAY, MORE AND MORE WEARY FLOCKS PILE UP. OVER 200,000 GEESE NOW CLOG THE ICE... [ HONKING ] ...THE MOMENT THEIR HOSTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. [ HONKING CONTINUES ] THE EAGLES DELIBERATELY SCARE THE GEESE OFF THE SLIPPERY ICE. IN THE CHAOS OF A MASS TAKEOFF, GEESE COLLIDE AND CRASH INTO EACH OTHER, BREAKING BONES. ALONE ON THE ICE, THE INJURED GOOSE HAS NO ESCAPE. [ SQUAWKS ] [ CRYING ] THE CORPSE PICKED CLEAN, WHAT'S LEFT BECOMES A TOY. THE LAKE IS SILENT. THE GEESE, GONE. [ THUNDER RUMBLES ] EARLY MARCH. THE DRY WIND HAS ERASED THE SNOW FROM THE BLUE HILLS OF KANSAS. LAST SUMMER'S GRASS IS NOW A DEAD SEA OF STRAW. ONE ANIMAL IS IMPATIENT FOR SPRING TO ARRIVE. [ SQUAWKING ] THESE PRAIRIE CHICKENS ARE STRUTTING THEIR STUFF, HOPING TO CATCH THE EYE OF THE GALS. FANCY FOOTWORK. AND A BIT OF CLUCKING. [ CLUCKING ] BUT THE LADIES HAVE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE. THEY LIKE THEIR CHICKEN TOUGH. THE GENTS HAVE GOT TO PUFF THEMSELVES UP AND DUKE IT OUT. [ SQUAWKING ] DEFEAT... AND VICTORY. THIS LADY'S PICKED HER MAN. BUT THE OTHER SUITORS CAN'T BEAR IT. [ SQUAWKING ] JEALOUSY AND OUTRAGE REIGNITE. BUT THE FIGHT IS INTERRUPTED BY A LARGER THREAT. [ FIRE CRACKLING ] SPRING ROARS ONTO THE PRAIRIE WITH A VENGEANCE. 50-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS FAN THE FLAMES ACROSS THE HORIZON. THE BLAZE BURNS FOR DAYS, DEVOURING HUNDREDS OF ACRES. BUT ON THE PRAIRIE, FIRE IS THE ENGINE OF REBIRTH. A NEW WORLD SPRINGS FROM THE FERTILE ASH. Nina Simone: ♪ BIRDS FLYING HIGH ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ SUN IN THE SKY ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW DAWN ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW DAY ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW LIFE FOR ME, YEAH ♪ ♪ AND I'M FEELIN' GOOD ♪ [ "FEELING GOOD" CONTINUES ] ♪ FISH IN THE SEA ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ RIVER RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ BLOSSOM ON THE TREE ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW DAWN ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW DAY ♪ ♪ IT'S A NEW LIFE ♪ ♪ FOR ME ♪ ♪ AND I'M FEELIN' GOOD ♪ [ GOBBLES ] ♪ DRAGONFLY OUT IN THE SUN ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DON'T YOU KNOW ♪ ♪ BUTTERFLIES ALL HAVIN' FUN ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ♪ ♪ SLEEP IN PEACE WHEN THE DAY IS DONE ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ♪ ♪ AND THIS OLD WORLD IS A NEW WORLD ♪ ♪ AND A BOLD WORLD ♪ ♪ FOR ME, YEAH, YEAH ♪ Narrator: THE PRAIRIE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE, BUT ON THIS CONTINENT, THE FIGHT TO SURVIVE IS NEVER OVER. BEYOND THE PRAIRIE LOOM EVEN GREATER CHALLENGES -- A BATTLEGROUND HARSHER THAN ANY OTHER. NORTH AMERICA TESTS ALL WHO DARE TO CALL IT HOME. THE LARGEST LAND ANIMALS ON THE CONTINENT AREN'T DIFFICULT TO FIND. EASY. GOOD LAD. EASY. [ LOWS ] THE TRICKY PART IS FILMING THEM WITHOUT GETTING TRAMPLED, ESPECIALLY DURING MATING SEASON. WHEN HUGE BULLS GO HEAD TO HEAD, THEY DON'T CARE WHAT GETS IN THEIR WAY. Thurston: YEAH? GAVIN, YOU NEED TO MOVE. FILM CREW GAVIN THURSTON AND ADAM CHAPMAN KEPT GETTING FORCED INTO RETREAT. SOLUTION -- A STABILIZED GYROSCOPIC CAMERA MOUNTED TO THEIR ATV -- A MAKESHIFT MOBILE FILMING UNIT... ...ABLE TO KEEP ROLLING EVEN WHILE RUNNING AWAY. WE'RE STILL ALIVE.