Rudy: THIS TIME ON NATURE SCENE WE VISIT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

LOCATED IN NORTHWEST WYOMING OUR OLDEST NATIONAL PARK IS WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS GEYSERS AND LARGE ANIMALS.

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♪ HELLO, AND WELCOME TO NATURE SCENE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IN NORTHWESTERN WYOMING.

IT'S OUR OLDEST NATIONAL PARK AND ONE OF OUR LARGEST.

I'M JIM WELCH WITH NATURALIST RUDY MANCKE AND WE'RE HERE THE FIRST OF OCTOBER AND THE WEATHER, RUDY, I'M SURE IS BOUND TO CHANGE TIME AND AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO GET WARM, IT'S GOING TO GET CHILLY DEPENDING ON ELEVATION, AND CHANGE DAY BY DAY HERE.

WHAT AN EXCITING PLACE, THOUGH.

GEOLOGICALLY, THE STORY HERE IS A WONDERFUL STORY.

IT'S A STORY OF HOT ROCK COMING UP FROM BELOW AND AFFECTING THE ROCKS ABOVE IT.

WE'LL SEE GEYSERS, WE'LL SEE HOT SPRINGS THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HERE.

ROCK BEING ALTERED BY THE HEAT.

GLACIERS HAVE BEEN HERE.

IT'S AN INTERESTING MIX, GEOLOGICALLY.

AND THEN, LARGE ANIMALS.

AT THIS PARK IT'S WELL-KNOWN FOR THE FACT THAT LARGE ANIMALS ARE AVAILABLE TO US AND I THINK THAT'LL MAKE IT EXTRA NICE, TOO.

IT'S A ZOO WITHOUT WALLS.

YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

AND TALK ABOUT THE GEOLOGY.

IF YOU JUST TURN AROUND AND TAKE A LOOK HERE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE PARK WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT SO CLEARLY.

BUT ALL THAT GRAY MATERIAL DOWN BELOW US-- LAYERING THERE-- IS SEDIMENTARY ROCK.

MARINE SHALES, CRETACEOUS AGE.

MOST EVERYTHING ELSE HERE IS GOING TO BE VOLCANIC ROCK THAT WE'LL SEE.

BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GEOLOGICAL STORY HERE GOES BACK A GOOD WAYS IN TIME.

AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW-- POND'S BELOW AND COLORS BEGINNING TO COME IN THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE QUAKING ASPEN BEGIN TO TURN YELLOW AND, OF COURSE, THE GREEN THERE-- I THINK ALL OF THAT, REALLY IS MOST LIKELY DOUGLAS FIR, WHICH IS WIDESPREAD HERE.

IS THAT A BEAR DOWN THERE?

LOOK RIGHT DOWN THERE.

GET YOUR GLASSES ON.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BLACK BEARS.

THAT'S A BLACK BEAR THAT'S BROWN.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

SOMETIMES THEY'RE COLORED THAT WAY.

LOOK AT HIM MOVING ALONG.

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, WHEN THEY'RE EATING, EATING, EATING.

STORING UP AS MUCH FAT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE WINTER SLEEP.

LOOK AT THAT ANIMAL MOVING ALONG.

PLANTIGRADE MOVEMENT.

WALKING LIKE WE ARE-- FLATFOOTED.

MOVING BEHIND SOME PLANTS DOWN THERE, NOW, LOOK AT THAT.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE HIM AGAIN.

I SAW A BLUEBIRD DOWN HERE, TOO.

HERE'S SOME SAGEBRUSH.

THIS IS A DRIER AREA OF THE PARK.

SEE THE FEMALE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD PERCHED THERE LOOKING AT US?

OH, THAT'S... NOT SO PRETTY AND THEN TURNING AROUND-- LOOK AT THAT BACK!

WHEN IT TURNS, YOU SEE THE BLUE.

YOU SEE THE BLUE MORE CLEARLY.

AND MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD IS A REALLY GOOD COMMON NAME BECAUSE THEY LOVE ELEVATIONS THAT ARE ON THE RISE.

I SEE THE MALE DOWN THERE, TOO.

MORE BLUE ON HIM.

SEE?

SITTING ON THE SAGEBRUSH DOWN THERE BELOW.

BEAR'S BACK.

BEAR'S BACK.

OUT IN THE OPEN.

