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[ Wind howling ]

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♪♪

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NARRATOR:
Each spring, millions of new
red fox pups enter the world.

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Regardless
of where they're born,

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the dark, earthy intimacy
of their natal den

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is similar the world over.

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But every family's story
is different.

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♪♪

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Red foxes have been running
up and down this coastline

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for thousands of years.

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But this vixen is unusual.

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She's a uniquely-colored
and rarely-seen kind of red fox.

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Her striking coat
is ideal camouflage

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for this environment --
her home territory.

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She's roamed it for years.

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But now, she's sticking close
to one specific spot.

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Her pups are growing restless.

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They're eager to break free
from the confines of their den.

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Now, under their mother's
watchful eye,

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they emerge
into a bright, new world.

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♪♪

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At five weeks old,

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these three pups
will spend more and more time

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outside the safety of their den.

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They will discover a place

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carefully chosen
by their mother,

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and it's perfect for them.

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♪♪

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Over the next six months,
we'll follow these pups

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as they grow
from wobbly-legged runts

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to the most cat-like of canids.

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Their first months
will be spent here,

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hundreds of feet above the
ocean, on a rocky outcrop.

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Their mother has found
an ideal playpen --

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a grassy meadow
hidden in the rocks.

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It keeps them safe
and out of sight from predators.

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Here, they'll get the chance
to stretch their legs

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and adjust to life

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on the outskirts
of a small fishing village

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on an island
in the Atlantic Ocean.

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♪♪

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[ Bell dinging ]

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[ Fox pups whimpering,
growling playfully ]

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This might look like cute play,

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but there's more going on
than meets the eye.

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[ Fox pups growling playfully ]

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With each bite and grab,

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these pups are battling
for dominance.

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[ Growling continues ]

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The victor gains
all the rewards,

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like first dibs on food

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and the best sleeping spots --

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body-building perks
that sharpen a pup's chance

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of surviving to adulthood.

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This battle may finish
aboveground,

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but it began
for these youngsters,

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like it does
for all red fox pups,

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weeks earlier underground.

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Sandra Alvarez-Betancourt
is the first scientist

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to gain a unique perspective

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into the underground world
of foxes.

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She's spent several years

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analyzing 1,000 hours
of fox home movies

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filmed inside a red fox den
in the wild.

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ALVAREZ-BETANCOURT:
It's really hard to get to see
all these behaviors,

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and I was the first one,
the lucky one

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to get to see them and try
to look at their behavior

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and extract as much information
as I could from them.

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NARRATOR: Sandra discovered
that red fox pups

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develop their social hierarchy

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much earlier than
anyone suspected.

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ALVAREZ-BETANCOURT:
From the third week on,

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once they have enough strength
to walk,

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actually, they start fighting.

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So the first social interactions
they show between theirselves

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are aggressive interactions.

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One of the most surprising
things

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was to see the vixen
not interacting with them

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when they were fighting.

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NARRATOR: These tiny pups'
fight for dominance

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will establish a pecking order
that will last their lifetime.

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These are serious battles.

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One in five pups does not
make it of the den alive.

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ALVAREZ-BETANCOURT: You think,
oh they wouldn't hurt a fly.

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Like, they're just
cute little puppies.

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But when you actually see them
behaving like this,

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you understand that
they are wild animals

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and that they have to develop
all these social behaviors

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that are so important
for them later in life.

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[ Fox pups snarling ]

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Even if she doesn't intervene
when they are fighting,

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you can see that the mother
always cares for them.

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You also see the tender part,
the nice part.

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It's not just fighting.

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Yeah, it's a privilege
to be able to see

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these kinds of things.

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NARRATOR: Red foxes can make
a home in the countryside,

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on the coast,

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and in some of
the most unexpected places.

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♪♪

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Over the last century,

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red foxes have been
stealthily moving

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into North American cities.

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But only now are we starting
to take notice of them.

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DRAKE: There's not a lot
of urban red fox research

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going on in North America.

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So we don't know
how prevalent red fox are here.

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But I would be
very, very surprised

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if there are not red fox
in most,

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if not all,
North American cities.

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[ Siren wails ]

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We really don't know what
these animals are doing
in other cities,

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and we're still trying to
figure out exactly what the heck

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they're doing in Madison,
to tell you the truth.

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NARRATOR: David Drake is
one of the few scientists

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investigating urban red foxes
in North America.

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He's been studying the success
strategies of urban canids

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for three years.

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And what he is discovering may
surprise a lot of city dwellers.

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DRAKE:
One of the things, I think,
that surprised us with foxes

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is just how compatible
they seem to be with people.

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They don't seem to be bothered
by people,

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they're living
right in people's backyards,

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they're under people's decks,

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they're denning
under people's garages,

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and they're certainly moving
up and down the neighborhoods,

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using the sidewalks, streets,
and yards, as well.

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NARRATOR:
David and his team are gathering
some of the first information

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on urban foxes in North America

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by live-trapping both
red foxes and coyotes.

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They attach radio collars
and ear tags to each animal

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to learn how many there are

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and how they're moving
through Madison.

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♪♪

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DRAKE:
The coyotes here in the city

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are tending to concentrate
most of their time and activity

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in the green spaces
within that urban landscape.

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So, parks and reserves
and things like that.

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Fox on the other hand
tend to spend most of their time

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in these developed landscapes,
like neighborhoods.

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And so, the question is,
are the fox in the neighborhoods

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because the coyotes
typically are not?

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We're still trying to
figure that puzzle out.

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♪♪

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Animals are moving
into the cities,

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and they're coming to us as much
as we might be coming to them.

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And we're going to discover
that a lot of these animals

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are probably more adaptable

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than we've ever
given them credit for.

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[ Dog barking ]
MAN: Hey!

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DRAKE:
Maybe it's out of necessity
they have to do that.

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But it also might be that cities

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are an okay place
to make a living as an animal.

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NARRATOR:
Like many wild animals,

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red foxes have come to the city
to explore a new way of life.

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[ Car alarm chirps ]

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What they're finding is a world

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rich with all
they could ever need,

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not just to survive
but to thrive.

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DRAKE:
It is a very nice neighborhood
we're standing in right now.

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But it is also a conveyor belt
of food for them.

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Think about all the rabbits that
you have in your neighborhood

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or all the squirrels
or small mammals.

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All of those are prey items
for fox.

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What we've found is that
they've maintained a
pretty natural diet.

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So, what you'd expect red fox
to eat out in the country,

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we're finding them eating
here mostly in the city.

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And, typically, what we find
is that they tend to be

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a little bit heavier
and healthier

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because there's just so much
food here for them to eat.

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They're not hurting for a meal,
so to speak.

