1 00:00:01,841 --> 00:00:04,210 [rattling] 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 3 00:00:06,781 --> 00:00:08,808 [tense sting] 4 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 5 00:00:13,083 --> 00:00:15,085 [wind whistling] 6 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:17,520 [serene inspirational music] 7 00:00:35,144 --> 00:00:37,078 [narrator] The top of Texas. 8 00:00:38,439 --> 00:00:40,114 Guadalupe Peak. 9 00:00:43,352 --> 00:00:46,247 It stands above a proud and diverse state. 10 00:00:47,417 --> 00:00:51,488 Where the Rocky Mountains and harsh desert of the American West 11 00:00:51,857 --> 00:00:55,294 converge with the vastness of the Great Plains. 12 00:00:55,863 --> 00:00:58,462 [thunder rumbling] 13 00:01:15,617 --> 00:01:18,782 To where the forests and swamps of the Deep South 14 00:01:18,917 --> 00:01:22,754 give way to the Blackland Prairies and Post Oak Savannas. 15 00:01:22,889 --> 00:01:25,192 [birds chirping] 16 00:01:31,326 --> 00:01:34,527 From the spring-fed rivers that bless the Hill Country... 17 00:01:35,230 --> 00:01:38,502 ...to the tropical brush of the Rio Grande Valley. 18 00:01:40,301 --> 00:01:44,173 Texas gives life to animals found nowhere else... 19 00:01:45,109 --> 00:01:48,380 ...and attracts migrations from across the hemisphere. 20 00:01:52,581 --> 00:01:54,786 [wings cutting the air] 21 00:01:54,922 --> 00:01:57,323 [birds squawking] 22 00:02:20,208 --> 00:02:23,514 More headwater springs to the Gulf of Mexico. 23 00:02:24,415 --> 00:02:27,188 It is a land sculpted by water. 24 00:02:27,690 --> 00:02:29,820 [rattling] 25 00:02:29,956 --> 00:02:33,219 Where nature has selected for the most adaptable... 26 00:02:34,189 --> 00:02:37,330 ...and to those willing to stake their claim. 27 00:02:54,646 --> 00:02:56,943 [serene inspirational music continues] 28 00:03:02,053 --> 00:03:06,227 This film celebrates the natural wonders of Texas. 29 00:03:08,058 --> 00:03:11,259 It is a story about tragedies in our past... 30 00:03:11,862 --> 00:03:14,396 ...of recoveries against all odds... 31 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:18,170 ...and is a call to action to conserve the wildlife 32 00:03:18,305 --> 00:03:21,341 and wild places in our home. 33 00:03:25,546 --> 00:03:29,679 This is a story for all who love Texas. 34 00:03:36,792 --> 00:03:38,886 [wind whistling] 35 00:03:50,838 --> 00:03:54,168 The history of our relationship with wildlife in Texas... 36 00:03:55,305 --> 00:03:58,642 ...is best told on the High Plains of the Panhandle. 37 00:04:20,631 --> 00:04:26,307 For millennia, herds of Bison roamed across Texas by the millions. 38 00:04:28,809 --> 00:04:31,742 Their grazing patterns shaped our landscapes, 39 00:04:32,278 --> 00:04:36,075 and their meat and hides nourished the people who lived here. 40 00:04:46,357 --> 00:04:47,990 [bison grunts] 41 00:04:48,125 --> 00:04:52,058 They survived ice ages and mass extinctions. 42 00:04:55,468 --> 00:04:57,602 But their ability to thrive... 43 00:04:58,672 --> 00:05:02,040 ...was no match for westward expansion. 44 00:05:02,176 --> 00:05:04,477 [melancholic music] 45 00:05:12,716 --> 00:05:14,513 Only three lifetimes ago, 46 00:05:14,649 --> 00:05:18,788 30 million bison roamed the Great Plains of North America. 47 00:05:21,262 --> 00:05:23,562 So many, they seemed limitless. 48 00:05:27,866 --> 00:05:30,136 They attracted market hunters West 49 00:05:30,271 --> 00:05:33,770 where an experienced buffalo hunter could often kill hundreds a day. 50 00:05:36,370 --> 00:05:39,376 Their hides and tongues were sold to markets 51 00:05:39,511 --> 00:05:41,547 along the East Coast and Europe. 52 00:05:43,119 --> 00:05:44,980 The meat was left to rot 53 00:05:45,116 --> 00:05:48,521 or was laced with poison to kill off predators. 54 00:05:53,024 --> 00:05:55,559 Efforts to slow the killing were ignored... 55 00:05:56,762 --> 00:06:00,865 ...for the great Slaughter destroyed the food source of Native Americans... 56 00:06:01,768 --> 00:06:04,064 ...forcing many under reservations. 57 00:06:07,876 --> 00:06:10,939 Commercial market hunting wasn't limited to bison. 58 00:06:12,142 --> 00:06:14,109 Most abundant bird in North America, 59 00:06:14,244 --> 00:06:17,550 passenger pigeon, was hunted to extinction. 60 00:06:19,115 --> 00:06:22,822 Wild sheep, pronghorn, deer, and elk 61 00:06:22,957 --> 00:06:25,855 were killed from all but the most remote locations. 62 00:06:27,929 --> 00:06:31,630 Waterfowl and shorebirds were shot by the millions. 63 00:06:33,363 --> 00:06:37,999 Jaguars, grizzlies, and wolves were killed from Texas. 64 00:06:42,573 --> 00:06:44,370 By the late 1800s, 65 00:06:45,039 --> 00:06:47,712 our wildlife was decimated. 66 00:07:05,230 --> 00:07:09,331 Legend has it that Texas rancher Molly Goodnight heard 67 00:07:09,466 --> 00:07:13,672 the last bison calves crying out for their slaughtered mothers. 68 00:07:15,838 --> 00:07:17,973 Of the five million in Texas... 69 00:07:18,676 --> 00:07:20,943 ...only five remained. 70 00:07:23,812 --> 00:07:26,113 [gentle lively music] 71 00:07:27,414 --> 00:07:31,151 She saved them and their numbers grew. 72 00:07:34,896 --> 00:07:38,424 They lived in Palo Duro Canyon until the 1990s 73 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,327 when they were given to Texas Parks and Wildlife 74 00:07:41,462 --> 00:07:43,999 and moved to Caprock Canyon State Park. 75 00:07:48,872 --> 00:07:51,710 These are their descendants. 76 00:07:53,213 --> 00:07:57,617 The survivors of the great Southern Plains bison herd. 77 00:07:59,285 --> 00:08:00,587 [bison grunting] 78 00:08:05,427 --> 00:08:08,155 The herd is over 300 strong. 79 00:08:08,891 --> 00:08:11,730 And this is the future. 80 00:08:16,599 --> 00:08:18,902 [birds chirping] 81 00:08:26,243 --> 00:08:29,209 Learning to be a bison is hard work. 82 00:08:30,852 --> 00:08:34,148 Especially when you have to walk on day one. 83 00:08:40,391 --> 00:08:43,429 These wobbly legs will need to be strengthened. 84 00:08:43,965 --> 00:08:46,992 And it's a good thing mom's here to help. 85 00:08:47,127 --> 00:08:49,229 [inspirational lively music] 86 00:08:51,466 --> 00:08:54,036 They have an entire prairie to explore. 87 00:08:54,904 --> 00:08:56,643 And neighbors to meet. 88 00:09:10,687 --> 00:09:13,819 Like all communities, there's always that one neighbor... 89 00:09:14,822 --> 00:09:18,192 ...coming out of their hole with their feathers all ruffled. 90 00:09:28,670 --> 00:09:31,577 There's a diversity of creatures on these plains. 91 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,274 And this calf needs to learn how to run in order 92 00:09:34,409 --> 00:09:36,375 to keep up with the herd one day. 93 00:09:38,014 --> 00:09:39,884 Which will take some practice. 