AND EATING.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT HE'S AFTER?

YEAH, I THINK PROBABLY HE'S IN ROSES DOWN THERE.

SO HE'S FEEDING ON THE FRUIT.

YOU KNOW, THE ROSE FRUIT.

ROSE HIPS, THEY'RE CALLED.

HE'S AN OMNIVORE, TAKING PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIAL.

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, THOUGH, HITTING PLANT, YOU KNOW, MATERIAL-- FRUIT-- A LOT.

GOSH, HE'S... LOOK AT THAT FACE.

THE WAY HE'S USING THOSE BIG PAWS TO PULL THE ROSES OVER TO HIM.

OF COURSE, THE RULE GOES IN THE PARK: IF YOU'RE MAKING THE ANIMAL MOVE YOU'RE WAY TOO CLOSE.

SO YOU WANT TO STAY YOUR DISTANCE.

OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

ISN'T THAT NEAT TO SEE HIM FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT, THOUGH?

KIND OF ABOVE HIM, LIKE WE ARE.

SPEAKING OF ANOTHER MAMMAL, NOW LOOK OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THE RED SQUIRREL.

( chuckling ) OH, YEAH.

PROBABLY A DOUGLAS FIR CONE.

HE'S ROLLING IT ALMOST LIKE HE'S EATING CORN ON THE COB.

AGAIN, STORING UP ENERGY FOR USE LATER ON THIS YEAR.

TEMPERATURES ARE BEGINNING TO FALL AT NIGHT ALREADY.

AND I SEE SOMETHING ELSE GATHERING SOME FOOD.

LOOK AT THE CHIPMUNK DOWN THERE.

FILLING HIS CHEEK POUCHES.

I MEAN, COMING OUT IN THAT LITTLE AREA GATHERING SMALL SEED OR WHATEVER.

AND NOT EATING THEM, NOW.

JUST STUFFING THEM IN.

I THINK TASTING THEM, MAYBE, A LITTLE BIT BUT STUFFING THEM IN THE CHEEK POUCHES.

THIS SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING VISIT.

I EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS AS WE GO FROM A LOWER AREA UP HIGHER.

LOOK AT THIS RIGHT OVER HERE.

LOOK RIGHT HERE AS WE TURN AROUND.

THREE PRONGHORN RIGHT THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL.

ONE OF THEM IS A MALE, FOR SURE WITH THE BIG HORNS ON IT.

AND YOU SEE THE WAY THEY'RE TURNED IN ON THE TOP?

AND THEN WITH THOSE PRONGS ON THE FRONT GIVING IT THE NAME "PRONGHORN."

NOT REALLY A TRUE ANTELOPE BUT AN ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE GREAT PLAINS AND IN THIS PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 500 OR SO HERE IN THE PARK.

WOW... YEAH, LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.

JUST FEEDING, AGAIN, ON PLANT MATERIAL RIGHT THERE ON THE EDGE.

VERY RAPID RUNNERS.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND ONLY KNOWN FROM NORTH AMERICA.

NO RELATIVES KNOWN ANYWHERE ELSE.

KIND OF A WHITISH RUMP OR BUFF-COLORED RUMP.

YOU CAN SEE THAT VERY, VERY CLEARLY.

YOU CAN SEE STRIPING ON THE THROAT SOME.

EVEN A DARK LINE DOWN THE BACK.

SEE?

IT'S WALKING AWAY, NIBBLING PUSHING HIS HEAD DOWN.

( chuckling ) AND THEY STAY TOGETHER.

THE MALE WILL KEEP A NUMBER OF FEMALES AROUND HIM YEAR-ROUND.

THIS IS THE LARGEST PARK OF THE LOWER 48 STATES.

350 MILES OF ROADS.

PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO SEE EVERYTHING FROM 5,200 HERE AT THE NORTH ENTRANCE ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

LET'S GET STARTED.

THIS LITTLE BOARDWALK OUGHT TO GIVE US A REALLY GOOD VIEW, NOW OF A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

I THINK IT'S A PLACE THAT, REALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES YOU THINK OF AUTOMATICALLY.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS WITH SO MANY FOUNTAINS AND SPRINGS DOING SO MUCH TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HEATED WATER FLOWING LIKE THAT BRINGING MINERALS WITH IT, OF COURSE AND GIVING US SOME INTERESTING COLORS HERE, JIM.