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NARRATOR: Vixens are known

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to keep the areas
around their dens very neat,

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to give little sign
that pups are underground.

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But something changes about six
weeks after the pups are born.

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Once they're are outside
more often,

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feeding and fighting over food,
the area becomes much messier.

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And their sloppy housekeeping

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can be a magnet
for other animals.

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[ Fox barks ]

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♪♪

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[ Coyote sniffing, approaching ]

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At three times their size,

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an urban coyote is a formidable
threat to a red fox.

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[ Coyote sniffing ]

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[ Fox barks ]

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This mother is right
to be so concerned.

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These pups are an easy meal
for predators.

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One swipe of that coyote's paw
could kill a pup in a heartbeat.

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00:14:01,433 --> 00:14:04,333
[ Fox barks ]

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00:14:04,366 --> 00:14:07,700
Her alarm shrieks
warn her pups --

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00:14:07,733 --> 00:14:11,200
"Danger, stay underground!"

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00:14:11,233 --> 00:14:17,633
♪♪

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00:14:17,666 --> 00:14:19,533
[ Fox barks ]

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00:14:19,566 --> 00:14:22,166
But something else
is going on here.

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00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,133
She's taunting the coyotes...

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[ Fox barks ]

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...baiting them to chase her

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00:14:28,733 --> 00:14:30,433
in a last-ditch effort...

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00:14:30,466 --> 00:14:31,533
[ Coyote growls, fox barks ]

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00:14:31,566 --> 00:14:36,100
...to lure them away
and save her pups.

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00:14:36,133 --> 00:14:38,800
[ Dog barking ]

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00:14:38,833 --> 00:14:41,633
MAN: Hey! Let's go!

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00:14:41,666 --> 00:14:44,500
Hey! Hey!

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[ Barking continues ]

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00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,666
NARRATOR:
Most homeowners are oblivious

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00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:53,900
to the stories that play out
in their backyards,

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00:14:53,933 --> 00:14:56,433
but for the creatures
that live alongside us,

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00:14:56,466 --> 00:14:58,833
life is filled with drama.

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[ Birds calling ]

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♪♪

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♪♪

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00:15:15,966 --> 00:15:18,666
Cat-like whiskers,
teeth, and paws,

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combined with
their canid instincts,

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00:15:20,966 --> 00:15:23,400
make red foxes so versatile,

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00:15:23,433 --> 00:15:26,566
they can make a home
almost anywhere.

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STEPHEN: I think the most
misunderstood thing about foxes

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is you always hear how cunning
and sly they are.

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I just find this very hard
to visualize

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how this relates to a fox.

261
00:15:39,133 --> 00:15:42,400
To me, they're such
an intelligent animal.

262
00:15:42,433 --> 00:15:45,000
They're very adaptable,
they're very successful.

263
00:15:46,533 --> 00:15:48,300
NARRATOR: Stephen Harris
is one of the world's

264
00:15:48,333 --> 00:15:51,033
leading authorities
on red foxes.

265
00:15:51,066 --> 00:15:54,900
He's spent over 50 years
studying their social dynamics.

266
00:15:54,933 --> 00:15:58,600
But he's never seen a fox family
anywhere like this before,

267
00:15:58,633 --> 00:16:02,700
where only our cameras can
capture their hiding place.

268
00:16:02,733 --> 00:16:04,566
STEPHEN: Oh, there's a cub.

269
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,633
A cub's appeared,
a really dark-faced little cub.

270
00:16:07,666 --> 00:16:10,266
They don't normally
appear aboveground

271
00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:11,666
until they're about
four weeks old,

272
00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:15,133
so I think that looks, to me,
as a bit nearer six weeks.

273
00:16:15,166 --> 00:16:18,100
The vixen looks lovely.
Lovely animal.

274
00:16:18,133 --> 00:16:20,166
[ Fox pups
whimpering playfully ]

275
00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:22,333
Foxes are very good parents,
actually.

276
00:16:22,366 --> 00:16:24,100
You get this image
that they're not,

277
00:16:24,133 --> 00:16:26,033
but she spends a lot of time
playing with them,

278
00:16:26,066 --> 00:16:29,900
grooming them,
looking after them.

279
00:16:29,933 --> 00:16:32,900
Very affectionate.

280
00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:43,666
NARRATOR:
Making sure the pups are fed
is the vixen's main role.

281
00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:46,700
As she weans them,
she works overtime

282
00:16:46,733 --> 00:16:48,400
to bring in a variety of prey,

283
00:16:48,433 --> 00:16:52,700
to feed her pups and teach them
how to recognize a good meal.

284
00:16:54,133 --> 00:16:57,233
STEPHEN: Oh, impressive piece
of fish, I have to say.

285
00:17:00,333 --> 00:17:02,433
[ Birds calling ]

286
00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:06,100
NARRATOR: All this protein
makes them stronger,

287
00:17:06,133 --> 00:17:08,500
but they're still vulnerable.

288
00:17:08,533 --> 00:17:12,166
One bone swallowed the wrong way
could finish them.

289
00:17:14,866 --> 00:17:18,933
And when it comes to finding
food for her growing family,

290
00:17:18,966 --> 00:17:21,600
a mother is not alone.

291
00:17:21,633 --> 00:17:31,466
♪♪

292
00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:37,333
♪♪

293
00:17:37,366 --> 00:17:38,866
STEPHEN: For a long time,
people thought the father

294
00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:40,800
played no role
in the lives of red foxes.

295
00:17:40,833 --> 00:17:43,100
In fact, he's extremely
important to them.

296
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,166
He spends a lot of his time
off hunting

297
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,600
and bringing food to the pups.

298
00:17:53,433 --> 00:17:55,633
Might take it
directly to the pups,

299
00:17:55,666 --> 00:17:56,866
or he might leave it nearby

300
00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:58,666
for the vixen or the cubs
to find it.

301
00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:01,700
So it's quite common to see food
hidden all around the den site.

302
00:18:01,733 --> 00:18:03,866
[ Fox pups crying ]

303
00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:11,400
♪♪

304
00:18:11,433 --> 00:18:13,900
And he spends lots of time
with them.

305
00:18:13,933 --> 00:18:23,900
♪♪

306
00:18:23,933 --> 00:18:28,400
♪♪

307
00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:32,000
NARRATOR: Each year,
these loyal partners

308
00:18:32,033 --> 00:18:35,000
come together
to raise a new set of pups.

309
00:18:35,033 --> 00:18:37,833
Like most parents, they know
they have to be vigilant

310
00:18:37,866 --> 00:18:40,600
and ever ready
to protect their young.

