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Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.
Atz Lee: ALASKA HAS EVERY SIZE OF PREDATOR
THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
IT'S RELENTLESS.
Eivin: FOR ME, A PREDATOR IS DEFINITELY
THE ANIMAL THAT IS TRYING TO TAKE
THE ANIMAL THAT I'M TRYING TO TAKE.
WE TEACH OUR KIDS TO BE AFRAID OF PREDATORS.
ALL OF THEM.
Charlotte: THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ATTACKED AND KILLED BY WOLVES.
Atz: YOU'RE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING ALL THE PREDATORS
FROM COMING IN AND TAKING WHAT YOU GOT.
[ BEARS ROAR ]
IF WE SEE A BEAR OR A WOLF ATTACKING OUR COW,
WE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SHOOT THEM DEAD.
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
♪ BUT LIFE IS SIMPLE, LIFE IS GOOD ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN' LIKE YOU SHOULD ♪
♪ HEY, HEY ♪
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S STRUGGLE, STRIFE ♪
♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪
♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪
♪ YES, WE'LL STAY ♪
♪ RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: THE KILCHER FAMILY LIVES AMONG
SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PREDATORS IN THE WORLD.
THE HOMESTEADERS MUST ALWAYS BE ON GUARD.
Atz: WHEN I'M UP AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY RANGE
RIDING AT THE PRIME OF THE SEASON
WHEN PREDATORS ARE REALLY OUT THERE AND HUNGRY AND ACTIVE,
YOU JUST ALWAYS HAVE IT IN YOUR MIND
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE.
COYOTES IN A PACK WILL TAKE DOWN A SMALL CALF.
THEN, YOU GOT WOLVES.
THEY'LL TAKE DOWN A FULL-GROWN COW.
YOU GOT BLACK BEARS -- NOT AS BAD AS BROWN BEARS,
BUT BLACK BEARS WILL TAKE DOWN CALVES OR YEARLINGS EVEN.
THEN, YOU GOT BROWN BEARS,
WHICH ARE KIND OF THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.
HEY, ATZ!
HEY, MARK.
Narrator: MARK MARETTE IS A NEIGHBOR
AND FELLOW RANGE RIDER,
WHO HAS TRAVELED FROM HIS OWN HOMESTEAD
TO CHECK ON HIS CATTLE
GRAZING NEAR THE KILCHER HERD A FEW MILES AWAY.
WELL, I WAS JUST OUT BY THE COWS BEFORE I RAN IN HERE,
AND I RAN INTO A BROWN BEAR SOW
WITH TWO OF THIS YEAR'S CUBS RIGHT OUT BY THE BIG ISLAND.
AND SHE'S ON, LIKE,
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF IT THERE.
THE CUBS WERE RIGHT UP ON THE ISLAND.
HAD SHE BEEN THERE A WHILE? COULD YOU TELL?
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GO IN CLOSE,
BUT SHE'S A REAL BIG BEAR.
I'M NOW GOING TO GO A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUSLY
THAN I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE.
I KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT, SO I KIND OF KNOW TO SWING WIDE
AND CHECK OUT WITH MY GLASSES WAY AHEAD OF TIME.
Narrator: ATZ SR. SADDLES UP
AND HEADS OFF TO CHECK ON HIS HERD.
HIS DESTINATION -- AN AREA CALLED "THE ISLAND"
IN THE HEART OF THE GRAZING LANDS.
THE COWS ARE OUT THERE.
THESE COWS HAVE HAD ENOUGH BRUSHES WITH BROWN BEAR
WHERE THEY'RE PRETTY SCARED OF THEM.
THERE SHE IS.
TWO BRAND-NEW LITTLE BABY CUBS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: BETWEEN SPRING AND FALL,
A BROWN BEAR CAN GAIN UP TO 200 POUNDS.
Atz: LOOKS LIKE A DAMN BUFFALO OUT THERE.
SHE IS HUGE.
HER BACK END AND THEN HER HUMP AND HER SHOULDERS
AND HER NECK AND THEN HER HEAD --
I MEAN, LOOKED LIKE A DAMN FREIGHT TRAIN.
A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE
THAT THE BOAR -- THE MALE BEAR --
WILL TRY TO KILL THE CUBS
SO THE SOW COMES BACK IN HEAT SO HE CAN BREED HER AGAIN.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR HER TO HIDE HER CUBS,
UP IN THAT ISLAND.
KEEPS THEM SAFE.
I MEAN, I'D PROBABLY ONLY SHOOT HER IF SHE WAS CHARGING ME,
AND SHE WON'T DO THAT IF I KEEP MY DISTANCE.
BROWN BEAR OVER HERE, CATTLE OVER THERE.
ALL EATING GRASS FOR NOW,
AND THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO KEEP IT.
Narrator: BEARS AREN'T THE ONLY PREDATORS STALKING THE RANGE.
LATER THAT SUMMER, ATZ SR.'s YOUNGEST SON, NIKOS,
RIDES IN TO HELP HIS FATHER WITH THE KILCHER CATTLE.
Atz: SO, NIKOS CAME UP.
IT'S FATHER'S DAY.
WE'LL JUST RIDE THE RANGE TOGETHER, FATHER AND SON,
AND LITTLE DID WE KNOW HOW THAT DAY WOULD END UP.
COME CHECK OUT THESE WOLF TRACKS HERE.
WOLVES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM ON AND OFF.
NOT AS MUCH AS BROWN BEAR,
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO ATTACK CATTLE AND KILL THEM.
THERE'S WOLVES THAT TRAVEL IN PACKS,
SOMETIMES THERE'S A LONE WOLF.
THEY'RE BIG.
THEY CAN WEIGH 100 POUNDS, UP TO 140 POUNDS --
BIG HEAD, BIG LEGS, BIG PAWS.
AND THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WOLVES BRING DOWN CATTLE.
SOMETIMES, THEY'LL GET THE TENDONS ON THE BACK LEG.
SOMETIMES, THEY'LL JUST SLASH THEIR BELLY
AND GET THEIR INTESTINES TO FALL OUT.
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT A WILD WOLF THAT'S SCARY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR CLAWS,
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR TEETH, THEIR JAWS,
THEY'RE KILLING MACHINES.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
I GOT TO CHECK SOMETHING OUT HERE.
AND THEN, OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,
I NOTICED THE CATTLE RUNNING TO GET IN A GROUP,
AND WHENEVER THEY DO THAT,
THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THEY GET INTO KIND OF A DEFENSIVE POSITION.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
I THOUGHT, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"
DAMN, THAT'S A WOLF, SON -- A BIG WOLF.