WHAT DOES FORCE IT UP OUT, SO HOT HERE TO THE SURFACE?

WELL, THE HEAT COMES FROM DEEP WITHIN THE CRUST AND ON INTO THE MANTLE OF THE EARTH.

IT'S A HOT SPOT HERE UNDER YELLOWSTONE PARK THAT HEATS THE WATER TO ABOUT 107 DEGREES OR SO.

YOU NEED HEAT, YOU NEED WATER WHICH IS RAINWATER AND SNOWMELT THAT GETS DOWN IN THE GROUND.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE HEATED WATER COMBINES WITH CARBON DIOXIDE DEEP IN THE EARTH COMES THROUGH LIMESTONE, DISSOLVES THE LIMESTONE AWAY AND CARRIES THE CALCIUM CARBONATE MINERALS IN THE WATER.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE SURFACE THEY PRECIPITATE OUT AND LOOK WHAT YOU GET.

YOU GET THESE STAIR-STEP EFFECTS.

AND SO MANY COLORS, FROM PINK AND BUFF TO SNOW WHITE.

DIFFERENT MINERALS STAIN IT AND ALSO THERE ARE MICROORGANISMS THAT LIVE IN THAT HOT WATER THAT GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF A COLOR DIFFERENCE, TOO.

BUT YOU CAN SEE LAYERS, TIERS OF THAT MATERIAL.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A COMBINATION OF HEAT, WATER AND AN INTERESTING PLUMBING SYSTEM I GUESS, WOULD BE THE WAY TO SAY IT.

IT'S NOT HOT ENOUGH HERE TO FORM GEYSERS BUT IT'S HOT ENOUGH TO FORM THESE HOT SPRINGS.

AND LOOK AT THE STEAM JUST RISING UP OFF OF IT AGAINST THAT BLUE SKY.

WOW.

AND RIGHT AT THE EDGE, A FIR, JUNIPER AND GRASSES.

YEAH.

WELL, THE TWO TREES THAT DOMINATE HERE ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER THERE YOU CAN SEE THE BERRY-LIKE CONES ON IT.

THAT'S VERY EASY TO IDENTIFY HERE.

PRETTY WIDESPREAD IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

AND THEN THE ONE ABOVE IT IS DOUGLAS FIR WITH NICE CONES ON IT.

AND THAT'S A VERY, VERY WIDESPREAD CONIFER.

BOTH OF THOSE ARE, IN THIS PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

LOOK OVER THERE AT THE PART OF THE SPRING NOW THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY HOT WATER FLOWING THOUGH.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ELK, YEAH.

THERE'S A YOUNG ELK, A YEARLING ELK.

A YOUNG ELK.

PROBABLY 18 MONTHS OLD OR SO.

YOU CAN SEE THE SPIKES ON THE TOP.

STANDING UP, LOOKING AROUND LICKING A LITTLE BIT OF THIS MATERIAL GETTING A LITTLE CALCIUM CARBONATE.

AND LOOK AT HIM SETTLING DOWN.

THAT MEANS HE'S NOT AFRAID OF US AT ALL.

KNEELING DOWN AND THEN THE BACK FEET SLIP OUT UNDER AND DOWN HE GOES.

THE FRONT LEGS GO DOWN AND DOWN HE GOES.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S JUST GOING TO SLEEP THERE.

AND AGAIN, WHEN THE WATER STOPS FLOWING-- THE HOT WATER STOPS FLOWING...

IT COOLS.

...THEN THIS TRAVERTINE-- THIS CALCIUM CARBONATE DEPOSIT-- EVENTUALLY WEARS AWAY.

I ALSO HEAR AND SEE LOTS OF BIRDS AROUND US HERE.

AMERICAN ROBIN UP IN THE TREE THERE, SEE IT?

OH, YEAH.

THAT'S THE GOOD OLD AMERICAN ROBIN.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT YOU SEE WIDESPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND LOOK AT THE RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

IT'S TAKING SOMETHING FROM THE CONES-- TAKING THE SEED OF THOSE DOUGLAS FIR CONES.

( chuckling ) THAT'S A NEAT ONE, THERE.

AND I ALSO SEE, WHAT IS THAT?

CLARK'S NUTCRACKER UP THERE PREENING.