311
00:18:40,633 --> 00:18:44,233
[ Bird calling ]

312
00:18:44,266 --> 00:18:46,666
[ Fox snarls ]

313
00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:51,466
[ Bird calling ]

314
00:18:51,500 --> 00:19:01,500
♪♪

315
00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:04,333
[ Birds cawing ]

316
00:19:04,366 --> 00:19:14,233
♪♪

317
00:19:14,266 --> 00:19:23,866
♪♪

318
00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:29,733
STEPHEN:
You always think of the male
as being dominant

319
00:19:29,766 --> 00:19:31,666
in a fox social group.

320
00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:35,066
Roald Dahl
had Fantastic Mr. Fox.

321
00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:37,300
But, of course,
he missed the point.

322
00:19:41,233 --> 00:19:44,433
The group cohesion
is down to the female.

323
00:19:44,466 --> 00:19:45,833
She feeds the cubs,

324
00:19:45,866 --> 00:19:49,033
she dominates
how the group operates,

325
00:19:49,066 --> 00:19:51,500
she is the core strength
for that group,

326
00:19:51,533 --> 00:19:54,633
and the dominant female is
the most important animal there.

327
00:19:54,666 --> 00:19:57,800
So, I think it is
a fantastic Mrs. Fox.

328
00:20:07,733 --> 00:20:17,700
♪♪

329
00:20:17,733 --> 00:20:27,666
♪♪

330
00:20:31,333 --> 00:20:32,666
NARRATOR: At eight weeks,

331
00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:34,733
our pups' faces
start to fill out

332
00:20:34,766 --> 00:20:37,300
and their fur begins
to take on their adult color.

333
00:20:37,333 --> 00:20:47,300
♪♪

334
00:20:47,333 --> 00:20:50,866
These pups are also noticing
something different --

335
00:20:50,900 --> 00:20:53,800
their mother is spending
less time with them.

336
00:20:53,833 --> 00:21:01,166
♪♪

337
00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,033
Their parents need to spend more
time away hunting to feed them.

338
00:21:06,966 --> 00:21:09,033
They leave food caches
around the den

339
00:21:09,066 --> 00:21:11,400
to tide the pups over
between visits.

340
00:21:11,433 --> 00:21:15,366
But the pups
need to search them out.

341
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,900
STEPHEN: It's very hard to know

342
00:21:17,933 --> 00:21:21,233
whether the mother actually
teaches the cubs anything.

343
00:21:21,266 --> 00:21:22,666
They'll see her doing things

344
00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:24,866
and might learn
and watch what she does,

345
00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:26,533
but, really, they always
seem to be on their own.

346
00:21:26,566 --> 00:21:29,400
They learn things
for themselves.

347
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,466
NARRATOR: On their own,
driven by hunger and boredom,

348
00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:40,933
the pups begin venturing further
from the safety of their den.

349
00:21:40,966 --> 00:21:50,933
♪♪

350
00:21:50,966 --> 00:21:53,533
[ Birds calling ]

351
00:21:53,566 --> 00:22:03,600
♪♪

352
00:22:03,633 --> 00:22:13,600
♪♪

353
00:22:13,633 --> 00:22:23,600
♪♪

354
00:22:23,633 --> 00:22:33,533
♪♪

355
00:22:33,566 --> 00:22:43,533
♪♪

356
00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:53,200
NARRATOR: This is a not
an easy place to grow up.

357
00:22:56,433 --> 00:23:00,666
Nature's beauty exists
alongside a harsher reality.

358
00:23:04,766 --> 00:23:14,766
♪♪

359
00:23:16,666 --> 00:23:18,866
One of our pups
failed to make it

360
00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:21,500
through a night
of stormy weather.

361
00:23:23,366 --> 00:23:27,866
For a mother, each of her young
is precious,

362
00:23:27,900 --> 00:23:32,100
but familiarity with death
runs deep

363
00:23:32,133 --> 00:23:34,600
in a predator's consciousness.

364
00:23:36,933 --> 00:23:39,100
This awareness began in our pups

365
00:23:39,133 --> 00:23:42,000
as they fought for dominance
inside the den.

366
00:23:44,133 --> 00:23:48,500
But now, a sibling's death
will drive that point home.

367
00:23:48,533 --> 00:23:58,466
♪♪

368
00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:04,000
♪♪

369
00:24:04,033 --> 00:24:05,766
For some animals,

370
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,766
death can have different
meanings than it has for us.

371
00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:19,700
♪♪

372
00:24:19,733 --> 00:24:29,400
♪♪

373
00:24:29,433 --> 00:24:31,600
Our dark male and red female pup

374
00:24:31,633 --> 00:24:34,600
are learning it's a tough world
for a predator.

375
00:24:34,633 --> 00:24:36,000
Like their mom,

376
00:24:36,033 --> 00:24:40,000
they will have to do
whatever they must to survive.

377
00:24:43,833 --> 00:24:46,733
[ Birds crying ]

378
00:24:46,766 --> 00:24:50,300
♪♪

379
00:25:08,866 --> 00:25:11,733
[ Whale sings ]

380
00:25:24,966 --> 00:25:28,333
[ Birds crying ]

381
00:25:42,666 --> 00:25:52,566
♪♪

382
00:25:52,600 --> 00:26:02,566
♪♪

383
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:09,033
♪♪

384
00:26:09,066 --> 00:26:13,833
Every summer in Newfoundland,
something astounding happens --

385
00:26:13,866 --> 00:26:16,733
the capelin boil-up.

386
00:26:18,433 --> 00:26:21,900
Millions of these little fish
come to the beach to spawn.

387
00:26:21,933 --> 00:26:25,533
And everyone comes out
to share in the bounty.

388
00:26:29,133 --> 00:26:32,200
[ Indistinct talking ]

389
00:26:32,233 --> 00:26:42,133
♪♪

390
00:26:46,833 --> 00:26:49,166
Come late summer,
our two surviving pups

391
00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,566
have grown to almost
two thirds their adult size.

392
00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,500
Their trademark
white-tipped tail

393
00:26:54,533 --> 00:26:56,400
acts like a rudder
and balances them

394
00:26:56,433 --> 00:26:59,333
so they can move about
these rocks with ease.

395
00:26:59,366 --> 00:27:02,433
♪♪

396
00:27:05,366 --> 00:27:07,100
They're teenagers now,

397
00:27:07,133 --> 00:27:09,600
living off the generosity
of their parents,

398
00:27:09,633 --> 00:27:13,333
who continue to leave food
caches for them to feast on.

399
00:27:13,366 --> 00:27:23,300
♪♪

400
00:27:25,666 --> 00:27:28,933
The siblings have not yet
developed into the loners

401
00:27:28,966 --> 00:27:31,833
they are sure to become
as adults.

