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MALE NARRATOR: In the dark depths of winter, a mother listens to the first sounds of her brand new baby cubs.

Let's call this mama bear "Sky."

And her cubs are Scout and Amber.

Hi, little guys.

They say the first year of parenting is the hardest.

Sky will soon learn that, for bears,

it's nearly impossible.

Almost half of all bear cubs don't survive their first year.

But for now, deep inside the den, they're safe.

It's warm and comfy.

And after an entire winter together,

it probably smells pretty bad.

Sky worked hard last summer, eating over pounds of fish a day, to store up enough fat to last through these early months.

But now she's hungry, and if she doesn't eat soon, the milk her cubs need will dry up.

There's a long, dangerous journey ahead of them.

Sky needs to get her cubs down to the coast, and she hopes that the salmon will be plentiful this summer.

But there's no guarantee.

Little Scout and Amber's survival depends on it.

Okay, cuddle time is over.

These bears need to get on the move.

This is the story of their incredible first year.

What an amazing place to take your first steps.

These little cubs will have to be brave from the second their paws touch the snow.

This is the Alaska Peninsula.

With over five million acres of protected national park land,

it's home to thousands of brown bears.

Five months ago,

Sky climbed these mountains to dig her den.

But now, they're her biggest obstacle.

They've got to get all the way across these frozen mountains before they'll find even the first hint of food.

Sky is clearly delighted to be free of the smelly den.

"Wait up, Mom!"

Maybe a little too delighted.

Nothing like a mother's gentle touch.

Like a lot of new moms,

Sky doesn't have patience for dawdling.

"Come here, you. Come here."

"Yikes, Mom! Not the teeth!"

"Oh!"

This doesn't hurt little Scout, but still...

Sky has a bit to learn when it comes to parenting.

Life was certainly easier when she was just a single bear.

Now, she can only go as fast as her cubs.

"Come on, you guys."

She has good reason to dish out a little tough love.

They have got an awful lot of ground to cover.

And with every passing day, the journey will only get harder.

A walk in the warm sun on a bright, spring day may seem like fun, but that warmth starts the melt.

The snow that sheltered them through the winter becomes a deadly enemy.

Avalanche.

These massive monsters reach speeds of up to miles an hour.

A wall of snow and ice barreling over everything in its path.

Sky and the cubs were lucky this time, but it's a good reminder that they need to stay moving.

Amber's found a smart way to keep up with her mom, just hitch a ride.

Just gotta get that toe in there.

There we go.

But Scout, being the more adventurous one, decides to explore at his own pace.

They've been traveling for over a week now, and the climb is only getting steeper.

As they climb their final mountain, Scout and Amber try their best, but it sure isn't easy.

They're finding themselves a little on top of each other.

They've made it to the summit.

The coast is now within sight.

It's downhill all the way from here.

The winter snow has melted down by the Alaskan coast, and all that green offers the promise of something to eat.

A quiet meadow.

Time for a little rest.

Amber's certainly taking it easy.

This is one cub who really likes staying close to mom.

But Scout acts like he's too old to be carried around.

Bear rides are for babies.

Scout can't believe what he is seeing.

"Other bears?

"There are other bears in the world?

"Did everybody know that?"

Sky did.

In fact, her mother brought her to this meadow when she was little.

And she's been coming here every summer since.

All these bears have come down from the mountains.

They're starving.

What they really need is the protein from loads of salmon.

But this will do in a pinch.

It's like settling for a dirty salad.

Sky and Amber are exhausted after their long journey.

But Scout, he is a little too excited to sleep.

This place is crawling with bears!

Scout is looking for a role model.

Which bear will he grow up to be?

He could be an angry bear.

Fighting all the time.

Mmm, seems like a lot of work.

No, no, these bears are way too cuddly.

He definitely wants to be tougher than this.

Scout's sure he'll find at least one bear he can look up to.

"Well...

"Maybe that... Nah.

"Oh, come on.

"Someone do something!

"Huh? Wow.

"He looks fun at least.

"Just one bear.

"One bear who is the toughest, coolest bear.

"Anybody? Hello?

"You, sir...

"Want to chase me?

"No. You want to lick a mosquito.

"I thought that being a bear would be,

"I don't know, more fierce.

"Ah, forget it.

"This is downright embarrassing."

If a tough bear is what Scout wants, he's about to meet just that.

Magnus.

This bear is huge.

At over , pounds, he is three times the size of Sky, and this meadow is his turf.

He is confident, dominant, and everyone knows to stay out of his way.

