1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:35,144 --> 00:00:37,078 The top of Texas. 4 00:00:38,439 --> 00:00:40,114 Guadalupe Peak. 5 00:00:43,352 --> 00:00:46,247 It stands above a proud and diverse state. 6 00:00:47,417 --> 00:00:51,488 Where the Rocky Mountains and harsh desert of the American West 7 00:00:51,857 --> 00:00:55,294 converge with the vastness of the Great Plains. 8 00:01:15,617 --> 00:01:18,782 To where the forests and swamps of the Deep South 9 00:01:18,917 --> 00:01:22,754 give way to the Blackland Prairies and Post Oak Savannas. 10 00:01:31,326 --> 00:01:34,527 From the spring-fed rivers that bless the Hill Country... 11 00:01:35,230 --> 00:01:38,502 ...to the tropical brush of the Rio Grande Valley. 12 00:01:40,301 --> 00:01:44,173 Texas gives life to animals found nowhere else... 13 00:01:45,109 --> 00:01:48,380 ...and attracts migrations from across the hemisphere. 14 00:02:20,208 --> 00:02:23,514 More headwater springs to the Gulf of Mexico. 15 00:02:24,415 --> 00:02:27,188 It is a land sculpted by water. 16 00:02:29,956 --> 00:02:33,219 Where nature has selected for the most adaptable... 17 00:02:34,189 --> 00:02:37,330 ...and to those willing to stake their claim. 18 00:03:02,053 --> 00:03:06,227 This film celebrates the natural wonders of Texas. 19 00:03:08,058 --> 00:03:11,259 It is a story about tragedies in our past... 20 00:03:11,862 --> 00:03:14,396 ...of recoveries against all odds... 21 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:18,170 ...and is a call to action to conserve the wildlife 22 00:03:18,305 --> 00:03:21,341 and wild places in our home. 23 00:03:25,546 --> 00:03:29,679 This is a story for all who love Texas. 24 00:03:50,838 --> 00:03:54,168 The history of our relationship with wildlife in Texas... 25 00:03:55,305 --> 00:03:58,642 ...is best told on the High Plains of the Panhandle. 26 00:04:20,631 --> 00:04:26,307 For millennia, herds of Bison roamed across Texas by the millions. 27 00:04:28,809 --> 00:04:31,742 Their grazing patterns shaped our landscapes, 28 00:04:32,278 --> 00:04:36,075 and their meat and hides nourished the people who lived here. 29 00:04:48,125 --> 00:04:52,058 They survived ice ages and mass extinctions. 30 00:04:55,468 --> 00:04:57,602 But their ability to thrive... 31 00:04:58,672 --> 00:05:02,040 ...was no match for westward expansion. 32 00:05:12,716 --> 00:05:14,513 Only three lifetimes ago, 33 00:05:14,649 --> 00:05:18,788 30 million bison roamed the Great Plains of North America. 34 00:05:21,262 --> 00:05:23,562 So many, they seemed limitless. 35 00:05:27,866 --> 00:05:30,136 They attracted market hunters West 36 00:05:30,271 --> 00:05:33,770 where an experienced buffalo hunter could often kill hundreds a day. 37 00:05:36,370 --> 00:05:39,376 Their hides and tongues were sold to markets 38 00:05:39,511 --> 00:05:41,547 along the East Coast and Europe. 39 00:05:43,119 --> 00:05:44,980 The meat was left to rot 40 00:05:45,116 --> 00:05:48,521 or was laced with poison to kill off predators. 41 00:05:53,024 --> 00:05:55,559 Efforts to slow the killing were ignored... 42 00:05:56,762 --> 00:06:00,865 ...for the great Slaughter destroyed the food source of Native Americans... 43 00:06:01,768 --> 00:06:04,064 ...forcing many under reservations. 44 00:06:07,876 --> 00:06:10,939 Commercial market hunting wasn't limited to bison. 45 00:06:12,142 --> 00:06:14,109 Most abundant bird in North America, 46 00:06:14,244 --> 00:06:17,550 passenger pigeon, was hunted to extinction. 47 00:06:19,115 --> 00:06:22,822 Wild sheep, pronghorn, deer, and elk 48 00:06:22,957 --> 00:06:25,855 were killed from all but the most remote locations. 49 00:06:27,929 --> 00:06:31,630 Waterfowl and shorebirds were shot by the millions. 50 00:06:33,363 --> 00:06:37,999 Jaguars, grizzlies, and wolves were killed from Texas. 51 00:06:42,573 --> 00:06:44,370 By the late 1800s, 52 00:06:45,039 --> 00:06:47,712 our wildlife was decimated. 53 00:07:05,230 --> 00:07:09,331 Legend has it that Texas rancher Molly Goodnight heard 54 00:07:09,466 --> 00:07:13,672 the last bison calves crying out for their slaughtered mothers. 55 00:07:15,838 --> 00:07:17,973 Of the five million in Texas... 56 00:07:18,676 --> 00:07:20,943 ...only five remained. 57 00:07:27,414 --> 00:07:31,151 She saved them and their numbers grew. 58 00:07:34,896 --> 00:07:38,424 They lived in Palo Duro Canyon until the 1990s 59 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,327 when they were given to Texas Parks and Wildlife 60 00:07:41,462 --> 00:07:43,999 and moved to Caprock Canyon State Park. 61 00:07:48,872 --> 00:07:51,710 These are their descendants. 62 00:07:53,213 --> 00:07:57,617 The survivors of the great Southern Plains bison herd. 63 00:08:05,427 --> 00:08:08,155 The herd is over 300 strong. 64 00:08:08,891 --> 00:08:11,730 And this is the future. 65 00:08:26,243 --> 00:08:29,209 Learning to be a bison is hard work. 66 00:08:30,852 --> 00:08:34,148 Especially when you have to walk on day one. 67 00:08:40,391 --> 00:08:43,429 These wobbly legs will need to be strengthened. 68 00:08:43,965 --> 00:08:46,992 And it's a good thing mom's here to help. 69 00:08:51,466 --> 00:08:54,036 They have an entire prairie to explore. 70 00:08:54,904 --> 00:08:56,643 And neighbors to meet. 71 00:09:10,687 --> 00:09:13,819 Like all communities, there's always that one neighbor... 72 00:09:14,822 --> 00:09:18,192 ...coming out of their hole with their feathers all ruffled. 73 00:09:28,670 --> 00:09:31,577 There's a diversity of creatures on these plains. 74 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,274 And this calf needs to learn how to run in order 75 00:09:34,409 --> 00:09:36,375 to keep up with the herd one day. 76 00:09:38,014 --> 00:09:39,884 Which will take some practice. 