402
00:27:31,866 --> 00:27:34,400
They still spend
a considerable amount of time

403
00:27:34,433 --> 00:27:36,866
in each others company.

404
00:27:41,533 --> 00:27:44,233
Their mother comes
to check on them,

405
00:27:44,266 --> 00:27:47,233
but the family dynamic
has changed.

406
00:27:47,266 --> 00:27:52,333
Their father is no longer
tolerant of his young...

407
00:27:54,100 --> 00:27:56,500
...so he stays away.

408
00:28:01,533 --> 00:28:04,866
Their mother's visits
tend to be short,

409
00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:06,700
and then she's off again,

410
00:28:06,733 --> 00:28:11,166
leaving the pups to fend for
themselves as darkness falls.

411
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,533
[ Wind whistling ]

412
00:28:16,166 --> 00:28:17,633
[ Insects chirping ]

413
00:28:17,666 --> 00:28:20,833
[ Whales singing ]

414
00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,566
[ Fox pup whimpers ]

415
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,233
With their cat-like eyes,

416
00:28:34,266 --> 00:28:37,133
the pups see well
in the dim evening light.

417
00:28:39,466 --> 00:28:42,666
But it's what they hear
in the darkness

418
00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:45,733
that likely causes them
the most concern.

419
00:28:45,766 --> 00:28:48,800
[ Insects chirping ]

420
00:28:48,833 --> 00:28:51,666
[ Coyote howls ]

421
00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:54,100
[ Wings flap ]

422
00:28:54,133 --> 00:29:02,333
♪♪

423
00:29:02,366 --> 00:29:05,233
[ Coyotes howling ]

424
00:29:05,266 --> 00:29:09,900
♪♪

425
00:29:09,933 --> 00:29:11,700
[ Branch snaps ]

426
00:29:11,733 --> 00:29:14,433
[ Rustling ]

427
00:29:14,466 --> 00:29:17,200
[ Animal calls ]

428
00:29:17,233 --> 00:29:19,066
[ Fox pup whimpers ]

429
00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:21,533
[ Animal calls ]

430
00:29:21,566 --> 00:29:23,700
[ Insects chirping ]

431
00:29:23,733 --> 00:29:26,233
[ Coyotes howling ]

432
00:29:26,266 --> 00:29:27,700
[ Fox pup whimpers ]

433
00:29:27,733 --> 00:29:30,366
It's a scary time for our pups.

434
00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,900
To survive, they need to be
strong and independent

435
00:29:33,933 --> 00:29:36,500
at the tender age
of three months.

436
00:29:38,366 --> 00:29:41,200
But red foxes are resilient.

437
00:29:41,233 --> 00:29:44,133
Perhaps more than
other kinds of foxes,

438
00:29:44,166 --> 00:29:46,000
like arctic or swift,

439
00:29:46,033 --> 00:29:48,266
red foxes are masters
at figuring out

440
00:29:48,300 --> 00:29:51,300
how to change and adapt
their behavior to survive,

441
00:29:51,333 --> 00:29:53,633
a remarkable skill
that's helping them

442
00:29:53,666 --> 00:29:56,733
move into new territory.

443
00:29:56,766 --> 00:30:00,300
[ Bird calling ]

444
00:30:00,333 --> 00:30:04,766
Red foxes are expanding their
range further and further north.

445
00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,100
And the arrival of the red fox

446
00:30:07,133 --> 00:30:10,533
has real consequences
for their Arctic cousins.

447
00:30:10,566 --> 00:30:15,633
ROTH: The arctic foxes have been
here since the glaciers receded,

448
00:30:15,666 --> 00:30:18,233
which was 10,000 years ago.

449
00:30:18,266 --> 00:30:19,633
I've not been studying
that long.

450
00:30:19,666 --> 00:30:22,400
I've been studying them up here
the past 22 years.

451
00:30:23,900 --> 00:30:25,366
Caribou on the mud flat there?

452
00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:29,033
PILOT: Yes, it is.
Okay, caribou at 10:00.

453
00:30:30,666 --> 00:30:33,633
ROTH: We've been surveying
all the dens in this area.

454
00:30:33,666 --> 00:30:36,766
We've got about 90 dens
on the tundra

455
00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,100
that we monitor every year
to figure out changes

456
00:30:40,133 --> 00:30:43,533
in the arctic fox and red fox
populations.

457
00:30:43,566 --> 00:30:45,200
And den sites are quite limited,

458
00:30:45,233 --> 00:30:47,500
because the tundra
is a very wet environment.

459
00:30:47,533 --> 00:30:50,033
You have permafrost
under the ground,

460
00:30:50,066 --> 00:30:52,566
so when all the snow melts,

461
00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,466
there's no place
for the water to go.

462
00:30:55,500 --> 00:30:57,900
And these gravel ridges
are beautiful places

463
00:30:57,933 --> 00:31:00,033
for these foxes
to build their dens,

464
00:31:00,066 --> 00:31:02,666
because they're very sandy and
the permafrost is much deeper.

465
00:31:02,700 --> 00:31:05,166
PILOT: There's foxes.
There's foxes.

466
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,533
ROTH: Yeah, look at that!

467
00:31:07,566 --> 00:31:10,233
So, the way these arctic foxes
operate

468
00:31:10,266 --> 00:31:12,600
is they have
very large litters.

469
00:31:12,633 --> 00:31:14,633
The largest litters
of any mammal.

470
00:31:14,666 --> 00:31:16,833
And all these pups
need a lot of food.

471
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,200
You can see lots of remains
of fresh prey.

472
00:31:23,233 --> 00:31:29,700
Most of these dens have old
goose bones from previous years,

473
00:31:29,733 --> 00:31:31,966
so you can tell that
they've been using these dens

474
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,066
for quite some time.

475
00:31:35,733 --> 00:31:37,833
NARRATOR: Generations
of these big families

476
00:31:37,866 --> 00:31:41,466
use the same den sites
for up to 300 years.

477
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,533
Dr. Jim Roth has shown
that this repeated use

478
00:31:44,566 --> 00:31:46,533
shapes the site into an oasis

479
00:31:46,566 --> 00:31:49,933
that can be seen on the tundra
up to a mile away.

480
00:31:49,966 --> 00:31:52,433
This makes it much easier
for him

481
00:31:52,466 --> 00:31:55,033
to find all the dens
in his study area,

482
00:31:55,066 --> 00:32:00,600
a vast land of shallow lakes,
emptiness, and polar bears.

483
00:32:00,633 --> 00:32:04,066
PILOT: Okay, so now we should be
heading to the...