94 00:09:54,863 --> 00:09:57,165 [owl chirping] 95 00:10:07,876 --> 00:10:12,246 Maybe a little teamwork will help improve the coordination. 96 00:10:24,431 --> 00:10:25,864 [owl chirping] 97 00:10:28,431 --> 00:10:30,868 These calves may only be a few weeks old... 98 00:10:31,571 --> 00:10:35,407 ...but the blood of Texas survivors flows through their veins. 99 00:10:35,542 --> 00:10:37,843 [inspirational music] 100 00:10:39,844 --> 00:10:42,881 They were born to run. 101 00:11:19,749 --> 00:11:23,857 These bison won't roam the same prairies as their ancestors. 102 00:11:24,593 --> 00:11:27,255 But there is room to expand. 103 00:11:54,949 --> 00:11:56,383 [bison grunting] 104 00:11:57,926 --> 00:11:59,855 There are public lands across Texas 105 00:11:59,990 --> 00:12:02,221 that can be restored with bison. 106 00:12:02,791 --> 00:12:05,964 Many ranches have already answered their call. 107 00:12:09,467 --> 00:12:12,531 Bison herds are expanding across the state. 108 00:12:13,608 --> 00:12:15,072 And they aren't alone. 109 00:12:21,216 --> 00:12:24,142 Following the Great Slaughter of the late 1800s... 110 00:12:24,845 --> 00:12:28,514 ...a series of laws were passed to recover our wildlife. 111 00:12:30,554 --> 00:12:33,223 Commercial market hunting was put to an end 112 00:12:33,358 --> 00:12:35,858 and conservation-minded sportsmen advocated 113 00:12:35,993 --> 00:12:37,996 for hunting limits and seasons. 114 00:12:40,028 --> 00:12:44,833 The creation of forest, parks, and refuges provided habitat. 115 00:12:45,736 --> 00:12:49,403 And international agreements protected migratory birds. 116 00:12:52,179 --> 00:12:54,547 The combined efforts to restore some animals 117 00:12:54,682 --> 00:12:56,883 have been remarkably successful. 118 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:00,684 And many species that were killed out of an area 119 00:13:00,820 --> 00:13:02,350 have been reintroduced. 120 00:13:02,853 --> 00:13:05,453 [distant calling] 121 00:13:05,588 --> 00:13:10,028 In Texas today, elk bugle from mountaintops. 122 00:13:11,128 --> 00:13:13,225 Pronghorn grace the prairie. 123 00:13:13,894 --> 00:13:17,838 And desert bighorn have returned to their mountain homes. 124 00:13:21,771 --> 00:13:25,575 These recoveries are largely due to people who have dedicated... 125 00:13:26,678 --> 00:13:31,478 ...and some who have given their lives to restore our wildlife. 126 00:13:36,391 --> 00:13:38,485 [birds chirping] 127 00:13:40,921 --> 00:13:45,096 But there is one specie that reign supreme on recovery. 128 00:13:56,304 --> 00:13:58,208 The white-tailed deer. 129 00:14:03,884 --> 00:14:05,549 At the end of each winter, 130 00:14:05,684 --> 00:14:09,186 the buck shed their antlers and begin to grow a new set. 131 00:14:12,991 --> 00:14:14,554 During the velvet stage, 132 00:14:14,689 --> 00:14:17,161 antlers can grow a quarter inch a day 133 00:14:17,297 --> 00:14:19,431 and under good rangeland conditions, 134 00:14:19,567 --> 00:14:23,167 the bucks put extra resources into their antlers' growth. 135 00:14:26,007 --> 00:14:29,338 [suspenseful inspirational music] 136 00:14:32,781 --> 00:14:34,776 As summer fades into fall, 137 00:14:34,911 --> 00:14:39,150 their testosterone increases and they rub the velvet off. 138 00:14:41,350 --> 00:14:43,550 Revealing a fresh new set... 139 00:14:44,889 --> 00:14:46,190 ...of weapons. 140 00:14:55,998 --> 00:15:00,900 The rut, the breeding season, lasts for only a month... 141 00:15:01,869 --> 00:15:05,044 ...which they have spent all year preparing for. 142 00:15:13,147 --> 00:15:15,450 [clattering] 143 00:15:37,542 --> 00:15:39,573 Most fights are settled within seconds... 144 00:15:41,010 --> 00:15:43,709 ...for the risk of injury is high and the larger buck 145 00:15:43,844 --> 00:15:46,613 typically exerts his dominance quickly. 146 00:15:50,055 --> 00:15:52,355 [footsteps approaching] 147 00:15:56,297 --> 00:15:58,592 But when opponents are evenly matched... 148 00:15:59,931 --> 00:16:01,098 ...a showdown... 149 00:16:01,634 --> 00:16:05,533 ...for breeding rights and territory is inevitable. 150 00:16:42,310 --> 00:16:45,441 Each doe is in heat for only 24 hours. 151 00:16:46,845 --> 00:16:50,778 The buck's bloodlines and territories are at stake. 152 00:16:51,214 --> 00:16:53,217 [clattering continues] 153 00:16:53,353 --> 00:16:55,649 [suspenseful inspirational music continues] 154 00:17:54,208 --> 00:17:56,512 [panting] 155 00:18:01,954 --> 00:18:03,752 [insects chirping] 156 00:18:03,887 --> 00:18:07,523 These incredible dramas should not be taken for granted. 157 00:18:11,264 --> 00:18:16,335 A century ago, white-tailed deer had been killed from most of the state 158 00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:18,897 and only survived in isolated pockets. 159 00:18:24,741 --> 00:18:27,740 Today, largely due to regulations 160 00:18:27,876 --> 00:18:30,048 and conservation-minded sportsmen, 161 00:18:30,183 --> 00:18:32,284 there are over five million. 162 00:18:39,252 --> 00:18:42,558 Other species have not shared the same fate. 163 00:18:49,869 --> 00:18:54,200 In a very few special parts of the South Texas brush country... 164 00:18:54,336 --> 00:18:57,343 [gentle music] 165 00:18:57,478 --> 00:19:00,543 ...lives a creature once thought to be lost. 166 00:19:10,658 --> 00:19:15,320 An animal so rare, it has become nearly mythical. 167 00:19:15,456 --> 00:19:17,758 [owl hooting] 168 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:40,451 An ocelot. 169 00:19:53,733 --> 00:19:57,666 Fewer than 80 are known to exist in the entire country. 170 00:20:07,175 --> 00:20:10,048 Ocelots were once found across much of Texas 171 00:20:10,183 --> 00:20:12,114 and into Louisiana and Arkansas. 172 00:20:12,250 --> 00:20:13,913 [melancholic music] 173 00:20:14,049 --> 00:20:16,388 Much of their habitat has been lost. 174 00:20:16,524 --> 00:20:18,216 Then they were historically trapped, 175 00:20:18,351 --> 00:20:22,592 hunted and poisoned by government predator programs. 176 00:20:26,260 --> 00:20:29,766 Today they exist in only two small populations, 177 00:20:29,902 --> 00:20:32,965 where they are genetically isolated and inbred. 178 00:20:34,637 --> 00:20:37,037 A catastrophic fire, hurricane 179 00:20:37,172 --> 00:20:40,139 or disease could wipe them from the country. 180 00:20:41,576 --> 00:20:45,381 Much is unknown, for many landowners have not allowed research 181 00:20:45,517 --> 00:20:49,653 on their property because they are concerned that the Endangered Species Act 182 00:20:49,788 --> 00:20:52,457 would impact their ranching operations. 183 00:20:54,591 --> 00:20:57,660 Texas is 95% privately owned, 184 00:20:57,795 --> 00:20:59,598 and recovering endangered species 185 00:20:59,734 --> 00:21:02,328 is very difficult without landowners support. 