77 00:10:07,876 --> 00:10:12,246 Maybe a little teamwork will help improve the coordination. 78 00:10:28,431 --> 00:10:30,868 These calves may only be a few weeks old... 79 00:10:31,571 --> 00:10:35,407 ...but the blood of Texas survivors flows through their veins. 80 00:10:39,844 --> 00:10:42,881 They were born to run. 81 00:11:19,749 --> 00:11:23,857 These bison won't roam the same prairies as their ancestors. 82 00:11:24,593 --> 00:11:27,255 But there is room to expand. 83 00:11:57,926 --> 00:11:59,855 There are public lands across Texas 84 00:11:59,990 --> 00:12:02,221 that can be restored with bison. 85 00:12:02,791 --> 00:12:05,964 Many ranches have already answered their call. 86 00:12:09,467 --> 00:12:12,531 Bison herds are expanding across the state. 87 00:12:13,608 --> 00:12:15,072 And they aren't alone. 88 00:12:21,216 --> 00:12:24,142 Following the Great Slaughter of the late 1800s... 89 00:12:24,845 --> 00:12:28,514 ...a series of laws were passed to recover our wildlife. 90 00:12:30,554 --> 00:12:33,223 Commercial market hunting was put to an end 91 00:12:33,358 --> 00:12:35,858 and conservation-minded sportsmen advocated 92 00:12:35,993 --> 00:12:37,996 for hunting limits and seasons. 93 00:12:40,028 --> 00:12:44,833 The creation of forest, parks, and refuges provided habitat. 94 00:12:45,736 --> 00:12:49,403 And international agreements protected migratory birds. 95 00:12:52,179 --> 00:12:54,547 The combined efforts to restore some animals 96 00:12:54,682 --> 00:12:56,883 have been remarkably successful. 97 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:00,684 And many species that were killed out of an area 98 00:13:00,820 --> 00:13:02,350 have been reintroduced. 99 00:13:05,588 --> 00:13:10,028 In Texas today, elk bugle from mountaintops. 100 00:13:11,128 --> 00:13:13,225 Pronghorn grace the prairie. 101 00:13:13,894 --> 00:13:17,838 And desert bighorn have returned to their mountain homes. 102 00:13:21,771 --> 00:13:25,575 These recoveries are largely due to people who have dedicated... 103 00:13:26,678 --> 00:13:31,478 ...and some who have given their lives to restore our wildlife. 104 00:13:40,921 --> 00:13:45,096 But there is one specie that reign supreme on recovery. 105 00:13:56,304 --> 00:13:58,208 The white-tailed deer. 106 00:14:03,884 --> 00:14:05,549 At the end of each winter, 107 00:14:05,684 --> 00:14:09,186 the buck shed their antlers and begin to grow a new set. 108 00:14:12,991 --> 00:14:14,554 During the velvet stage, 109 00:14:14,689 --> 00:14:17,161 antlers can grow a quarter inch a day 110 00:14:17,297 --> 00:14:19,431 and under good rangeland conditions, 111 00:14:19,567 --> 00:14:23,167 the bucks put extra resources into their antlers' growth. 112 00:14:32,781 --> 00:14:34,776 As summer fades into fall, 113 00:14:34,911 --> 00:14:39,150 their testosterone increases and they rub the velvet off. 114 00:14:41,350 --> 00:14:43,550 Revealing a fresh new set... 115 00:14:44,889 --> 00:14:46,190 ...of weapons. 116 00:14:55,998 --> 00:15:00,900 The rut, the breeding season, lasts for only a month... 117 00:15:01,869 --> 00:15:05,044 ...which they have spent all year preparing for. 118 00:15:37,542 --> 00:15:39,573 Most fights are settled within seconds... 119 00:15:41,010 --> 00:15:43,709 ...for the risk of injury is high and the larger buck 120 00:15:43,844 --> 00:15:46,613 typically exerts his dominance quickly. 121 00:15:56,297 --> 00:15:58,592 But when opponents are evenly matched... 122 00:15:59,931 --> 00:16:01,098 ...a showdown... 123 00:16:01,634 --> 00:16:05,533 ...for breeding rights and territory is inevitable. 124 00:16:42,310 --> 00:16:45,441 Each doe is in heat for only 24 hours. 125 00:16:46,845 --> 00:16:50,778 The buck's bloodlines and territories are at stake. 126 00:18:03,887 --> 00:18:07,523 These incredible dramas should not be taken for granted. 127 00:18:11,264 --> 00:18:16,335 A century ago, white-tailed deer had been killed from most of the state 128 00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:18,897 and only survived in isolated pockets. 129 00:18:24,741 --> 00:18:27,740 Today, largely due to regulations 130 00:18:27,876 --> 00:18:30,048 and conservation-minded sportsmen, 131 00:18:30,183 --> 00:18:32,284 there are over five million. 132 00:18:39,252 --> 00:18:42,558 Other species have not shared the same fate. 133 00:18:49,869 --> 00:18:54,200 In a very few special parts of the South Texas brush country... 134 00:18:57,478 --> 00:19:00,543 ...lives a creature once thought to be lost. 135 00:19:10,658 --> 00:19:15,320 An animal so rare, it has become nearly mythical. 136 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:40,451 An ocelot. 137 00:19:53,733 --> 00:19:57,666 Fewer than 80 are known to exist in the entire country. 138 00:20:07,175 --> 00:20:10,048 Ocelots were once found across much of Texas 139 00:20:10,183 --> 00:20:12,114 and into Louisiana and Arkansas. 140 00:20:14,049 --> 00:20:16,388 Much of their habitat has been lost. 141 00:20:16,524 --> 00:20:18,216 Then they were historically trapped, 142 00:20:18,351 --> 00:20:22,592 hunted and poisoned by government predator programs. 143 00:20:26,260 --> 00:20:29,766 Today they exist in only two small populations, 144 00:20:29,902 --> 00:20:32,965 where they are genetically isolated and inbred. 145 00:20:34,637 --> 00:20:37,037 A catastrophic fire, hurricane 146 00:20:37,172 --> 00:20:40,139 or disease could wipe them from the country. 147 00:20:41,576 --> 00:20:45,381 Much is unknown, for many landowners have not allowed research 148 00:20:45,517 --> 00:20:49,653 on their property because they are concerned that the Endangered Species Act 149 00:20:49,788 --> 00:20:52,457 would impact their ranching operations. 