HOLD MY HORSE.
HE WASN'T JUST WALKING BY, WHISTLING DIXIE.
HE WAS HUNTING.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
HAVING A RIFLE, AND EVERYTHING WORKED.
Nikos: YES, YES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THERE.
THERE'S REALLY NO TELLING,
BUT DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A HARD TIME
TAKING DOWN ONE OF THOSE CALVES.
PRETTY INSANE. BIG ANIMAL -- REALLY BIG.
PROBABLY 90, 100 POUNDS.
Atz: I BELIVE ANYBODY WHO DOES THEIR JOB WELL
IS GONNA HAVE SOME STRONG FEELINGS --
CALL IT ACCOMPLISHMENT, CALL IT PRIDE, SATISFACTION.
HAVING TO KILL A WOLF OR BROWN BEAR
THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE KILLED THE CATTLE OR THE CALVES,
IT'S A STRONG FEELING.
IT'S NOT ONE SO MUCH OF CELEBRATION.
IT'S ONE OF ALMOST AWE --
LIKE, THE TIMES WHERE I'VE HAD TO KILL SOMETHING
TO PROTECT SOMETHING.
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF FEELING --
KIND OF HARD TO DESCRIBE.
ALL RIGHT. ANOTHER KILLER DOWN.
Narrator: WHETHER IT'S AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY
OR ON THE HOMESTEAD,
THE KILCHERS ARE UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK
FROM THE EVER-PRESENT PREDATORS.
[ COYOTES HOWL ]
Eivin: YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER A PREDATOR.
ONE EVENING, I WAS WALKING HOME, AND IT WAS PITCH DARK.
AND I STARTED ACTUALLY GETTING CIRCLED BY COYOTES.
I COULDN'T SEE ANY MORE THAN JUST THE VAGUE OUTLINES
OF THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME, BUT I COULD HEAR THEM.
AND I JUST BARELY SEE THESE THINGS JUST [EXHALES SHARPLY]
RUN ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME,
AND THEN I CAN HEAR THEM RUN ACROSS THE ROAD BEHIND ME.
THEN I PICKED UP A BIG ROCK IN ONE HAND
AND A BIG STICK IN THE OTHER,
AND FOR THAT WHOLE 20-MINUTE WALK,
I JUST WAS ABSOLUTELY SURE
THAT I WAS GONNA GET ATTACKED AT ANY MOMENT.
BUT AS SOON AS I CAME INTO THE LIGHT OF THE HOUSE,
THEY WERE GONE.
IF YOU'RE NOT READY FOR IT,
THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN IT'S GONNA COME.
Narrator: IN ALASKA,
THERE'S A PREDATOR FOR EVERY SEASON,
EVEN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
FOR SAFETY, THE HOMESTEADERS MAINTAIN
CLOSE CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
EACH WINTER, ATZ SR. AND HIS BROTHER OTTO
TRAVEL 35 MILES FROM THEIR HOMESTEAD
TO CHECK UP ON THEIR NEIGHBOR MARK MARETTE.
Otto: TODAY, ATZ AND I ARE ON OUR MISSION TO RESCUE MARK.
HE'S RUNNING OUT OF HAY, HE'S OUT OF FOOD,
AND NOBODY HAS HEARD FROM HIM IN A FEW DAYS.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH WINTER ON EVERYBODY,
AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT MARK
AND HIM BEING WAY OUT THERE.
Atz: IT'S ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU GO HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR.
HE'D DO THE SAME FOR US, AND IT'S JUST THAT UP HERE,
NEIGHBORS ARE A LITTLE FARTHER SPREAD OUT
THAN SOME OTHER PLACES.
MARK! MARK, YOU HERE?
[ PANTING ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. MARETTE.
HI, OTTO!
Marette: RIGHT NOW, IN THE WINTERTIME,
A HORSE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT,
BUT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 18 MILES ROUND-TRIP IN A DAY ON A HORSE
AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE ANIMALS
WITH THE PREDATORS AROUND,
IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT'S FEASIBLE FOR ME.
IT'S BEEN PRETTY HARD THERE THIS YEAR.
MENTALLY, IT ISN'T *** ME.
IT'S THE AMOUNT OF WORK.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIVE WITH RUNNING WATER AND ELECTRICITY,
SO I PRETTY MUCH LUG MY WATER AND...
HEY, BOYS!
...HAVE TO BUILD A FIRE IF I WANT TO STAY WARM.
HEY, HEIFER.
Atz: BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARK
WAY OUT THERE AT THE HEAD OF BAY,
THERE'S A LOT MORE PREDATORS THAT COME IN A LOT CLOSER.
HE'S GOT BROWN BEAR
THAT COME INTO HIS FEEDLOT IN THE SPRING --
I MEAN, LOOKING OVER THE FENCE, TRYING TO GET A COW.
Marette: IF IT IS ALL ACCORDING TO GAME PLAN
AND EVERYBODY'S BORN SUCCESSFULLY
AND THE BEARS AND THE WOLVES DON'T KILL ANY OF THEM,
I'LL HAVE 23 CALVES,
WHICH IS 3 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
WOLVES ARE HERE IN THE YARD,
THE COYOTES ARE HERE IN THE YARD,
AND I'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THOSE.
IF THE WOLVES ARE A PROBLEM,
I'VE GOT NO PROBLEM ELIMINATING THEM
IF THEY'RE GONNA BE MESSING WITH MY ANIMALS.
SO, WINTERTIME, I STAYED WITH MY ANIMALS,
YOU KNOW, 100% OF THE TIME.
TAKE A LOOK IN HERE, YOU GUYS.
HOLY CRAP!
CHECK THAT OUT, ATZ.
THESE ARE A FEW COYOTES
THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE EATING MY CALVES.
YOU CAN SEE
THEY'RE FROZEN SOLID HERE RIGHT NOW.
I PUT THESE STICKS IN THE MOUTH THERE
JUST SO WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SKIN THEM OUT,
IT'D BE EASIER TO DO.
Narrator: LIKE WOLVES, COYOTES HAVE
A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
THEY RELY ON STRONG FAMILY BONDS AND SHARED TERRITORIES.
FOR SURVIVAL, THE PACK NEEDS FRESH MEAT AND SPACE TO ROAM.
THEY COMPETE WITH THE KILCHERS FOR BOTH.
Marette: WINTERTIME, COWS ARE CALVING.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MISSING SLEEP
BECAUSE THE COYOTES ARE HERE IN THE YARD.
