行走在地球上最强大的掠食者
The most powerful predators to walk the Earth.
但要登上顶峰需要的...
But it takes more than brute force...
...不仅仅是蛮力
...to reach the top.
凭借非凡的脑力
With remarkable brain power,
并最大限度利用地所有机会
and by making the most of any opportunity,
熊统治着地球上一些生存环境最残酷的土地
bears rule some of the planet's most hostile lands.
但幼崽并不是天生就具备生存的技能
But cubs aren't born with the skills to survive.
它们需要被教导
They need to be taught.
所以熊妈妈要做的工作就是
So a mother bear has her work cut out
让幼崽准备好
preparing her cubs
面对这个世界
to face the world.
剧名:熊
(美国 马萨诸塞州)
被冬天的冰冻笼罩着
Locked in winter's icy grip,
北部的森林
northern forests
像是定格了一般
are still.
寂静无声
Silent.
没有迹象表明
No clues to suggest
一头巨熊
that hidden beneath the snow,
藏在积雪下睡觉
a giant lies asleep.
呼吸缓慢
Breathing slow.
心跳每分钟只有八次
Heart beating just eight times a minute.
自秋天以来就没有东西吃
Nothing to eat since fall.
三个月以来
For three months,
这头美洲黑熊一直处于冬眠状态
this American black bear has been in suspended animation.
更为神奇的是...
Even more miraculous...
三周前
three weeks ago,
它醒来的时间刚好足够
she woke just long enough to give birth
生下三只幼崽
to three cubs.
每只幼崽只有一罐汤那么重
Each just the weight of a can of soup.
虽然它只能靠脂肪储备生存
Though she's surviving on nothing but fat reserves,
但它的宝宝不会挨饿
her babies won't go hungry.
它的乳汁非常充足
Her milk so rich,
以至于幼崽的体型 已经是原来的两倍大
they've already doubled in size.
同样的故事正在北美洲各地上演
This same story is unfolding across North America.
超过50万头正在冬眠的黑熊
Over half a million hibernating black bears.
要么藏在地下
Underground.
或者窝在倒下的树底
Or tucked under fallen trees.
难以置信的是 有些就在露天环境里
Some, incredibly, right out in the open.
幼崽紧紧依偎在一起 靠着妈妈的温暖存活
Cubs snuggle close, kept alive by their mother's warmth.
但这位妈妈
But this mom
选择了最舒适的巢穴
picked the coziest of dens.
当春天最终到来时
When the spring finally arrives,
它艰难的工作就会开始
her hard work will begin.
一头熊的成长环境
A bear's upbringing
会决定它的一生
shapes the whole of its life.
地球上只有八种熊
There are just eight species of bear.
分布在从亚洲丛林
Found from the jungles of Asia
到北极冰原地区
to the ice sheets of the Arctic.
有些熊小得惊人
Some are surprisingly small,
体型只有一条狗那么大
just the size of a dog.
其他熊的体重则接近900公斤
Others weigh in at nearly a ton.
虽然所有熊都被归为食肉动物
Though all are classified as carnivores,
但大多数熊能吃到什么就吃什么
most eat whatever they can get their paws on.
但如何在合适的时间找到合适的食物
But how to find the right food at the right time
只能由尽职的母亲教授
can only be taught by a devoted mother.
每头熊在自己的家园都面临挑战
Each bear's home comes with its own challenges.
所以 学会使用脑力
So learning to use brains
和体力
as well as brawn
对于生存而言至关重要
is crucial to survival.
北极的冬天
The Arctic winter.
一片肃杀
Hostile.
死气沉沉
Lifeless.
不过
Well,
也并不完全如此
not entirely.
(挪威 斯瓦尔巴)
即使在零下40度
Even at 40 below,
北极熊的保温性能也很好
a polar bear is well insulated,
它外有一层皮毛
with a double layer of fur
内有一层像男人胳膊那么粗厚的脂肪毯
and a blanket of fat as thick as a man's arm.
北极熊永远不用冬眠
Polar bears never have to hibernate.
冬天是它们狩猎的季节
Winter is their hunting season.