484
00:32:04,100 --> 00:32:07,466
NARRATOR:
Jim figures that the three hours
he spends in the air

485
00:32:07,500 --> 00:32:09,400
surveying dens each summer

486
00:32:09,433 --> 00:32:11,766
is the most important part
of his research

487
00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,233
for the entire year.

488
00:32:14,266 --> 00:32:16,733
PILOT: All right, I've got E39
coming up on the left,

489
00:32:16,766 --> 00:32:18,866
grass, no willows.

490
00:32:18,900 --> 00:32:22,166
NARRATOR: Each den brings him
another piece of the puzzle

491
00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:25,066
about how red foxes
are expanding their reach

492
00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:27,766
into arctic fox territory.

493
00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:31,366
ROTH: We know that, in the past,
red foxes have used this den.

494
00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,800
But it looks like
the arctic foxes are back on it.

495
00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:40,366
Arctic foxes look very different
from red foxes.

496
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,500
They've got these
very short legs,

497
00:32:43,533 --> 00:32:46,233
short ears, short, blunt snout.

498
00:32:46,266 --> 00:32:48,200
It's just an adaptation

499
00:32:48,233 --> 00:32:50,066
for dealing with the harshness
of this environment,

500
00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:52,833
the strong selective pressures
that were placed on foxes

501
00:32:52,866 --> 00:32:55,233
when they expanded up
into the north.

502
00:32:57,366 --> 00:33:01,100
That's why they have such
small appendages and small ears,

503
00:33:01,133 --> 00:33:03,000
to conserve body heat.

504
00:33:05,666 --> 00:33:09,333
They're really curious critters,
these arctic foxes.

505
00:33:09,366 --> 00:33:11,700
They're so bold.

506
00:33:11,733 --> 00:33:14,733
♪♪

507
00:33:17,466 --> 00:33:19,033
NARRATOR:
Their brazenness may come from

508
00:33:19,066 --> 00:33:21,866
having few predators
in this landscape,

509
00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:25,733
or it could be that living in
a big family emboldens them.

510
00:33:25,766 --> 00:33:29,500
Either way, it didn't
take these pups long

511
00:33:29,533 --> 00:33:32,366
to walk right up
to our motion-sensor cameras

512
00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,666
and have their way with them.

513
00:33:34,700 --> 00:33:44,600
♪♪

514
00:33:44,633 --> 00:33:54,566
♪♪

515
00:33:54,600 --> 00:34:00,900
♪♪

516
00:34:00,933 --> 00:34:03,166
[ Rustling ]

517
00:34:07,266 --> 00:34:17,200
♪♪

518
00:34:17,233 --> 00:34:25,766
♪♪

519
00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:28,966
Nowhere on Earth are the effects
of the warming climate

520
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,633
more deeply felt
than in the Arctic.

521
00:34:34,266 --> 00:34:37,033
With warming temperatures
come change,

522
00:34:37,066 --> 00:34:41,000
distress, and opportunity.

523
00:34:43,466 --> 00:34:46,500
ROTH: Red foxes have occurred
in the arctic

524
00:34:46,533 --> 00:34:48,866
for hundreds of years,

525
00:34:48,900 --> 00:34:51,566
just not in very big numbers.

526
00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:56,800
But now we have documented
red foxes out in the tundra

527
00:34:56,833 --> 00:35:00,000
reproducing
for several years in a row,

528
00:35:00,033 --> 00:35:03,833
using the dens
that, historically,

529
00:35:03,866 --> 00:35:06,566
the arctic foxes
have been using.

530
00:35:08,166 --> 00:35:11,333
So, the fact that red foxes
are using more and more
of these dens

531
00:35:11,366 --> 00:35:13,300
[sighs]

532
00:35:13,333 --> 00:35:15,700
may not bode well
for arctic foxes.

533
00:35:15,733 --> 00:35:19,633
Because we know that red foxes
do kill arctic foxes.

534
00:35:20,866 --> 00:35:23,266
NARRATOR: Arctic fox numbers
have been in decline

535
00:35:23,300 --> 00:35:25,100
for several years now.

536
00:35:25,133 --> 00:35:26,900
Scientists
are trying to figure out

537
00:35:26,933 --> 00:35:30,066
if this is due to
the encroachment of red foxes

538
00:35:30,100 --> 00:35:33,833
or if other factors are at play
in this changing environment,

539
00:35:33,866 --> 00:35:36,200
like food availability.

540
00:35:36,233 --> 00:35:46,066
♪♪

541
00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:47,833
ROTH: This time of year,
there's plenty of food around,

542
00:35:47,866 --> 00:35:49,433
plenty of geese around.

543
00:35:49,466 --> 00:35:52,566
They're not really needing
to compete for food.

544
00:35:54,333 --> 00:35:57,133
In the wintertime, it's
a completely different story.

545
00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:04,800
NARRATOR:
In winter, the arctic fox's
color changes to white.

546
00:36:04,833 --> 00:36:07,566
Thick fur
covers their entire body.

547
00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:09,466
Even their feet
are padded with fur

548
00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:12,433
to insulate them from the cold.

549
00:36:12,466 --> 00:36:15,700
They're perfectly built
for this landscape,

550
00:36:15,733 --> 00:36:19,300
where temperatures
can reach 70 below.

551
00:36:19,333 --> 00:36:23,733
Red foxes aren't as equipped
for the cold.

552
00:36:23,766 --> 00:36:25,366
ROTH:
Winter is when food is limited,

553
00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:27,766
winter is when it's a hard time
to survive.

554
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:31,033
That's when the animals
feel the need to escalate

555
00:36:31,066 --> 00:36:32,833
if they're in danger
of starving.

556
00:36:32,866 --> 00:36:37,700
So, I've found pieces
of arctic fox at red fox dens.

557
00:36:37,733 --> 00:36:41,300
A white paw, a white tail.

558
00:36:41,333 --> 00:36:42,966
I don't know how much

559
00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,200
they consume the arctic foxes
when they kill them,

560
00:36:46,233 --> 00:36:49,100
but I think that one
that was killed

561
00:36:49,133 --> 00:36:50,966
in front of a bunch
of photographers,

562
00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,000
got all that press,

563
00:36:53,033 --> 00:36:56,366
it did look like the red fox
was eating the arctic fox.

564
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:59,866
And that was, you know,
November, snow on the land,

565
00:36:59,900 --> 00:37:02,200
the geese were all gone,

566
00:37:02,233 --> 00:37:06,466
and it was probably --
probably pretty hungry.

567
00:37:09,566 --> 00:37:12,533
[ Goose honking ]

568
00:37:12,566 --> 00:37:17,400
Changes in the arctic climate
are creating opportunities

569
00:37:17,433 --> 00:37:22,033
that red foxes are really
well-adapted to exploit.

570
00:37:22,066 --> 00:37:24,100
Red foxes are smart.

