THE LARGEST LAND PREDATORS ARE COMING TOGETHER VYING FOR TOP POSITION AS THE SALMON MAKE HEADWAY UPRIVER.

>> AND OUT HERE ON THE ORKS THE MOST MASSIVE MARINE PREDATORS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PLUNDER THESE SEAS IN SPECTACULAR STYLE.

>> THIS IS "WILD ALASKA LIVE"!

♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "WILD ALASKA LIVE."

WE'RE THE KRATT BROTHERS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE TO VISIT THIS AMAZING STATE FOR YOURSELF, TONIGHT, WE ARE TAKING YOU INTO THE HEART OF WILD ALASKA.

THESE IMAGES ARE BEING CAPTURED BY OUR CAMERAS OVER IN KATMAI NATIONAL PARK.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> AND WE HAVE A WOLF RIGHT HERE TO START OFF OUR SHOW COMING AT YOU LIVE.

>> GREAT!

>> AND A BEAR.

>> AND A BEAR.

THE WOLVES AND THE BEARS ARE THERE.

AND WE'VE ALSO GOT OUR EYE IN THE SKY.

BUT TONIGHT, DEBBIE AND DANIEL ARE ACTUALLY WITH US NEAR JUNEAU.

SO SAY HI THERE, GUYS.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

HUMPBACK WHALES LIVE?

>> WOW.

AND WHERE ARE DEBBIE AND DANIEL?

THEY'RE GETTING THOSE IMAGES FROM THE HELICOPTER.

>> THIS IS FANTASTIC, HUMPBACK WHALES, CHRIS.

CHRIS: LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE FEEDING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE UP TO, STEVE?

.

>> WELL, CHRIS, WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF GIANTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY HUMPBACK WHALES.

I ALMOST DON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO LOOK IN.

WE'RE SEEING THE EXPLOSIONS OF SPRAY AS THEY COME FROM THE SURFACE.

YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR VISION FROM ABOVE, THEY ARE FEASTING IN ONE COORDINATED GROUP IN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE GREATEST WILDLIFE SPECTACLE IN THE WORLD.

SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO BRING THAT TO YOU AT SOME STAGE DURING THE SHOW.

>> THANKS, STEVE, THERE'S NOTHING MORE JUBILANT THAN HUMPBACK WHALES COMING TOGETHER TO FEED.

WE HAVE A LIVE BEAR BITING ITS TIME ON THE SHORE AS THE TIDE CHANGES SO IT CAN GET THE FEED OF THE MOST FRESHEST SALMON.

WE HAVE A WOLF RIGHT OVER MY SHOULDER ON THE RIVER.

HE WAS RUNNING DOWN THE SHALLOW SANDBARS TRYING TO FEED ON THE SALMON.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON BOTH OF THEM.

LAST TIME WE SHOWED YOU SPECTACULAR IMAGES OF THOSE WOLVES SCAVEADGING AMONGST THE BEARS.

BUT MORE AND MORE SALMON ARE COURSING UP RIVER.

THE BIGGEST MALE BEARS HAVE BEEN ARRIVING.

THIS IS WHERE IT GETS VERY INTERESTING, INDEED.

WE'RE GOING FIND OUT WHICH MALE BEAR IS THE KING OF THIS STRETCH OF RIVER.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT AS THE BIGGEST BEARS AND THE BRAVIEST WOLVES COME TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO BRING YOU ALL OF THAT ACTION LIVE.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

CHRIS: ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START.

LIVE WOLVES, LIVE BEARS AND WE ARE ALREADY INTO HUMPBACK WHALES.

WE HAVE TO GO STRAIGHT TO STEVE WHENEVER THERE'S HUMPBACK ACTION.

>> LET'S GET OUR BEARINGS ON THIS MAP TODAY.

STEVE TODAY IS OVER HERE ON -- NEAR FAVORITE CHANNEL JUST A FEW MILES UP THE COAST AN HE IS LOOKING IF FOR WHALES EITHER HUMPBACKS OR KILLER WHALES TOO.

LIZ IF YOU REMEMBER IS RIGHT OVER HERE AT KATMAI NATIONAL PARK.

AND SHE IS WITH THOSE AMAZING BROWN BEARS.

>> AND THE WOLVES.

>> AND MARTIN AND I, OF COURSE, ARE OVER HERE.

FAVORITE CHANNEL IS MAYBE OVER HERE.

AND WE ARE IN TONGUS NATIONAL FOREST.

17 MILLION ACRES FOR THOSE SALMON, EAGLES.

AND STILL LOOKING IF THOSE BLACK BEARS AND WE KNOW THE BEAVERS AND THE BEAVER LODGE ARE BACK IN THE POND.

THE ACTION HAS BEEN GETTING HOTTER HERE.

EVEN IF THE WEATHER REALLY HASN'T.

ALL OUR ANIMAL CHARACTERS ARE WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS SHORT-LIVED SUMMER FEAST.

♪ >> SO WHILE STEVE IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE WHALES HE'LL KEEP TRACK OF THOSE AND WE ARE STILL ON MISSION HOPEFULLY TO BRING YOU LIVE BLACK BEARS.

>> OH, YEAH, AND THE REASON THAT THE BLACK BEARS ARE HERE IS FOR THE SALMON.

NOW, YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS THINK THAT A FISH CAN BE A HERO, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THESE SALMON ARE.

JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH IN ORDER TO REACH THEIR SPAWNING GROUNDS THROUGHOUT ALASKA.

>> YEAH, FIRST, THEY'VE HAD TO SWIM THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE OCEAN DODGING SALMON SHARKS AND ORCAS AND BALD EAGLES ALL ALONG THE WAY.

LOTS OF PREDATORS IN THOSE OCEANS.

>> OH, YEAH, THEY REALLY HAD TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF PREDATORS THEN.

WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LIVE SALMON THERE.

YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

THEY -- THEY ARE SALMON ARE THERE.

THEY'VE MADE IT.

THEY'VE ALREADY MADE IT THROUGH ALL THEIR PREDATORS.

ARE YEAH -- >> YEAH, YEAH, THEY'RE UP NEAR THE SPAWNING GROUNDS RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT AND THEY HAVE THOSE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL COLORS.

>> THEY MADE THE JOURNEY.

SO THEY ARE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GET TO.

>> NOW, WE'VE GOT UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH THE BLACK BEARS.

YEAH, WE KNOW THESE GUYS ARE HERE IN THE FAUX REST.

WE KNOW THAT THEY AREN'T CAMERA SHY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FOOTAGE HERE, THEY ARE SNIFFING -- THEY FOUND OUR CAMERAS, SNIFFING IT WITH THAT AWESOME BEAR SENSE OF SMELL.

>> THESE BLACK BEARS CAN BE LIKE MAGICIANSLE -- MAGICIANS THEY APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR HERE.

OUR REMOTE CAMERAS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE HOT SPOTS.

ALL THOSE PLACES HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, SALMON.

>> OH, YEAH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, MORE AND MORE SALMON HAVE BEEN REACHING THE SHALLOWS -- LOOK HERE.

AND THE UPPER AREAS OF THE RIVERS AND THE BEARS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THEM.

THAT BEAR, THAT WAS 153 CHASING THE OTHER BEAR.

>> COMING INTO THAT TERRITORY.

MORE BEARS ARE BEING SEEN EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S BEEN LEADING TO THOSE INTERACTIONS WITH THE BEARS CHASE EACH OTHER.

NOW, THE MOTHER BEAR, 153.