150 00:20:54,591 --> 00:20:57,660 Texas is 95% privately owned, 151 00:20:57,795 --> 00:20:59,598 and recovering endangered species 152 00:20:59,734 --> 00:21:02,328 is very difficult without landowners support. 153 00:21:08,870 --> 00:21:13,071 A growing number of landowners have embraced ocelot research and recovery. 154 00:21:14,208 --> 00:21:15,878 They take great pride in conserving 155 00:21:16,013 --> 00:21:19,719 both a ranching legacy and a wildlife legacy. 156 00:21:32,292 --> 00:21:34,833 Inside one of these cattle ranches... 157 00:21:35,536 --> 00:21:37,432 ...new camera technology is revealing 158 00:21:37,567 --> 00:21:39,834 the secretive lives of ocelot... 159 00:21:42,370 --> 00:21:45,609 ...and has given us a glimpse at the next generation. 160 00:22:02,629 --> 00:22:04,661 These precious kittens have no idea 161 00:22:04,796 --> 00:22:07,367 how crucial they are for the species. 162 00:22:14,269 --> 00:22:17,377 Their survival depends on mom's ability... 163 00:22:18,045 --> 00:22:18,939 ...to hunt. 164 00:22:30,823 --> 00:22:34,020 She has hidden her kittens to hunt alone. 165 00:22:41,902 --> 00:22:46,736 A green jay warning others there's a predator on the prowl. 166 00:23:09,096 --> 00:23:10,463 An armadillo. 167 00:24:09,551 --> 00:24:10,721 Busted. 168 00:24:12,558 --> 00:24:14,252 She'll have to keep hunting. 169 00:24:16,528 --> 00:24:18,196 But she's not the only predator. 170 00:24:32,077 --> 00:24:34,712 The brush can be a dangerous place for kittens 171 00:24:34,847 --> 00:24:36,879 without their mother's protection. 172 00:24:57,170 --> 00:24:58,263 Success. 173 00:24:58,999 --> 00:25:00,672 Back to the kittens. 174 00:25:39,747 --> 00:25:42,945 The worst sound a mother can hear. 175 00:26:10,573 --> 00:26:11,875 Silence. 176 00:27:49,602 --> 00:27:51,975 She has found one of her kittens. 177 00:27:54,443 --> 00:27:58,718 Sadly... the other was never seen again. 178 00:28:13,299 --> 00:28:17,132 She will now put her full effort into raising the survivor. 179 00:28:49,634 --> 00:28:52,937 Her kitten needs to learn how to hunt on her own one day... 180 00:28:54,136 --> 00:28:55,940 ...which will take practice. 181 00:28:56,875 --> 00:28:59,174 And a little hide-and-seek. 182 00:29:40,050 --> 00:29:43,716 Hopefully, this kitten will establish her own territory one day 183 00:29:43,851 --> 00:29:47,420 and play a part in the greater recovery of ocelots. 184 00:29:52,463 --> 00:29:55,199 Scientists, landowners, and many organizations 185 00:29:55,335 --> 00:29:58,035 are working together to introduce new genetics, 186 00:29:58,170 --> 00:30:00,840 restore habitats and will hopefully start 187 00:30:00,975 --> 00:30:03,909 new populations in their historic range. 188 00:30:17,017 --> 00:30:21,289 Like many wildlife species, their future can be bright. 189 00:30:22,256 --> 00:30:24,094 But they need our help. 190 00:30:54,624 --> 00:30:58,491 Water... rarely comes peacefully to Texas. 191 00:31:09,574 --> 00:31:12,473 Cold fronts from the north can collide violently 192 00:31:12,609 --> 00:31:15,508 with warm air and moisture from the Gulf. 193 00:31:17,983 --> 00:31:22,212 Tropical jet streams from the west bring thunderstorms each summer. 194 00:31:24,389 --> 00:31:26,421 While El Niño and other weather systems 195 00:31:26,556 --> 00:31:29,060 bring uncertainty from year to year... 196 00:31:32,992 --> 00:31:36,100 ...blue northers blanket the state in winter... 197 00:31:37,568 --> 00:31:40,769 ...while summer highs soar over 100 degrees. 198 00:31:44,543 --> 00:31:47,606 Droughts are a cyclical part of our weather system. 199 00:31:48,780 --> 00:31:49,943 As are floods. 200 00:31:58,489 --> 00:32:01,158 Nearly all of our rivers are born here, 201 00:32:01,293 --> 00:32:03,996 and they journey to the Gulf of Mexico. 202 00:32:05,793 --> 00:32:08,600 But much of the rainfall seeps into the earth... 203 00:32:09,403 --> 00:32:13,302 ...into vast aquifers that cover 80% of the state. 204 00:32:23,812 --> 00:32:26,410 In the poorest limestone of the Hill Country... 205 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,917 ...the Edwards Plateau soaks up moisture like a sponge. 206 00:32:55,512 --> 00:32:58,383 Below the surface, water and time 207 00:32:58,518 --> 00:33:03,220 have sculpted a landscape as magnificent as the one above. 208 00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:18,503 This karst ecosystem is so vast 209 00:33:18,638 --> 00:33:21,603 and receives enough nutrients from the outside world... 210 00:33:22,672 --> 00:33:27,112 ...that life has evolved in the absence of light. 211 00:33:45,927 --> 00:33:48,828 Inside this constant temperature climate... 212 00:33:50,098 --> 00:33:53,669 ...nature has selected for animals who conserve energy... 213 00:33:54,806 --> 00:33:58,242 ...and who lose traits that are no longer necessary. 214 00:34:03,780 --> 00:34:07,416 This is an endangered Texas blind salamander. 215 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:15,160 They hunt the darkness by sensing small disturbances in the water pressure. 216 00:34:18,628 --> 00:34:20,662 They breathe through their gills, 217 00:34:20,797 --> 00:34:24,532 which change in size, depending on the available oxygen. 218 00:34:32,077 --> 00:34:34,041 In this world below our feet... 219 00:34:34,944 --> 00:34:39,481 ...familiar creatures have become nearly alien. 220 00:34:53,833 --> 00:34:55,398 A blind catfish. 221 00:34:59,973 --> 00:35:01,869 There are three species in Texas 222 00:35:02,004 --> 00:35:06,178 and they have been found 2,000 feet below the surface. 223 00:35:16,385 --> 00:35:18,553 They are the size of your palm. 224 00:35:19,289 --> 00:35:21,491 And their metabolism is so slow, 225 00:35:21,626 --> 00:35:25,197 they can survive four years between meals. 226 00:35:32,501 --> 00:35:34,236 We know little about them. 227 00:35:34,772 --> 00:35:38,639 Yet their habitat is the foundation for our fresh water. 