[Music] in the far north of Alaska three new baby moose enter the world one moose finds itself in an unforgiving wilderness the other two find themselves in the bewildering bustle of the suburbs but in whatever landscape they call home they’ll face enemies brutal conditions unimaginable odds and even each other it’s an epic journey for these three little moose who will one day grow from tiny to Titan deep in the Alaskan wilderness sits diamond crowned Denali at over 20,000 feet high it’s the tallest mountain in the Americas beneath its towering Peaks lives the moose a giant gangly and somewhat awkward beast for all its impressive size and power the Moose is a bit well on its legs seem far too spindly to hold up its massive body it needs a huge hump of muscles on its back to hold up it’s amazing headgear antlers which can weigh up to 70 pounds that’s like having the weight of an entire Labrador Retriever on your head it’s long horsey head and an impressive smell that looks a little lighted camels and there’s the sack of skin that hangs from its neck it’s called a bell but no one knows whether it’s for intimidating rivals or impressing females six feet tall at the shoulder with can head reaching up to eight feet the largest Bulls can weigh almost a ton but you have to be more than just big to survive in Alaska if predators sneak up a moose can run off at up to 35 miles an hour those are some scrawny legs that can move they’re actually members of the deer family the largest deer on earth but even as big and unique as they are being a moose is no laughing matter winter is almost here and in these parts it hits hard it’s time to fill up and stockpile fat the Moose’s name is quite suiting it comes from the Algonquin word Mo’s meaning twig eater young leaves and twigs of Willow and birch are their favorite foods they enjoy the treat while they can when the snow and ice come they’re tender twigs all but disappear crunchy bark and pokey needles will be all that’s left and twigs aren’t all that’s disappearing this is the time of year when the Bulls antlers fall off they won’t be gone forever though each spring they grow them back sprouting bigger more impressive racks every year talk about an exhausting endeavor but the moose need all of the help they can get in the winter and a little less baggage can’t hurt it’s a desperate time for everyone the season takes its toll [Music] predators coal and starvation will take many of Denalis oldest and youngest moose but when it finally comes to an end and the land begins to thaw it’s a spectacular sight [Music] springtime in Alaska is vibrant and gorgeous the once frozen land explodes with color and trees everywhere sprout the mooses favorite tender shoots turning the forest into a delicious smorgasbord this is the life for everyone that is except the nearly one year old yearlings this little guy is about to set off on his own all alone for nearly a year mom has stayed by his side for company and protection but now a baby brother is on the way and mom needs a little peace and quiet from her raucous young one and it’s no use throwing tantrums he’s off on his own net finally the moment is here a baby is on its way after almost eight months in the calm of the womb the calf is about to enter the wild world of Denali [Music] a slippery newborn makes a shaky entrance he’s a quick learner though and within minutes he’s up on his feet [Music] mother offers encouraging licks in some loving nuzzles little does this cat realize his life is about to get a whole lot tougher with bears wolves in an unforgiving environment almost half of moose calves don’t even survive past their first few weeks [Music] but it’s not just big bad bears moose have to worry about man has staked claim on moose country as well welcome to Anchorage Alaska’s largest city and seasonal home to a remarkable number of news like people the moose simply follow the highways into the burbs moose sometimes seem as common as speed bumps yet they still seem to turn heads wherever they go even when they get into a little mischief [Music] in this snug backyard a suburban mother moose has just given birth to twins she’s instinctively on guard to creditors these domesticated dogs don’t seem nearly as dangerous as their wild wolf cousins to the moose city life might actually be a bit luxurious if you can ignore the strange roaring machines [Music] the vegetation along city’s roads isn’t all-you-can-eat buffet and predators tend to avoid the commotion of the city but then out of nowhere [Music] away from the highways the suburbs are less dangerous but equally bewilderingly [Music] the twins are doing well though these man-made forests can be quite confusing sometimes you just need a little human kindness no right now I can’t see her she’s around the other side [Music] but a kind gesture can still turn dangerous when a mother is separated from the cash the little moose twins might get into trouble but their cuteness seems to save them there’s always a puzzle to solve for the urban moose every day is an exciting new challenge one could say they’re curious and quite persistent [Music] but don’t let their comical looks deceive you the gentle moose can be unpredictable and dangerous when startled or teased moose have trampled people even killed them anchorage isn’t the only city that lives with moose mayhem most live all around the northern hemisphere resourceful and adaptable they have spread all across Asia the Americas and Europe in countries like Norway the moose population is exploding more and more the animals are showing up in towns and cities an experts fear the forests can no longer support the animals they are spilling out onto the roads and causing all sorts of dangerous situations it’s estimated that well over 10,000 moose collisions