THEY'RE HOWLING AND THEY'RE GROWLING,
AND THEY'RE COMING IN ON THE CATTLE.
I SIT OUT HERE WITH MY RIFLE
AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT IS MINE STAYS MINE.
Atz: MARK'S IN A SITUATION
WHERE HE HEARS A LITTLE RUCKUS AT NIGHT,
HE CAN'T JUST GO BACK TO SLEEP.
IT COULD BE A WOLF OR A COYOTE BECAUSE HE IS RIGHT OUT THERE --
WAY OUT THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS A REMINDER OF, "YEAH, THIS IS REAL."
AND YOU ALWAYS GOT TO STAY ON YOUR TOES.
YOU GOT TO BE ON GUARD.
Narrator: COMING UP...
SON OF A [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...PREDATORS FROM THE SKIES
WREAK HAVOC ON THE HOMESTEAD...
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY MEAT EATERS OUT HERE.
OH, NO! I GOT TO GO GET EIVAN.
BEAR IN THE RIVER, BABY.
Narrator: ...AND THE LARGEST HUNTERS IN NORTH AMERICA...
...ARE BACK ON THE PROWL.
Narrator: THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD IS UNDER SIEGE BY PREDATORS.
THESE NATURAL-BORN KILLERS
COME FROM THE LAND, THE SEA,
AND THE SKY.
Atz: UNKNOWN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, RAVENS ARE A PREDATOR.
RAVENS, IN THE SPRING, HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO KILL CALVES.
[ BIRD CRIES ]
AND YOU MIGHT ASK,
"HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A RAVEN KILL A CALF?"
WELL, WHEN THE CALVES ARE BEING BORN,
JUST THE HEAD IS COMING OUT OF THE BIRTH CANAL.
A RAVEN WILL LAND
AND JUST START PICKING OUT THE EYES OF THE CALF,
MAYBE EATING THE TONGUE.
BY THE TIME THE BIRTHING PROCESS IS DONE AND THE CALF IS BORN,
THE CALF WILL NEVER SURVIVE.
[ BIRD SQUAWKS ]
Narrator: BIRDS OF PREY ARE A CONSTANT THREAT.
ON THE HOMESTEAD, EIVAN AND HIS WIFE, EVE,
DISCOVER A WINGED INTRUDER HAS BROKEN INTO THEIR CHICKEN COOP.
EVEN THOUGH WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP PREDATORS OUT,
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THEY STILL GET IN.
[ CHICKENS CLUCKING ]
WHY ARE THOSE CHICKENS GOING CRAZY?
OH, NO!
Eivin: THE DANGERS WITH PREDATORS IN ALASKA IS,
YOU'RE NEVER REALLY SURE
WHICH ONE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH.
Eve: OKAY. I GOT TO GO GET EIVAN.
BOTH CHARLOTTE AND I HAVE HAD SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES
WITH BIRDS OF PREY KILLING OUR CHICKENS.
OH [BLEEP]
THERE IT IS.
YEAH.
Eivin: COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED HERE.
WE'VE DONE ALL THIS WORK
TO TRY TO KEEP HAWKS OUT OF OUR CHICKEN COOP,
BUT THEY'RE PRETTY SMART BIRDS.
AND IN THIS SITUATION,
THE HAWK JUST FOUND PROBABLY A LITTLE HOLE IN THE NET,
AND IF THEY SEE A WAY IN, THEY'LL FIND IT, THEY'LL GET IN,
AND THEY'LL START, YOU KNOW, KILLING YOUR CHICKENS.
Eve: WE'VE HAD TO TAKE PRETTY EXTREME MEASURES
TO COVER UP THE CHICKEN YARD.
EVEN THROUGH NETTING THAT HAS HOLES,
A HAWK CAN SEE THAT HOLE
AND FLY DOWN INTO YOUR CHICKEN YARD.
IT'S LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE, LIKE,
CUT ITS NOSE OR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT.
Eve: OH.
PROBABLY FLYING AT THE WALLS.
WE'LL GET IT OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: WITH EYES ON THE SIDES OF ITS HEAD,
THE GOSHAWK HAS 280-DEGREE PERIPHERAL VISION,
FAR MORE THAN THE AVERAGE HUMAN RANGE OF 180 DEGREES.
BUT THE HAWK IS NOW PANICKED,
AND ITS KEEN EYESIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH TO HELP IT ESCAPE.
Eivin: THIS HAWK HAD FOUND ITS WAY IN THROUGH A LITTLE HOLE.
BUT HE WASN'T ABOUT TO FIND HIS WAY BACK OUT
THROUGH THAT SAME LITTLE HOLE.
THEY NEED A LOT OF ROOM TO FLY,
SO EVE AND I JUST KIND OF ROLLED ALL THE NET BACK
SO HE HAD A HUGE WINDOW
TO BE ABLE TO FLY OUT THE ROOF OF THE NETTING.
[ CHICKEN SQUAWKS ]
WHOA!
OOH!
DON'T LET HIM GET YOUR FACE IF HE FLIES AT YOU.
YEAH.
NOPE. NOT THERE, EITHER.
OH, YOU'RE CLOSE.
YOU'RE SO CLOSE, BUDDY.
COME ON.
OH, YAY!
HE'S FREE.
WELL, HE'S GONNA GO SOMEWHERE
AND PROBABLY JUST CHILL OUT FOR A WHILE.
[ Laughing ] YEAH. POOR GUY.
MAN, ALL THAT WORK, AND IT DIDN'T EVEN GET A MEAL.
[ LAUGHS ]
OKAY, CHICKENS.
IT'S SAFE.
Eivin: I THINK ALL THE CHICKENS HAD PRETTY MUCH, LIKE --
THEY WERE SO FREAKED OUT
THAT THEY WERE ALL INSIDE THE COOP.
AND, FORTUNATELY,
THE HAWK DIDN'T GET ANY OF OUR CHICKENS OR DUCKS.
A CHICKEN YARD, FOR A HAWK, IS JACKPOT.
IF IT'S NOT COVERED WITH SOME KIND OF NETTING,
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE ALL YOUR CHICKENS ARE DEAD.
[ CHICKENS CLUCKING ]
Narrator: EIVAN'S UNCLE ATZ SR. AND HIS COUSIN ATZ LEE
FACE THEIR OWN PREDATOR PROBLEMS
ON A WINTER'S-DAY HUNT FOR FRESH FOOD.
I GOT AMMO, GOT SOME WIRE FOR SNARES.
I GOT SNARES, TOO.