SHE IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING THE BEST FISHING SPOTS FOR HERSELF AND FOR HER CUBS THAT'S WHY SHE'S CHASING EVERYBODY AWAY.

AND SO AFTER THAT CHASE, WE SAW THIS.

THESE LITTLE CUBS HAVE ONLY -- OUT WITH MOM.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRY IT.

YOU CAN TELL FROM THE BODY LANGUAGE, NOT REALLY SURE.

A LITTLE HESITANT.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE AFRAID OF THOSE SALMON.

TOO MUCH.

A LITTLE OVERWHELMED AND SEEKS A LITTLE SHELTER ON THAT ROCK THERE.

>> OH, YEAH, BUT THEY HAVE TO LEARN.

THESE CUBS ONLY HAVE ONE SEASON TO LEARN HOW TO CATCH THESE FISH.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THEIR MOM DEFENDS THEIR SPOT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO LEARN.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT ONE DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN THE WATER.

HE'S NOT READY YET.

HE'S TRYING TO GET ACROSS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE WATER.

>> HE'S IN THE WATER.

>> HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT WATER.

>> THAT AMAZING BEAR MOM IS JUST ONE OF THE FANTASTIC ANIMAL CHARACTER WHO WE'VE REALLY COME TO LOVE HERE ON "WILD ALASKA LIVE."

AND TONIGHT, WE WANT TO KNOW WHO YOUR FAVORITE HAS BEEN.

IS IT THAT FEISTY MOM, BEAR 153?

OR WOULD YOU VOTE FOR THAT PORCUPINE, REMEMBER?

THAT PORCUPINE HAS SOME FACE AND A LOT OF ATTITUDE?

>> OR HOW ABOUT SCRAWNY FROM KATMAI?

TO CAST YOUR VOTE GO TO PBS.ORG/WILDALASKALIVE OR JUST TWEET YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER USING THE HASHTAGS ON YOUR SCREEN.

WE'LL REVEAL THE WINNER AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

>> AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE LIVE BLACK BEARS COMING -- >> RIGHT BEHIND US.

>> RIGHT BEHIND US.

THAT'S 153 WORKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE BEAVER DAM.

LOOK AT THAT.

OH, YES!

THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

ALL THREE FOLLOWING HER.

THAT IS A FAVORITE PASSAGE WAY FOR THEM TO CROSS.

>> THEY ARE PASSING JUST IN FRONT OF THE GLASER.

AGAIN, IT'S 153 WITH HER THREE LITTLE CUBS FROM JUST THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, THERE THEY ARE.

SHE'S FED IN THE MEADOW AND CROSSING THE BEAVER DAM TO FISH FOR SALMON.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE!

WILD BLACK BEARS LIVE IN OUR FINALE.

>> WE WILL KEEP TRACK OF HER.

>> NOW, ONE CREATURE WE HARDLY DARED HOPE TO SEE HAS REALLY TAKEN US BY SURPRISE HERE ON "WILD ALASKA LIVE."

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GRAY WOLF.

WOLVES, AN ICON OF THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS, MASTERS OF STEALTH, THESE STRATEGIC PREDATORS THRIVE IN THE HARSHEST ENVIRONMENTS.

ULTRATHICK COATS SHIELD THEM FROM TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 50 DEGREES.

AND WHEN FOOD IS SCARCE THEY CAN GO FOR 14 DAYS WITHOUT A MEAL.

SUPER PACS OF UP TO 30 PATROL TOGETHER TO INCREASE CHANCES OF KILL.

STALKING CARIBOU AND ELK FOR DAYS ON IN.

AT SPEEDS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR, THEY'LL DRIVE THEIR TARGETS INTO DEEP SNOW TO OVERWHELM PREY MUCH BIG ETHAN THEMSELVES.

BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THESE ELUSIVE ANIMALS.

WITH COMPLEX SOCIAL STRUCTURES THEY LIVE IN LARGE FAMILY GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER TO RAISE LITTERS OF UP TO SEVEN PUPS.

WITH YOUNGSTERS TO FEED AND NO SNOW TO HELP THEM BRING DOWN LARGE PREY, THIS IS THE WOLVES TOUGHEST TIME OF YEAR.

>> WE'RE MOVING A LITTLE BIT DOWN RIVER TO A KEY FISHING SPOT FOR OUR PREDATORS HERE IN KATMAI NATIONAL PARK ON THE COAST AND JUST OVER MY SHOULDER IS A WOLF ON A SANDBAR.

HE'S BEEN TRYING TO FISH ALREADY.

OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP A RESPECTFUL DISTANCE.

WE NEVER COME CLOSER THAN 50 METERS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO FEED.

BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SITE TO SEE A WOLF IN THIS AFTERNOON NIGHT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME ACTION FOR YOU.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU WERE LAST WITH US, WE ALREADY BROUGHT YOU SOME SPECTACULAR SHOTS OF WOLVES SCAVEADGING AMONGST THE BEARS ON THE COASTLINE.

THEY HAVE BEEN COMING CLOSE TO CAMP EVER SINCE WE ARRIVED HERE.

SO OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW ONE PARTICULAR PACK OF WOLVES FAIRLY WELL.

OUR HEAD GUY IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PACK AREN'T YOU SAMYRA?

HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE IN THIS PACK?

>> WE'VE KNOWN THIS PACK.

IT STARTED WITH FOUR AND NOW THEY'RE SEVEN.

THEY'RE DOING REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR.

>> THEY TEND TO COME -- YOU KNOW, SOLITARY ANIMALS COMING OVER THIS RIDGE ALL THE TIME WHEN WE SPOT THEM FIRST.

AND THEY COME TO THIS STRETCH OF RIVER WHERE THIS WOLF IS.

COG.

WHY THIS RIDGE?

WHY THIS PAR OF THE RIVER?

>> THE RENDEZVOUS SITE IS UP THE CREEK.

BUT THEY CAN CATCH SALMON A LOT EASIER.

>> I HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOU BECAUSE I HEARD THAT WE HAVE LIVE BUBBLE NET FEEDING.

STEVE?

STEVE: YES, WE'RE LOOKING DOWN AT WHAT IS SURELY PROBABLY 10 ANIMALS BELOW THE SURFACE NOW.

THEY'RE COORDINATING THEIR ACTIONS AND WE WANT TO PICK THEM UP, THOSE SMALL SIGNALS TO SHOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO EMERGE.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOSIVE.

THEIR GULLETS BILLOWING.

THEY ARE SWALLOWING TONS OF WATER WITH EVERY SINGLE HUNT.

YOU CAN SEE THE GULLS PICKING UP THE SCRAPS.

THEY'RE TAKING IN THAT WATER IN THEIR MOUTHS AND SQUEEZING IT OUT USING THEIR BIG TONGUES, USING THEIR BELLY OR WHALE BONE TO SPIT IT OUT AND SWALLOWING TONS OF FISH AS THEY SUBSIDE DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS AND THAT WAS A REAL FIRST SEEN PERFECTLY IN THE CENTER OF CAMERA.

I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO OUR CAMERA TEAM.

BACK TO YOU, LIZ AND THOSE WOLVES.

LIZ: WHAT A MAGNIFICENT SCENE.

LIVE BUBBLE NET FEEDING.

WE TIMED THAT PERFECTLY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SCIENCE THAT PROCEED THESE SORT OF GIANT CLAMS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER.

WELL DONE, STEVE AND THE TEAM.

I'VE BEEN MAKING MY WAY ALONG THE RIVER BANK JUST TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING THAT I REALLY GOT AN INTEREST IN.