228 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:48,712 When the aquifers are full, 229 00:35:49,148 --> 00:35:52,521 water bubbles to the surface through springs. 230 00:36:24,922 --> 00:36:28,854 As springs combined together, they create creeks. 231 00:36:48,882 --> 00:36:53,615 As the creeks converge, they form our Hill Country rivers. 232 00:37:16,305 --> 00:37:17,501 It's water. 233 00:37:17,636 --> 00:37:19,542 From stone. 234 00:37:36,463 --> 00:37:38,760 In a select few rivers and creeks, 235 00:37:38,895 --> 00:37:41,830 the state fish of Texas hunts the rapids. 236 00:37:59,284 --> 00:38:01,716 The Guadalupe bass. 237 00:38:06,486 --> 00:38:10,421 Each spring, the males begin preparations to attract a mate. 238 00:38:14,330 --> 00:38:18,535 Step one is finding a suitable location for a spawning bed. 239 00:38:22,568 --> 00:38:26,576 A gravel floor with surrounding protective structure is ideal. 240 00:38:30,876 --> 00:38:32,683 He must choose wisely, 241 00:38:32,818 --> 00:38:35,684 or he won't leave the bed for over a month. 242 00:38:39,421 --> 00:38:41,657 "Ah, perfect." 243 00:38:45,127 --> 00:38:47,931 The second step is to clean the gravel floor. 244 00:38:48,366 --> 00:38:51,002 A difficult task with only fins, 245 00:38:51,138 --> 00:38:52,429 but a necessary one. 246 00:38:53,466 --> 00:38:56,837 Females don't find dirt on the bed attractive. 247 00:39:03,214 --> 00:39:04,211 It's tidy. 248 00:39:04,881 --> 00:39:07,111 But is it enough to impress a mate? 249 00:39:11,756 --> 00:39:13,451 The females are searching for males 250 00:39:13,586 --> 00:39:17,088 that will give their eggs the best chance of survival. 251 00:39:18,423 --> 00:39:21,928 They will be judged on their spawning beds. 252 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:28,506 "Gross! Hey, don't mess with Texas. 253 00:39:31,737 --> 00:39:33,511 Getting better. 254 00:39:35,743 --> 00:39:38,747 Yuck! Hey, this ain't Oklahoma. 255 00:39:41,683 --> 00:39:43,554 Now we're talking." 256 00:39:47,558 --> 00:39:49,727 With up to 10,000 eggs to lay, 257 00:39:49,863 --> 00:39:53,190 finding the right partner is worth searching for. 258 00:39:57,498 --> 00:40:02,467 Sometimes they've been preparing a bed just for you. 259 00:40:32,204 --> 00:40:35,738 During this courtship dance, the female releases her eggs, 260 00:40:35,873 --> 00:40:38,037 which are fertilized by the male. 261 00:40:56,588 --> 00:41:01,192 Exhausted, she has spent all her energy on reproduction. 262 00:41:03,502 --> 00:41:06,263 But dad duty has just begun. 263 00:41:08,139 --> 00:41:11,939 For a week straight, he aerates the eggs with his fins 264 00:41:12,475 --> 00:41:13,974 until one day... 265 00:41:22,854 --> 00:41:25,556 These baby bass have many predators. 266 00:41:26,092 --> 00:41:29,286 And he will continue to protect them for the next few weeks. 267 00:41:34,460 --> 00:41:38,066 Eventually, their responsibility passes on to us. 268 00:41:39,703 --> 00:41:44,708 To ensure that our rivers stay healthy and the springs always flow. 269 00:41:47,209 --> 00:41:49,641 Which is becoming increasingly difficult. 270 00:41:55,752 --> 00:42:00,284 The Texas Hill Country is developing faster than any other region. 271 00:42:04,197 --> 00:42:09,865 Per capita, each of us uses 138 gallons of water each day. 272 00:42:14,467 --> 00:42:17,236 To meet this demand, we are taking water out 273 00:42:17,372 --> 00:42:20,139 of the aquifers and pumping it to the surface. 274 00:42:26,216 --> 00:42:29,950 When we remove more water than rainfall can refill, 275 00:42:30,319 --> 00:42:34,120 the water table falls, and the springs go dry. 276 00:42:37,723 --> 00:42:41,091 During the last century, one half of the major springs 277 00:42:41,226 --> 00:42:43,129 in Texas have stopped flowing 278 00:42:43,264 --> 00:42:46,099 because the aquifer was over-pumped. 279 00:42:49,502 --> 00:42:53,271 Our rivers and wildlife depend on these springs. 280 00:42:55,281 --> 00:42:56,747 As do we. 281 00:43:02,121 --> 00:43:05,650 The people of Austin and San Antonio have taken action. 282 00:43:06,853 --> 00:43:10,388 When water protection efforts were placed on city elections, 283 00:43:10,524 --> 00:43:13,557 citizens voted overwhelmingly in support. 284 00:43:16,165 --> 00:43:18,428 They voted to invest in water rights, 285 00:43:18,564 --> 00:43:23,070 establish parks, and fund conservation easements. 286 00:43:26,574 --> 00:43:31,947 They have conserved over 200,000 acres of their watersheds. 287 00:43:34,318 --> 00:43:38,888 Because the future health of the land is tied to our own. 288 00:43:45,958 --> 00:43:49,565 One of these conserved areas is also helping to protect... 289 00:43:50,235 --> 00:43:53,837 ...one of Earth's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. 290 00:43:58,839 --> 00:44:00,377 Bracken cave. 291 00:44:08,848 --> 00:44:13,054 This is a maternity colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. 292 00:44:18,329 --> 00:44:21,326 The females migrate from Mexico to Texas each year 293 00:44:21,462 --> 00:44:23,763 to feed on insects during the summer, 294 00:44:23,899 --> 00:44:25,770 and to raise a new pup. 295 00:44:30,907 --> 00:44:34,506 At five weeks old, the youngsters have already grown to adult size 296 00:44:34,642 --> 00:44:37,782 and are preparing to take their first flight. 297 00:44:41,851 --> 00:44:43,551 Airspace is crowded, 298 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:45,251 for Bracken cave contains 299 00:44:45,387 --> 00:44:48,421 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, 300 00:44:48,556 --> 00:44:52,324 and is the largest congregation of mammals on Earth. 301 00:44:58,764 --> 00:45:01,740 It's a difficult place to learn how to fly. 302 00:45:15,988 --> 00:45:18,486 As the sun sets each summer evening, 303 00:45:18,955 --> 00:45:21,523 the colony begins to emerge. 