186 00:21:02,464 --> 00:21:04,465 [cows mooing] 187 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,033 [inspirational gentle music] 188 00:21:08,870 --> 00:21:13,071 A growing number of landowners have embraced ocelot research and recovery. 189 00:21:14,208 --> 00:21:15,878 They take great pride in conserving 190 00:21:16,013 --> 00:21:19,719 both a ranching legacy and a wildlife legacy. 191 00:21:19,854 --> 00:21:21,948 [birds chirping] 192 00:21:32,292 --> 00:21:34,833 Inside one of these cattle ranches... 193 00:21:35,536 --> 00:21:37,432 ...new camera technology is revealing 194 00:21:37,567 --> 00:21:39,834 the secretive lives of ocelot... 195 00:21:42,370 --> 00:21:45,609 ...and has given us a glimpse at the next generation. 196 00:22:02,629 --> 00:22:04,661 These precious kittens have no idea 197 00:22:04,796 --> 00:22:07,367 how crucial they are for the species. 198 00:22:14,269 --> 00:22:17,377 Their survival depends on mom's ability... 199 00:22:18,045 --> 00:22:18,939 ...to hunt. 200 00:22:30,823 --> 00:22:34,020 She has hidden her kittens to hunt alone. 201 00:22:37,229 --> 00:22:38,563 [bird calling] 202 00:22:41,902 --> 00:22:46,736 A green jay warning others there's a predator on the prowl. 203 00:23:09,096 --> 00:23:10,463 An armadillo. 204 00:23:11,230 --> 00:23:13,532 [leaves rustling] 205 00:23:49,102 --> 00:23:51,196 [birds chirping] 206 00:23:57,408 --> 00:23:59,776 [bird calling] 207 00:24:09,551 --> 00:24:10,721 Busted. 208 00:24:12,558 --> 00:24:14,252 She'll have to keep hunting. 209 00:24:16,528 --> 00:24:18,196 But she's not the only predator. 210 00:24:18,331 --> 00:24:20,632 [light suspenseful music] 211 00:24:32,077 --> 00:24:34,712 The brush can be a dangerous place for kittens 212 00:24:34,847 --> 00:24:36,879 without their mother's protection. 213 00:24:57,170 --> 00:24:58,263 Success. 214 00:24:58,999 --> 00:25:00,672 Back to the kittens. 215 00:25:13,451 --> 00:25:15,115 [kitten groaning] 216 00:25:39,747 --> 00:25:42,945 The worst sound a mother can hear. 217 00:25:48,719 --> 00:25:50,249 [kitten continues to groan] 218 00:26:10,573 --> 00:26:11,875 Silence. 219 00:26:30,091 --> 00:26:31,792 [distant howling and barking] 220 00:26:31,927 --> 00:26:33,165 [kitten continues to groan] 221 00:26:33,300 --> 00:26:35,393 [insects chirping] 222 00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:51,409 [scary hissing] 223 00:26:54,222 --> 00:26:56,315 [owl hooting] 224 00:26:58,225 --> 00:27:00,154 [kitten meowing] 225 00:27:49,602 --> 00:27:51,975 She has found one of her kittens. 226 00:27:54,443 --> 00:27:58,718 Sadly... the other was never seen again. 227 00:28:01,718 --> 00:28:04,354 [bird singing] 228 00:28:04,490 --> 00:28:07,221 [gentle music] 229 00:28:13,299 --> 00:28:17,132 She will now put her full effort into raising the survivor. 230 00:28:49,634 --> 00:28:52,937 Her kitten needs to learn how to hunt on her own one day... 231 00:28:54,136 --> 00:28:55,940 ...which will take practice. 232 00:28:56,875 --> 00:28:59,174 And a little hide-and-seek. 233 00:29:35,812 --> 00:29:37,146 [bird calling] 234 00:29:40,050 --> 00:29:43,716 Hopefully, this kitten will establish her own territory one day 235 00:29:43,851 --> 00:29:47,420 and play a part in the greater recovery of ocelots. 236 00:29:52,463 --> 00:29:55,199 Scientists, landowners, and many organizations 237 00:29:55,335 --> 00:29:58,035 are working together to introduce new genetics, 238 00:29:58,170 --> 00:30:00,840 restore habitats and will hopefully start 239 00:30:00,975 --> 00:30:03,909 new populations in their historic range. 240 00:30:08,746 --> 00:30:11,048 [insects chirping] 241 00:30:17,017 --> 00:30:21,289 Like many wildlife species, their future can be bright. 242 00:30:22,256 --> 00:30:24,094 But they need our help. 243 00:30:31,197 --> 00:30:33,499 [wind howling] 244 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,342 [thunder clapping] 245 00:30:43,242 --> 00:30:45,544 [thunder rumbling] 246 00:30:53,053 --> 00:30:54,488 [rain pattering] 247 00:30:54,624 --> 00:30:58,491 Water... rarely comes peacefully to Texas. 248 00:31:07,903 --> 00:31:09,438 [whooshing] 249 00:31:09,574 --> 00:31:12,473 Cold fronts from the north can collide violently 250 00:31:12,609 --> 00:31:15,508 with warm air and moisture from the Gulf. 251 00:31:17,983 --> 00:31:22,212 Tropical jet streams from the west bring thunderstorms each summer. 252 00:31:22,348 --> 00:31:24,254 [thunders rumbling] 253 00:31:24,389 --> 00:31:26,421 While El Niño and other weather systems 254 00:31:26,556 --> 00:31:29,060 bring uncertainty from year to year... 255 00:31:29,793 --> 00:31:31,889 [wind whistling] 256 00:31:32,992 --> 00:31:36,100 ...blue northers blanket the state in winter... 257 00:31:37,568 --> 00:31:40,769 ...while summer highs soar over 100 degrees. 258 00:31:40,904 --> 00:31:43,874 [insects chirping] 259 00:31:44,543 --> 00:31:47,606 Droughts are a cyclical part of our weather system. 260 00:31:48,780 --> 00:31:49,943 As are floods. 261 00:31:50,078 --> 00:31:52,380 [water rushing] 262 00:31:58,489 --> 00:32:01,158 Nearly all of our rivers are born here, 263 00:32:01,293 --> 00:32:03,996 and they journey to the Gulf of Mexico. 264 00:32:05,793 --> 00:32:08,600 But much of the rainfall seeps into the earth... 265 00:32:09,403 --> 00:32:13,302 ...into vast aquifers that cover 80% of the state. 266 00:32:19,074 --> 00:32:21,376 [thunder rumbling] 267 00:32:23,812 --> 00:32:26,410 In the poorest limestone of the Hill Country... 268 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,917 ...the Edwards Plateau soaks up moisture like a sponge. 269 00:32:31,052 --> 00:32:32,490 [rain pattering] 270 00:32:32,625 --> 00:32:34,521 [water dripping] 271 00:32:55,512 --> 00:32:58,383 Below the surface, water and time 272 00:32:58,518 --> 00:33:03,220 have sculpted a landscape as magnificent as the one above. 273 00:33:07,056 --> 00:33:09,358 [water rushing] 274 00:33:16,100 --> 00:33:18,503 This karst ecosystem is so vast 275 00:33:18,638 --> 00:33:21,603 and receives enough nutrients from the outside world... 276 00:33:22,672 --> 00:33:27,112 ...that life has evolved in the absence of light. 277 00:33:32,311 --> 00:33:34,614 [ethereal music] 278 00:33:45,927 --> 00:33:48,828 Inside this constant temperature climate... 279 00:33:50,098 --> 00:33:53,669 ...nature has selected for animals who conserve energy... 280 00:33:54,806 --> 00:33:58,242 ...and who lose traits that are no longer necessary. 281 00:34:03,780 --> 00:34:07,416 This is an endangered Texas blind salamander. 282 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:15,160 They hunt the darkness by sensing small disturbances in the water pressure. 283 00:34:16,158 --> 00:34:18,493 [water rushing] 284 00:34:18,628 --> 00:34:20,662 They breathe through their gills, 285 00:34:20,797 --> 00:34:24,532 which change in size, depending on the available oxygen. 