occur annually around the world but back in Anchorage the moose family isn’t too concerned about the passing traffic they enjoy a backyard stroll sampling the best garden goodies the neighborhood has to offer [Music] maybe they’re guarding destruction is tolerated all because of those irresistible young ones they’re just too darn adorable but in Alaska no one can afford to take mother nature lightly the city-dwelling moose might think they’re safe from their natural predators but when hungry enough a brave bear will still venture towards the concrete jungle especially when he catches the scent of some fresh calves the mother and twins are completely oblivious to this unexpected danger both are out of their element but luckily for the Moose the bear decides he’s had enough of this loud and crazy human world at least for now the moose family heads back to their favorite backyard for bedtime meanwhile summer has come to Denali National Park bringing with it almost round-the-clock daylight in summer the Sun barely even sets temperatures are warm and food is everywhere our wild calf of Denali has grown of it and is now sturdier on his feet his life seems much different than his urban cousins bears and other predators are everywhere he’s lucky he survived the most dangerous of times the first few days after birth now every week that goes by his chances of survival grow but he is not out of the woods yet predators may kill up to 50% of his calf friends before the end of the year the little guy must rely on his species super moose powers his highly heightened senses his eyesight may not be perfect but he can move his eyeballs independently for a 360-degree view even directly behind him and that giant snout houses an ultra sharp sense of smell millions of dedicated nerve endings can catch the faintest whiff of an unwelcome guest with constantly swiveling ears the moves can pick up the slightest rustle without the element of surprise even a wolf has a hard time taking on mother moose one of the most surprising things about the Moose is its love for water they might be a little clumsy on land but in the water they are completely at home graceful even but this isn’t just a cool dip in the pool they’ve discovered there’s a goldmine of grub beneath these waters snapping their nostrils shut to keep out water the moose cows down moose can hold their breath for up to a minute and they can uproot plants as deep as 18 feet now that is an Olympic swimmer [Music] if you’re in search of 60 pounds of food a day like these guys there’s nothing like a nice swim to cool you off in the process throughout the spring and summer something peculiar will happen to the males or bowls of the moose family almost like an alien life-form little buds start poking out of their skulls these are their antlers they will grow as fast as three inches a week some of the quickest growing body tissue in all mammals a layer of fuzzy skin helps their racks grow to enormous sizes it feels kind of like velvet and is very delicate and sensitive packed with loads of nerves and blood vessels [Music] it may discourage bulls for fighting until their antlers are fully grown and hardened a Moose’s antlers are the largest of any mammal in the world when the antlers have finished growing the velvet needs to come off just in time for the mating season the Bulls rub their antlers against trees and rocks to get the velvet off the sharp points of the antlers emerge first a glimpse of what’s to come as the mating season approaches velvet rubbing becomes a full-time job despite the chilly misty mornings of early fall things in moose land are just heating up a bowl looking for a mate shows off his remarkable antler rack he rattles them against the vegetation to impress both the cows and other bowls alike females start to gather intrigued by the display the male has the cows full attention an especially impressive beast can be quite a draw sparking a competition among the females [Music] unlike other members of the deer family it’s not just the males who will battle it out for their chosen suitor spats among the females can get downright ugly this male having proved his irresistibility to so many females becomes choosy himself maybe even a bit cocky he chases off a less desirable female much to her dismay at 1,500 pounds 7 feet high at the shoulder with a 6 foot antler rack this is one of the baddest bulls on the range it’s no wonder the cows find him attractive but there’s trouble on the horizon a younger and equally impressive bull [Music] the Challenger approaches waving his great antlers from side to side [Music] the master responds a little intimidation usually goes a long way and the Challenger will often back down without a fight but not this time [Music] [Music] the male stare each other down like prize fighters circling and eyeing for an opening need their backs down finally they clash with equally matched bulls the battle may last up to a half an hour or more [Music] but the older bowl soon gains the upper hand he batters the Challenger without mercy in the contest abruptly comes to an end the champion returns to the females the contender has paid a price for his boldness a wounded leg in this unforgiving place a wounded leg is not welcome news meanwhile the victor will continue to work his charms on the cows [Music] it’s an annual virtual here in the valley of Denali which will bring another batch of baby moose next spring whether born in the wild or amongst the humans and their steel machines it takes strong will strength and a lot of luck to survive this crazy world [Music] but these moves are doing it and they’re even growing in numbers [Music] the next time you’re up north keep your eyes out and your distance you never know if there’s a moose around the corner you [Music]