304 00:46:26,326 --> 00:46:30,862 It is time for these young bats to spread their wings. 305 00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:47,208 Bats experience the world much differently than we do. 306 00:46:49,315 --> 00:46:52,616 They emit sounds too high for our ears to hear, 307 00:46:53,319 --> 00:46:56,181 which bounce off objects, and return as echoes, 308 00:46:56,817 --> 00:47:00,452 giving each bat an auditory map of their surroundings. 309 00:47:03,125 --> 00:47:04,824 But with so many voices... 310 00:47:05,526 --> 00:47:07,899 ...their echolocation is hindered 311 00:47:08,034 --> 00:47:10,528 and they must also rely on sight. 312 00:47:16,508 --> 00:47:20,307 The new pups must navigate two rotations around the batnado... 313 00:47:21,109 --> 00:47:22,640 ...rise above the trees 314 00:47:22,775 --> 00:47:25,411 and then fly to their hunting grounds. 315 00:47:32,824 --> 00:47:34,156 Their gravest danger... 316 00:47:34,824 --> 00:47:35,993 ...is collision. 317 00:49:38,312 --> 00:49:43,219 The pups who are able to free themselves must rejoin the colony. 318 00:49:44,523 --> 00:49:46,923 But they do not yet have the strength or the skill 319 00:49:47,058 --> 00:49:48,785 to take off from the ground. 320 00:49:51,897 --> 00:49:56,397 Their only hope is to climb to a high point to take off again... 321 00:50:04,941 --> 00:50:06,374 ...undetected. 322 00:50:14,949 --> 00:50:18,683 The coachwhip is the fastest snake in North America. 323 00:50:23,390 --> 00:50:24,821 They are waiting... 324 00:50:25,797 --> 00:50:27,065 ...for movement. 325 00:51:44,543 --> 00:51:48,311 Alone, the bats are defenseless against the snakes. 326 00:51:51,446 --> 00:51:53,514 But others have also fallen. 327 00:52:17,571 --> 00:52:19,574 And when one is sacrificed... 328 00:52:21,011 --> 00:52:24,978 ...it provides an opportunity for the others... to escape. 329 00:53:40,089 --> 00:53:43,961 Flying within the colony, the young bats find safety... 330 00:53:44,830 --> 00:53:48,398 ...for their greatest strength is in their sheer numbers. 331 00:54:01,173 --> 00:54:04,144 Above the tree line, they fly as a river. 332 00:54:04,980 --> 00:54:08,550 Each individual hidden amongst the multitude. 333 00:54:15,754 --> 00:54:17,620 They must blend into the group. 334 00:54:18,289 --> 00:54:20,694 The emergence has attracted attention. 335 00:54:26,770 --> 00:54:30,166 Red-tailed hawks, Swainson's hawks, 336 00:54:30,301 --> 00:54:33,641 and peregrine falcons have come to hunt. 337 00:54:37,380 --> 00:54:38,613 They are looking... 338 00:54:39,416 --> 00:54:41,550 ...for prey that stands out. 339 00:55:05,272 --> 00:55:09,347 Some of these bats have over 15 years of experience. 340 00:55:10,710 --> 00:55:11,976 But the new pups... 341 00:55:13,345 --> 00:55:16,184 ...don't yet know the dangers of flying alone 342 00:55:16,320 --> 00:55:17,949 or on the outskirts. 343 00:56:17,811 --> 00:56:20,081 Individuals fall each night. 344 00:56:22,085 --> 00:56:26,050 But as a colony... they overwhelm the predators. 345 00:56:40,004 --> 00:56:44,200 The bats of Bracken Cave support an entire ecosystem. 346 00:56:45,469 --> 00:56:48,906 But their biggest impact is up to 100 miles away, 347 00:56:49,175 --> 00:56:51,813 where they will consume over 150 tons 348 00:56:51,949 --> 00:56:55,948 of agricultural pests every single night. 349 00:57:08,194 --> 00:57:11,095 There are 32 different species in Texas 350 00:57:11,230 --> 00:57:13,801 and hundreds of millions of bats. 351 00:57:18,875 --> 00:57:21,304 Some night skies they fly under... 352 00:57:21,973 --> 00:57:23,877 ...are more special than others. 353 00:58:12,590 --> 00:58:15,896 Of all the national parks in the Lower 48... 354 00:58:16,933 --> 00:58:20,131 ...Big Bend has the darkest skies. 355 00:58:27,709 --> 00:58:30,108 Beneath this heavenly expanse... 356 00:58:30,944 --> 00:58:32,880 ...are the signs of hope. 357 00:58:42,728 --> 00:58:46,828 These... are the marks of a black bear. 358 00:58:52,903 --> 00:58:55,536 Bears were once killed out of Texas. 359 00:58:56,206 --> 00:58:59,605 But across the border, in the high mountains of Mexico, 360 00:58:59,741 --> 00:59:01,744 a population thrived. 361 00:59:05,282 --> 00:59:09,779 In the 1980s, bears became a protected species in Texas. 362 00:59:10,415 --> 00:59:13,591 And we waited... for their return. 363 00:59:26,399 --> 00:59:30,938 In 1987, a female dispersed from Mexico... 364 00:59:31,708 --> 00:59:33,272 ...crossed the Rio Grande, 365 00:59:33,407 --> 00:59:36,409 and made her home in Big Bend National Park. 366 00:59:42,687 --> 00:59:47,284 Her pioneering instincts flow through the veins of our bears today... 367 00:59:49,659 --> 00:59:51,288 ...and their offspring. 368 01:00:15,714 --> 01:00:18,349 This mama bear has taught her eight-month-old cubs 369 01:00:18,484 --> 01:00:21,186 how to find food with each passing season. 370 01:00:25,959 --> 01:00:28,292 In the fall, that means acorns. 371 01:00:32,432 --> 01:00:34,264 It's slim pickings on the forest floor, 372 01:00:34,400 --> 01:00:38,108 but... up above, there's a bounty. 373 01:00:51,418 --> 01:00:55,154 And these cubs, they have a size advantage. 374 01:01:30,623 --> 01:01:35,429 The very best acorns are those the big bears can't reach. 375 01:02:26,679 --> 01:02:30,084 The higher the climb, the sweeter the reward. 376 01:03:04,452 --> 01:03:08,584 Life is good in Big Bend National Park. 377 01:03:12,496 --> 01:03:15,899 A century ago, these bears would have been hunted down. 378 01:03:17,002 --> 01:03:20,035 Today... they can rest peacefully. 379 01:03:33,419 --> 01:03:37,515 But the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend are relatively small, 380 01:03:37,650 --> 01:03:40,253 and they are already filled to capacity. 