Sky has to keep her cubs away from big males like Magnus.

She'll have to find food somewhere calmer.

As Magnus watches over his domain, it's clear he's got one thing in particular on his mind.

Or one she-bear, to be specific.

Magnus might have a half-ton of weight to throw around, but he's got no game.

Magnus, you're so obvious.

Put a little mystery into it!

Pick her some flowers from the meadow or something.

See that walking away?

That's sort, uh...

That's bear for "No,"

I think.

Aw.

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for him.

Sky has found a quiet corner of the meadow to let her cubs nurse.

Scout and Amber are going through a growth spurt, and they need all the milk they can get.

Tikani.

He's a gray wolf, and the thief of the meadow.

These wolves know a slow bear cub, makes for a quick, easy meal.

This is why it's so much harder for Sky than the other bears.

She has to make sure her cubs are always by her side.

Amber is about to learn what happens, when you ride a bear without wearing your seatbelt.

Sky's found herself driven to a remote, unfamiliar area.

The bad part of town.

The dangers reveal themselves almost immediatel

This is Chinook.

The outcast.

Banished from the meadow by Magnus,

Chinook has grown leaner, meaner, and more desperate for food.

Any food.

Even bear cubs.

There's nowhere to hide.

Sky must stand her ground.

Chinook's circling is dangerous.

If Sky shows any weakness, he will attack.

It worked.

Sky successfully held her ground.

And Chinook continues his hunt elsewhere.

Scout and Amber must be pretty impressed with their mom.

At certain times of the year a huge change comes over the coast.

A vast area of mudflats are exposed.

This muddy desert has hidden treasures buried beneath.

Sky and the cubs have gone way out to the edge of the tide to search for anything that could count as calories.

Bears have an excellent sense of smell.

Their noses are seven times more sensitive than a bloodhound's.

Scout doesn't seem to get what Mom's looking for.

Jackpot.

Sky pulls up a meaty clam.

It will help

in the meantime, but one or two clams, even a dozen, aren't nearly enough.

Sky needs her cubs to stay close.

She's following the low tide a long way out.

But Scout's not worried.

He'd rather enjoy his first day at the beach.

Amber chooses to stay close to Mom.

It looks a little less,

well, ridiculous.

But Scout doesn't care.

He likes this sand stuff.

"Watch this somersault!

"Well, it was

a half somersault.

"Amber, look at me!

I'm a mud monster!"

"Real mature, Scout.

Real mature."

"No, come on! It's fun!

"Why is this bird always following us around

"no matter where we go?

"I'm gonna go ask him.

"Hey, bird!

(CAWING)

"Hey, where did

you get those fish?"

Sky and Amber enjoy

some mother-daughter bonding time.

(HUFFS)

Scout's learning that

sand tastes bad.

(GROWLING)

(CRIES OUT)

(GROWLS)

Both cubs,

in their own way,

are loving their first day

at the beach.

But Sky can't afford

too much time playing.

She's got to keep searching for

clams while the tide is out.

Wherever Sky goes,

the raven follows.

(CAWING)

The raven can spot

an opportunity from way up high,

while the bears

got a nose for finding hidden food.

An unusual partnership,

but it works.

"Hey, Mom, how do you open

one of these things, anyway?

"Mom!

"Never mind, I got it.

I'm fine.

"My claw has...

Mom, the...

"Well, what do you do

if your claw gets stuck in the clam?

"Let go.

(HUFFS)

"Mom, it's stuck

in my claw!

"What are you

looking at, bird?

"This is how I carry it.

"Just walk it over here. Just taking my

clam for a walk, that's all.

(IMITATING GRUNTING)

"Let go of my claw, clam!

"Let go!

(CRIES OUT)

"I didn't want

that clam anyway."

Sky and the cubs are far from the

shore when the tide starts to turn.

Sky is trying to get

as much food as she can

before the water

covers up the mud.

(GROWLS)

(WHIMPERS)

Scout doesn't know

what's about to happen to the tide.

He's just tired

from a long day.

And now, they are

surrounded by water.

Freezing cold water.

(SNORTING)

When Sky finally

heads back to the shore,

she assumes both her cubs

are close behind.

It's a mistake.

Scout is too tired

to keep going.

Amber notices

that Scout isn't just dawdling this time.

He's asleep.

(GRUNTS)

When Scout wakes up,

he sees he's stranded

far from the shore.

(CRIES OUT)

He desperately calls

for his mother.

(CRIES OUT)

And she calls back.