THESE ARE DAY BEDS.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE.

THEY'RE PRECEEDED BY A LOT OF BEAR CLAWS MAKING THEIR WAY HERE.

AND BEARS BASICALLY DIG THESE WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY PLEASE.

AND THERE ARE TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS FOR THESE.

THE FIRST IS THAT DAY BEARS ARE VERY COOLING.

SO THE BEARS DIG OUT BIG MASSIVE PAU--- PAWFULS OF SANDS.

THEY CAN DO IT WITH THEIR PAWS.

THEY CAN DO IT 20 SENT METERS IN WIDTH.

THEY SETTLE IN.

I'M GOING TO GET IN ONE BECAUSE I LOVE DOING THIS AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOLING FOR THEM.

BEARS -- I NEARLY FELL OVER.

BEARS HAVE A DOUBLE COAT OF FUR AND THEN SOFTER INSULATING FUR.

SO THEY'RE VERY WARM AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THIS SERVES TO COOL THEM DOWN.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT CHECK OUT THE CAVITY THAT THEY DIG OUT.

THIS IS TO FISH THEIR LOVELY BIG, FAT BELLYS THAT ARE FULL OF THE SALMON THAT THEY JUST FED OFF THE RIVER SO THEY CAN DIGEST PROPERLY.

IT'S ONLY WHEN YOU SIT IN ONE THAT YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW BIG THESE BEARS ARE.

OUR WOLF IS STILL ON THE SANDBAR OVER THERE.

I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD HE'S BEHIND ME.

AS I'VE BEEN TALKING HE'S MOVED BEHIND ME.

HE'S BEHIND THE GRASSES THERE.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW UNPHASED THEY ARE BY US.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE TO THEM.

IF THEY MOVE TO US, WE STAY PUT OR WE MOVE BACKWARDS.

BUT THESE ANIMALS ALONG WITH THE BEARS JUST CONSIDER US AS ANOTHER ANIMAL IN THEIR HAPPEN -- HABITAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE VERY, VERY SPECIAL ASPECTS OF KATMAI NATIONAL PARK.

MINIMUM INTERACTION BY HUMANS.

A HUGE PROTECTION SIGN TO ALL OF KATMAI ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE THESE VERY, VERY SPECIAL WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS.

THIS WOLF IS LOOKING FOR SALMON AS ARE THE BIG MALE BEARS.

WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH HIM AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR BIG MALE BEARS AS WELL AS SEE HOW ALL OF THAT ACTION UNFOLDS.

COME BACK TO US VERY SOON.

>> AND JUST AS THE SALMON ARE A KEY PART OF THE WOLVES AND BEARS BEING OUT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT HUNTING ALONG EACH OTHER, THE HERRING ARE A MASSIVE PART OF THE SUCCESS OF WHALES HERE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ALASKAN WATERS.

SO THE HERRING FROM UP HERE FROM VERY MUCH THE SAME SORT OF THINGS THAT ARE CREATING THE EXPLOSION OF LIFE FOR EVERYTHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

COLD WATER COME DOWN FROM THE GLAZER, KNEW TRUE YENTBLOOMS CAUSING PLANKTON.

AND SOME OF THE SHOWS OF THESE -- NUTRIENT BLOOMS CAUSING PLANKTON.

AND BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A VAST AMOUNT OF PROTEIN AND FAT, IT'S DRAWING ENORMOUS MIGHTY MIVES.

WE HAVE SOME MORE IMAGES OF THESE HUMPBACKS SEEN FROM ABOVE.

THE HUMPBACK WHALES ARE COMING TOGETHER IN GREAT NUMBERS DIVING DOWN FROM THE SURFACE FROM THE HELICOPTER.

WE CAN SEE THE SHOTS.

HOPEFULLY AGAIN, WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE THIS COORDINATED HUNT.

IT'S CALLED A BUBBLE NET.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN WILL BE SOME SIGNS AT THE SURFACE.

THEY'RE CREATING BUBBLES IN WHICH THEY ENSHROUD THESE HERRING.

THEY COME TOGETHER IN A FOCUS BALL AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE EXACTLY RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE DENSELY PACKED TOGETHER, THE WHALES WILL SURGE UP WITH THEIR MOUTHS OPEN SWALLOWING THE FISH.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE BOATS DOWN THERE AND IT'S SO HARD FOR OUR CAMERA TO PINPOINT THE CENTER OF THE ACTION BECAUSE IT COULD COME ANYWHERE.

WHEN IT DOES, IT HAS BEEN SAID TO BE THE GREATEST WILDLIFE SPECTACLE.

ANY SECOND NOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS TAKING IN TONS OF FISH WITH EVERY SINGLE HUNT.

EACH ONE OF THESE HUMPBACKS COULD SWALLOW AS MUCH AS A TON AND A HALF OF FOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY DURING THE TIME OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS SO VITAL TO THEM.

NOW, WE'VE BEEN TIMING THESE AT ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TO TWO MINUTES AFTER THEY DIVE THAT THEY LIVE L COME UP TO THE SURFACE.

SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THAT.

WHO KNOWS?

IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS.

BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.

THEY COME SO FAR.

THEY ARE TRUE HUMPBACK HEROES.

>> HUMPBACK WHALES MOST FAMOUS FOR THEIR MELODIC SONGS.

THESE LEVIATHANS ARE LONGER THAN A CITY BUS.

EACH FLIPPER ALONE CAN BE 16 FEET.

MASSIVE TAIL FLEETS PROPEL THEM THROUGH THE WATER AND CAN BRING THE 40 TONS INTO THE AIR.

SOME TRAVEL 10,000 MILES TO REACH THEIR SUMMER FEEDING GROUNDS BARELY EATING.

AND RIGHT NOW FOR THOSE ARRIVING IN ALASKAN WATERS, THEY'LL SHOW OFF EXTRAORDINARY HUNTING SKILLS WORKING IN TEAMS THEY'LL FORM RINGS OF BUBBLES, NETTING FISH AND FORCING THEM TO THE SURFACE.

THEY'LL EAT ONE AND A HALF TONS OF HERRING AND SEVEN SALMON TO MAKE UP FOUR MONTHS OF FAMINE ON THEIR EPIC MIGRATION REVEALING ONE OF THE GREATEST FEEDING SPECTACLES ON EARTH.

>> SO THE HUMPBACK WHALES ARE OFFSHORE AND THE SALMON HAVE MADE IT INTO THE FRESH WATER.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

TO HELP EXPLAIN WE'RE JOINED BY DR. JOY RIDENBURG.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?

>> HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

THIS IS IS A FEMALE SALMON JAW.

SHE HASN'T CHANGED AN AWFUL LOT AND THAT'S A LOT LIKE THE ANATOMY YOU WOULD SEE OF BOTH MALES AND FEMALES WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE OCEAN.

LOOK AT HOW SHARP THESE TEETH ARE.

THEY'RE GREAT FOR CATCHING THE PREY.

>> WE ASSUME THAT THERE ARE CHANGES.

>> YOU READY TO SEE THIS?

PUT YOUR HAND OUT.

THIS IS WHAT IT TURNS INTO.

>> WOW!

>> FROM THAT TO THIS.

THAT IS A LOT OF GROWTH.

THE BONES ARE GROWING?

>> YEAH, WHICH IS WEIRD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT.

ADULTS SHOULDN'T BE GROWING MORE BONE.

>> RIGHT.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T GROW BONE AS AN ADULT.

>> WE USUALLY STOP AT PUBERTY.