286 00:34:32,077 --> 00:34:34,041 In this world below our feet... 287 00:34:34,944 --> 00:34:39,481 ...familiar creatures have become nearly alien. 288 00:34:53,833 --> 00:34:55,398 A blind catfish. 289 00:34:59,973 --> 00:35:01,869 There are three species in Texas 290 00:35:02,004 --> 00:35:06,178 and they have been found 2,000 feet below the surface. 291 00:35:16,385 --> 00:35:18,553 They are the size of your palm. 292 00:35:19,289 --> 00:35:21,491 And their metabolism is so slow, 293 00:35:21,626 --> 00:35:25,197 they can survive four years between meals. 294 00:35:32,501 --> 00:35:34,236 We know little about them. 295 00:35:34,772 --> 00:35:38,639 Yet their habitat is the foundation for our fresh water. 296 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:48,712 When the aquifers are full, 297 00:35:49,148 --> 00:35:52,521 water bubbles to the surface through springs. 298 00:35:54,959 --> 00:35:56,960 [water bubbling] 299 00:35:57,096 --> 00:35:59,396 [ethereal music continues] 300 00:36:15,508 --> 00:36:17,810 [water rushing] 301 00:36:24,922 --> 00:36:28,854 As springs combined together, they create creeks. 302 00:36:35,362 --> 00:36:37,665 [birds chirping] 303 00:36:48,882 --> 00:36:53,615 As the creeks converge, they form our Hill Country rivers. 304 00:37:05,799 --> 00:37:07,893 [water bubbling] 305 00:37:16,305 --> 00:37:17,501 It's water. 306 00:37:17,636 --> 00:37:19,542 From stone. 307 00:37:36,463 --> 00:37:38,760 In a select few rivers and creeks, 308 00:37:38,895 --> 00:37:41,830 the state fish of Texas hunts the rapids. 309 00:37:42,199 --> 00:37:44,501 [insects chirping] 310 00:37:54,046 --> 00:37:56,612 [tense sting] 311 00:37:59,284 --> 00:38:01,716 The Guadalupe bass. 312 00:38:06,486 --> 00:38:10,421 Each spring, the males begin preparations to attract a mate. 313 00:38:10,557 --> 00:38:12,826 [comic music] 314 00:38:14,330 --> 00:38:18,535 Step one is finding a suitable location for a spawning bed. 315 00:38:22,568 --> 00:38:26,576 A gravel floor with surrounding protective structure is ideal. 316 00:38:30,876 --> 00:38:32,683 He must choose wisely, 317 00:38:32,818 --> 00:38:35,684 or he won't leave the bed for over a month. 318 00:38:39,421 --> 00:38:41,657 "Ah, perfect." 319 00:38:45,127 --> 00:38:47,931 The second step is to clean the gravel floor. 320 00:38:48,366 --> 00:38:51,002 A difficult task with only fins, 321 00:38:51,138 --> 00:38:52,429 but a necessary one. 322 00:38:53,466 --> 00:38:56,837 Females don't find dirt on the bed attractive. 323 00:39:03,214 --> 00:39:04,211 It's tidy. 324 00:39:04,881 --> 00:39:07,111 But is it enough to impress a mate? 325 00:39:11,756 --> 00:39:13,451 The females are searching for males 326 00:39:13,586 --> 00:39:17,088 that will give their eggs the best chance of survival. 327 00:39:18,423 --> 00:39:21,928 They will be judged on their spawning beds. 328 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:28,506 "Gross! Hey, don't mess with Texas. 329 00:39:31,737 --> 00:39:33,511 Getting better. 330 00:39:35,743 --> 00:39:38,747 Yuck! Hey, this ain't Oklahoma. 331 00:39:41,683 --> 00:39:43,554 Now we're talking." 332 00:39:47,558 --> 00:39:49,727 With up to 10,000 eggs to lay, 333 00:39:49,863 --> 00:39:53,190 finding the right partner is worth searching for. 334 00:39:57,498 --> 00:40:02,467 Sometimes they've been preparing a bed just for you. 335 00:40:02,603 --> 00:40:04,905 [gentle music] 336 00:40:32,204 --> 00:40:35,738 During this courtship dance, the female releases her eggs, 337 00:40:35,873 --> 00:40:38,037 which are fertilized by the male. 338 00:40:56,588 --> 00:41:01,192 Exhausted, she has spent all her energy on reproduction. 339 00:41:03,502 --> 00:41:06,263 But dad duty has just begun. 340 00:41:08,139 --> 00:41:11,939 For a week straight, he aerates the eggs with his fins 341 00:41:12,475 --> 00:41:13,974 until one day... 342 00:41:22,854 --> 00:41:25,556 These baby bass have many predators. 343 00:41:26,092 --> 00:41:29,286 And he will continue to protect them for the next few weeks. 344 00:41:34,460 --> 00:41:38,066 Eventually, their responsibility passes on to us. 345 00:41:39,703 --> 00:41:44,708 To ensure that our rivers stay healthy and the springs always flow. 346 00:41:47,209 --> 00:41:49,641 Which is becoming increasingly difficult. 347 00:41:49,776 --> 00:41:52,078 [insects chirping] 348 00:41:55,752 --> 00:42:00,284 The Texas Hill Country is developing faster than any other region. 349 00:42:04,197 --> 00:42:09,865 Per capita, each of us uses 138 gallons of water each day. 350 00:42:10,931 --> 00:42:13,198 [water dripping and rushing] 351 00:42:14,467 --> 00:42:17,236 To meet this demand, we are taking water out 352 00:42:17,372 --> 00:42:20,139 of the aquifers and pumping it to the surface. 353 00:42:26,216 --> 00:42:29,950 When we remove more water than rainfall can refill, 354 00:42:30,319 --> 00:42:34,120 the water table falls, and the springs go dry. 355 00:42:37,723 --> 00:42:41,091 During the last century, one half of the major springs 356 00:42:41,226 --> 00:42:43,129 in Texas have stopped flowing 357 00:42:43,264 --> 00:42:46,099 because the aquifer was over-pumped. 358 00:42:49,502 --> 00:42:53,271 Our rivers and wildlife depend on these springs. 359 00:42:55,281 --> 00:42:56,747 As do we. 360 00:43:02,121 --> 00:43:05,650 The people of Austin and San Antonio have taken action. 361 00:43:06,853 --> 00:43:10,388 When water protection efforts were placed on city elections, 362 00:43:10,524 --> 00:43:13,557 citizens voted overwhelmingly in support. 363 00:43:13,926 --> 00:43:16,030 [water rushing] 364 00:43:16,165 --> 00:43:18,428 They voted to invest in water rights, 365 00:43:18,564 --> 00:43:23,070 establish parks, and fund conservation easements. 366 00:43:26,574 --> 00:43:31,947 They have conserved over 200,000 acres of their watersheds. 367 00:43:34,318 --> 00:43:38,888 Because the future health of the land is tied to our own. 368 00:43:42,494 --> 00:43:44,654 [suspenseful music] 369 00:43:45,958 --> 00:43:49,565 One of these conserved areas is also helping to protect... 370 00:43:50,235 --> 00:43:53,837 ...one of Earth's most remarkable wildlife spectacles. 371 00:43:58,839 --> 00:44:00,377 Bracken cave. 372 00:44:00,512 --> 00:44:02,813 [intriguing gentle music] 373 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:06,982 [bats chirping] 374 00:44:08,848 --> 00:44:13,054 This is a maternity colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. 375 00:44:18,329 --> 00:44:21,326 The females migrate from Mexico to Texas each year 376 00:44:21,462 --> 00:44:23,763 to feed on insects during the summer, 377 00:44:23,899 --> 00:44:25,770 and to raise a new pup. 378 00:44:30,907 --> 00:44:34,506 At five weeks old, the youngsters have already grown to adult size 379 00:44:34,642 --> 00:44:37,782 and are preparing to take their first flight. 