(GRUNTS)

Urging him to hurry.

(GRUNTS)

The current

is much stronger now,

and Scout

is really struggling to get back on land.

(GRUNTING)

(SCOUT CRYING OUT)

(SKY GROWLING)

(GRUNTS)

(SCOUT CRIES OUT)

Scout stayed tough

and made it safely to the shore.

And the cubs, well,

they look pretty happy

to see each other.

(LOW GROWL)

As the weeks progress,

the weather warms,

and the mudflats

are no longer so exposed.

Time to head back

to the meadow,

where it's bursting

with color.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(CROAKING)

(GROWLING)

Scout and Amber are bonding during

these early days of summer,

while their mother watches

from a safe distance.

(LOW GROWL)

With no fish nearby,

it's back to eating grass.

Scout is less

than impressed.

By this time of year,

everything tastes a little stale and dry.

With food

in such short supply,

even the female bears

are getting a little cranky.

(BOTH SNARLING)

(BELLOWING)

These fierce head-to-heads

may be short,

but they are becoming

more frequent.

It's getting tense.

(GROWLING)

(WOLVES HOWLING)

The cubs know

something feels wrong.

(HUFFING)

There's nowhere to hide.

Everyone is watching them.

(HUFFING)

Seeing her cubs

getting nervous,

Sky goes to their side

to protect them.

(CRIES OUT)

(HUFFING)

Magnus.

And this time,

he's really hungry.

(HUFFING)

He's spotted the cubs.

Sky must quickly decide

what to do.

(GROWLS)

She runs,

hoping to find safety.

(GROWLING)

It's a choice,

she will soon regret.

(SNARLING)

Chinook!

Round two

and ready to fight.

(GROWLING)

He takes off after them.

(WHIMPERING)

(SNARLING)

Chinook is much stronger

than Sky,

but she'll fight

with everything she's got

to give her cubs

a chance to escape.

(SNARLING)

(BOTH GROWLING)

The cubs make

a run for it.

(BOTH SNARLING)

Sky tries to lead him away,

but instead of following her,

Chinook heads straight

for the cubs.

He knows they can't

have gotten far.

(WHIMPERING)

(HUFFING)

Chinook's powerful

sense of smell

tells him the cubs

are hiding in the logs.

But which ones?

(GROWLING)

(HUFFING)

(BIRDS TWITTERING)

(SNORTING)

Sky is desperately

searching for her cubs.

(CRYING OUT)

Amber.

(SNORTING)

But no sign of Scout.

(HUFFING)

(GRUNTING)

Amber doesn't want to leave the

meadow without her brother.

But Sky knows

they need to keep moving.

Chinook could come back

at any moment.

She still has Amber

to protect,

no matter how much

she wants to look for Scout.

It's not an easy decision.

(WHIMPERS)

There he is!

(CRYING OUT)

Back together again.

(BOTH CRYING OUT)

Sky knows another spot

up the coast

her mother took her

to long ago.

As she leads

her cubs there,

she must be hoping

her luck will start changing.

Midsummer brings

longer days and a new place to feed.

While Sky and the cubs

are moving to a safer place to eat

the rest of the bears leave the

meadow, and head for the shore.

(GROWLING)

(BOTH SNARLING)

Chinook is already here.

(SQUAWKING)

And so is Magnus.

For now, they wait,

and wait.

(WAVES CRASHING)

It's salmon!

The first opportunity

to fish.

(GRUNTS)

It has been a full year

since the bears went fishing.

Looks like

they're a bit rusty.

(GRUNTS)

"I got it! I got it!

"I... I had it.

"These are

really slippery fish."

Only Magnus

has dignity here.

Magnus doesn't

have to fish,

because he has a plan.

He's going to take

whatever Chinook catches.

"Yeah, that's it, Chinook.

"Get me that fish.

"Good bear."

Magnus moves in.

(SNARLING)

(BOTH BELLOWING)

Magnus ultimately wins,

and Chinook can

only limp away

watching his hard-earned meal

go to someone else's stomach.

Chinook won't forget this.

(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)

Far from the danger

of the crowded salmon beach,

Sky and her cubs are still searching

for a quiet place to feed.

Scout gets distracted

by the tiniest things,

slowing them down.

(CRIES OUT)

They're being followed.

Tikani has sensed

an opportunity.

If he's quiet enough,

he can snatch

a dawdling cub.

Scout att*cks!

(SNARLING)

Tikani wants Scout

to follow him.

Get him alone.

But Sky stays close.