571
00:37:24,133 --> 00:37:27,600
They can make a living
anywhere in the world.

572
00:37:27,633 --> 00:37:30,633
♪♪

573
00:37:34,366 --> 00:37:38,100
[ Birds chirping ]

574
00:37:46,866 --> 00:37:49,066
♪♪

575
00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:51,833
NARRATOR:
Foxes are solitary hunters.

576
00:37:51,866 --> 00:37:55,333
Unlike other canids
such as wolves and coyotes,

577
00:37:55,366 --> 00:37:57,533
fox parents
don't encourage their young

578
00:37:57,566 --> 00:37:59,666
to join them on hunts.

579
00:37:59,700 --> 00:38:03,333
So, figuring out
how to feed themselves

580
00:38:03,366 --> 00:38:06,533
will be a matter of trial
and error for our two pups.

581
00:38:06,566 --> 00:38:16,533
♪♪

582
00:38:16,566 --> 00:38:26,366
♪♪

583
00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:36,233
♪♪

584
00:38:36,266 --> 00:38:38,833
The first food young pups
find for themselves

585
00:38:38,866 --> 00:38:41,300
tends to be
a little less mobile.

586
00:38:43,333 --> 00:38:45,500
Worms, insects, and berries

587
00:38:45,533 --> 00:38:48,166
are a mainstay
of a young fox's diet.

588
00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,800
And though these pups were born
into a land lacking in worms,

589
00:38:51,833 --> 00:38:55,233
lucky for them, Newfoundland
is rich with berries.

590
00:38:55,266 --> 00:39:05,200
♪♪

591
00:39:05,233 --> 00:39:15,166
♪♪

592
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:25,066
♪♪

593
00:39:26,300 --> 00:39:29,266
These easy meals
won't be around for long.

594
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:32,000
But they'll give the pups
enough nourishment to survive

595
00:39:32,033 --> 00:39:34,833
until their hunting skills
improve.

596
00:39:37,633 --> 00:39:41,800
There are places in the world
where food is so easy to come by

597
00:39:41,833 --> 00:39:45,233
that hunting skills
are not required.

598
00:39:45,266 --> 00:39:55,200
♪♪

599
00:39:55,233 --> 00:40:05,200
♪♪

600
00:40:05,233 --> 00:40:08,233
♪♪

601
00:40:10,866 --> 00:40:14,533
Stephen Harris doesn't have to
travel far to observe foxes.

602
00:40:14,566 --> 00:40:17,466
They come right into
his back garden.

603
00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:21,533
STEPHEN: I just think
it's absolutely fascinating

604
00:40:21,566 --> 00:40:23,066
watching them,

605
00:40:23,100 --> 00:40:25,633
watching their lives,
how they change over the years.

606
00:40:25,666 --> 00:40:28,600
I've learned more about foxes
just watching them in my garden

607
00:40:28,633 --> 00:40:30,700
than actually all the scientific
studies I've done.

608
00:40:30,733 --> 00:40:33,333
Because you follow every day
of their lives,

609
00:40:33,366 --> 00:40:35,433
you see how they change,
you see how they interact,

610
00:40:35,466 --> 00:40:38,433
you see who's dominant,
who's breeding, who's not.

611
00:40:38,466 --> 00:40:41,500
And it really is like
a little vulpine soap opera.

612
00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:44,566
So, that's our nightly routine.

613
00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,700
I think it's wonderful.

614
00:40:46,733 --> 00:40:48,466
That one's tagged.
It's one of the males.

615
00:40:48,500 --> 00:40:50,966
If you look,
it's got a tag in each ear,

616
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,233
and he's one
of the subordinate males.

617
00:40:53,266 --> 00:40:55,866
There's another one
come through -- number three.

618
00:40:55,900 --> 00:40:58,266
That's another one of
the subordinate males.

619
00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:03,333
What the foxes like

620
00:41:03,366 --> 00:41:06,300
is exactly what we have
in many British cities.

621
00:41:06,333 --> 00:41:08,333
There's cover, there's places
for them to breed,

622
00:41:08,366 --> 00:41:10,466
there's plenty of food.

623
00:41:10,500 --> 00:41:12,933
They get quite a bit of food
provisioned for them, as well.

624
00:41:12,966 --> 00:41:16,233
About 70%, 80% of the diet
of these guys out there

625
00:41:16,266 --> 00:41:19,300
is actually provided for them
by local householders.

626
00:41:19,333 --> 00:41:23,500
ALEX: Now, what have I got
for you, hey?

627
00:41:23,533 --> 00:41:25,900
What have I got?

628
00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:31,466
STEPHEN: In Britain,
people get great joy

629
00:41:31,500 --> 00:41:33,500
from feeding animals
in their garden.

630
00:41:33,533 --> 00:41:35,766
It's different to what you
might do in North America,

631
00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:38,200
because, of course, we don't
have rabies in this country,

632
00:41:38,233 --> 00:41:41,200
we don't have many other
diseases animals might convey.

633
00:41:41,233 --> 00:41:43,766
But, also, we don't
have to worry about

634
00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:47,100
if we feed foxes, will bears
or anything dangerous
come into the garden.

635
00:41:47,133 --> 00:41:51,300
♪♪

636
00:41:52,733 --> 00:41:54,300
ALEX: They're not tame.

637
00:41:54,333 --> 00:41:57,100
I don't encourage them
to hand-feed

638
00:41:57,133 --> 00:42:01,300
or come into the house
or have interaction with us.

639
00:42:01,333 --> 00:42:04,766
But they do know that if
I go out there, I'm fine.

640
00:42:06,833 --> 00:42:09,700
STEPHEN: Sometimes here
we'll feed them.

641
00:42:09,733 --> 00:42:11,766
Once they feed,
they'll be straight off,

642
00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:14,266
they'll go to someone else
who's feeding down the road,

643
00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:15,866
and then they'll come back
later in the evening

644
00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:18,433
to see if there's anything more
in the garden for them.

645
00:42:19,566 --> 00:42:21,566
SUE: I love them.

646
00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:23,333
Some of them sit
and look at you.

647
00:42:23,366 --> 00:42:25,133
They actually watch
and they wait.

648
00:42:25,166 --> 00:42:27,500
You know, "It's time
for my food, please."

649
00:42:27,533 --> 00:42:30,833
This is the sausages that have
been cut up for the babies.

650
00:42:30,866 --> 00:42:33,700
And there's larger sausages
for the older ones.

651
00:42:33,733 --> 00:42:37,200
And this is the jam
and peanut butter sandwiches

652
00:42:37,233 --> 00:42:40,033
for the badgers,
which sometimes the foxes pinch.