Atz Lee: ME AND ATZ WANTED TO GET OUT
AND DO A LITTLE FATHER-SON ACTIVITIES AND WHATNOT,
SO HEADED OUT TO SET UP SOME RABBIT SNARES.
BASICALLY, YOU'RE JUST LOOKING FOR AREAS
THAT RABBITS ARE TRAVELING FREQUENTLY
THAT HAVE A GOOD KIND OF HANGING BRACH
THAT YOU CAN PUT A SNARE WRAPPED AROUND THE BRANCH,
THE OTHER END BECOMES A LOOP,
YOU HANG IT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT.
HOPEFULLY, A RABBIT WILL COME ALONG,
SPOT IT, HE'LL GO IN, AND WHEN IT GOES BACK,
WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE SNARE.
AND GET DOWN THERE IN TIME,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOURSELF SOME TASTY EATING.
WHEN WE HEAD BACK OUT,
YOU JUST KIND OF GO DOWN YOUR SNARE LINE
AND YOU TAKE THE RABBITS OUT OF EACH SNARE,
BUT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE SNARE LINE,
YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS THE FIRST PERSON ON THE SCENE.
SON OF A [BLEEP]
THE ONLY THING LEFT OF THE RABBIT
THAT WAS IN THIS SNARE IS ITS ENTRAILS,
AND THERE IS NOTHING BUT FUR.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT A PREDATOR BIRD, I WOULD ASSUME,
BEAT ME TO IT.
YOU GOT A LOT OF EAGLES, SEVERAL SPECIES OF HAWKS,
AND OWLS, AS WELL, TOO,
AND THEY'RE ALL GREAT HUNTERS.
THEY ALL HAVE INCREDIBLE EYESIGHT,
INCREDIBLE HEARING, AND INCREDIBLE POWER.
Narrator: EAGLES ARE PROTECTED BY BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW,
MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO KILL
OR EVEN SCARE OFF THIS AIRBORNE PREDATOR.
Eivin: [ Chuckling ] NO!
[ Normal voice ] NOTHING?
NOTHING LEFT.
I MEAN, THAT THING WAS SNARED ON THERE GOOD.
STILL GOT HAIR, STILL GOT DROPS OF BLOOD ON THERE.
I THINK THIS IS WHO ATE THAT RABBIT RIGHT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT BIG OLD TRACK.
IT LOOKS LIKE A [BLEEP] BIG OLD TURKEY,
BUT IT'S A BALD EAGLE.
YOU CAN SEE ITS LITTLE TALON MARKS
ACTUALLY STICKING IN THE SNOW RIGHT THERE.
I MEAN, ALL THAT POWER.
THERE'S THE EAGLE [BLEEP] AFTER HE ATE MY RABBIT.
THOSE BALD EAGLES, I MEAN, THEY'RE MASSIVE BIRDS,
AND IT CAME DOWN AND JUST HAD HIMSELF
A LOVELY, LITTLE MORNING SNACK.
[BLEEP] I SEE A PILE OF GUTS.
Eivin: YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY,
I DIDN'T TAKE IT OUT OF THE RABBIT MYSELF.
YOU READ THE SIGN IN THE TRACKS, FIGURE OUT THE STORY?
YEAH. EAGLE.
Atz: THINKING WE'RE REALLY SMART
WHEN ALL THE TIME, THE EAGLE SAID, "YOU DO THE HARD WORK,
"YOU SET THE SNARE,
AND AFTER YOU KILL THE RABBIT, I'M GONNA COME DOWN AND EAT IT."
I WAS SNOOZING, SO I WAS LOSING.
THAT EAGLE WAS ON THE JOB. HE WAS WATCHING.
AS SOON AS HE SAW SOME ACTIVITY,
HE COME DOWN THERE
AND ATE THAT WHOLE RABBIT RIGHT OUT OF THE SNARE,
SO YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT.
AT THE SAME TIME, OF COURSE, IT TICKS YOU OFF.
Narrator: COMING UP,
FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE LARGEST...
[ SPUTTERS ]
...EVERY PREDATOR ON THE HOMESTEAD CAN BE A KILLER.
OH, HE IS NOT AFRAID OF NOTHING.
I AIN'T GONNA STAND BY WHILE THE BROWN BEAR
KILLS A POOR, LITTLE CALF LIKE THIS.
JUST HUSH!
IT WAS CHAOS. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
IT'S BACK!
Narrator: IN ALASKA,
THE KILCHER FAMILY COMPETES FOR SURVIVAL
WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S FIERCEST PREDATORS.
THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES,
AND THE HOMESTEADERS NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL STRIKE.
Atz: I BELIEVE
THE MOST DANGEROUS PREDATOR IS THE BROWN BEAR.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST, THEY'RE THE STRONGEST,
AND DON'T HAVE MUCH FEAR.
Narrator: ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
ARE REMINDED JUST HOW FRIGHTENING A BROWN BEAR CAN BE,
WHILE ON A SUMMER FISHING TRIP FOR SILVER SALMON.
FOR ME, A PREDATOR IS DEFINITELY THE ANIMAL
THAT IS TRYING TO TAKE THE ANIMAL
THAT I'M TRYING TO TAKE.
I WAS FISHING THE RIVER WITH JANE
AND WAS HAPPILY JUST KIND OF CASTING AWAY,
AS I TURN AND LOOK OVER...
HOLY [BLEEP]
...IT'S THIS HUGE GRIZZLY BEAR.
THERE'S A BROWN BEAR RIGHT THERE.
WHAT? AAH!
I'M NOT IN A GOOD PLACE
TO BE DEALING WITH A GRIZZLY BEAR.
I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIVER, CURRENT'S PRETTY STRONG,
I'M ABOUT SIX FEET FROM THE BANK.
FIRST THING I WANT TO DO, OBVIOUSLY,
IS GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS RIVER
SO THAT I CAN GET INTO A PLACE TO BETTER PROTECT MYSELF.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH FISHING ON THE RIVERS OF ALASKA
IS THAT YOU'RE SHARING THAT FOOD SOURCE
WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST,
DEADLIEST PREDATORS THAT WE HAVE.
Jane: THAT BROWN BEAR WAS HUGE. IT WAS ENORMOUS.
I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE IT WAS SO CLOSE TO US.
BEARS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.
THEY COULD BE, LIKE, RIGHT UP CLOSE TO YOU
AND NOT CARE ABOUT YOU.
AND THEN, BEARS COULD BE RIGHT UP CLOSE TO YOU,
AND YOU CAN DO NOTHING WRONG
AND NOT TRY TO DISTURB IT OR WHATEVER,
AND IT JUST [GROWLS]
I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE, YOU LEAVE ME ALONE.