GRAY AND THEN THE BLACK AND WHITE.

GRAY AND BLACK AND WHITE, YEAH.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT TAKES SEED FROM CONIFER CONES.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH ON THE BRANCH OF THE TREE, SEE IT THERE?

A LOT OF VARIETY RIGHT HERE.

AND WE'RE STILL AT THE NORTH ENTRANCE NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THIS VISIT TO YELLOWSTONE.

LOTS MORE TO SEE.

LET'S KEEP GOING.

THE YELLOWSTONE PLATEAU IS FLAT-TOPPED AND BASICALLY CAUSED BY VOLCANIC ACTIVITY AS WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED.

TWO EPISODES AT LEAST.

ONE 50 MILLION YEARS OR SO AGO AND THEN QUITE A FEW WITHIN THE PAST 2 MILLION YEARS.

Jim: THIS GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO REALLY SEE THE BIG PICTURE OF YELLOWSTONE.

OH, BOY.

2.2 MILLION ACRES LARGER THAN DELAWARE, RHODE ISLAND COMBINED.

AND ELECTRIC PEAK, THERE, REFLECTING IN THE POND BUT CLOUDS ON TOP OF IT RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

THE POND RIGHT IN FRONT OF US IS NICE.

AND AGAIN YOU SEE THE FLAT AREA.

LOTS OF GRASSES; LOW.

AND THEN THE CONIFERS WITH SOME YELLOW ASPENS COMING IN LIKE WE SAW A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

VERY, VERY EXCITING PLACE.

BUT I NOTICED AS WE CAME IN-- LOOK RIGHT OVER HERE.

OH, THE ELK.

NOW, THOSE ARE ELK.

NOW, WE SAW THE YOUNG MALE A MOMENT AGO BUT LOOK AT THE BULL ELK THERE WITH A TREMENDOUS RACK ON IT.

AND ALL OF THOSE TINES STICKING OFF ON EACH OF THOSE ANTLERS.

YOU CAN HEAR THEM BUGLING THIS TIME OF YEAR IN THE AUTUMN.

IT'S A SPECIAL TIME TO BE HERE.

WELL, THIS IS THE RUTTING SEASON.

AND THE MALES, THE OLD BULLS WILL GATHER TOGETHER A GROUP OF FEMALES IN A LITTLE HAREM OR REALLY, A LARGE HAREM SOMETIMES AND THEY HAVE THE YOUNGER ANIMALS WITH THEM, THE FEMALES DO.

AND THEN THEY'RE OUT HERE BASICALLY GETTING SOME FOOD AND THEN THE BULL MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING STAYS IN PLACE AND CHALLENGES OTHER BULLS WITH THOSE BUGLES.

GOSH, THAT IS AMAZING.

WAPITI IS THE NAME IN INDIAN AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WHITE RUMP ON THE ANIMAL.

YEAH, AND YOU CAN SEE, REALLY, IT'S INTERESTING A LIGHTER REAR END AND THEN THAT DARKER NECK AND HEAD.

YOU KNOW, THAT DARK BROWN.

OH, THOSE ARE BIG ANTLERS.

IT'S AMAZING, AGAIN.

GROWING A PAIR OF THOSE, SHEDDING THEM EVERY YEAR.

AND LOOK AT HOW WIDE APART THEY ARE.

I MEAN, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THE MALE THIS TIME OF YEAR SPENDS A LOT OF ENERGY KEEPING HIS HAREM TOGETHER AND ALSO, OF COURSE, MATING.

AND THEN HE, BASICALLY, IS A LONER FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

I SEE SOMETHING OVER HERE-- LOOK.

LOOK OVER THERE IN THE GRASSES.

OH, THE COYOTE.

COMING IN, COMING IN RIGHT THERE.

JUST DOING A LITTLE BIT OF MOVING.

BLENDING IN SO BEAUTIFULLY.

NOW THAT'S AN ANIMAL THAT COULD GET AN ELK IF IT'S A SMALL ONE, YOU KNOW.

BUT PROBABLY THESE ARE VERY WELL-PROTECTED FROM THE COYOTE.

LOOKING FOR SMALLER MAMMALS.

AND, OF COURSE, HE FEEDS ON PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIAL.

BUT THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.

A LITTLE REDDISH ON THE BACK OF THE EARS.