381 01:03:44,829 --> 01:03:46,997 Like their pioneer ancestors, 382 01:03:47,132 --> 01:03:50,329 bears are dispersing from the national park. 383 01:03:52,303 --> 01:03:55,099 They are seeking new mountain ranges in Texas. 384 01:03:55,968 --> 01:04:00,471 A place to call home, where their ancestors once roamed. 385 01:04:12,054 --> 01:04:14,190 But their path to recovery 386 01:04:14,726 --> 01:04:16,454 is far from certain. 387 01:05:08,247 --> 01:05:11,346 There are thousands of traps across Texas. 388 01:05:11,916 --> 01:05:14,116 Set for our top predator. 389 01:05:24,091 --> 01:05:25,354 The mountain lion. 390 01:05:46,445 --> 01:05:48,515 Once found across the state, 391 01:05:48,651 --> 01:05:51,516 populations now only exist in the remote canyons 392 01:05:51,651 --> 01:05:54,486 and deep brush of South and West Texas. 393 01:06:26,089 --> 01:06:28,018 Their territories are massive, 394 01:06:28,487 --> 01:06:31,424 often over 100 square miles. 395 01:06:48,347 --> 01:06:52,643 On average, they kill every seven to ten days. 396 01:07:23,745 --> 01:07:27,282 Their prey can be several times their size. 397 01:07:29,116 --> 01:07:30,214 And well-armed. 398 01:07:43,830 --> 01:07:46,296 Some animals take shelter in the cliffs. 399 01:07:47,166 --> 01:07:50,602 Or move as a herd to have more eyes on the lookout. 400 01:08:01,550 --> 01:08:03,846 But water is scarce in the desert. 401 01:08:04,582 --> 01:08:06,519 And prey must drink. 402 01:10:10,411 --> 01:10:11,908 They must be wary... 403 01:10:14,117 --> 01:10:15,450 ...for they too... 404 01:10:16,250 --> 01:10:17,485 ...are prey. 405 01:10:22,519 --> 01:10:26,121 On rare occasions, mountain lions will kill livestock. 406 01:10:26,524 --> 01:10:29,992 And some hunters don't want another predator on the land. 407 01:10:33,071 --> 01:10:34,667 But unlike other states, 408 01:10:34,802 --> 01:10:36,904 where only problem cats are removed 409 01:10:37,039 --> 01:10:40,469 and mountain lions are either protected or closely managed... 410 01:10:41,271 --> 01:10:45,042 ...in Texas, they can be trapped, snared, 411 01:10:45,177 --> 01:10:48,281 and hunted year-round with no harvest limits 412 01:10:48,416 --> 01:10:50,683 and no science-based management. 413 01:10:53,491 --> 01:10:55,758 They can even be captured in cages 414 01:10:56,227 --> 01:10:58,493 and sold in canned hunts. 415 01:11:03,831 --> 01:11:07,166 In a West Texas study following 16 cats, 416 01:11:07,301 --> 01:11:08,567 one was shot 417 01:11:09,002 --> 01:11:13,376 and all of the remaining 15 were killed in traps. 418 01:11:25,216 --> 01:11:27,984 It is not required to check the traps. 419 01:11:29,158 --> 01:11:30,119 When caught, 420 01:11:30,722 --> 01:11:32,392 it can take days to die 421 01:11:32,527 --> 01:11:34,892 from dehydration and exposure. 422 01:11:42,507 --> 01:11:45,903 Every step they take is a gamble. 423 01:11:50,482 --> 01:11:52,514 And they are almost guaranteed... 424 01:11:53,281 --> 01:11:54,450 ...to lose. 425 01:14:02,208 --> 01:14:05,174 This trap was dismantled by our camera team. 426 01:14:09,050 --> 01:14:11,449 But there are thousands across Texas 427 01:14:11,752 --> 01:14:13,754 that are armed right now. 428 01:14:21,558 --> 01:14:24,359 Mountain lion traps do not discriminate... 429 01:14:25,062 --> 01:14:26,530 ...and can catch those... 430 01:14:27,133 --> 01:14:29,033 ...just searching for a new home. 431 01:15:44,908 --> 01:15:48,651 The treatment of our mountain lions is from a bygone era. 432 01:15:50,481 --> 01:15:52,685 In other states, they are either protected 433 01:15:52,820 --> 01:15:54,351 or managed as a game animal 434 01:15:54,487 --> 01:15:57,759 with controlled hunting seasons and harvest limits. 435 01:16:01,366 --> 01:16:03,798 Texas can do the same. 436 01:16:42,499 --> 01:16:44,632 There is no better proof of our ability 437 01:16:44,768 --> 01:16:48,144 to change and live alongside the natural world... 438 01:16:49,213 --> 01:16:52,742 ...than in the Big Thicket and Piney Woods of East Texas. 439 01:17:01,656 --> 01:17:06,026 One hundred years ago, this abandoned structure was a sawmill... 440 01:17:07,730 --> 01:17:11,998 ...where the old growth forests were cut apart and turned into lumber. 441 01:17:20,208 --> 01:17:22,637 There are hundreds of sawmills like this. 442 01:17:23,173 --> 01:17:24,806 By the early 1900s, 443 01:17:24,941 --> 01:17:29,015 nearly all of the East Texas forest had been cut down. 444 01:17:36,824 --> 01:17:38,626 As the last trees fell 445 01:17:38,761 --> 01:17:40,726 and the top soil washed away, 446 01:17:40,861 --> 01:17:45,427 small groups of bold Texans resolved to bring these forests back. 447 01:17:53,208 --> 01:17:56,307 They shared a dream of a restored ecosystem 448 01:17:56,442 --> 01:17:59,474 and were often met with ridicule and scorn. 449 01:18:01,783 --> 01:18:03,247 Yet they persisted. 450 01:18:04,050 --> 01:18:06,019 And their vision took root. 451 01:18:20,865 --> 01:18:24,700 Over the course of decades, they slowly inspired landowners, 452 01:18:24,835 --> 01:18:27,669 timber companies and our state and federal governments 453 01:18:27,805 --> 01:18:31,374 to combine efforts and bring the forests back. 454 01:19:05,781 --> 01:19:08,449 This... is their legacy. 455 01:19:09,385 --> 01:19:13,383 Over a million acres of restored forest and preserves. 456 01:19:16,489 --> 01:19:18,561 They have given us the greatest gift 457 01:19:18,696 --> 01:19:20,962 a generation can leave behind. 458 01:19:22,397 --> 01:19:25,461 A landscape healthier than they inherited... 