Narrator: AN ALASKAN BROWN BEAR
CAN CHARGE AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.
IF ATZ LEE AND JANE STARTLE THE ANIMAL,
ESCAPE WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU WANT TO CALL IT?
ALL RIGHT.
Atz Lee: MAKING NOISE FOR SELF-PROTECTION
IS A GOOD TECHNIQUE AGAINST BEARS,
BUT THERE'S TWO KINDS OF NOISE YOU CAN MAKE.
ONE IS A VERY STRONG, AGGRESSIVE ALPHA,
KIND OF "STANDING YOUR GROUND," BIG, BAD GRIZZLY-BEAR SOUND.
THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE...
OH, MY GOD! IT'S BACK!
IT CAME BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.
HE DIDN'T CARE THAT WE WERE THERE.
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN HIS WAY.
SHUSH!
YOU SHUSH! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE NOISE!
JANE [BLEEP] KILCHER,
YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. HE'S GETTING HIS FOOD.
AND HE'S COMING OUR WAY!
JUST HUSH, JANE! CALM YOURSELF!
[BLEEP]
DON'T [BLEEP] BRING ATTENTION HERE.
Jane: I DIDN'T THINK ATZ LEE
WAS GETTING OUT OF THERE QUICK ENOUGH,
SO I WAS ANGRY.
BUT YOU CAN'T YELL -- OR, I DIDN'T WANT TO YELL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE PANICKY, BUT I WAS PANICKING.
I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS CHAOS. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DIE.
JUST CHILL OUT. KEEP AN EYE OUT ON HIM.
ALL RIGHT?
JUST RELAX, PLEASE.
IT DRAWS ATTENTION TO A PREDATOR.
I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE NOISE.
HE'S HAULING CARCASSES OUT OF THE WATER.
OKAY, WELL, THAT'S THE CLOSEST I'VE EVER BEEN TO A BEAR.
WELL, HOW DOES IT FEEL?
Atz Lee: IT WAS A CLOSE CALL DEFINITELY,
BUT IT WAS ALSO A REALLY GOOD WAKE-UP
AND REALLY GOOD REMINDER
AND A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR HER, TOO,
JUST IN CASE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU START RELAXING TOO MUCH,
YOU STOP THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON THE FOOD CHAIN, TOO.
YOU'RE NOT JUST OUT THERE TRYING TO CATCH YOUR FISH.
YOU BETTER KEEP ONE EYE OVER YOUR SHOULDER
BECAUSE THERE'S BIGGER PREDATORS THAN YOU OUT THERE,
AND IF YOU PUT YOUR GUARD DOWN,
YOU KNOW, ONE POWERFUL SWOOP OF THAT CLAW,
I MEAN, IT COULD BE DEVASTATING.
NO SALMON WORTH GETTING EATEN BY A [BLEEP] GRIZZLY BEAR.
HE'S EATING BETTER THAN I AM TONIGHT.
Narrator: ALASKA IS HOME TO THREE TYPES OF BROWN BEAR --
THE COASTAL BROWN BEAR,
THE GRIZZLY, AND THE LARGEST OF THEM ALL --
THE KODIAK.
THESE GIANT CARNIVORES CALL KODIAK
AND ITS SURROUNDING ISLANDS HOME.
THIS IS ALSO EIVAN'S FAVORITE PLACE
TO HUNT DEER IN THE FALL.
Eivin: ANYTIME YOU SEE A BROWN BEAR,
YOU'RE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT SCARED
BUT A LITTLE BIT AWESTRUCK, TOO,
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH MAGNIFICENT ANIMALS
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE SUCH DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
Eve: OH, HE IS NOT AFRAID OF NOTHING.
BROWN BEARS ARE SO IMPRESSIVE, YOU KNOW?
EVERY MOVEMENT IS JUST SO HEAVY AND POWERFUL
AND JUST INCREDIBLE TO WATCH.
Eivin: YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO SCARE HIM.
YOU DON'T WANT TO SPOOK HIM.
YOU JUST KIND OF WANT TO GIVE THEM THE SPACE THAT THEY NEED
AND STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY, LEAVE THEM ALONE,
AND THEY'LL PROBABLY, HOPEFULLY, MAYBE LEAVE YOU ALONE.
WE'RE DEER HUNTING.
SEE A BEAR FROM A NICE, SAFE DISTANCE
ON A BOAT.
...WHERE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO OUT AND GET US.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,
EIVAN'S UNCLE ATZ SR.
HAS HAD SEVERAL SUCH ENCOUNTERS WITH BROWN BEAR
WHILE PROTECTING THE FAMILY'S HERD OF CATTLE.
LOOKS LIKE THE BROWNIE GOT HIM RIGHT ON TOP.
ON THE SIDE AND ON THE VERY TOP, GOT A PUNCTURE HOLE.
Narrator: A BEAR THAT GETS A TASTE OF BEEF
WILL RETURN FOR MORE,
MAKING A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HERD
AND THE FAMILY'S BEEF SUPPLY.
Atz: THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
THE BEARS JUST JUMP ON THEM FROM THE BACK JUST LIKE THIS,
AND THEN THEY JUST START SCRATCHING THE SHOULDERS OPEN
AND BITING THEM TILL THEY GO DOWN.
AT THE HEAD OF BAY,
WHERE THE CATTLE ARE KEPT IN THE SUMMER,
BROWN BEAR ARE, BEYOND ANY DOUBT,
THE BIGGEST PREDATOR WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
THEY'VE SLOWLY GOTTEN AWAY
FROM EATING MOOSE AND MOOSE CALVES TO EATING BEEF.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
SO, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CATTLE IN THE CORRAL,
AND I FIND A SECOND WOUNDED CALF.
ROPED THE CALF JUST TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.
WHOA.
THAT IS CLASSIC --
CLAWS ON EACH SIDE, TEETH IN THE MIDDLE.
PEOPLE MIGHT ASK,
"HOW CAN YOU SHOOT AN INNOCENT BROWN BEAR?"
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.
YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
HOLES IN A LIVE, LIVING CRITTER, AND I AIN'T GONNA STAND BY...
[ COW LOWS ]
...WHILE THE BROWN BEAR KILLS A POOR LITTLE CALF LIKE THIS.
IN ALASKA, I LOVE THE EXTREMES.
I LOVE THE DARKNESS, AND I LOVE THE LIGHT.
I LOVE THE COLD, I LOVE THE WARM.
AND PART OF THAT IS THAT WHOLE PREDATOR-PREY CIRCLE
AND KNOWING WHERE YOU FIT IN.