MOVES SO EASILY, WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AT ALL.

AND BASICALLY, THE FEMALE CHOOSES THE SAME MALE YEAR AFTER YEAR SO IN THAT SENSE, THEY BASICALLY MATE FOR LIFE.

FEED ON WHAT, SMALL RODENTS?

YEAH, ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS.

AND SOMETIMES PLANT MATERIAL, TOO.

ARE THOSE...?

LOOK AT THE LITTLE, UH...

IT LOOKS LIKE A YOUNGER ONE ROLLING OVER THERE AND THE PARENT SPENDING SOME TIME WITH IT BONDING TOGETHER.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

AND THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE NOW BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS CAN SNEAK UP ON OTHER ANIMALS IN THE TALL GRASS.

WIDESPREAD ANIMAL IN THE PARK.

I NOTICED SOMETHING ELSE OVER HERE ON THE WATER.

CANADA GEESE.

OH, VERY DEFINITELY.

THAT WHITE PATCH ON THE CHEEK.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK AT THAT THING.

LOOK AT THE LONG NECK GOING DOWN GETTING PLANTS IN THE WATER NOW.

THEY'RE BASICALLY PLANT EATERS GETTING PLANTS IN THE WATER AND ALSO COMING OUT ON LAND TO GET SOME FOOD.

BUT THE CANADA GEESE, WIDESPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES AND AGAIN, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME HERE.

GOSH, THAT'S A LONG NECK.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT GOING DOWN AND SEE THEM CHOMPING ON THAT GREEN PLANT MATERIAL.

A CANADA GEESE, I WOULD EXPECT, MORE SO BUT LOOK OVER HERE, RUDY-- A GREAT BLUE HERON.

A GREAT BLUE HERON OVER THERE.

YEAH, JUST STANDING UP.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

STANDING UP TALL.

LONG NECK, STILETTO-LIKE BEAK.

( chuckling ) THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND, OF COURSE, NOT FEEDING ON PLANT MATERIAL.

THAT ANIMAL IS ACTUALLY GETTING FISH AND OTHER ANIMALS TO EAT.

AND PREENING.

LOOK AT THE PREENING.

AND PULLING THE FEATHERS UP.

YOU SEE THE WAY THEY'RE...

HE'S PULLING THE FEATHERS UP AND APART TO PREEN BETWEEN THEM.

THAT'S AN AMAZING ANIMAL.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE, NOW, THAT ANIMAL AT NIGHT IS PERFECT PREY FOR COYOTE.

AND THE COYOTE COULD COME AND TAKE EITHER THE CANADA GOOSE OR THAT GREAT BLUE HERON WITHOUT TOO MUCH TROUBLE.

SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO SEE AT YELLOWSTONE BUT THE GREAT G THE, PREENING AS IF WE WERE NOT EVEN HERE.

YOU CAN REALLY GET CLOSE TO LARGE ANIMALS AT THIS PARK.

THAT'S NICE.

WE MENTIONED VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, THOUGH.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE CLEAR SIGNS OF THAT NEXT.

LONG BEFORE THE, UH, FIRST WHITES STARTED COMING INTO THE AREA INDIANS LIVED IN THIS AREA AND THESE, UH, THEY CALL "SHEEP-EATER CLIFFS."

( chuckles ) THE INDIANS, I GUESS, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF BIGHORN SHEEP IN THE AREA, HUH?

OH, THAT'S SPECTACULAR... AND AS WE SAID I MEAN, THIS IS CLEAR SIGN OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

THIS IS REALLY FAIRLY RECENT, PLEISTOCENE TIMES WHEN THIS BASALT CAME IN AND BASICALLY, NOW, IT WASN'T EXPOSED BECAUSE IT COOLED SLOWLY.

YOU CAN TELL THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE COLUMNS THERE.

COLUMNAR JOINING IS WHAT THAT'S CALLED.

VERY DEFINITE COLUMNS THAT, UH, OVER TIME TOPPLE OVER.

FOREASALIS SLOPE, YEAH.

WH-WHEN YOU SAY THEY "CAME IN" THEY WERE...

THEY WERE LIQUID?

THEY WERE INJECTED.