(GROWLING)

(HUFFING)

Only Sky can

chase Tikani off.

(SNARLING)

This mama bear's

keeping a good eye on her cubs.

Tikani's usual tricks

aren't working,

but that doesn't mean

he's giving up.

(RAVEN CALLING)

Just a few miles

up the coast

Sky follows the raven's call

to a very special place.

A hidden sanctuary

where the bears

can let down their guard.

(RAVEN CAWING)

Nice find, Mr. Raven.

Good eye.

(RAVEN CALLING)

Sky must be worried

about her milk supply.

If she doesn't eat tons of salmon

by the end of the summer,

she won't have enough fat stored

up to feed Scout and Amber

through next winter's

hibernation.

The cubs could starve

to death right beside her in the den.

Sky knows that

before too long

she will have to brave

the salmon beach.

But first,

she has a little treat to show her cubs.

When the tide goes out,

the ocean becomes

a secret restaurant,

serving up

mussel-covered rocks.

(CRUNCHING)

It's all-you-can-eat,

but you have to eat carefully.

The cubs seem

completely confused.

"Is it supposed

to taste like this?

"This is really crunchy."

But Sky knows

that a good claw-full is worthwhile.

(CRUNCHING)

She uses her powerful paws

to expose a hidden snack.

(HUFFING)

Rock eels.

These shy little fish

are not exactly salmon,

but they're better

than nothing.

Scout thinks

he has the muscles for the job.

(IMITATES GRUNTING)

While Amber lets her mother

do all the heavy lifting.

(HUFFING)

(RAVEN CALLING)

And the clever raven

collects his reward.

(SNORTING)

"Hey, that was mine.

(CAWING)

"I was saving that!"

It is a lot of work,

but there's nothing else

on the menu right now.

(YELPS)

Ouch!

Back at the beach,

the salmon have finally

arrived in large numbers.

This is what the bears

have been waiting for all summer.

The sea is bubbling

with fish,

and their massive numbers

make them much easier

to catch.

This is where Sky

and her cubs need to be, and soon.

They're already

missing out.

Chinook's not letting

anyone swipe a fish from him this time.

Without Magnus around,

he's got more than a mouthful.

Even Tikani is here,

testing out his fishing skills.

(SQUAWKING)

It's harder than it looks.

And there's no mistaking

the inexperienced ones out here.

Then it's just a matter

of eating your catch

before someone else does.

Hurry up, little guy!

Run!

You know when a wolf's

walking like that,

he's up to something.

(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)

(SNIFFING)

Head down,

slow and steady.

The thief at work.

Impressive.

And he didn't even

get his tail wet.

After months of being

on the constant hunt for salmon,

it seems almost impossible

that the bears can be too full to eat.

But that's exactly

what's happening here.

So very full.

And interested in...

(SNIFFING)

I don't know

what he's doing.

Suddenly

everyone's very itchy.

(SNORTS)

(FLIES BUZZING)

This guy looks like my dad

when he's watching TV.

(SQUAWKING)

"Hey, who changed

the channel?

"I was watching that."

Sky and her cubs

aren't the only ones on a journey here.

The salmon are merely waiting before

they can start heading upriver to spawn.

They've spent

the entire winter out in the salty ocean,

and it will take

a few weeks for their bodies

to adapt to fresh water.

They hang around the shallow river

mouth behind the beach,

hidden from where

the bears have been hunting.

Sky is the first

to get here,

and she's got

the place all to herself.

It's a huge amount of fish.

She has to take advantage

of the situation now,

but she knows it's risky

to leave the cubs.

(SNORTS)

She's only got so much time

before the other bears arrive.

She'll hunt much

more efficiently if she goes it alone.

She decides

it's worth the risk.

(GROWLING)

The cubs try

to defend themselves

while calling

for their mother's help.

(GROWLING)

(CUBS WHIMPERING)

(SNARLS)

But they can't do it alone.

(CRYING OUT)

(ROARING)

Sky rushes back,

and Tikani retreats.

Sky has taken her cubs

to every spot she knows on the coast

with no luck.

There are other

secret places upstream,

hidden spots

like the Golden Pond

that are sometimes

filled with fish.

But they're hard to find,

and the climb is steep.

Sky doesn't

have much choice,

she needs to find

somewhere to feed before it's too late.

(SQUAWKING)

For the salmon,

it's been two weeks in the river mouth,

and they're now used

to the fresh water.

Their journey upstream

can finally begin.

It's an almost

unbelievable mission.

They're trying to return to the exact

same place where they were hatched.