IT'S JUST ME AND THE BEAR AND A JOB TO DO.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
AND AS SOON AS I SAW THOSE CATTLE RUNNING THAT FAST,
BASICALLY STAMPEDING, I SAID, "WOW, I GOT TO GET THERE
BEFORE THAT BEAR KILLS ONE OF THOSE CATTLE."
SO, I'M DOING ALL OF THIS AT A DEAD GALLOP.
I GOT TWO BULLETS IN MY MOUTH,
AND I PUTTING ONE IN THE CHAMBER.
I BECOME LIKE A MACHINE. I'M FOCUSED.
THEN, I JUST BAILED OFF THE HORSE.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ GUN *** ]
[ BEAR GROANS ]
THAT INCIDENT OF THAT BROWN BEAR
WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC ATTACK THAT I WITNESSED.
I MEAN, YOU FIND DEAD CATTLE UP THERE,
AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GUESS AT HOW THEY WERE KILLED.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO BATTLE YOUR WITS
AGAINST SOMETHING AS HUGE AS A BROWN BEAR
AND YOU HAVE NOT ONLY PROTECTED THE CATTLE
BUT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO KILL A BROWN BEAR,
IT'S LIKE, "WOW, I WAS ABLE SEE IT,
AND I WAS ABLE TO INTERVENE IN A GOOD WAY."
I DON'T THINK, "YA-HOO, I KILLED SOMETHING,"
BUT I SAVED A COUPLE LIVES TODAY
AND MADE THIS PART OF THE VALLEY A SAFER PLACE.
Narrator: COMING UP...
[BLEEP] YOU CAN'T EAT THAT!
...EVEN A PREDATOR THIS SMALL...
"GET THEM BEFORE THEY GET YOU," IS ALL I CAN SAY.
Narrator: ...CAN DO DEVASTATING DAMAGE.
Atz: I'D VENTURE TO GUESS
THERE'S MORE PREDATORS IN ALASKA THAN ANY OF THE OTHER STATES.
ON THE HOMESTEAD,
FOR THINGS LIKE RABBITS AND CHICKEN, DUCKS, AND GEESE,
YOU GOT TO HAVE PENS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM PROTECTED.
LET THEM OUT IN THE DAYTIME WHEN YOU CAN WATCH THE CHICKENS,
AND THEN, AT NIGHT, PUT THEM BACK IN.
COWS, HORSES, YOU GOT FENCES TO KEEP THEM IN,
BUT THOSE FENCES AREN'T GONNA KEEP THE PREDATORS OUT.
YOU ALSO HAVE LYNX -- SIMILAR TO BOBCATS.
THEY'RE ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THE SIZE OF A HUGE HOUSE CAT OR BIGGER.
AND THEY WILL ALSO COME IN
AND KILL YOUR DUCKS AND YOUR GEESE.
OWLS SOMETIMES WILL COME DOWN
AND REACH THEIR CLAWS RIGHT THROUGH THE CHICKEN COOP
AND GRAB CHICKENS' HEADS OFF.
[ HORSE SNORTS ]
I REMEMBER, AS A KID GROWING UP, YOU WENT OUTSIDE,
AND THE FIRST THING YOU LOOKED AT THE TREES, "IS THERE AN OWL?
"IS THERE A HAWK?
"IS THERE SOMETHING UP THERE
WAITING TO COME AND GET OUR CHICKENS?"
AND OUR RIFLES WERE ALWAYS CLOSE BY.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME RUNNING OUT,
CHICKENS SCREAMING, JUST IN PAIN.
[ IMITATES SQUAWKING ]
MAN, SOUNDED LIKE A CHILD CRYING.
RUN UP THERE, SINGLE-SHOT .22, ONE BULLET IN.
THERE'S A BIG HAWK, GOT A CHICKEN DOWN,
JUST STARTING TO KILL HER.
CHICKEN'S STILL ALIVE.
TOOK A SHOT, MISSED.
THAT HAWK'S STILL SITTING THERE JUST LOOKING AT ME, DARING ME.
I GRABBED THE RIFLE BY THE BARREL AND FLUNG IT
[IMITATES WHOOSHING]
KILLED THE HAWK OFF THE CHICKEN.
IT'S A REALITY.
IT'S A FACT OF LIFE THAT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY PROTECTING
WHAT YOU HAVE
AGAINST ALL THOSE PREDATORS OUT THERE
WANTING TO COME IN AND GET IT.
Narrator: THE KILCHERS ARE SURROUNDED
BY ALASKAN WILDERNESS,
BUT OFTEN, IT'S THE PREDATORS WITHIN THE HOMESTEAD
THAT WREAK HAVOC ON THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES.
THERE ARE LOTS OF SMALL ANIMALS THAT BECOME BIG NUISANCES
AND REALLY, ESSENTIALLY, PREDATORS.
THIS IS CALLED A HIGH TUNNEL.
WE'RE ABLE TO GROW
ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER IN A HIGH TUNNEL
AND GROW A MONTH LATER IN THE FALL,
BUT THIS YEAR, WE HAD MICE.
AND I PRETTY MUCH CAN'T PLANT
UNTIL THE MICE ARE ERADICATED
BECAUSE THEY WILL TAKE OUT SMALL PLANTS,
ALL OF THEM, IN A NIGHT.
Eivin: THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WINTER, THEY REALLY FOUND
THE HIGH TUNNEL TO BE A WARM PLACE
WITH A LOT OF DIRT THAT THEY COULD STILL DIG IN,
SO IT KIND OF GAVE THEM THIS PERFECT LITTLE HABITAT
TO HAVE A BOOMTOWN.
FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF WAS, I WAS LIKE,
"MAN, THIS LOOKS LIKE REALLY GOOD TARGET PRACTICE FOR ME."
AND SO, I GRABBED MY OLD BB GUN AND JUST WENT TO WORK.
[ GUNSHOT ]
[ GUNSHOT ]
MICE ARE JUST KIND OF LITTLE SCAVENGERS,
AND THEY LIVE OFF OF WHATEVER THEY CAN --
YOUNG VEGETABLES.
BUT THEY'LL ALSO EAT SEEDS,
SO IF WE PLANT SEEDS,
THEY'LL GO AFTER THE SEEDS AND EAT THOSE.
[ GUN FIRES ]
[ GUN FIRES ]
THEY SAY THAT YOU CAN'T EVER FARM WITH A GUN,
BUT I THINK I FOUND A WAY.
EVE.
OH!
EIVAN, DON'T YOU STEP ON THOSE BEDS!
