As the golden light of summer begins to fade, a sense of quiet anticipation settles over the Canadian wilderness. Wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan stands on the edge of a vast, emerald frontier. He is venturing deep into the epic majesty of the Rocky Mountains.
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How the Wild West Was Won with Ray Mears – Mountains – Ray Mears embarks on an epic journey across America, traversing the three great mountain ranges that challenged the pioneers during the westward expansion – the Appalachians, the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada. As Ray travels through each breathtaking landscape, he gains insight into how the mountains’ awe-inspiring geography, extreme weather, abundant wildlife, and ecological diversity presented both immense opportunities and obstacles for the Native Americans, early explorers, fur traders, prospectors, and settlers trying to tame the wild frontier. Ray begins his adventure in the ancient rounded
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Americas with Simon Reeve episode 2: in this second leg, Simon is in the United States travelling down the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Colorado. In the wide-open prairies of Montana, the cowboy way of life is under threat from a long-term decline in the rural economy, but Simon meets a former Silicon Valley executive who has envisaged a new future for the land. The hugely ambitious American Prairie Reserve is attempting to turn three million acres of former ranches, farms and public lands into a protected habitat for America’s wildlife, reintroducing iconic species long extinct, including the
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Wild Rockies episode 5 – Group Survival: Many prey like bison and elk benefit from social living because larger groups often mean more eyes looking out for danger. So why do some predators also favor this approach? Delve into the dynamics of group living in one of North America’s most rugged environments: the Rocky Mountains. Wild Rockies episode 5 – Group Survival The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in
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Wild Rockies episode 4 – Balancing the Forest: Someone is setting fire to the forests of the Rocky Mountains. Surprisingly, it’s scientists working on part of a crucial regeneration process. With more trees here than anywhere else in the world, maintaining a healthy ecosystem through “prescribed fires” is a vital step in the preservation of this lush paradise. In the idyllic confines of the Rocky Mountains, the challenges for local wildlife are varied and intense. High altitudes, treacherous waterways, native predators, and more make for an ecological tightrope that delivers drama at every turn. Take a thrilling romp
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Wild Rockies episode 2 – The Peaks: Stretching more than 3,000 miles across the U.S.-Canadian border, the Rockies are home to bleak alpine tundra zones. They sit up to 14,000 feet above sea level, with temperatures dropping 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit for every thousand feet of elevation. This means that only the hardiest mountain specialists can cope with its savage conditions, like fur-protected mountain goats and the remarkable hoary marmot. In the idyllic confines of the Rocky Mountains, the challenges for local wildlife are varied and intense. High altitudes, treacherous waterways, native predators, and more make for an ecological
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