THESE GUYS HAVE A DELAYED PUBERTY IN SOME SENSE.

THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE SPAWNING.

WHEN THEY HIT THAT FRESH WATER, IT MAKES CHANGES IN THEIR HORMONES, ESPECIALLY IN THE MALES.

THESE JAWS, THEY'RE USED FOR FIGHTING DURING THE ACTION SPAWN .

AND SO HOW DOES THIS CHANGE IN THE BONE STRUCTURE HELP THEIR FIGHTING.

>> SURE, SEE HOW CURVED THIS IS.

THIS IS GREAT FOR CATCHING THE TAIL OF ANOTHER SALMON.

AND CAN'T FERTILIZE THOSE EGGS.

AND THIS ARCH IS CALLED THE KIPE.

IT'S A VERY SPECIAL FEATURE.

THIS IS MADE FROM A LOT OF EXTRA CALCIUM THAT'S THROWN FROM THAT JAW WHICH COMES FROM REASOSHING THEIR SCALES -- REABSORBING THEIR SCALES.

>> THAT MALE IS GOING TO PULL OTHER MALE AWAY.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TERRIBLY SHARP.

THEY HAVE TO BE STRONG.

THAT'S WHAT THESE TEETH ARE.

THEY'RE NOT SHARP BUT THEY'RE STRONG.

>> ALL OF THIS IS COMING FROM THE EXTRA CALCIUM THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM THE EXTRA BODY.

THEY START LOOKING LIKE ZOMBIE FISH.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

REALLY INTERESTING.

OUR SALMON HERE IN TONGASS HAVE BLACK BEARS AND WOLVES TO WORRY ABOUT.

WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER PREDATOR OVER IN KATMAI NATIONAL PARK.

>> THIS PLAYS CONTINUES TO TAKE MY BREATH AWAY EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I SPEND HERE.

OUR WOLF IS JUST OVER THERE IN THE BANKS NESTLED AMONG THE LONG GRASSES LOOKING AT THE RIVER, LOOKING FOR THOSE TELLTALE SCIENCE OF THE SALMON MAKING RIPPLES OR THE SALMON JUMPING.

WE'RE KEEPING A CAREFUL EYE ON HIM NOT GETTING TOO CLOSE.

OF COURSE, THE WOLVES ARE FOCUSED ON SALMON BUT THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO TAKE BEAR CUBS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ANNA AND HER THREE 2-YEAR-OLD CUBS IT'S SOMETHING SHE'S CONSTANTLY AWARE OF.

WE FOUND HER IN THE MEADOW.

AND THIS BURGLAR WOLF IS HUNTING MICE.

BUT ONE WOLF HEARD OTHER MEMBER OF OF THE PACK TO TAKE DOWN A BEAR AS OLD AS 2 1/2 YEARS OLD.

SO ANNA IS VERY WEARY.

YOU CAN SEE SHE'S TAUGHT HER CUBS THERE'S A SORT OF THE WEARY BEHAVIOR THAT THEY NEED TO LEARN IN ORDER TO SOUND THE ALARM BUT ALSO FROM THEIR SIBLINGS.

THAT'S VERY PROMISING INDEED.

THIS WOLVE DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT, THREE BEARS CUBS PLUS THE MOM, IT'S NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK OF INJURY.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW CAUTIOUS ANNA IS ABOUT ANY SIGN OF DANGER.

JUST A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT HAPPENED, ANOTHER THREAT MADE ITSELF APPARENT IN THE VERY SAME MEADOW.

THIS TIME A MALE BEAR.

MALE BEARS ARE A CONSTANT THREAT TO CUBS.

THEY WILL TAKE CUBS FOR FOOD AND SO THERE YOU SEE ANNA UP ON HER HIND LEGS.

THE MALE BEAR APPROACHING AND ALL THE CUBS MOVING AWAY VERY QUICKLY.

ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS ONE, THE MOTHER WILL MAKE THIS SHUFFING SOUND.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OUTBREATH OF EAR BUT IT'S A JAW-POPPING BEHAVIOR WHERE SHE TAKES A HUGE INHALATION OF AIR.

SH CAN GET A BIG WHIFF OF SMELL BUT SHE'S COMMUNICATING TO HER CUBS.

SHE'S SAYING COME CLOSE, I NEED YOU NEAR.

AND THE CUBS ALSO MIKLASZEWSKI THAT AND LEARN -- THE CUBS A MIMICK THAT AND LEARN FROM THEIR MOM.

THE HIERARCHY, THE FISHING HIERARCHY IS DEVELOPING NOW.

ONE BIG MALE WILL TAKE THE TOP POSITION AND ALL THE OTHER MALE BEARS WILL FIT UNDER THAT RANKING.

WE THINK WE FOUND OUR KING.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GUY.

HE'S 12 YEARS OLD.

HE'S MAGNIFICENT.

AND NO BEAR AROUND HIM TRIES TO CHALLENGE HIM FOR THE STRETCH OF RIVER.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF MALES AROUND.

ONE RETREATS INTO THE TREES.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT SORT OF LOOKS AT HIM DEJECTED.

DOESN'T EVEN TRY TO FISH.

USUALLY BODY LANGUAGE AND BLUFFS WILL ACHIEVE A LOT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE VERY, VERY TOP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BATTLES.

AND THIS LOVELY FELLOW DEFINITELY BEARS THE SCARS OF BATTLE.

HE'S EARNED HIS POSITION.

THERE'S NO RISK OF HIM LOSING THAT POSITION TO THE LOCAL BEARS.

THE ONLY WAY HE MIGHT LOSE THAT POSITION NOW IS IF OTHER MALES COME IN THAT HAVE BEEN DEMOTED AND WANT HIS PATCH OF RIVER.

BUT LOOK AT HIM.

JOYFUL, JUBILANT BEHAVIOR AS HE HAS THE WHOLE STRETCH OF RIVER TO HIMSELF AND HE'S TRYING TO FISH THERE.

WE'LL TRY AND SEE WHETHER HE APPEARS.

ALL AROUND ME, I CAN HEAR THE SALMON JUMPING.

SO THERE ARE WOLVES HERE.

THERE ARE BEARS AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET LIVE ACTION OF THEM COMING TOGETHER.

RIGHT ON THE COAST RIGHT NOW THERE IS A BEAR RUNNING.

THERE'S A WOLF RIGHT BEHIND THAT BEAR AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAME HERE TO SEE.

HOW ON EARTH DOES A WOLF AND A BEAR COME TOGETHER LIKE THIS AND KEEP THE PEACE?

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO INVESTIGATE.

AND RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS THAT THE STATUS QUO IS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE TWO.

BUT I WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON.

SO COME TO US SOON.

>> INCREDIBLE.

A BEAR AND A WOLF BROUGHT TOGETHER BY SALMON.

INCREDIBLE.

>> NOW, THE WOLF HAS TAKEN OFF FURTHER UPSTREAM.

>> THEY'RE BOTH LOOKING FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY.

THE TIDE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE.

>> THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE BOTH OF THESE SO LITERALLY LIVE ON CAMERA.

I MEAN, AND YOU CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANT OF SALMON.

896% OF ALASKANS SAY SALMON IS A WAY OF LIFE.

AND GOOD FISHING DRAWS THEM INTO DANGEROUS WATERS.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS CRITICAL FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON CATCH.

FISHERMAN JOE TROTTER HAS INVESTED EVERYTHING INTO HIS WAY OF LIFE.