DON'T STEP ON THE BEDS.
Eve: I'M MAKING THESE REALLY NICE, FLUFFY BEDS,
AND SO [CHUCKLES] I DIDN'T WANT EIVAN STEPPING ON THE BEDS.
BE CAREFUL ON THE TREE!
AND SOMETIMES, WHEN EIVAN GETS ON A TEAR,
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT'S IN HIS WAY.
IT'S JUST DESTROYED. [ LAUGHS ]
[ GUNSHOTS ]
Eivin: I THINK I ENDED UP KILLING CLOSE TO 43, 44 MICE.
THEY'LL ALL JUST KIND OF BE PART OF THAT WHOLE CYCLE OF LIFE,
GET COMPOSTED UP.
WE'LL SPREAD THE COMPOST ON THE GARDEN
AND HOPE TO GROW GOOD PLANTS.
Narrator: DURING A MIDSUMMER DAY ON THE HOMESTEAD,
CHARLOTTE STUMBLES ON AN UNEXPECTED PREDATOR
AMONG HER FLOCK OF DUCKS.
HOLY HELL!
YOU CAN'T EAT THAT!
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO FIND OUT
THAT ONE OF MY DUCKS WAS EATING ITS EGGS.
I FOUND SOME PIECES OF EGGSHELL AROUND
FROM WHEN THE DUCKS WERE SITTING ON CLUTCHES OF EGGS,
BUT I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THEY HAD JUST BEEN WEAK SHELLS
AND HAD BROKEN.
BUT THEN, I CAUGHT ONE OF MY DUCKS RED-HANDED
SLURPING UP A DUCK EGG.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? UGH!
DANG IT!
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Otto: GENERALLY, I THINK OF A PREDATOR
AS BEING SOMETHING THAT KILLS ANIMALS OR EATS MEAT,
BUT THERE'S PREDATORS UP HERE
THAT RANGE ALL THE WAY FROM THE BROWN BEAR
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE MOSQUITO.
AND YOU HAVE TO JUST LOOK OUT FOR ALL OF THEM.
HEY, OTTO.
WHAT'S UP?
ONE OF MY DUCKS JUST ATE HER EGG.
OH, THAT SUCKS!
POKED A HOLE IN IT, AND I SAW HER EATING IT.
ARE YOU SURE?
Otto: ONCE YOU'VE GOT AN EGG-EATING ANIMAL,
THEY WILL TEACH OTHERS TO EAT EGGS.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THE WHOLE DOGGONE DUCK FLOCK
WILL BE EATING EGGS, AND YOU GOT BUMP THEM ALL OFF.
SO, IT'S THIS ONE.
COME HERE, DUCK.
THIS AIN'T FUN FOR ME.
DAMN SURE AIN'T FUN FOR YOU.
FEED THOSE DUCKS ALL WINTER.
HOW DO THEY REPAY YOU IN THE SPRING?
[ SCOFFS ] EATING THEIR OWN DAMN EGGS.
FORGET THAT.
HEY, DUCK.
THEY'RE ATTACKING OUR FOOD SOURCE.
THEREFORE, IT'S A PREDATOR AND NEEDS TO BE EXTERMINATED.
NOT A SMART THING TO DO, DUCK.
IT WAS REALLY NOT SMART.
OH, MAN.
SOME KIND OF AN EXECUTIONER'S BLOCK.
YOU GOOFY DUCK.
KIND OF GOT TO GET A COLD MIND --
KIND OF COLD MIND-SET
AND TURN YOUR HEART OFF FOR A MOMENT
AND GO, "THIS IS NECESSARY,"
AND GET ON WITH THE TASK AT HAND AND...
MAN.
[ HATCHET THUDS ]
"GET THEM BEFORE THEY GET YOU," IS ALL I CAN SAY.
SO, YOU GOT TO JUST MOVE ON.
Narrator: COMING UP...
DANG IT!
...THERE'S NO BACKING DOWN.
Charlotte: ONE OF MY FOOD SOURCES IS UNDER ATTACK,
AND I WAS WILLING TO ATTACK BACK.
[ LAUGHS ]
Atz: WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A HOME IN THE WILDERNESS,
YOU ARE FIGHTING BACK ALL THE PREDATORS.
THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS
ARE BLACK BEAR, BROWN BEAR, AND MOOSE.
A MOOSE BLOCKS MY TRAIL IN THE WINTER.
THE SNOW IS DEEP, MOOSE IS HUNGRY, MOOSE IS MAD.
YOU COME STOMPING ON HER, SHE MAY TURN ON YOU.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY MOOSE.
THEIR SHARP FRONT HOOF COULD KILL YOU.
THE MOOSE LOOKED AT ME, SO I THOUGHT,
WE'RE GONNA TALK A WHILE HERE.
SO, YOU HAVE TO READ THEM.
YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MOOSE IS SAYING.
TRY TO LOOK DOWN, LOOK OFF TO THE SIDE,
MIMIC SOME OF HER MOTIONS.
I WAS WATCHING HER EARS.
SHE'S CURIOUS.
SHE'S CHECKING ME OUT.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE PREDATORS,
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THEIR HABITS, YOU GOT TO KNOW
WHAT'S YOUR BEST PLAN OF DEFENSE OR ATTACK.
AND IT'S TELLING ME IT'S CURIOUS.
IT'S NOT SCARED,
SO, I KIND OF HAD TO REV IT UP AND GUN IT A LITTLE BIT
BEFORE SHE ACTUALLY WENT OFF THE TRAIL.
Narrator: ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,
DEADLY PREDATORS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.
OH, MAN, THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR ARE COYOTES...
[ COYOTES HOWL ]
...HAWKS, LYNX,
EAGLES ARE BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN THEY USED TO BE,
AND THEN, OF COURSE, BEARS.
BEARS WILL JUST TAKE A WHOLE COW DOWN.
AND SOMETHING AS SEEMINGLY SMALL AS A WASP CAN BE A PREDATOR.
YOU GET ATTACKED BY A HIVE FULL OF WASPS,
AND THEY CAN KILL YOU.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
[BLEEP]
THERE'S WASPS, MAN!
DAMN ONE GOT ME RIGHT ON THE...
[ GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
I RAN INTO A HORNETS' NEST.
PROVERBIAL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE HEARD THAT EXPRESSION --
"YOU RAN INTO A HORNETS' NEST"?
THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM.
WOW! [ GRUNTS ]
I GOT STUNG AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES
OR THREE TIMES ON MY LIP HERE, AND IT JUST HURT LIKE FIRE.
LIKE FIRE.