380 00:44:41,851 --> 00:44:43,551 Airspace is crowded, 381 00:44:43,920 --> 00:44:45,251 for Bracken cave contains 382 00:44:45,387 --> 00:44:48,421 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, 383 00:44:48,556 --> 00:44:52,324 and is the largest congregation of mammals on Earth. 384 00:44:58,764 --> 00:45:01,740 It's a difficult place to learn how to fly. 385 00:45:15,988 --> 00:45:18,486 As the sun sets each summer evening, 386 00:45:18,955 --> 00:45:21,523 the colony begins to emerge. 387 00:45:21,658 --> 00:45:23,658 [bats chirping] 388 00:45:23,794 --> 00:45:26,094 [wings cutting the air] 389 00:46:26,326 --> 00:46:30,862 It is time for these young bats to spread their wings. 390 00:46:37,231 --> 00:46:39,530 [distorted suspenseful music] 391 00:46:43,640 --> 00:46:47,208 Bats experience the world much differently than we do. 392 00:46:49,315 --> 00:46:52,616 They emit sounds too high for our ears to hear, 393 00:46:53,319 --> 00:46:56,181 which bounce off objects, and return as echoes, 394 00:46:56,817 --> 00:47:00,452 giving each bat an auditory map of their surroundings. 395 00:47:03,125 --> 00:47:04,824 But with so many voices... 396 00:47:05,526 --> 00:47:07,899 ...their echolocation is hindered 397 00:47:08,034 --> 00:47:10,528 and they must also rely on sight. 398 00:47:16,508 --> 00:47:20,307 The new pups must navigate two rotations around the batnado... 399 00:47:21,109 --> 00:47:22,640 ...rise above the trees 400 00:47:22,775 --> 00:47:25,411 and then fly to their hunting grounds. 401 00:47:32,824 --> 00:47:34,156 Their gravest danger... 402 00:47:34,824 --> 00:47:35,993 ...is collision. 403 00:49:00,976 --> 00:49:03,278 [tense music] 404 00:49:30,202 --> 00:49:31,306 [light thud] 405 00:49:38,312 --> 00:49:43,219 The pups who are able to free themselves must rejoin the colony. 406 00:49:44,523 --> 00:49:46,923 But they do not yet have the strength or the skill 407 00:49:47,058 --> 00:49:48,785 to take off from the ground. 408 00:49:51,897 --> 00:49:56,397 Their only hope is to climb to a high point to take off again... 409 00:50:04,941 --> 00:50:06,374 ...undetected. 410 00:50:08,011 --> 00:50:10,312 [light suspenseful music] 411 00:50:14,949 --> 00:50:18,683 The coachwhip is the fastest snake in North America. 412 00:50:23,390 --> 00:50:24,821 They are waiting... 413 00:50:25,797 --> 00:50:27,065 ...for movement. 414 00:51:44,543 --> 00:51:48,311 Alone, the bats are defenseless against the snakes. 415 00:51:51,446 --> 00:51:53,514 But others have also fallen. 416 00:52:09,968 --> 00:52:11,565 [suspenseful sting] 417 00:52:17,571 --> 00:52:19,574 And when one is sacrificed... 418 00:52:21,011 --> 00:52:24,978 ...it provides an opportunity for the others... to escape. 419 00:52:25,113 --> 00:52:27,416 [dramatic music] 420 00:53:40,089 --> 00:53:43,961 Flying within the colony, the young bats find safety... 421 00:53:44,830 --> 00:53:48,398 ...for their greatest strength is in their sheer numbers. 422 00:54:01,173 --> 00:54:04,144 Above the tree line, they fly as a river. 423 00:54:04,980 --> 00:54:08,550 Each individual hidden amongst the multitude. 424 00:54:15,754 --> 00:54:17,620 They must blend into the group. 425 00:54:18,289 --> 00:54:20,694 The emergence has attracted attention. 426 00:54:26,770 --> 00:54:30,166 Red-tailed hawks, Swainson's hawks, 427 00:54:30,301 --> 00:54:33,641 and peregrine falcons have come to hunt. 428 00:54:37,380 --> 00:54:38,613 They are looking... 429 00:54:39,416 --> 00:54:41,550 ...for prey that stands out. 430 00:55:05,272 --> 00:55:09,347 Some of these bats have over 15 years of experience. 431 00:55:10,710 --> 00:55:11,976 But the new pups... 432 00:55:13,345 --> 00:55:16,184 ...don't yet know the dangers of flying alone 433 00:55:16,320 --> 00:55:17,949 or on the outskirts. 434 00:55:36,142 --> 00:55:38,442 [dramatic music continues] 435 00:56:12,078 --> 00:56:13,609 [suspenseful sting] 436 00:56:17,811 --> 00:56:20,081 Individuals fall each night. 437 00:56:20,217 --> 00:56:21,949 [gentle music] 438 00:56:22,085 --> 00:56:26,050 But as a colony... they overwhelm the predators. 439 00:56:28,357 --> 00:56:30,659 [bats chirping] 440 00:56:40,004 --> 00:56:44,200 The bats of Bracken Cave support an entire ecosystem. 441 00:56:45,469 --> 00:56:48,906 But their biggest impact is up to 100 miles away, 442 00:56:49,175 --> 00:56:51,813 where they will consume over 150 tons 443 00:56:51,949 --> 00:56:55,948 of agricultural pests every single night. 444 00:57:08,194 --> 00:57:11,095 There are 32 different species in Texas 445 00:57:11,230 --> 00:57:13,801 and hundreds of millions of bats. 446 00:57:18,875 --> 00:57:21,304 Some night skies they fly under... 447 00:57:21,973 --> 00:57:23,877 ...are more special than others. 448 00:57:35,489 --> 00:57:37,792 [ethereal music] 449 00:58:12,590 --> 00:58:15,896 Of all the national parks in the Lower 48... 450 00:58:16,933 --> 00:58:20,131 ...Big Bend has the darkest skies. 451 00:58:27,709 --> 00:58:30,108 Beneath this heavenly expanse... 452 00:58:30,944 --> 00:58:32,880 ...are the signs of hope. 453 00:58:42,728 --> 00:58:46,828 These... are the marks of a black bear. 454 00:58:52,903 --> 00:58:55,536 Bears were once killed out of Texas. 455 00:58:56,206 --> 00:58:59,605 But across the border, in the high mountains of Mexico, 456 00:58:59,741 --> 00:59:01,744 a population thrived. 457 00:59:05,282 --> 00:59:09,779 In the 1980s, bears became a protected species in Texas. 458 00:59:10,415 --> 00:59:13,591 And we waited... for their return. 459 00:59:26,399 --> 00:59:30,938 In 1987, a female dispersed from Mexico... 460 00:59:31,708 --> 00:59:33,272 ...crossed the Rio Grande, 461 00:59:33,407 --> 00:59:36,409 and made her home in Big Bend National Park. 462 00:59:36,544 --> 00:59:38,847 [birds chirping] 463 00:59:42,687 --> 00:59:47,284 Her pioneering instincts flow through the veins of our bears today... 464 00:59:49,659 --> 00:59:51,288 ...and their offspring. 465 01:00:03,902 --> 01:00:05,104 [bear growls] 466 01:00:15,714 --> 01:00:18,349 This mama bear has taught her eight-month-old cubs 467 01:00:18,484 --> 01:00:21,186 how to find food with each passing season. 468 01:00:25,959 --> 01:00:28,292 In the fall, that means acorns. 469 01:00:32,432 --> 01:00:34,264 It's slim pickings on the forest floor, 470 01:00:34,400 --> 01:00:38,108 but... up above, there's a bounty. 471 01:00:38,244 --> 01:00:40,242 [gentle music] 472 01:00:40,377 --> 01:00:42,680 [birds chirping] 473 01:00:51,418 --> 01:00:55,154 And these cubs, they have a size advantage. 474 01:00:56,955 --> 01:00:58,256 [bear growls] 475 01:01:30,623 --> 01:01:35,429 The very best acorns are those the big bears can't reach. 