JOE: I'VE BEEN FISHING FOR SALMON FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS.

PICKING THE FISH WITH YOUR HANDS , JUST OUT ON THE WATER EVERY DAY.

SUCH A CONDENSED PART OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, THE SALMON ARE ONLY HERE FOR A MONTH, A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OK.

I'VE HAD BIG SEASONS, I'VE HAD SMALL SEASONS.

THIS YEAR IS LOOKING TO BE A DECENT ONE.

THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF FISH OUT.

THEY LET US KNOW IF WE CAN FISH OR WE CAN'T.

KIND OF USE THE FISHERMEN TO SLOW DOWN THE RUN OR THEY CLOSE US DOWN TO LET MORE FISH UP THE RIVER.

IT WILL INSURE THAT WE HAVE JOBS AND THERE'S SALMON UP IN THE RIVER FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

SOMETIMES ALL THESE BOATS ARE IN ONE LITTLE SECTION AND WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR THAT SAME SPOT WHERE THE FISH ARE COMING UP THE LINE INTO THE DISTRICT.

THE NETS ARE ALL TANGLED UP.

SEE THAT?

THE GUY HAS HIS NET IN THAT GUY'S WHEEL.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SET AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ETIQUETTE.

BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL LEARNING THAT ONE.

>> GO AHEAD, DROP IT.

WE'VE BEEN FISHING THE LAST THREE DAYS STRAIGHT.

TWO OPENINGS A DAY WITH JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS OF SLEEP IN BETWEEN.

>> WE CAN START PICKING, GUYS.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE DOING THIS TWICE A DAY?

MAYBE GET A COUPLE OF HOURS OF SLEEP AND GET UP AND DO IT AGAIN.

WE'RE NOT HERE FOR A GOOD TIME.

WE'RE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A MONTH AND A HALF TO PRETTY MUCH MAKE MY LIVING.

IF WE HAVE A BAD YEAR, IT HITS ME DIRECTLY TO THE POCK.

-- POCKET.

>> WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE IN THE WATERS IT'S LIKE NOWHERE ELSE I'VE EVER BEEN.

I REALIZED THAT THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, I'M GOING TO BE A FISHERMAN.

>> OH, YEAH, THERE IS FISH OUT THERE.

WE FISH 41 HOURS STRAIGHT BEFORE .

I MEAN, IT'S EAT, SLEEP, AND FISH.

>> WE STILL HAVE A WOLF LIVE HERE AND FROM THAT VIDEO YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS SHORT SUMMER FEAST.

IT'S VITAL FOR PEOPLE TOO.

WE'RE HERE WITH CARLA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS.

CARLA, OBVIOUSLY, IN A COMMERCIAL SITUATION LIKE JOE'S, SALMON FISHING IS VERY REGULATED.

HOW DOES THE KLINKET CULTURE MAKE SURE THAT THE SALMON IS SUSTAINABLE?

>> AS THE ORIGINAL STEWARDESS OF THIS LAND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SALMON COMES BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT FOR THE FIRST RUN TO SPAWN BEFORE WE ACTUALLY TOOK OUR HARVEST FROM THE NEXT RUN OF SALMON.

THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE NEED THE SALMON FOR THE BROWN BEAR THAT WE HAVE LIVE ON CAMERA NOW.

>> DEFINITELY.

THANK YOU WE TALKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ANIMALS TO THE KLINKET CULTURE.

WHAT ABOUT THE MARINE CREATURES, LIKE ORCA?

>> THERE'S A STRONG CONNECTION SUCH AS A ORCA OR EVEN THE SHARK AND THE SALMON FOR VARIOUS CLAN CRESTS.

THERE ARE CLANS THAT USE THE ORCA AND THE SALMON.

>> REALLY?

FANTASTIC.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK LIVE, FROM PBS FACEBOOK FROM DONALD.

AND HE WANTS TO KNOW JUST HOW BIG IS A HUMPBACK WHALE IS.

STEVE IS RIGHT HERE WITH THE HUMPBACK WHALES RIGHT NOW.

SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE HIM ANSWER THIS QUESTION?

STEVE?

STEVE: WELL, CHRIS, I CAN TELL YOU FROM THEM POPPING UP ALONGSIDE US, THEY ARE VERY, VERY BIG.

THE LARGEST FEMALE CAN BE 40 TONS, ABOUT THE SAME AS THREE FIRE TRUCKS, SO YES, VERY LARGE INDEED.

THEY ARE KNOWN FOR BEING ACROBATIC ANIMALS, PROBABLY THE MOST ACROBATIC OF ALL OF THE WHALES.

WE HAVE WATCHED THE CREATURES BREACHING AROUND US.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE CUBS WHO HAS BEEN ENJOIG THEIR FIRST EVER ALASKAN SUMMER HAS BEEN BREACHING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHILE THERE'S A TENDENCY TO THINK ABOUT JOYFUL, YOUTHFUL EX-ZUBERANS.

THE YOUNG HUMP BANK WHALES IS BREACHING REPEATEDLY AS A WAY TO WORK OUT THEIR MUSCLES.

AND IT COULD MAKE THEM BETTER BUBBLE NET FEEDERS.

TO EXPLAIN MORE OF THE HUMPBACK BEHAVE -- BEHAVIOR, DR. HEIDI PIERSON.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF THESE WHALES AS IF THEY'RE OLD FRIENDS?

>> I DO.

I'VE BEEN OBSERVING THEM FOR SIX YEARS AS I COME BACK TO ALASKA YEAR AFTER YEAR.

>> WHAT MAKES ALASKA SUCH A PERFECT STORM FOR HUMPBACK WHALES?

>> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALASKAN SUMMER.

WE HAVE LONG DAYS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF SUNLIGHT.

AND THAT CAUSES THE PLANKTON TO GROW AND THAT'S WHAT THE WHALES FEAST ON.

>> YOU'VE BEEN USING AN UNDERWATER MICROPHONE TO LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS THE HUMPBACK WHALES MAKE.

THEY'RE FAMOUS INNER THE MALES HAVING WONDERFUL MELODIC SOUNDS.

HAVE A LITTLE LISTEN TO THIS.

THIS WAS RECORDED JUST THE OTHER DAY.

SO TALK US THROUGH THESE SOUNDS AND WHAT THEY MEAN.

>> YEAH, SO THE WHALES WILL GO DOWN IN A COORDINATED MANNER TO NEED ON THE -- FEED ON THE HERRING.

AND THEY WILL GIVE A FEEDING CALL.

THAT SOUND WILL GROW LOUDER AND LOUDER.

AND YOU'LL START TO HEAR OTHER INDIVIDUALS JOIN IN IN THAT FEEDING CALL AND YOU'LL SEE THEM START TO FEED.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THAT LIVE ON CAMERA WHICH IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.

WE MAY HAVE IT AGAIN LIVE NOW.

WE HAVE THE LIVE WHALES RIGHT NOW AT THE SURFACE.

SO YES, FANTASTIC.

YOU CAN SEE THE COMMOTION, THE WATER THRASHING AND FOAMING.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING, REALLY BECAUSE THOSE WHALES ARE SINKING BACK DOWN INTO THE WATER.

THEIR STOMACHES ABOUT TO FEED WITH HERRING.

LOOK AT THEM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FEW FISH THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF BUBBLE NETTING IS TO CORRAL FISH IN TIGHT TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON THOSE SO THAT EVERY SINGLE HUNT CAN BECOME MORE AND MORE EFFICIENT AND EVEN SO THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE INDIVIDUAL FISH THAT ARE LEFT OVER AND THERE ARE OTHER MARINE MAMMALS IN THESE SEAS FEEDING ON THE FISH SOME OF WHICH WE MIGHT EVEN SEE.

THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF ORCA THAT THEIR FOCUS IS ON SALMON.

AND FROM THESE SHOTS YOU CAN SEE TWO ADULT ORCAS AND SEEMING TO PASS A BIG SALMON IN BETWEEN THEM.

THIS IS A CHINOOK OR KING SALMON THAT'S THE SCALE AS THE SAME SIZE AS MY LEG.

THIS IS GENUINELY ALL GOING OFF HERE IN THESE SEAS WE REALLY HOPE TO BRING YOU SOME MORE OF THIS ACTION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PRETTY MIND BLOWING.

BACK TO YOU, CHRIS AND MARTIN.

>> WOW!

THAT IS GREAT, STEVE.

WHAT AN AWESOME BEHAVIOR LIVE.

OK. AND WE ARE HERE STILL KEEPING AN EYE FOR THE BLACK BEARS WHICH WE'VE GOTTEN A GLIMPSE OF EARLIER.

LET'S CATCH UP WITH OUR SUPERHERO SALMON.

WE'RE HERE WITH JOHN TO SEE WHAT THESE SALMON ARE UP TO RIGHT NOW.

>> YES, THEY'VE REACHED THEIR DESTINATION AND ARE BEGINNING TO SPAWN.

WHAT ARE THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN THIS VIDEO?

WE'VE GOT THE SALMON IN THE POOL.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FEMALE ON THE LEFT AND THE MALES COME UP IN THE RIGHT.

>> WHAT'S WITH THE OPEN MOUTHS?

>> THEY SPILL OUT SOME EGGS.

>> SO THE EGGS ARE LOW.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT SO THEY DON'T FLOAT DOWNSTREAM.

>> SO THEY ARE SPAWNING.

THIS IS GREAT.

>> NOW FOR THE ADULT SALMON THOUGH, THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO DIE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE A SAD END.

BUT THE SALMON HAVE DONE WHAT THEY CAME TO DO, LAY EGGS.

THOSE EGGS WILL HATCH IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THE WHOLE CYCLE WILL BEGIN AGAIN WITH A NEW GENERATION.

THE SALMON HAVE ONE LAST GIFT TO THE FOREST?

>> YEAH, IT'S CALLED NITROGEN 15.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> THAT'S A HEAVY NITROGEN FORM THAT'S OUT IN THE CRUSSTATION -- CRUSTACEANS AND THE FISH.

THEY BRING THAT BACK TO THE STREAM.

THE BEAR, THE EAGLE, THE OTTER ALL EAT IT, MOVE IT UP TO THE BANK OF THE STREAM, THE REMNANTS.

WROUGHT RIGHT INTO THE SOIL.

>> THEY ARE FERTILIZING THE FOREST THAT COME RIGHT INTO THE TREES.

>> YOU HAVE A WAY THAT WE CAN SEE THIS IN A CROSS SECTION OF A TREE TRUNK, RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE RINGS ARE NOT THAT WIDE APART.

VERY TIGHTLY SPACED.

THEY MIGHT BE REPRESENTATIVE OF YEARS WHEN THERE WASN'T VERY MUCH SALMON CARCASSES WHEREAS THESE REALLY WIDE ONES UP HERE WILL PROBABLY REPRESENT REALLY GOOD STRONG SALMON RUNS WHEN UP TO 70% OF THE NITROGEN IN THE SOIL COMES FROM THE SAL MO, FROM THE OCEAN.

>> WE HAVE A FEW GOOD YEARS BACK-TO-BACK.

REALLY GOOD YEARS.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THE PLANTS AND TREES BENEFIT FROM THE SALMON AND ALL KINDS OF WILDLIFE BENEFIT FROM THE PLANTS AND TREING INCLUDING OUR FRIEND, THE BEAVER.

AND LET'S CHECK IN ON OUR FRIEND RIGHT NOW IN THE BEAVER CAM.

>> NOBODY'S HOME.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY OUT DOING SOMETHING.

BUT THE OTHER DAY, THERE WAS A SURPRISE VISITOR TO THE BEAVER LODGE.

OUR REMOTE CAMERAS -- OH, ON THE OUTSIDE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WAS?

AN OTTER.

AND THEY CAME INSIDE THRODGE EXPLORING VERY, VERY CURIOUS CARNIVORES.

THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT COULD GET INSIDE.

>> HE GOES RIGHT UP TO THE CAMERA.

>> THAT IS A BONUS, THE OTTER, THE RIVER OTTER.

>> AND THEN THEY WENT INSIDE.

THEY LOOKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE OUTSIDE AND THEN HEADED UP THE BANK.

WHO KNOWS WHETHER THE BEAVER WAS WATCHING ALL THIS OR NOT?

MAYBE SO.

BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BEAVER CAME BACK AND CAME BACK IN HIS DEN.

CHECKED THINGS OUT.

>> LOOKS VERY RELAXED.

NOT TOO BOTHERED BY THE BEAVERS.

>> DON'T FORGET TO CAST YOUR VOTE IN OUR POLL EITHER ON OUR WEBSITE OR BY TWEETING YOUR FEATURE CREATURE.

LET'S FIND OUT HOW ONE OF THESE CREATURES SCRAWNY IS DOING BY HEADING OVER TO LIZ.

LIZ: THANKS VERY MUCH, GUYS.

WELCOME BACK TO KATMAI.

WE MADE OUR WAY BACK TO THE TIDAL FLATS BECAUSE THERE WERE WOLVES AND BEARS.

THE WOLVES HAS RETREATED INTO THE MEADOWS BUT THERE IS A VERY BIG MALE OWNING THIS STRETCH OF THE SHORE RIGHT NOW.

AND HE LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE THE KING OF THE RIVER.

HE COULD BE ANOTHER MALE WHO IS THE KING OF THE SHORELINE RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL SIGHT TO SEE HIM.

SUCCESS IN A BEAR'S LIFE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ABOUT GETTING THE VERY BEST POSITION IN THE HIERARCHY TO GET THE FRESHEST AND MOST NUTRITIOUS FISH.

SPEAKING OF SCRAWNY, LET'S CHECK UP WITH HIM.

WE SAW HIM FISHING ON THIS VERY SHORELINE.

AND CHECK OUT HOW BRILLIANT HE'S GOT IT.

WE'VE OBSERVED HIM FOR SEVERAL EVENINGS AND HIS FISHING TECHNIQUE HAS IMPROVED EVERY SINGLE TIME HE FISHES.

SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.

A BETTER SIGN IS THE WAY HE BEHAVES WITH THE OTHER BEARS.

ONE EVENING HE'S FISHING.

LOOK AT THIS.

HE'S UTTERLY ADORABLE ABOUT WATCHING BEARS.

ANOTHER BEAR, A MALE, HIS OWN AGE, SO THEY'RE EVENLY MATCH TRIES TO GET THE FISH OFF HIM.

BUT SCRAWNY IS HAVING NONE OF IT.

WHEN YOU OBSERVE HIS CONFIDENCE AND HIS POSTURING WITH OTHER BEARS HIS AGE, IT GIVES US EVERY INDICATION THAT HE IS IS NOW THE DOMINANT MALE IN HIS AGE GROUP.

AND THAT MEANS THAT HE'S GOT EVER CHANCE OF YEAR ON YEAR BEING THE DOMINANT MALE UNTIL EVENTUALLY HE WILL TOO BECOME THE KING OF THE RIVER.