OH, THEY'RE PISSED OFF.
[BLEEP] I'M GONNA TRY TO FINISH THAT UP.
[ CHUCKLES ] YOU GOT YOUR EpiPen?
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
GOT TO KEEP GOING HERE.
CAN'T QUIT NOW.
I NEED THIS SPACE.
THE WASPS WILL LOSE.
[BLEEP] DAMN LITTLE SONS OF [BLEEP] PACK A WALLOP.
Narrator: WHAT BEGAN WITH A FEW STINGS
SOON ERUPTS INTO A WASP EPIDEMIC.
Charlotte: EIVAN TOLD ME
THAT HIS BEEHIVE WAS COMPLETELY ATTACKED BY WASPS.
Eve: ARE THEY ACTUALLY, LIKE,
BUILDING A NEST IN THERE, OR ARE THEY JUST STEALING THE HONEY?
Eivin: I THINK THEY'RE JUST STEALING THE HONEY.
LITTLE [BLEEP]
HE SAID THERE WERE JUST DEAD BEES AND WASPS EVERYWHERE,
AND WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, HE LOST ALL OF HIS HONEY.
SO, I WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED.
I NEED TO CHECK MY HIVES.
[ INSECTS BUZZING ]
DANG IT!
THERE WERE PROBABLY
AT LEAST 1,000 DEAD BEES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
Narrator: WITH DISTINCTIVE BLACK-AND-YELLOW STRIPES,
THE WASP IS HALF THE SIZE OF THE HONEYBEE,
BUT EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE.
IT CAN EASILY OVERPOWER AND KILL THE BEES.
Charlotte: SO, I'M GONNA JUST MANUALLY
PICK SOME OF THESE WASPS OFF THE HIVE
AS THEY TRY TO ENTER.
IT'S THE MOST WASPS I'VE NOTICED IN THE SUMMER EVER.
Narrator: WASPS ARE OPPORTUNISTIC SCAVENGERS,
ESPECIALLY DURING LATE SUMMER,
WHEN THE HONEY-FILLED BEEHIVES PROVIDE AN EASY TARGET.
[ INSECTS BUZZING ]
Charlotte: THE BEES ARE FIGHTING WITH THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
I GOT HIM.
I'VE HEARD SOMEWHERE THAT IF YOU SQUISH A WASP,
THEN SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL IS RELEASED.
YOU MIGHT ATTRACT MAD WASPS
THAT ARE RESPONDING TO ONE OF THEIR OWN GETTING KILLED,
AND SO I DIDN'T WANT TO SQUASH THEM,
AND I JUST STUCK THEM IN THIS WATER
THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SOAP IN IT
SO THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SWIM FOR VERY LONG
BEFORE THEY DROWNED.
SO, IT IS A LITTLE BIT MEAN.
IT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL BAD.
ONCE AGAIN, ONE OF MY FOOD SOURCES THAT WAS UNDER ATTACK,
I WAS WILLING TO ATTACK BACK TO THOSE LITTLE, NASTY WASPS.
I MADE JUST, LIKE, A REALLY SIMPLE WASP TRAP
BY CUTTING OFF A PLASTIC BOTTLE
AND SMEARING JAM HERE ON THE OPENING,
AND THEN I PUT SOAPY WATER IN THERE
AND PUT THE TOP LIKE THAT.
AND SO, THE SOAP JUST BREAKS THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE WATER
AND WOULD HELP THE WASP DROWN EASIER,
AND THEN THE JAM IS, HOPEFULLY, GONNA ATTRACT THEM.
THEN, JUST PUT THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE,
MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRAP THEM.
I'M GONNA GO SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
Narrator: CHARLOTTE HEADS OFF TO SET HER WASP TRAPS,
HOPING TO ERADICATE THE VICIOUS PREDATORS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE,
OTTO IS DETERMINED TO SETTLE HIS OWN SCORE.
Otto: IT DAWNED ON ME --
THIS IS REAL CLOSE OVER TO EIVAN'S.
I GOT A FEELING THAT THEY CERTAINLY COULD BE
SOME OF THE ONES THAT WERE AFTER EIVAN'S HONEY.
HA, HA!
YOU FRICKIN' ***!
I THOUGHT, "HOW DO I GET EVEN WITH THEM?
I'LL JUST FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE."
SO, I GOT MY BIG WEED BURNER OUT.
[ FLAME WHOOSHES ]
[ LAUGHS ]
THESE WASPS ARE [BLEEP] WITH MY OFFSPRING,
SO I'M ON A VENDETTA NOW.
IT'S A BIG-*** COLONY.
HERE THEY COME, MADDER THAN A DAMN HORNET.
TAKE THAT, YOU ***!
THAT ONE'S FOR MY LIP...
THAT'S ONE'S FOR EIVAN'S BEEHIVE...
...THAT ONE'S FOR CHARLOTTE...
AND THAT ONE'S FOR THE ONE
THINKING ABOUT EVEN STINGING MY SON!
FRICKIN' MESS WITH MY OFFSPRING, THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
OH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST LIGHT THE WEED BURNER UP,
YOU GOT THE PROPANE IN THERE,
AND YOU JUST START START WAVING IT AROUND.
AND WHEN THE WASPS COME AT YOU, IT JUST BURNS THEIR WINGS UP,
AND THEY JUST FALL OUT OF THE SKY.
IT'S KIND OF PRETTY COOL.
IT'S KIND OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE HUNTING TECHNIQUES --
HUNTING WASPS WITH A WEED BURNER.
I THINK I PRETTY MUCH GOT THEM.
IT WAS REAL SATISFYING AFTER I GOT STUNG.
PLUS, IT, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY KILLED A BUNCH OF WASPS
THAT WERE STEALING EIVAN'S HONEY OR CHARLOTTE'S HONEY.
I MIGHT HAVE NAILED THEM.
KIND OF LIKE THE FREAKING BILL COLLECTOR
COMING ON SUNDAY EVENING TO YOUR HOUSE,
WANTING, YOU KNOW...
[ CHUCKLES ] GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOW.
Eivin: I AM A PREDATOR MYSELF,
AND I AM PREPARED AS I CAN BE FOR OTHER PREDATORS.
[ GUN *** ]
BUT IF I'M WORRIED ABOUT OTHER PREDATORS,
THEN THAT MEANS THAT I AM NOW THE PREY,
AND IF YOU ARE THE PREY, YOUR ONLY CHANCE
OF SURVIVING ANOTHER DAY IS TO JUST BE LUCKY OR PREPARED.
[ WOLF HOWLS ]