THIS IS MORE VOLCANIC MATERIAL THAT WAS INJECTED IN NOT AT THE SURFACE, NOW BUT DEEP ENOUGH SO THAT THIS COULD COOL SLOWLY AND NOW CREATING PRETTY GOOD HABITAT HERE FOR LOTS OF, UH, ANIMALS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

SO MANY PIECES TO THIS PUZZLE-- THIS VOLCANIC STORY OF THIS PARK.

I MEAN, AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE SAID-- IT'S CONTINUING.

I MEAN, IT HAS NOT STOPPED YET.

TH-THE VOLCANIC PROCESSES ARE CONTINUING EVEN TODAY.

I SEE SOMETHING DOWN THERE ON THE ROCK.

( laughing ): LOOK AT THE COMMON RAVEN.

RAVEN CLOSE UP... THAT IS A BIG ANIMAL, ISN'T IT?

MUCH LARGER THAN A CROW, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ROMAN-NOSE LOOK ON THE BEAK WHICH IS SO TYPICAL OF THAT ANIMAL.

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY US.

AGAIN, ANIMALS HERE ARE USED TO PEOPLE COMING BY SO YOU GET A LOT BETTER VIEWS.

OH, THE BEAUTIFUL SIGHT OF THOSE BISON.

NOW, THEY'VE MADE A BIG COMEBACK IN THIS COUNTRY.

OH, YEAH.

OH, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, ELK WERE MORE WIDESPREAD.

SO WERE BISON, AND THEN THE NUMBERS DWINDLED.

NOW, THEY'RE COMING BACK.

THOSE ARE BASICALLY COWS AND CALVES, UH WITH A FEW MALES IN THERE ON THE SIDE AND, AGAIN, UH, GRAZING OUT THERE RIGHT NEAR SOME, UH, SOME WATER ALONG THAT LOW AREA.

OVER 4,000 BISON IN THE PARK TODAY.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME.

YEAH.

RUTTING SEASON USUALLY STARTS IN AUGUST AND CONTINUES ON AND THEN THEY GIVE BIRTH TO YOUNG IN THE SPRING USUALLY, ONE YOUNG AT A TIME.

TH-THOSE ARE AMAZING ANIMALS, ON THE COMEBACK AND AGAIN, SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THAT-- BISON BISON.

SO, THE COMMON NAME IS USUALLY BISON BUT SOMETIMES WE-WE CALL IT "BUFFALO" OF COURSE... AND THEN THAT BEAUTIFUL VIEW AGAIN-- MORE OF THOSE, UH... THAT COLUMNAR JOINING THAT'S SO TYPICAL OF BASALT WHEN IT COMES IN UNDERGROUND AND HAS TIME TO COOL.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY CAN MAKE IN THE WEATHER ESPECIALLY IN AUTUMN, WHERE ONE DAY IT'S INDIAN SUMMER AND THE NEXT DAY, IT'S A COLD WINTER DAY ALMOST.

THAT'S RIGHT, AND ELEVATION, OF COURSE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE, TOO, IN THIS PARK.

SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS INVOLVED WITH MAKING THIS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE BUT, AS WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED VOLCANIC ACTIVITY HAS REALLY LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON THIS PLACE AND THAT CONTINUES EVEN TO TODAY.

NORRIS GEYSER BASIN IS WELL-KNOWN FOR THE FACT THAT THIS IS REALLY THE HOTTEST PLACE IN THE PARK AND THE MOST ACTIVE, AS FAR AS GEYSERS ARE CONCERNED.

115,000 YEARS SOME OF THESE HOT SPRINGS HAVE BEEN BUBBLING UP, AS FAR AS THE RECORDS.

UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU CAN SEE THEM POPPING UP ALL AROUND THE PLACE, HERE AND THERE.

MATTER OF FACT, YOU CAN EVEN HEAR THEM AS THEY'RE POPPING UP AND AGAIN, THE WATER IS EXTREMELY HOT-- PROBABLY DEEP DOWN IN THE, UH IN THE EARTH HERE, 450 DEGREES OR SO.

THE WATER IS HEATED AND IT COMES ON UP, SPRAYS OUT AND REALLY, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEYSERS AND HOT SPRINGS-- IT'S THE WATER TEMPERATURE AND ALSO THE PLUMBING SYSTEM IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

IT ALLOWS STEAM TO BUILD UP DEEP AND THEN SPRAY UP, AND YOU SEE IT SQUIRTING WATER OUT HERE AND THERE.