653
00:42:40,066 --> 00:42:42,133
Well, a friend of mine
was feeding a fox

654
00:42:42,166 --> 00:42:45,400
with the sausage food,
and I started doing it.

655
00:42:47,033 --> 00:42:49,766
And the sausages, obviously,
have to be fresh every day.

656
00:42:51,366 --> 00:42:55,366
NARRATOR: Sue Lester and her
husband, Bob, are nature fans.

657
00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,566
They feed foxes for
two or three hours every night.

658
00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:00,433
Their reward?

659
00:43:00,466 --> 00:43:03,866
Having their own nature show
play out in their backyard.

660
00:43:08,266 --> 00:43:11,566
ANNA: Out! Shoo! Go! Get out!

661
00:43:12,733 --> 00:43:14,400
SUE: Anna's next door
shouting at them.

662
00:43:14,433 --> 00:43:16,166
BOB: Is she?

663
00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:18,533
PRIOR:
They are a type of vermin.

664
00:43:18,566 --> 00:43:22,000
I can't leave the doors open
in the house in the summer

665
00:43:22,033 --> 00:43:24,033
because I'm afraid of the foxes
coming in,

666
00:43:24,066 --> 00:43:25,666
because that's what they do.

667
00:43:25,700 --> 00:43:28,300
You have to be very careful
because they go in your bin

668
00:43:28,333 --> 00:43:30,800
and spread the rubbish
all over the place.

669
00:43:31,900 --> 00:43:34,166
[ Crow caws ]

670
00:43:35,866 --> 00:43:39,100
I wouldn't like
to see them slaughtered,

671
00:43:39,133 --> 00:43:41,533
just kind of gone, really.

672
00:43:41,566 --> 00:43:45,433
And the trouble is,
it's not just the odd one.

673
00:43:45,466 --> 00:43:49,300
They are in huge numbers now.

674
00:43:49,333 --> 00:43:51,933
[ Siren wails ]

675
00:43:51,966 --> 00:43:55,066
NARRATOR:
There are more than a quarter
of a million adult red foxes

676
00:43:55,100 --> 00:43:56,366
in Great Britain,

677
00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:59,600
and many of them live in cities.

678
00:43:59,633 --> 00:44:09,566
♪♪

679
00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:11,700
STEPHEN: Now, in this area,

680
00:44:11,733 --> 00:44:18,433
we might have 40 to 60 adult
foxes per square kilometer.

681
00:44:21,900 --> 00:44:24,233
MAN: There's that fox again.

682
00:44:24,266 --> 00:44:27,066
WOMAN: Those foxes
are always around here.

683
00:44:29,233 --> 00:44:32,000
STEPHEN:
Cities elsewhere in the world
probably are not quite as many.

684
00:44:32,033 --> 00:44:34,633
Some cities
are getting foxes now.

685
00:44:34,666 --> 00:44:37,966
In Britain, anywhere you've got
this 1930s suburbia,

686
00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,566
you're gonna have quite high
densities of foxes.

687
00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:44,633
NARRATOR: Red foxes are one of
the largest wild carnivores

688
00:44:44,666 --> 00:44:45,966
in Great Britain,

689
00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:50,300
and as such, they rule the
streets and own the night.

690
00:44:50,333 --> 00:44:52,800
[ Indistinct talking ]

691
00:44:52,833 --> 00:44:54,000
[ Glass breaks ]

692
00:44:54,033 --> 00:44:55,733
STEPHEN: Nowadays,
you look at a fox

693
00:44:55,766 --> 00:44:58,600
and you would certainly think
of it being very successful.

694
00:44:58,633 --> 00:45:00,466
[ Horn honking in distance ]

695
00:45:00,500 --> 00:45:04,433
It's actually one of the most
widespread land mammals

696
00:45:04,466 --> 00:45:06,800
in the world.

697
00:45:06,833 --> 00:45:08,600
I think one of the problems
we have as people

698
00:45:08,633 --> 00:45:10,733
is we don't like other animals
that are successful.

699
00:45:10,766 --> 00:45:12,300
We think, "Okay,
there's too many of them.

700
00:45:12,333 --> 00:45:14,733
They need controlling."
Well, why?

701
00:45:14,766 --> 00:45:16,333
Just because they're successful

702
00:45:16,366 --> 00:45:18,900
doesn't mean
they have to be controlled.

703
00:45:18,933 --> 00:45:21,000
[ Siren wailing ]

704
00:45:21,033 --> 00:45:24,033
♪♪

705
00:45:28,033 --> 00:45:30,233
NARRATOR: Foxes
aren't the only wild animals

706
00:45:30,266 --> 00:45:33,200
thriving in British backyards.

707
00:45:33,233 --> 00:45:41,333
♪♪

708
00:45:41,366 --> 00:45:44,166
STEPHEN: At night, the badgers
will turn up, as well.

709
00:45:44,200 --> 00:45:47,766
So,. lots of animals
will take the food.

710
00:45:51,433 --> 00:45:55,066
NARRATOR: Foxes prefer
to keep clear of the badgers,

711
00:45:55,100 --> 00:45:58,566
so they wait their turn to eat.

712
00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,133
♪♪

713
00:46:04,833 --> 00:46:07,300
Fifty years
of dedicated research

714
00:46:07,333 --> 00:46:11,233
have given Steve a rare window
into these enigmatic creatures.

715
00:46:11,266 --> 00:46:16,133
His findings have shed new light
on their relationships,

716
00:46:16,166 --> 00:46:19,533
and his passion for
understanding red fox society

717
00:46:19,566 --> 00:46:23,733
is as strong now
as when he began.

718
00:46:25,366 --> 00:46:27,966
STEPHEN: In Britain,
we have bigger litters

719
00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:29,533
and also bigger social groups.

720
00:46:29,566 --> 00:46:31,933
There's many more interactions
between them,

721
00:46:31,966 --> 00:46:35,000
and there's much more hierarchy
there.

722
00:46:35,033 --> 00:46:37,866
That's why we see such
interesting social interactions

723
00:46:37,900 --> 00:46:40,166
which you don't see
in North America.

724
00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:43,066
Very often, they're signaling
with their tails

725
00:46:43,100 --> 00:46:45,866
and their ears
and the shape of their face.

726
00:46:45,900 --> 00:46:48,066
They rush over
and they put themselves low,

727
00:46:48,100 --> 00:46:50,533
they wag their tail, they've got
a silly grin on their face,

728
00:46:50,566 --> 00:46:54,966
their ears are back, that's a
submissive greeting posture.

729
00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:57,666
They carry their tails
in different positions,

730
00:46:57,700 --> 00:47:00,333
particularly when you have
more than one together.