459 01:19:26,164 --> 01:19:27,764 ...teeming with life. 460 01:20:19,384 --> 01:20:23,920 The forests of East Texas average over four feet of rainfall a year. 461 01:20:25,190 --> 01:20:29,526 So much that the rivers and creeks simply can't hold it all in. 462 01:20:38,137 --> 01:20:40,272 As water spills over the banks, 463 01:20:40,407 --> 01:20:43,440 it fills the oxbow lakes and sloughs. 464 01:20:46,817 --> 01:20:48,745 Like a sponge, these wetlands 465 01:20:48,880 --> 01:20:52,449 absorb the overflow and act as nature's flood control. 466 01:20:54,725 --> 01:20:56,157 These are the conditions 467 01:20:56,559 --> 01:21:00,028 that our largest freshwater fish have been waiting for. 468 01:21:08,399 --> 01:21:11,435 This... is an alligator gar. 469 01:21:12,510 --> 01:21:13,569 A female. 470 01:21:15,105 --> 01:21:19,542 She is the size of an adult human and can live just as long. 471 01:21:23,582 --> 01:21:25,655 She has left the safety of the river 472 01:21:25,790 --> 01:21:27,924 and is following the floods. 473 01:21:30,256 --> 01:21:34,192 These wetlands will provide the best opportunity for her offspring. 474 01:21:34,627 --> 01:21:37,626 In a place free from other river predators. 475 01:21:43,503 --> 01:21:45,869 She releases pheromones as she travels 476 01:21:46,305 --> 01:21:48,175 for her suitors to follow. 477 01:21:50,913 --> 01:21:53,213 And they have proven attractive. 478 01:22:00,784 --> 01:22:02,586 With scales like a suit of armor, 479 01:22:02,721 --> 01:22:05,489 she leads him further into the shallows. 480 01:22:10,496 --> 01:22:14,797 She has likely waited five to ten years for the right conditions to spawn. 481 01:22:15,767 --> 01:22:19,170 And she will release over 100,000 eggs 482 01:22:19,539 --> 01:22:22,242 which the males fight to fertilize. 483 01:22:44,135 --> 01:22:45,928 Her eggs will hatch in only two days 484 01:22:46,063 --> 01:22:49,001 and the baby gar will be swept back into the river 485 01:22:49,137 --> 01:22:51,172 as the floodwaters recede. 486 01:22:54,311 --> 01:22:56,608 It is a life strategy so successful, 487 01:22:56,743 --> 01:23:01,512 that alligator gar have lived here for 70 million years. 488 01:23:09,427 --> 01:23:13,561 Our waterways are home to nearly 200 native Texas fish. 489 01:23:14,297 --> 01:23:17,066 Over a dozen are found nowhere else. 490 01:23:18,896 --> 01:23:21,803 They have evolved for natural water flow, 491 01:23:21,939 --> 01:23:23,164 which has been disrupted. 492 01:23:27,643 --> 01:23:30,978 We have lost one half of our wetlands in Texas, 493 01:23:31,447 --> 01:23:34,182 which act as nature's flood control. 494 01:23:35,780 --> 01:23:38,153 They are often replaced by concrete, 495 01:23:38,288 --> 01:23:40,584 which increases the flooding downstream. 496 01:23:46,897 --> 01:23:48,262 To mitigate flooding, 497 01:23:48,397 --> 01:23:51,496 over 7000 dams have been constructed... 498 01:23:52,464 --> 01:23:54,028 ...which also irrigate crops, 499 01:23:54,163 --> 01:23:57,535 generate electricity, and supply our cities. 500 01:23:59,070 --> 01:24:02,672 The reservoirs dams create are exposed to the sun. 501 01:24:04,311 --> 01:24:06,478 During the drought of 2011, 502 01:24:06,613 --> 01:24:08,580 more water was lost to evaporation 503 01:24:08,715 --> 01:24:11,852 than was used by all of our cities combined. 504 01:24:22,861 --> 01:24:25,665 The impact to our watersheds is so great 505 01:24:25,801 --> 01:24:29,367 that hundreds of miles of our rivers no longer flow. 506 01:24:30,036 --> 01:24:34,275 And one half of our native fish species are imperiled. 507 01:24:41,282 --> 01:24:42,945 We depend on the same water. 508 01:24:43,614 --> 01:24:45,484 And we are making progress. 509 01:24:48,691 --> 01:24:51,387 In the last 30 years, the average water use per Texan 510 01:24:51,523 --> 01:24:53,327 has been cut by a quarter. 511 01:24:55,526 --> 01:24:57,466 Landscaping with native plants, 512 01:24:57,601 --> 01:25:01,503 improving irrigation technology, storing water underground, 513 01:25:01,638 --> 01:25:05,372 and increasing efficiency has potential to save much more. 514 01:25:08,371 --> 01:25:11,411 Scientists are finding ways to release water from dams 515 01:25:11,547 --> 01:25:13,715 that allow our native fish to spawn. 516 01:25:14,618 --> 01:25:18,286 And some dams that are no longer useful can be taken down. 517 01:25:22,224 --> 01:25:24,493 Conserving water is crucial... 518 01:25:25,629 --> 01:25:28,489 ...for flowing rivers are the arteries of Texas... 519 01:25:29,259 --> 01:25:32,800 ...and the lifeblood of our bays and estuaries. 520 01:26:02,566 --> 01:26:07,236 Our coastline is unique due to a distinctive geography. 521 01:26:09,673 --> 01:26:13,374 Texas is protected by barrier islands and peninsulas. 522 01:26:16,405 --> 01:26:19,140 When salt water from the Gulf passes through them, 523 01:26:19,276 --> 01:26:22,977 it combines with the fresh water and nutrients from our rivers... 524 01:26:25,786 --> 01:26:28,357 ...creating an underwater prairie of grass 525 01:26:28,626 --> 01:26:31,458 that attracts life from across the hemisphere. 526 01:26:54,377 --> 01:26:58,353 The migrations that come through our coastline are so vast 527 01:26:58,488 --> 01:27:00,319 that the second highest passage rate 528 01:27:00,454 --> 01:27:02,456 of migratory birds on Earth, 529 01:27:02,591 --> 01:27:05,294 was recorded right here in Texas. 530 01:27:16,003 --> 01:27:21,305 These coastal marshes are also home to a master of ambush. 531 01:27:34,056 --> 01:27:35,456 Alligators. 532 01:28:22,535 --> 01:28:27,376 Islands along the coast provide crucial habitat for colonial waterbirds 533 01:28:27,511 --> 01:28:29,972 to build nests and raise their chicks. 534 01:28:51,762 --> 01:28:53,228 As the youngsters grow, 535 01:28:53,363 --> 01:28:55,702 they begin to explore their surroundings... 536 01:28:56,939 --> 01:29:01,003 ...creating an opportunity for those with patience. 