ISN'T THAT A LOVELY THOUGHT?

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE?

EVERY SINGLE DAY I SPEND HERE, IT KEEPS BLOWING ME AWAY AND THANKS TO SAMYRA TEACHING ME ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

IT'S SO UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT KATMAI THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?

>> THERE'S SUCH AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD AND WILDLIFE.

THEY DON'T FEEL THAT MAN IS TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THEIR FOOD SOURCE AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT MAN IS A FOOD SOURCE.

YOU STAY OUT HERE LONG ENOUGH AND THEY JUST MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF YOUR WORLD.

THEY ENVELOP YOU IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES AND HAPPINESS.

IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE.

>> I'VE GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF THAT.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

I REALLY DON'T.

WOLVES AND BEARS TOGETHER.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THAT EAR.

THERE'S A STATUS QUO AT THE MOMENT.

BEARS SEEM TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND.

DOES IT EVER CHANGE?

>> IF THERE'S A COUPLE OF JUVENILES, THEN THE PACK WILL HARASS THEM.

>> AND THEY CAN HARASS THEM?

>> YES, THEY'LL PICK ON CERTAIN BEARS JUST TO HELP TRAIN THE JUVENILE WOLVES.

>> OK. AND AS MUCH AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF SALMON AND WE'RE SURROUNDED BY BEARS HERE, CAN WE EVER GET -- LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE?

>> IT'S VERY FRAGILE.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE WORLD.

YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO RESPECT EVERY -- NURTURE EVERY ENVIRONMENT YOU GO IN.

TEACH KIDS THE PRACTICES AND APPRECIATE IT SO IT CAN BE LEFT HERE FOR GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.

>> WISE WORDS.

BEAUTIFULLY PUT.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE MOST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.

IMMERSING OURSELFS IN THE LAST TWO WILLEDNESSES AND SURROUNDING OURSELVES WITH THESE MAGNIFICENT PREDATORS IS AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET.

WE'VE SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ABOUT HOW COMPLEX AND INTELLIGENT THEIR BEHAVES CAN -- BEHAVIORS ARE.

BUT I HOPE IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE.

THE BROWN BEAR ITSELF AND ALL THE FUTURE OF ALL THIS WILDLIFE IS ON OUR HANDS.

SO FROM KATMAI, IT'S GOOD EVENING.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS MAGNIFICENT MALE BEAR.

>> KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND THE WILDLIFE THERE LIKE THIS LIVE BROWN BEAR HAS REALLY CAPTURED LIZ'S HEART.

WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME THERE AND IT TRULY IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

WE ARE JOINED BY LANDIS ELER WHO IS A RANGER.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES KATMAI SPECIAL?

>> I REALLY THINK IT'S SPACE.

THESE HUGE LANDSCAPE THAT ALLOWS PREDATORS AND THEIR PREY TO ACT FREELY OF THE WILDLIFE THAT THEY ARE.

>> SO SPACE -- >> THAT REALLY IS TRUE.

BUT WILDERNESS ISN'T JUST A STATE OF MIND.

IT IS ACTUALLY A LEGAL DESIGNATION.

>> WE HAVE DESIGNATED WILDERNESS.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CONSERVATION PROTECTION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE.

>> IT MUST BE GREAT WORKING IN A WILDERNESS.

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE IT?

>> I LOVE IT SO MUCH, A CHANCE TO SEE THESE ANIMALS AND SHARE THE WORLD, IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

>> THANKS A LOT.

THANKS A LOT, LANDIS.

AS YOU GET TO KNOW THIS VAST STATE, YOU REALLY DO SOON DISCOVER HOW THIS RUGGED PLACE IS SO IMPRESSIVE.

AND ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SPOT IS A SPECIAL ISLAND REPUTED TO BE THE HOME OF THE BIGGEST BEARS ON THE PLANET.

AND JUST LAST WEEK, I TRAVELED TO THAT ISLAND TO EXPLORE THE LAND OF THE LEGENDARY KODIAK BEAR.

KODIAK BEARS SOME OF THE BIGGEST BEARS ON THE PLANET.

WITH FOUR-INCH LONG CLAWS AND A HUGE SKULL, THEY CAN WEIGH OVER 1,500 POUNDS.

LIVING EXCLUSIVELY ON KODIAK ISLAND, AND ISOLATED FROM OTHER BROWN BEARS ON THE MAINLAND, THIS SUB SPECIES HAS BECOME GIANT.

AND I'M TOLD MY BEST CHANCE OF SEEING ONE IS AT KARLOOK LAKE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE ISLAND AND ONLY REACHABLE BY PLANE.

>> THIS LUSH LANDSCAPE IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF KOKIAK BEARS AND WITH THREE AND A HALF THOUSANDS THEIR NUMBERS ARE AT ALL-TIME HIGH.

>> IT IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS AND POWERFUL CREATURES ON THE PLANET.

>> BUT DESPITE THEIR BOOMING POPULATION, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND.

>> TO MAXIMIZE MY CHANCES OF SEEING A KODIAK, I'VE TEAMED UP WITH JEN COLBERTSON WHO KNOWS OF A HUGE SALMON RUN WHO SHOULD BE CALLING THE BEARS IN.

>> THERE'S A BEAR OVER THERE.

>> OH, YES, AWESOME.

WOW, JUST WALKING ALONG THE BEECH.

OH, THAT -- THE BEACH.

OH, THAT'S AMAZING.

OUR FIRST KODIAK BEAR.

>> NICE.

>> BUT TO GET CLOSE TO THESE BEARS AN REALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR EPIC SIDE, JEN AND I NEED TO VENTURE DEEP INTO THEIR HEARTLAND.

>> SO THIS IS IT.

BEAR COUNTRY.

YOU CAN SEE THIS IS SUCH A LUSH LANDSCAPE AND THERE'S TALL GRASSES ON EITHER SIDE AND, YOU KNOW, THESE BEARS AS BIG AS THEY ARE, THEY COULD BE HIDDEN ANYWHERE IN THESE TALL GRASSES.

AND WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE THERE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH BEAR COUNTRY, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE AWARE, A LITTLE MORE IN TUNE WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

A MILDER CLIMATE HERE MEANS THERE'S LOTS OF VEGETATION FOR THESE BEARS TO EAT ALLOWING THEM TO GROW BIGGER THAN THE BROWN BEAR ON THE MAINLAND.

>> A BEAR CAME THROUGH RIGHT HERE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THE GRASS IS MOWED DOWN RECENTLY.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY AROUND.

WE'RE GOING TO FIND THEM EVENTUALLY.

OH, CHECK THIS OUT.

A LITTLE CLUMP OF BEAR HAIR RIGHT HERE IN THIS BEAR TRAIL.

SEE, THE EASY WAY TO WALK THROUGH THIS TERRAIN IS TO FOLLOW THESE BEAR TRAILS.

AFTER A LONG HIKE, WE FENALLY REACH JEN'S -- FINALLY REACH GENERAL'S SALMON HOT SPOT.

>> YOU CAN SEE SOME SALMON.

>> THESE ARE RED SALMON OR SOCK EYE SALMON.

OH, THERE'S A BEAR.

>> OH, YES, RIGHT OUT HERE.

>> WITH TWO SPRING CUBS.

>> THIS YEAR'S CUBS.

WOW.

AMAZING.

WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KODIAK BEAR, THE LARGEST BEAR IN THE WORLD.