THE REASON THAT IT'S SO HOT HERE IS THAT WE'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF INTERSECTING FAULTS THAT CONNECT TO A MAGMA CHAMBER DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH AND THAT'S WHERE THE HEAT COMES FROM.

SNOW FALLING ON THE MIST AND STEAM FROM THESE HOT, UH, SPRINGS... UNBELIEVABLE.

BUT REMEMBER, JUST, UH, A DAY OR TWO AGO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT OLD FAITHFUL ACROSS THE PARK FROM HERE.

WELL, THAT'S THE BEST-KNOWN GEYSER, I GUESS IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, FO R SURE AND IT IS A SPECTACULAR SIGHT.

10,000 GALLONS OF WATER... WHAT, 140, 150 FEET IN THE AIR.

PEOPLE COME FR OM ALL OVER TO SEE IT.

THERE ARE ALSO PE OPLE NOW WHO ARE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PLACE BECAUSE OF THE WARM-WATER ORGANISMS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE INTERESTING, UH, MICROORGANISMS THAT LIVE HERE AND WHEN YOU SEE ALL THE COLORS... JUST LOOK AT THE COLORS RIGHT IN FRONT.

REALLY, THEY GO ON AROUND HERE.

I MEAN, THE COLORS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF ALGAE THAT ARE LIVING THERE AND BACTERIA THAT ARE LIVING IN THERE... ALL SORTS OF STRANGE AND WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON HERE.

AND WINTER SNOW WON'T EFFECT COLORATION TOO MUCH AS FAR AS ACTUALLY...?

NOT REALLY, NO.

MINERALS HAVE AN EFFECT ON IT, TOO TO, UH... A LITTLE BIT.

MOST OF THE MATERIAL AROUND HERE IS KNOWN AS GEYSERITE.

IT'S-IT'S SILICON DIOXIDE, VERY MUCH LIKE QUARTZ BECAUSE THE HOT WATER, AS IT COMES THROUGH HERE DOESN'T COME THROUGH LIMESTONE LIKE TH-THE MAMMOTH SPRINGS WE WERE LOOKING AT.

IT COMES THROUGH VOLCANIC ROCK THAT MAINLY IS SILICON DIOXIDE.

SO, GEYSERITE IS THAT WHITISH MATERIAL-- LIGHT-COLORED MATERIAL WE SEE ALL AROUND.

WE GOT A LITTLE WHITE STUFF FALLING ON US NOW.

AND WE HAVE MORE PLACES TO SEE, OF COURSE.

OH, YEAH, WELL, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PLACES TO SEE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING RIGHT ON THE EDGE, THOUGH, BEFORE WE LEAVE-- LOOK AT THE WAY THE GREEN PLANTS COME DOWN RIGHT ON THE EDGE.

IT'S TOO HOT OUT IN THE MIDDLE BUT THESE ARE LODGEPOLE PINES.

THAT'S THE DOMINANT PINE IN THIS PARK.

Jim: IT STOPPED SNOWING AND LEFT A BEAUTIFUL WINTER WONDERLAND HERE ON THE ICE LAKE TRAIL.

Rudy: KIND OF HEAR THE SNOW CRUNCHING BENEATH OUR FEET AS WE'RE WALKING HERE.

AND REALLY, WHAT WE'RE WALKING THROUGH NOW IS SIGNS OF THE FIRE OF 1988.

IT BURNED A MILLION ACRES-- ALMOST HALF THE PARK-- AND COST OVER $130 MILLION TO FIGHT IT.

IT WAS A TRAGIC FIRE BUT I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY THAT HAPPENS IN NATURE.

WELL, SNOW HAS KIND OF HEALED IT OVER, TOO.

I MEAN, IT EVEN MAKES A PLACE LIKE THIS LOOK PRETTY AND NATURE IS COMING BACK.

THESE ARE MAINLY, ALL AROUND US I GUESS, LODGEPOLE PINES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE DARK BARK WHERE THE FIRE HAD COME THROUGH AND KILLED THEM.

THEY GROW IN GROUPS LIKE THIS.

NARROW TREES GOING UP HIGH.

THEY'RE BEEN GONE SINCE '88 BUT YOU LOOK AROUND AND THERE ARE YOUNG LODGEPOLE PINES BEGINNING TO COME BACK.