476 01:01:35,565 --> 01:01:37,801 [leaves rustling] 477 01:02:26,679 --> 01:02:30,084 The higher the climb, the sweeter the reward. 478 01:03:04,452 --> 01:03:08,584 Life is good in Big Bend National Park. 479 01:03:12,496 --> 01:03:15,899 A century ago, these bears would have been hunted down. 480 01:03:17,002 --> 01:03:20,035 Today... they can rest peacefully. 481 01:03:27,941 --> 01:03:30,243 [gentle music] 482 01:03:33,419 --> 01:03:37,515 But the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend are relatively small, 483 01:03:37,650 --> 01:03:40,253 and they are already filled to capacity. 484 01:03:44,829 --> 01:03:46,997 Like their pioneer ancestors, 485 01:03:47,132 --> 01:03:50,329 bears are dispersing from the national park. 486 01:03:52,303 --> 01:03:55,099 They are seeking new mountain ranges in Texas. 487 01:03:55,968 --> 01:04:00,471 A place to call home, where their ancestors once roamed. 488 01:04:12,054 --> 01:04:14,190 But their path to recovery 489 01:04:14,726 --> 01:04:16,454 is far from certain. 490 01:04:58,570 --> 01:05:00,069 [tense sting] 491 01:05:08,247 --> 01:05:11,346 There are thousands of traps across Texas. 492 01:05:11,916 --> 01:05:14,116 Set for our top predator. 493 01:05:24,091 --> 01:05:25,354 The mountain lion. 494 01:05:25,489 --> 01:05:28,031 [suspenseful dramatic music] 495 01:05:46,445 --> 01:05:48,515 Once found across the state, 496 01:05:48,651 --> 01:05:51,516 populations now only exist in the remote canyons 497 01:05:51,651 --> 01:05:54,486 and deep brush of South and West Texas. 498 01:06:26,089 --> 01:06:28,018 Their territories are massive, 499 01:06:28,487 --> 01:06:31,424 often over 100 square miles. 500 01:06:48,347 --> 01:06:52,643 On average, they kill every seven to ten days. 501 01:07:23,745 --> 01:07:27,282 Their prey can be several times their size. 502 01:07:29,116 --> 01:07:30,214 And well-armed. 503 01:07:30,349 --> 01:07:32,650 [light suspenseful music] 504 01:07:43,830 --> 01:07:46,296 Some animals take shelter in the cliffs. 505 01:07:47,166 --> 01:07:50,602 Or move as a herd to have more eyes on the lookout. 506 01:08:01,550 --> 01:08:03,846 But water is scarce in the desert. 507 01:08:04,582 --> 01:08:06,519 And prey must drink. 508 01:10:04,469 --> 01:10:05,671 [leaves rustling] 509 01:10:10,411 --> 01:10:11,908 They must be wary... 510 01:10:14,117 --> 01:10:15,450 ...for they too... 511 01:10:16,250 --> 01:10:17,485 ...are prey. 512 01:10:18,682 --> 01:10:22,384 [suspenseful music] 513 01:10:22,519 --> 01:10:26,121 On rare occasions, mountain lions will kill livestock. 514 01:10:26,524 --> 01:10:29,992 And some hunters don't want another predator on the land. 515 01:10:33,071 --> 01:10:34,667 But unlike other states, 516 01:10:34,802 --> 01:10:36,904 where only problem cats are removed 517 01:10:37,039 --> 01:10:40,469 and mountain lions are either protected or closely managed... 518 01:10:41,271 --> 01:10:45,042 ...in Texas, they can be trapped, snared, 519 01:10:45,177 --> 01:10:48,281 and hunted year-round with no harvest limits 520 01:10:48,416 --> 01:10:50,683 and no science-based management. 521 01:10:53,491 --> 01:10:55,758 They can even be captured in cages 522 01:10:56,227 --> 01:10:58,493 and sold in canned hunts. 523 01:11:03,831 --> 01:11:07,166 In a West Texas study following 16 cats, 524 01:11:07,301 --> 01:11:08,567 one was shot 525 01:11:09,002 --> 01:11:13,376 and all of the remaining 15 were killed in traps. 526 01:11:25,216 --> 01:11:27,984 It is not required to check the traps. 527 01:11:29,158 --> 01:11:30,119 When caught, 528 01:11:30,722 --> 01:11:32,392 it can take days to die 529 01:11:32,527 --> 01:11:34,892 from dehydration and exposure. 530 01:11:42,507 --> 01:11:45,903 Every step they take is a gamble. 531 01:11:50,482 --> 01:11:52,514 And they are almost guaranteed... 532 01:11:53,281 --> 01:11:54,450 ...to lose. 533 01:12:00,255 --> 01:12:01,853 [tense sting] 534 01:12:41,099 --> 01:12:43,400 [mountain lion sniffing] 535 01:13:51,633 --> 01:13:53,701 -[tense sting] -[crackling] 536 01:14:02,208 --> 01:14:05,174 This trap was dismantled by our camera team. 537 01:14:09,050 --> 01:14:11,449 But there are thousands across Texas 538 01:14:11,752 --> 01:14:13,754 that are armed right now. 539 01:14:21,558 --> 01:14:24,359 Mountain lion traps do not discriminate... 540 01:14:25,062 --> 01:14:26,530 ...and can catch those... 541 01:14:27,133 --> 01:14:29,033 ...just searching for a new home. 542 01:14:30,802 --> 01:14:33,004 [black bear sniffing] 543 01:14:59,663 --> 01:15:01,967 [panting] 544 01:15:44,908 --> 01:15:48,651 The treatment of our mountain lions is from a bygone era. 545 01:15:50,481 --> 01:15:52,685 In other states, they are either protected 546 01:15:52,820 --> 01:15:54,351 or managed as a game animal 547 01:15:54,487 --> 01:15:57,759 with controlled hunting seasons and harvest limits. 548 01:16:01,366 --> 01:16:03,798 Texas can do the same. 549 01:16:15,575 --> 01:16:17,574 [wind whistling] 550 01:16:17,709 --> 01:16:20,012 [rain pattering] 551 01:16:42,499 --> 01:16:44,632 There is no better proof of our ability 552 01:16:44,768 --> 01:16:48,144 to change and live alongside the natural world... 553 01:16:49,213 --> 01:16:52,742 ...than in the Big Thicket and Piney Woods of East Texas. 554 01:16:52,877 --> 01:16:55,151 [thunder rumbling] 555 01:16:55,286 --> 01:16:57,379 [insects chirping] 556 01:17:01,656 --> 01:17:06,026 One hundred years ago, this abandoned structure was a sawmill... 557 01:17:07,730 --> 01:17:11,998 ...where the old growth forests were cut apart and turned into lumber. 558 01:17:20,208 --> 01:17:22,637 There are hundreds of sawmills like this. 559 01:17:23,173 --> 01:17:24,806 By the early 1900s, 560 01:17:24,941 --> 01:17:29,015 nearly all of the East Texas forest had been cut down. 561 01:17:31,322 --> 01:17:33,415 [thunder rumbling] 562 01:17:36,824 --> 01:17:38,626 As the last trees fell 563 01:17:38,761 --> 01:17:40,726 and the top soil washed away, 564 01:17:40,861 --> 01:17:45,427 small groups of bold Texans resolved to bring these forests back. 565 01:17:45,996 --> 01:17:48,298 [serene music] 566 01:17:53,208 --> 01:17:56,307 They shared a dream of a restored ecosystem 567 01:17:56,442 --> 01:17:59,474 and were often met with ridicule and scorn. 568 01:18:01,783 --> 01:18:03,247 Yet they persisted. 569 01:18:04,050 --> 01:18:06,019 And their vision took root. 570 01:18:20,865 --> 01:18:24,700 Over the course of decades, they slowly inspired landowners, 571 01:18:24,835 --> 01:18:27,669 timber companies and our state and federal governments 572 01:18:27,805 --> 01:18:31,374 to combine efforts and bring the forests back. 573 01:19:05,781 --> 01:19:08,449 This... is their legacy. 574 01:19:09,385 --> 01:19:13,383 Over a million acres of restored forest and preserves. 