731
00:47:00,366 --> 00:47:02,433
Sometimes they'll start
lifting their tails a bit

732
00:47:02,466 --> 00:47:04,433
to signal who's dominant.

733
00:47:04,466 --> 00:47:06,300
So, yes,
there are subtle messages,

734
00:47:06,333 --> 00:47:08,566
but it is actually
quite complex.

735
00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:10,433
So, we're trying
to unravel it now,

736
00:47:10,466 --> 00:47:12,233
but I'm not really sure
I fully understand

737
00:47:12,266 --> 00:47:14,766
what signal
they're giving each other.

738
00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:17,700
[ Siren wails ]

739
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:21,200
They are a fascinating species
to study.

740
00:47:21,233 --> 00:47:24,466
They're so adaptable, so many
things change all the time,

741
00:47:24,500 --> 00:47:25,866
and you think you know it all,

742
00:47:25,900 --> 00:47:28,366
and then you realize
you know very little.

743
00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:34,066
♪♪

744
00:47:35,933 --> 00:47:38,933
♪♪

745
00:47:42,266 --> 00:47:44,100
NARRATOR: Red foxes in Bristol

746
00:47:44,133 --> 00:47:47,166
live in large family groups
for years.

747
00:47:47,200 --> 00:47:50,800
But that is an adaptation
to city life.

748
00:47:55,133 --> 00:47:57,266
It's different for other foxes,

749
00:47:57,300 --> 00:47:59,433
like our six-month-old
Newfoundland pups,

750
00:47:59,466 --> 00:48:04,433
nearly full-grown and bursting
with adolescent energy.

751
00:48:04,466 --> 00:48:07,300
For them,
autumn signals the time

752
00:48:07,333 --> 00:48:10,533
to leave the safety
of their parents' territory.

753
00:48:13,266 --> 00:48:16,600
♪♪

754
00:48:16,633 --> 00:48:18,933
But not all pups leave.

755
00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:24,866
Our vixen has allowed her female
pup to stay in their home turf.

756
00:48:26,166 --> 00:48:29,533
It's a carefree life until
her mother puts her to work

757
00:48:29,566 --> 00:48:32,166
helping to catch food
for her new siblings.

758
00:48:32,200 --> 00:48:37,466
♪♪

759
00:48:39,566 --> 00:48:43,666
For males, it's best to be bold
and strike out on their own.

760
00:48:43,700 --> 00:48:47,333
And for that,
they gotta move.

761
00:48:47,366 --> 00:48:55,833
♪♪

762
00:48:55,866 --> 00:48:59,466
For our dark pup,
the journey to a new territory

763
00:48:59,500 --> 00:49:02,333
will have many challenges
that test his mettle.

764
00:49:02,366 --> 00:49:05,300
[ Truck horn blares ]

765
00:49:05,333 --> 00:49:15,266
♪♪

766
00:49:19,100 --> 00:49:20,866
[ Horn honks ]

767
00:49:20,900 --> 00:49:30,800
♪♪

768
00:49:30,833 --> 00:49:36,933
♪♪

769
00:49:36,966 --> 00:49:39,166
[ Dog barking ]

770
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:49,066
♪♪

771
00:49:49,100 --> 00:49:58,933
♪♪

772
00:49:58,966 --> 00:50:00,933
[ Barking continues ]

773
00:50:00,966 --> 00:50:08,300
♪♪

774
00:50:08,333 --> 00:50:10,300
[ Thunder crashes ]

775
00:50:15,266 --> 00:50:19,733
Alone, far from the only world
he's ever known,

776
00:50:19,766 --> 00:50:22,366
our pup is at a crossroads.

777
00:50:22,400 --> 00:50:25,400
But there's no turning back.

778
00:50:25,433 --> 00:50:34,066
♪♪

779
00:50:34,100 --> 00:50:36,166
[ Thunder rumbling ]

780
00:50:36,200 --> 00:50:46,100
♪♪

781
00:50:46,133 --> 00:50:56,066
♪♪

782
00:50:59,633 --> 00:51:02,000
[ Dog barking ]

783
00:51:02,033 --> 00:51:11,966
♪♪

784
00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:16,733
♪♪

785
00:51:18,666 --> 00:51:22,733
It's been a long, hard road.

786
00:51:22,766 --> 00:51:25,000
But our dark pup
is betting the risk

787
00:51:25,033 --> 00:51:27,066
of leaving
his parent's territory

788
00:51:27,100 --> 00:51:30,600
is worth the chance
to start his own family.

789
00:51:33,066 --> 00:51:35,766
As he moves into new territory,

790
00:51:35,800 --> 00:51:38,733
he's continuing the tradition
of his ancestors --

791
00:51:38,766 --> 00:51:42,233
to forge new ground.

792
00:51:42,266 --> 00:51:44,533
It's the smartest of creatures,

793
00:51:44,566 --> 00:51:46,666
the most tenacious
and adaptable,

794
00:51:46,700 --> 00:51:49,533
that flourish in changing times.

795
00:51:53,900 --> 00:51:56,033
Whether city or country,

796
00:51:56,066 --> 00:51:59,100
the cold tundra
or a rocky beach,

797
00:51:59,133 --> 00:52:04,166
red foxes will always
find a place to call home.

798
00:52:07,933 --> 00:52:14,333
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

799
00:52:14,333 --> 00:52:15,566
Do you remember me?

800
00:52:15,566 --> 00:52:19,433
But can animals really form
lasting bonds with us?

801
00:52:19,433 --> 00:52:22,766
This is a totally wild cheetah.
Why did she let me do that?

802
00:52:22,766 --> 00:52:25,766
Narrator: It's time to reunite
some remarkable friends...

803
00:52:25,766 --> 00:52:28,633
Aspinall: I honestly didn't know
how Kwibi was going to react.

804
00:52:28,633 --> 00:52:28,633
Narrator:
...to see what happens next.

805
00:52:28,633 --> 00:52:30,900
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

806
00:52:28,633 --> 00:52:40,133
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

807
00:52:28,633 --> 00:52:41,200
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

808
00:52:41,233 --> 00:52:41,300
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

809
00:52:41,233 --> 00:52:41,333
Narrator: They say
an elephant never forgets.

810
00:52:41,333 --> 00:52:41,333
♪♪

811
00:52:41,333 --> 00:52:51,233
♪♪

812
00:52:51,266 --> 00:53:01,300
♪♪

813
00:53:01,333 --> 00:53:11,266
♪♪

814
00:53:01,333 --> 00:53:12,866
♪♪

815
00:53:12,900 --> 00:53:14,633
♪♪

816
00:53:14,666 --> 00:53:18,600
♪♪

817
00:53:18,633 --> 00:53:28,133
♪♪