海豹是它们最喜欢的猎物
Seals are their favorite prey,
北极熊利用它们惊人的嗅觉
and polar bears use their astounding sense of smell
探测距离遥远的海豹
to detect them many miles away.
这头雄性北极熊闻到了一股气味
This male has picked up a scent,
但那不是猎物
but it's not prey.
而是其他熊
It's other bears.
众所周知 雄性北极熊会杀死非自己所生的幼崽
Male bears are known to kill cubs that are not their own.
这头妈妈年轻但接近成年的幼崽 并不怎么娇弱
This mom's young, near fully grown, are not so vulnerable.
不过 最好还是保持距离
Still, best to keep their distance.
在能够自力更生之前
Before they can strike out alone,
它们需要完善自己的狩猎技能
they need to perfect their hunting skills.
这可能是
And this may be a chance
妈妈的一次授课机会
for Mom to show how it's done.
迎风接近
Approach from downwind.
使用伪装
Use camouflage.
潜入攻击范围
Sneak into striking range.
经过每次成功的狩猎
With each successful hunt,
妈妈都会帮助它的幼崽变得更强壮、更聪明
Mom helps her cubs grow stronger and wiser.
一旦幼崽离开妈妈 这些课程将会
Once they leave her, these lessons will make the difference
决定生死
between life and death.
(美国 马萨诸塞州)
熊从离开巢穴那天起 就开始向妈妈学习
Bears start learning from Mom the day they leave the den.
春天终于来到黑熊一家门前
Spring has finally arrived for the black bear family,
大自然正在召唤它们
and the great outdoors is calling.
熊妈妈自秋天以来 减掉了超过45公斤的脂肪
Mama bear has lost over 100 pounds of fat since fall,
几乎是它体重的一半
nearly half her body weight,
所以它已经准备好开始行动了
so she's ready to get going.
但幼崽吃饱喝足
But happily full of milk,
似乎不那么着急
her cubs seem in less of a hurry.
这是一个全新的世界
It's a whole new world.
攀登是与生俱来的技能
Climbing comes naturally.
即便如此 这条路还是有点像障碍赛道
Even so, it's a bit of an obstacle course.
从第一次跨栏开始...
Right from the first hurdle...
妈妈就支持着它们
Mom's got their back.
它自己既是供养者 也是教导者和保护者
She alone is provider, teacher, and protector.
责任重大
It's a huge responsibility.
大约有三分之一的幼崽活不过第一年
Around a third of cubs don't survive their first year.
它们会面临的一个最大危险
One of the greatest dangers they'll face
就是其他熊
is other bears.
(美国 阿♥拉♥斯加州)
棕熊 有时被称为灰熊
Brown bears, sometimes known as grizzlies,
已经从山上的冬穴下来
have come down from winter dens in the mountains.
它们聚集在沿海的草地上吃莎草
They gather in coastal meadows to feed on sedge grass.
熊不像猫科动物或犬科动物那样 保卫自己的领地
Bears don't defend a territory like cats or dogs,
但是它们仍然知道谁是老大
but they still know who's boss.
这头年老的雄性霸主
This old dominant male
多年来一直对这片牧场拥有主♥权♥
has laid claim to this grazing spot for years.
它需要增加体重
He needs to pile on the pounds
这样繁殖季节到来时 它才能和任何
so he can take on anyone who dares challenge him
敢于挑战自己的棕熊对抗
when breeding season arrives.
这片草的肌肉发育蛋白含量高得惊人
This grass is surprisingly high in muscle-building protein.
但如果你比一般熊更聪明
But if you're smarter than the average bear,
就能找到更多富含营养的食物
there's even more nutritious food to be found.
这位妈妈要带自己的幼崽
This mom is taking her cub
享受一次独一无二的的进餐体验
on an exclusive dining experience.
泥泞的海滩可能看起来荒凉贫瘠...
A muddy beach might look unpromising...
但是稍微挖掘一下 ...就能发现下面的宝藏
can unearth some treasure. ...but a little digging
一旦找到一只蚌蛤
Once you've found a clam,
就需要去壳
it needs shucking.
这是一项出奇精细的操作
A surprisingly delicate operation.
不是所有的熊都有这个本事