575 01:19:16,489 --> 01:19:18,561 They have given us the greatest gift 576 01:19:18,696 --> 01:19:20,962 a generation can leave behind. 577 01:19:22,397 --> 01:19:25,461 A landscape healthier than they inherited... 578 01:19:26,164 --> 01:19:27,764 ...teeming with life. 579 01:19:27,899 --> 01:19:30,202 [birds chirping] 580 01:20:05,002 --> 01:20:07,305 [rain pattering] 581 01:20:11,141 --> 01:20:13,443 [thunder rumbling] 582 01:20:19,384 --> 01:20:23,920 The forests of East Texas average over four feet of rainfall a year. 583 01:20:25,190 --> 01:20:29,526 So much that the rivers and creeks simply can't hold it all in. 584 01:20:29,995 --> 01:20:32,297 [water rushing] 585 01:20:38,137 --> 01:20:40,272 As water spills over the banks, 586 01:20:40,407 --> 01:20:43,440 it fills the oxbow lakes and sloughs. 587 01:20:46,817 --> 01:20:48,745 Like a sponge, these wetlands 588 01:20:48,880 --> 01:20:52,449 absorb the overflow and act as nature's flood control. 589 01:20:54,725 --> 01:20:56,157 These are the conditions 590 01:20:56,559 --> 01:21:00,028 that our largest freshwater fish have been waiting for. 591 01:21:01,961 --> 01:21:04,263 [gentle music] 592 01:21:08,399 --> 01:21:11,435 This... is an alligator gar. 593 01:21:12,510 --> 01:21:13,569 A female. 594 01:21:15,105 --> 01:21:19,542 She is the size of an adult human and can live just as long. 595 01:21:23,582 --> 01:21:25,655 She has left the safety of the river 596 01:21:25,790 --> 01:21:27,924 and is following the floods. 597 01:21:30,256 --> 01:21:34,192 These wetlands will provide the best opportunity for her offspring. 598 01:21:34,627 --> 01:21:37,626 In a place free from other river predators. 599 01:21:43,503 --> 01:21:45,869 She releases pheromones as she travels 600 01:21:46,305 --> 01:21:48,175 for her suitors to follow. 601 01:21:50,913 --> 01:21:53,213 And they have proven attractive. 602 01:22:00,784 --> 01:22:02,586 With scales like a suit of armor, 603 01:22:02,721 --> 01:22:05,489 she leads him further into the shallows. 604 01:22:10,496 --> 01:22:14,797 She has likely waited five to ten years for the right conditions to spawn. 605 01:22:15,767 --> 01:22:19,170 And she will release over 100,000 eggs 606 01:22:19,539 --> 01:22:22,242 which the males fight to fertilize. 607 01:22:44,135 --> 01:22:45,928 Her eggs will hatch in only two days 608 01:22:46,063 --> 01:22:49,001 and the baby gar will be swept back into the river 609 01:22:49,137 --> 01:22:51,172 as the floodwaters recede. 610 01:22:54,311 --> 01:22:56,608 It is a life strategy so successful, 611 01:22:56,743 --> 01:23:01,512 that alligator gar have lived here for 70 million years. 612 01:23:03,246 --> 01:23:05,582 [birds chirping] 613 01:23:09,427 --> 01:23:13,561 Our waterways are home to nearly 200 native Texas fish. 614 01:23:14,297 --> 01:23:17,066 Over a dozen are found nowhere else. 615 01:23:18,896 --> 01:23:21,803 They have evolved for natural water flow, 616 01:23:21,939 --> 01:23:23,164 which has been disrupted. 617 01:23:23,299 --> 01:23:25,602 [soft music] 618 01:23:27,643 --> 01:23:30,978 We have lost one half of our wetlands in Texas, 619 01:23:31,447 --> 01:23:34,182 which act as nature's flood control. 620 01:23:35,780 --> 01:23:38,153 They are often replaced by concrete, 621 01:23:38,288 --> 01:23:40,584 which increases the flooding downstream. 622 01:23:46,897 --> 01:23:48,262 To mitigate flooding, 623 01:23:48,397 --> 01:23:51,496 over 7000 dams have been constructed... 624 01:23:52,464 --> 01:23:54,028 ...which also irrigate crops, 625 01:23:54,163 --> 01:23:57,535 generate electricity, and supply our cities. 626 01:23:59,070 --> 01:24:02,672 The reservoirs dams create are exposed to the sun. 627 01:24:04,311 --> 01:24:06,478 During the drought of 2011, 628 01:24:06,613 --> 01:24:08,580 more water was lost to evaporation 629 01:24:08,715 --> 01:24:11,852 than was used by all of our cities combined. 630 01:24:11,987 --> 01:24:14,288 [intriguing gentle music] 631 01:24:22,861 --> 01:24:25,665 The impact to our watersheds is so great 632 01:24:25,801 --> 01:24:29,367 that hundreds of miles of our rivers no longer flow. 633 01:24:30,036 --> 01:24:34,275 And one half of our native fish species are imperiled. 634 01:24:41,282 --> 01:24:42,945 We depend on the same water. 635 01:24:43,614 --> 01:24:45,484 And we are making progress. 636 01:24:48,691 --> 01:24:51,387 In the last 30 years, the average water use per Texan 637 01:24:51,523 --> 01:24:53,327 has been cut by a quarter. 638 01:24:55,526 --> 01:24:57,466 Landscaping with native plants, 639 01:24:57,601 --> 01:25:01,503 improving irrigation technology, storing water underground, 640 01:25:01,638 --> 01:25:05,372 and increasing efficiency has potential to save much more. 641 01:25:08,371 --> 01:25:11,411 Scientists are finding ways to release water from dams 642 01:25:11,547 --> 01:25:13,715 that allow our native fish to spawn. 643 01:25:14,618 --> 01:25:18,286 And some dams that are no longer useful can be taken down. 644 01:25:22,224 --> 01:25:24,493 Conserving water is crucial... 645 01:25:25,629 --> 01:25:28,489 ...for flowing rivers are the arteries of Texas... 646 01:25:29,259 --> 01:25:32,800 ...and the lifeblood of our bays and estuaries. 647 01:25:32,935 --> 01:25:35,237 [birds calling] 648 01:25:58,522 --> 01:26:00,625 [dolphin whistling] 649 01:26:02,566 --> 01:26:07,236 Our coastline is unique due to a distinctive geography. 650 01:26:09,673 --> 01:26:13,374 Texas is protected by barrier islands and peninsulas. 651 01:26:16,405 --> 01:26:19,140 When salt water from the Gulf passes through them, 652 01:26:19,276 --> 01:26:22,977 it combines with the fresh water and nutrients from our rivers... 653 01:26:25,786 --> 01:26:28,357 ...creating an underwater prairie of grass 654 01:26:28,626 --> 01:26:31,458 that attracts life from across the hemisphere. 655 01:26:34,427 --> 01:26:36,632 [wings cutting the air] 656 01:26:36,767 --> 01:26:38,861 [birds chirping] 657 01:26:54,377 --> 01:26:58,353 The migrations that come through our coastline are so vast 658 01:26:58,488 --> 01:27:00,319 that the second highest passage rate 659 01:27:00,454 --> 01:27:02,456 of migratory birds on Earth, 660 01:27:02,591 --> 01:27:05,294 was recorded right here in Texas. 661 01:27:08,095 --> 01:27:09,991 [ducks quacking] 662 01:27:16,003 --> 01:27:21,305 These coastal marshes are also home to a master of ambush. 663 01:27:21,440 --> 01:27:23,708 [light suspenseful music] 664 01:27:34,056 --> 01:27:35,456 Alligators. 665 01:28:22,535 --> 01:28:27,376 Islands along the coast provide crucial habitat for colonial waterbirds 666 01:28:27,511 --> 01:28:29,972 to build nests and raise their chicks. 667 01:28:51,762 --> 01:28:53,228 As the youngsters grow, 668 01:28:53,363 --> 01:28:55,702 they begin to explore their surroundings... 