537 01:29:47,817 --> 01:29:49,355 Below the surface, 538 01:29:49,824 --> 01:29:52,094 the mixture of fresh and salt water 539 01:29:52,229 --> 01:29:54,095 creates a nursery for the Gulf. 540 01:30:00,304 --> 01:30:02,471 Like many coastal species, 541 01:30:02,606 --> 01:30:04,870 redfish are born as eggs in the ocean 542 01:30:05,005 --> 01:30:08,103 and swept into the bays by incoming tides. 543 01:30:12,143 --> 01:30:14,011 As juveniles, they hunt these shallows 544 01:30:14,147 --> 01:30:16,947 until they grow large enough for life at sea. 545 01:30:23,924 --> 01:30:26,055 In September of their third year, 546 01:30:26,424 --> 01:30:29,757 a biological urge triggers them to congregate, 547 01:30:30,059 --> 01:30:33,062 and to begin their migration. 548 01:31:03,426 --> 01:31:06,133 Driven by instinct and following the tides, 549 01:31:06,268 --> 01:31:09,934 they are swimming to the ocean to live out their adult lives. 550 01:31:11,908 --> 01:31:15,269 With them, flow nutrients from across Texas. 551 01:31:18,041 --> 01:31:20,012 Transported by our rivers, 552 01:31:20,148 --> 01:31:24,212 the gift of fresh water reaches the Gulf of Mexico. 553 01:31:31,527 --> 01:31:36,191 For the first few leagues offshore, sediment clouds the water. 554 01:31:37,863 --> 01:31:39,694 But with distance and depth, 555 01:31:39,963 --> 01:31:42,598 the Gulf reveals her true color. 556 01:31:50,979 --> 01:31:54,141 This deep blue world seems far from our own, 557 01:31:54,610 --> 01:31:57,451 yet nutrients from our bays and estuaries 558 01:31:57,586 --> 01:31:59,287 fuel much of the plankton... 559 01:32:00,090 --> 01:32:03,691 ...which are the building blocks of life in the Gulf. 560 01:32:09,026 --> 01:32:11,128 In a few very special places, 561 01:32:11,263 --> 01:32:13,395 salt domes have risen from the seafloor 562 01:32:13,531 --> 01:32:16,497 and combined with tropical currents from the south. 563 01:32:17,700 --> 01:32:22,270 Here, this plankton fuels the Texas Caribbean... 564 01:32:33,484 --> 01:32:37,890 ...the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 565 01:33:02,249 --> 01:33:06,215 Each of these corals is composed of millions of polyps. 566 01:33:08,285 --> 01:33:10,956 Each polyp feeds on the plankton. 567 01:33:14,058 --> 01:33:16,291 It is an oasis of life... 568 01:33:16,961 --> 01:33:19,096 ...in a desert of blue. 569 01:33:27,406 --> 01:33:30,877 We are still unraveling the mysteries that abound here. 570 01:33:33,176 --> 01:33:34,980 What we've learned thus far... 571 01:33:35,716 --> 01:33:38,313 ...is nearly beyond imagination. 572 01:33:45,925 --> 01:33:47,661 Shortly after the sunset, 573 01:33:48,097 --> 01:33:50,965 during the week after the full moon in August, 574 01:33:51,101 --> 01:33:55,000 one of nature's most remarkable events unfolds. 575 01:34:15,919 --> 01:34:17,220 The corals... 576 01:34:17,954 --> 01:34:19,189 ...are spawning. 577 01:34:27,135 --> 01:34:29,164 We do not know how they communicate, 578 01:34:29,499 --> 01:34:32,499 but in unison, millions of coral polyps 579 01:34:32,634 --> 01:34:36,041 release and fertilize their offspring. 580 01:35:03,640 --> 01:35:08,943 This seemingly alien world exists far from our daily consciousness. 581 01:35:10,613 --> 01:35:14,844 Yet it is connected in ways that we are just beginning to understand. 582 01:36:50,038 --> 01:36:53,313 In the next 30 years, our population is projected 583 01:36:53,448 --> 01:36:57,182 to increase from 30 million to 50 million Texans. 584 01:37:03,221 --> 01:37:05,018 Urban areas are expanding, 585 01:37:05,421 --> 01:37:07,093 landscapes are subdividing 586 01:37:07,228 --> 01:37:09,693 as ranches split with the generations. 587 01:37:10,729 --> 01:37:14,034 And energy demand is consuming millions of acres. 588 01:37:23,544 --> 01:37:26,277 Climate change will bring more severe droughts, 589 01:37:26,412 --> 01:37:29,445 weather variability, and hurricanes. 590 01:37:35,422 --> 01:37:37,619 Some of our rivers are entirely consumed 591 01:37:37,755 --> 01:37:41,127 and no longer flow to the sea during drought years. 592 01:37:47,402 --> 01:37:50,837 We've lost a quarter of our birds in the last 50 years. 593 01:37:51,473 --> 01:37:55,036 And there are 69 species that are state endangered 594 01:37:55,438 --> 01:37:57,671 and 148 that are threatened. 595 01:38:08,550 --> 01:38:11,421 Their future is our choice. 596 01:38:12,928 --> 01:38:14,721 And there is reason for hope. 597 01:38:19,598 --> 01:38:22,336 From the Piney Woods to the Trans-Pecos, 598 01:38:22,772 --> 01:38:24,071 there is living proof 599 01:38:24,206 --> 01:38:26,070 that we have the ability to recover 600 01:38:26,205 --> 01:38:28,471 and live alongside wildlife. 601 01:38:34,081 --> 01:38:38,344 There is proof that our votes can conserve landscapes and water, 602 01:38:38,480 --> 01:38:43,323 that our backyards can be habitat for incredible migrations, 603 01:38:43,626 --> 01:38:47,721 and that endangered species can thrive on working ranches. 604 01:38:54,402 --> 01:38:57,637 Every single Texas river has advocates. 605 01:38:58,573 --> 01:39:01,907 And every ecoregion has land owners and organizations 606 01:39:02,042 --> 01:39:04,276 working to improve the habitat. 607 01:39:12,718 --> 01:39:16,419 Thousands of Texans have dedicated their lives, careers, 608 01:39:16,555 --> 01:39:19,090 and money to restore our wildlife 609 01:39:19,225 --> 01:39:21,557 and preserve our wild places. 610 01:39:27,435 --> 01:39:30,137 Yet there is still so much to be done. 611 01:39:34,905 --> 01:39:39,074 There has never been a greater need or opportunity... 612 01:39:39,777 --> 01:39:43,183 ...to conserve our unique ecosystem. 613 01:39:46,321 --> 01:39:48,254 And there's never been a people... 614 01:39:49,024 --> 01:39:50,489 ...who love their home... 615 01:39:51,058 --> 01:39:52,720 ...as much as Texans.