THE NUTRIENTS THAT WERE IN THOSE TREES ARE NOW BACK IN THE SOIL AND LIFE RETURNS.

LIFE DOES THAT PRETTY WELL-- STRUGGLES TO RETURN.

IT COMES IN VERY THICK IN MANY PLACES WHERE THE LODGEPOLE WAS.

ONE OF THE WEEDY SPECIES THAT COMES IN QUICKLY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH NOW BUT THAT'S FIREWEED OVER THERE.

APPROPRIATELY NAMED.

AFTER A FIRE, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST PLANTS TO COME IN.

CERTAIN SPECIES SEEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES BETTER THAN OTHERS.

AND I EVEN SEE A LITTLE QUAKING ASPEN COMING HERE.

SO AGAIN, THE NEXT FOREST IS ALREADY BEGINNING.

SO MANY DEAD LODGEPOLE PINE WITH SNOW CLINGING TO THE BRANCHES.

THEY ARE RATHER PRETTY EVEN IN DEATH.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING THE WAY THOSE FLAKES FLOAT IN AND GET IN POSITION AND THEN OTHERS FREEZE AND ATTACH AND ATTACH AND ATTACH.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

LET'S HEAD ON.

WHAT A WONDERFUL VARIETY OF PLACES TO EXPLORE HERE AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.

AND ANY TIME OF YEAR IS SPECIAL WITH SO MANY THINGS TO VIEW.

IT'S MADE IT AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR OF OUR 59 NATIONAL PARKS.

I IMAGINE ONE OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE COME HERE IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FALLS RIGHT HERE, TOO.

YELLOWSTONE FALLS IN THE DISTANCE THERE, JIM.

LOWER FALLS: 308 FEET DROP FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM THERE.

AND THAT FLOWING WATER IN THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER IS WHAT CREATES WHAT THEY CALL THE GRAND CANYON OF YELLOWSTONE.

I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD NAME FOR IT.

DURING ICE AGE TIMES WITH GLACIAL MELT, THOUGH THIS RIVER WAS EVEN HIGHER.

AND THE ROCK THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS VOLCANIC.

IT'S CALLED RHYOLITE.

LOOK AT THE COLORS, THOUGH, DOWN THERE.

MANY VARIETIES OF COLOR.

YELLOWS THROUGHOUT.

AND IT WAS THAT YELLOW COLOR THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE RIVER THAT THE INDIANS GAVE IT THE NAME YELLOWSTONE.

AND THAT YELLOW TELLS US THAT THAT ROCK HAS BEEN ALTERED.

I SEE SOME STEAM RISING FROM THE RIVER DOWN THERE NOW.

THE HOT SPRINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.

THE HEAT FROM BELOW CHANGES THE ROCK, WEAKENS IT AND CAUSES IT TO COLLAPSE A LITTLE EASIER AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE UNCHANGED ROCK-- THE SOLID RHYOLITE-- IS WHY YOU HAVE THE WATERFALL.

UPSTREAM IS ONE VIEW.

OF COURSE, DOWN IS ANOTHER.

AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE STEEP WALLS.

RIVER GOING OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

AND THAT ALTERED ROCK, NOW, IS THE ROCK THAT IS SLOUGHING OFF.

LOOK ON BOTH SIDES.

YOU CAN SEE IT BREAKING.

THE COLORFUL ROCK BREAKS APART, WEATHERS AWAY AND THEN GETS CARRIED OFF BY THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK-- A WONDERLAND OF GEYSERS AND MOUNTAINS AND CANYONS AND WATERFALLS AND MOST OF ALL, RUDY A WORLD-CLASS WILDLIFE PRESERVE.

A WILDLIFE PRESERVE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY WALK OUT AND BE A PART OF.

AND I THINK IT'S GOOD, EVERY NOW AND THEN TO BE REMINDED THAT MAN IS A PART OF THAT NATURAL SYSTEM NOT SEPARATE FROM IT.

AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE COME AT A PERFECT TIME OF THE YEAR-- EARLY OCTOBER.

THANKS FOR COMING WITH US ON THIS VISIT TO YELLOWSTONE IN NORTHWEST WYOMING.

AND JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT NATURE SCENE.

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