They rely on chemical cues,

the taste of the water,

to tell them exactly where to go.

Some travel

up to miles upriver

against a relentless current.

And often, the waterfalls

are just too steep to let them pass.

Unable to swim

any higher,

these salmon

will just have to wait

in the plunge pools below.

This is where

the salmon are headed.

Calm, shallow waters that offer the

perfect place to lay their  eggs.

Sky and the cubs

have just arrived, too.

They've spent

the past two weeks

climbing their way

to this lonely spot.

Sky is shockingly thin.

She's hoping she's made it for the

salmon's first arrival

to these quiet waters.

But her timing

is heartbreakingly off.

The fish are still stuck

in the pools below.

There's nothing to eat.

(SQUAWKING)

(CAWING)

It looks like this time

the raven was wrong.

(CAWING CONTINUES)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(GRUNTS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

They may be soaking wet

and freezing,

but the rain

actually gives Sky

and the cubs

some much-needed hope.

The downpour causes

the water levels to rise

giving the salmon the exact push they

need to get back on track.

Yes!

They've made it.

Sky knows the salmon

are coming.

She can almost taste them.

Sky searches.

Where are they?

It's her first fish

of the season.

And the cubs finally get

to taste salmon.

(LOW GROWL)

Scout takes his to go.

But Amber cuddles up

for a little mother-daughter sushi date.

(GRUNTING)

(GROWLS)

"Mom, salmon is

my new favorite food.

"Let's never

have mussels again."

The only problem

with salmon is

they don't stay

in one place for long.

They're still

on their journey.

Sky knows where

they're headed,

and it's a place

far too dangerous

for a mother

with young cubs.

With no other options,

she has to find

the Golden Pond.

These are the Great Falls.

Only the biggest

and baddest come here.

Thousands of salmon

pass through these falls,

for just a few short weeks

at the end of summer.

If you want to catch

a fat fish,

you've got to be

in the right place

at the right time.

(GRUNTS)

And even then,

well, ugh,

there's no guarantee.

Ugh!

Oh!

(GROWLING)

Magnus is an old pro.

Just open your mouth.

The competition for the best

fishing spot is intense.

(GROWLING)

(ROARING)

Chinook wants

Magnus' prime position.

(GROWLING)

But he's forgotten

how powerful Magnus is.

Time for a little reminder.

(BELLOWING)

(BELLOWING)

Chinook surrenders.

And Magnus remains

the undisputed ruler of the Great Falls.

(CHIRPING)

Sky and the cubs

have found a peaceful place

deep in the woods,

upriver from

the Great Falls.

Summer is almost over,

and with

the promise of fall,

the cubs are already growing

their thick winter coats.

(LOW GROWL)

With hardly any salmon,

Sky hasn't had a chance

to build up

her fat reserves

for the winter.

(YAWNING)

(GRUNTING)

With no food,

Sky's milk

will definitely dry up

and Scout and Amber

won't make it

through hibernation.

(BIRDS TWITTERING)

(HUFFING)

Poor Sky.

She tried hard all year to be a good

mom and keep her cubs safe.

She's lost

and totally exhausted,

but she still doesn't want

to give up the fight.

If only she knew,

she's almost there.

Just a short walk away.

This is the Golden Pond,

where Sky wanted

to take her cubs.

In certain years, salmon gather

here in unimaginable numbers.

(SNORTING)

(RAVEN CAWING)

(CAWING)

The raven calls,

asking Sky to follow.

Sky can hardly believe

her eyes.

So many bears,

peacefully gathered.

Safe and welcoming.

(SNORTING)

And more salmon than

she and the cubs can shake a paw at.

(GRUNTING)

(FLY BUZZING)

With all this salmon,

the cubs will grow fat,

and Sky will be able

to keep them going through the winter.

Sky's long,

difficult journey is finally over.

(MOANING)

Turns out that tough bear

Scout was looking for

was right by his side,

all along.

As winter approaches, all the bears begin their trek back up the mountains.

Scout and Amber will rely on their mother for the next two years, growing stronger with each passing season.

Before the dark days of winter arrive, every bear must return to the high peaks to dig their dens for hibernation.

And for the next six months, all the bears will remain asleep under a deep blanket of snow.

There goes Chinook.

He survived another year.

And the mighty Magnus gives one last look over his domain.

They say the first year of parenting is the hardest.

But Sky was patient and determined.

She never stopped caring.

And her reward?

Eight little paws following her back up the mountainfor a long, winter's nap.

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