OH, YES, THERE'S A BEAR RIGHT HERE.

>> WE WERE LOOKING THAT WAY AND HE CAME DOWN THE RIVER THIS YEAR.

AND HE IS FISHING.

WOW, IS HE EVER.

REALLY THE KEY FOR BEARS IS TO JUST GET BIG AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN.

THAT'S KIND OF YOUR TICKET TO SURVIVAL IF YOU'RE A BEAR.

ONE OF THE AMAZING THINGS WITH THESE BEARS IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE WITH THEM YOU REALLY FEEL KIND OF SMALL AND PUNY, RIGHT?

AND WE ARE.

AND THE FACT THAT I'M JUST SITTING HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH HIM AND HE DOESN'T MIND AND HE'S LIKE LETTING ME BE HERE WITH HIM JUST SHOWS YOU HOW PEACEFUL THEY REALLY CAN BE.

AWESOME TO BE WITH THIS FELLOW CREATURE OF OURS.

>> FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT ANIMAL ICONS IN THE FORM OF THE KODI CAMBINGS BEAR TO THE HUMPBACK THAT WE'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO BE SPENDING TIME WITH HERE, ALASKA IS A PLACE THAT SEEMS TO BE BIGGER THAN JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE TRAILING 11 HUMPBACK WHALES AN THEY'VE BEEN HUNTING RIGHT ON THE SHORE.

IT'S IT MIGHT BE UNUSUAL THAT AN ANIMAL OF THIS SIZE MIGHT BE SO CLOSE AND BE HUNTING IN VERY SHALLOW WATERS.

EACH ONE OF THESE CREATURES ARE SO VAST.

IT SEEMS THEY'RE USING THAT UNDERWATER GEOGRAPHY TO INTENSIFY THEM.

THEY'RE USING SOUND BUT THEY'RE ALSO DRIVING THEM INTO SHALLOW WATER SO THEY SIMPLY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

AND WATCHING THESE WONDERFUL SPECTACLES, I HAVE HAD DR. HEIDI PIERSON.

WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE WHERE THE WHALES HUNT TOGETHER.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THE WATER WHEN WE'RE SEEING THESE INCREDIBLE SIGHTS FROM THE AIR.

>> IT'S A COORDINATED TEAM EFFORT THAT TAKES THE INTELLECT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS TO WORK TOGETHER IN THIS WAY.

SO THEY'RE GOING DOWN.

USUALLY ONE INDIVIDUAL STARTS THE BUBBLE RING AND THEY'RE GRADUALLY ALL MOVING IN AND CORRALLING THAT FISH WITHIN THAT NET OF BUBBLES.

THEY'RE COMING TO THE SURFACE AND FEASTING.

ARE -- >> WE'VE BEEN SO LUCKY TO SEE THIS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND THE PATTERNS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, THE FREQUENCY THAT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN, IS THERE ANY SENSE TO YOU THAT THIS IS SHOWING HOW MUCH FISH THERE IS IN THESE SEAS RIGHT NOW?

>> IT INDICATES THERE'S QUITE A BIT.

THE GROUP WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THEY'VE BEEN DIVING DOWN FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES AT A TIME AND DOING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT INDICATES THERE'S A LOT OF PREY IN THE AREA.

>> HAS IT BEEN A GOOD YEAR SO FAR?

>> IT SEEMS TO BE A GOOD YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE MORE SKINNY WHALES.

BUT THE WHALES OVERALL THIS YEAR LOOK TO BE HALIER.

>> WHAT WE'RE LOOK AT NOW IS A GROUP OF WHALES TRAVELING TOGETHER IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SQUADRON.

JUST ALMOST SURGING FORWARD IN ONE DIRECTION WITH COMMON PURPOSE.

AND THIS IS CLASSICALLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE THEY ALL DIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY AND BEGIN A BUBBLE NET HUMP.

FINGERS CROSSED THIS HAPPENING BEFORE THE SHOW ENDS.

THEY'LL DROP DOWN BELOW THE SURFACE AS ONE.

AND SCENES LIKE THIS ARE SO RELIANT ON THE MASSIVE WILDERNESS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ALASKA THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU HAVE HUGE AREAS OF LAND WITH ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF FOOD THAT THESE MASSIVE ANIMALS CAN FEED ON.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT REASON THAT WE HAVE TO VALUE THIS WILDERNESS BECAUSE THE GIANTS RELY ON IT.

AND OUR PLANET WOULD BE A MUCH POORER PLACE WITHOUT THEM.

>> GREAT WORK, STEVE.

THOSE WHALES ARE INCREDIBLE.

AND WE'VE HAD SOME AMAZING BLACK BEARS HERE LIVE IN THIS PAST HOUR PASSING RIGHT BEHIND US ON THE BEAVER DAM.

>> THEY VISITED US AT OUR BEAVER POND.

PERFECT.

>> NOW, OUR CAMERA TEAM DID A GREAT JOB INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT MORE AND HER THREE CUBS AND ALL THE OTHER BLACK BEARS WE'VE SEEN.

OUR REMOTE CAMERAS HAVE SHOWN US THAT BEARS HAVE BEEN BUSY AROUND THE CLOCK.

IT'S A GREAT YEAR FOR THE BEARS HERE IN TONGASS.

AND THE FAMILIES ARE IN GREAT SHAPE.

THERE'S A TON OF FOOD TO GET READY FOR THE WINTER AHEAD.

RIGHT?

WE'VE ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW THESE BEARS.

>> I'M GOING TO MISS THEM.

>> NOW, IT'S TIME TO REVEAL THE RESULTS OF THE WILD ALASKA LIVE FAN FAVORITE POLL.

THE WINNER IS -- >> TONGASS THE PORCUPINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> HE IS A GREAT CHARACTERER.

DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US ON PBS FACEBOOK LIVE WHERE WE'LL BE ANSWERING SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE LOVE EXPERIENCES THE SUMMER FEAST HERE IN ALASKA.

IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

>> IT IS A WILD LINEUP THAT YOU WON'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET.

>> WOW!

THAT IS UTTERLY STUNNING!

>> COME THIS WAY.

WALRUS DOWN BELOW.

IT'S THE BIGGEST WALRUS SPECTACLE ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.

>> I CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

IT'S ALMOST SURREAL TO SEE THESE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES SO CLOSE UP.

>> WOW!

THEY WERE SO CLOSE.

AND THEY ARE TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO US.

>> THERE IT IS.

THE BALD EAGLE.

>> THIS PLACE IS JUST A MAGICAL, MAGICAL EXPERIENCE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE WITH THEM, YOU REALLY FEEL KIND OF SMALL AND PUNY, RIGHT?

AND WE ARE.

>> WHAT A WEEK.

THANK YOU SO JOY, JOHN, CARLA, LANDIS AND ALL OF OUR FANTASTIC GUESTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST, KATMAI NATIONAL PARK, THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA AND THE AWESOME ALASKAN ANIMALS.

ALASKA IS TRULY A NATIONAL TREASURE.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME EXPLORING ITS IMPRESSIVE WILDERNESS AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE TOO.

GOODBYE.

KEEP ON CREATURE ADVENTURING.

>> HELLO FROM PLANET EVERY.

>> HUMAN BEINGS ARE A CURIOUS BUNCH.

>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE WHEN WE GET REALLY CLOSE?

>> OH, MY GOD.

ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

>> WE ARE AT A REMARKABLE MOMENT.

>> WE'RE GOING FARTHER THAN ANY EXPLORATION EVER HAS.WERS LIKE YOU.