669 01:28:56,939 --> 01:29:01,003 ...creating an opportunity for those with patience. 670 01:29:47,817 --> 01:29:49,355 Below the surface, 671 01:29:49,824 --> 01:29:52,094 the mixture of fresh and salt water 672 01:29:52,229 --> 01:29:54,095 creates a nursery for the Gulf. 673 01:29:54,230 --> 01:29:56,531 [gentle upbeat music] 674 01:30:00,304 --> 01:30:02,471 Like many coastal species, 675 01:30:02,606 --> 01:30:04,870 redfish are born as eggs in the ocean 676 01:30:05,005 --> 01:30:08,103 and swept into the bays by incoming tides. 677 01:30:12,143 --> 01:30:14,011 As juveniles, they hunt these shallows 678 01:30:14,147 --> 01:30:16,947 until they grow large enough for life at sea. 679 01:30:23,924 --> 01:30:26,055 In September of their third year, 680 01:30:26,424 --> 01:30:29,757 a biological urge triggers them to congregate, 681 01:30:30,059 --> 01:30:33,062 and to begin their migration. 682 01:31:03,426 --> 01:31:06,133 Driven by instinct and following the tides, 683 01:31:06,268 --> 01:31:09,934 they are swimming to the ocean to live out their adult lives. 684 01:31:11,908 --> 01:31:15,269 With them, flow nutrients from across Texas. 685 01:31:18,041 --> 01:31:20,012 Transported by our rivers, 686 01:31:20,148 --> 01:31:24,212 the gift of fresh water reaches the Gulf of Mexico. 687 01:31:31,527 --> 01:31:36,191 For the first few leagues offshore, sediment clouds the water. 688 01:31:37,863 --> 01:31:39,694 But with distance and depth, 689 01:31:39,963 --> 01:31:42,598 the Gulf reveals her true color. 690 01:31:42,733 --> 01:31:45,035 [intriguing music] 691 01:31:50,979 --> 01:31:54,141 This deep blue world seems far from our own, 692 01:31:54,610 --> 01:31:57,451 yet nutrients from our bays and estuaries 693 01:31:57,586 --> 01:31:59,287 fuel much of the plankton... 694 01:32:00,090 --> 01:32:03,691 ...which are the building blocks of life in the Gulf. 695 01:32:04,788 --> 01:32:07,090 [gentle music] 696 01:32:09,026 --> 01:32:11,128 In a few very special places, 697 01:32:11,263 --> 01:32:13,395 salt domes have risen from the seafloor 698 01:32:13,531 --> 01:32:16,497 and combined with tropical currents from the south. 699 01:32:17,700 --> 01:32:22,270 Here, this plankton fuels the Texas Caribbean... 700 01:32:33,484 --> 01:32:37,890 ...the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 701 01:33:02,249 --> 01:33:06,215 Each of these corals is composed of millions of polyps. 702 01:33:08,285 --> 01:33:10,956 Each polyp feeds on the plankton. 703 01:33:14,058 --> 01:33:16,291 It is an oasis of life... 704 01:33:16,961 --> 01:33:19,096 ...in a desert of blue. 705 01:33:27,406 --> 01:33:30,877 We are still unraveling the mysteries that abound here. 706 01:33:33,176 --> 01:33:34,980 What we've learned thus far... 707 01:33:35,716 --> 01:33:38,313 ...is nearly beyond imagination. 708 01:33:45,925 --> 01:33:47,661 Shortly after the sunset, 709 01:33:48,097 --> 01:33:50,965 during the week after the full moon in August, 710 01:33:51,101 --> 01:33:55,000 one of nature's most remarkable events unfolds. 711 01:34:06,547 --> 01:34:08,849 [gentle music] 712 01:34:15,919 --> 01:34:17,220 The corals... 713 01:34:17,954 --> 01:34:19,189 ...are spawning. 714 01:34:27,135 --> 01:34:29,164 We do not know how they communicate, 715 01:34:29,499 --> 01:34:32,499 but in unison, millions of coral polyps 716 01:34:32,634 --> 01:34:36,041 release and fertilize their offspring. 717 01:35:03,640 --> 01:35:08,943 This seemingly alien world exists far from our daily consciousness. 718 01:35:10,613 --> 01:35:14,844 Yet it is connected in ways that we are just beginning to understand. 719 01:35:14,979 --> 01:35:17,280 [light suspenseful music] 720 01:35:32,127 --> 01:35:34,099 [water lapping] 721 01:35:36,834 --> 01:35:38,499 [ducks quacking] 722 01:35:51,883 --> 01:35:53,316 [tense sting] 723 01:36:13,872 --> 01:36:15,338 [tense sting] 724 01:36:34,057 --> 01:36:35,864 [thunder rumbling] 725 01:36:44,903 --> 01:36:47,205 [serene music] 726 01:36:50,038 --> 01:36:53,313 In the next 30 years, our population is projected 727 01:36:53,448 --> 01:36:57,182 to increase from 30 million to 50 million Texans. 728 01:37:03,221 --> 01:37:05,018 Urban areas are expanding, 729 01:37:05,421 --> 01:37:07,093 landscapes are subdividing 730 01:37:07,228 --> 01:37:09,693 as ranches split with the generations. 731 01:37:10,729 --> 01:37:14,034 And energy demand is consuming millions of acres. 732 01:37:23,544 --> 01:37:26,277 Climate change will bring more severe droughts, 733 01:37:26,412 --> 01:37:29,445 weather variability, and hurricanes. 734 01:37:35,422 --> 01:37:37,619 Some of our rivers are entirely consumed 735 01:37:37,755 --> 01:37:41,127 and no longer flow to the sea during drought years. 736 01:37:47,402 --> 01:37:50,837 We've lost a quarter of our birds in the last 50 years. 737 01:37:51,473 --> 01:37:55,036 And there are 69 species that are state endangered 738 01:37:55,438 --> 01:37:57,671 and 148 that are threatened. 739 01:38:08,550 --> 01:38:11,421 Their future is our choice. 740 01:38:12,928 --> 01:38:14,721 And there is reason for hope. 741 01:38:15,257 --> 01:38:17,465 [birds singing] 742 01:38:17,601 --> 01:38:19,463 [crickets chirping] 743 01:38:19,598 --> 01:38:22,336 From the Piney Woods to the Trans-Pecos, 744 01:38:22,772 --> 01:38:24,071 there is living proof 745 01:38:24,206 --> 01:38:26,070 that we have the ability to recover 746 01:38:26,205 --> 01:38:28,471 and live alongside wildlife. 747 01:38:30,680 --> 01:38:32,778 [serene music continues] 748 01:38:34,081 --> 01:38:38,344 There is proof that our votes can conserve landscapes and water, 749 01:38:38,480 --> 01:38:43,323 that our backyards can be habitat for incredible migrations, 750 01:38:43,626 --> 01:38:47,721 and that endangered species can thrive on working ranches. 751 01:38:49,632 --> 01:38:51,725 [water rushing] 752 01:38:54,402 --> 01:38:57,637 Every single Texas river has advocates. 753 01:38:58,573 --> 01:39:01,907 And every ecoregion has land owners and organizations 754 01:39:02,042 --> 01:39:04,276 working to improve the habitat. 755 01:39:12,718 --> 01:39:16,419 Thousands of Texans have dedicated their lives, careers, 756 01:39:16,555 --> 01:39:19,090 and money to restore our wildlife 757 01:39:19,225 --> 01:39:21,557 and preserve our wild places. 758 01:39:27,435 --> 01:39:30,137 Yet there is still so much to be done. 759 01:39:34,905 --> 01:39:39,074 There has never been a greater need or opportunity... 760 01:39:39,777 --> 01:39:43,183 ...to conserve our unique ecosystem. 761 01:39:46,321 --> 01:39:48,254 And there's never been a people... 762 01:39:49,024 --> 01:39:50,489 ...who love their home... 763 01:39:51,058 --> 01:39:52,720 ...as much as Texans. 764 01:39:53,355 --> 01:39:55,657 [gentle music]