## Charlie the Courageous Cougar [00:00] Go for it, dude. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Are they going to try to give this cougar a shot? Like with a needle. >> I don't think he's going to like that. Aren't they scared? That fence is the only thing keeping them apart. H, actually, we might need to rewind a little bit. This is Charlie the Cougar. When he was just a baby, someone took him out of his home in the wild and tried to sell him as a pet. Cougars might start out as [music] tiny as house cats, but they are not meant to be pets. But luckily, he was rescued and brought to a sanctuary in California. The team at the sanctuary wanted to release him back to [music] the wild, but there was a huge problem. The people who' cougar napped him [music] had removed his claws permanently. That meant he'd never be able to hunt or [music] protect himself in the wild. So, where was Charlie going to go? Good thing there [music] are animals saving heroes like the people at Bush Wildlife Sanctuary in Florida. They found [music] out about Charlie and offered to take care of him and maybe even teach him a [music] few tricks, but we'll get to that later. First, they had to deal with a new problem. Charlie, he wasn't as tiny as a house cat anymore. Now, he was huge. That meant they'd have to drive a fully grown cougar all the way across the United States. I bet he was asking to stop for snacks the [music] whole way. It was a long journey, but at last, Charlie arrived at his [music] new home. Bush Wildlife Sanctuary was already filled with all sorts of animals like bears, owls, bobcats, and another cougar [music] named Tomla who was a little suspicious about having a roommate. H [music] Tomla was pretty used to being the big cougar on campus, spending all day lounging, [music] playing with his human friends, and having all the cougar [music] toys to himself, like his cardboard box. Oh, and the traffic [music] cone. Sometimes he even got a pumpkin. [gasps] He wasn't going to have to share his pumpkin, was he? Tamala didn't have to worry. There were plenty [music] of toys and attention and even pumpkins to go around. He realized that Charlie [music] wasn't going to cramp his style at all. He could actually be a friend. Tomla decided to show him the ropes like this one. Before long, Charlie was feeling comfortable in his new home, which meant [music] it was time to get serious. The sanctuary workers needed to teach Charlie some tricks. It's going to look like everyone is having fun, but I I promise this is serious. They wanted [music] to train Charlie to get him used to listening to humans. Wild cougars [music] don't usually let people tell them what to do. Which is why if you see one in the woods, you can't just say, "Excuse me, please don't eat me." Oh, you don't want to be eaten? My mistake. I won't gobble you up. I'll go find myself a delicious hamburger instead. Not exactly [music] how that's going to go. The team started with something called target training. No, no, no, no, no. Not that kind of target. But it's still really cool. [music] They taught him that when they point here, Charlie goes there. Pretty soon, no matter where they pointed, [music] Charlie listened. But it gets better. Look, >> Charlie, sit. >> He can sit and go up and down. He's better [music] trained than my dog. M. >> But that's not the most amazing thing they taught him. Every year, the animals all need to get checkups, which means humans have to be around them, getting up close and personal. Again, not something cougars are usually cool with. But Charlie's training went so well that he started to really trust his handlers. But would he trust them enough [music] to let them give him a shot? Like with a needle? I don't even like getting shots. Who does? No, I can't watch. Okay, maybe I can. I [music] got to know if this is going to happen. Is he really going to let them do it without even complaining? >> Yay! OH MY GOODNESS. GOOD JOB. >> OKAY, maybe he complained a teeny bit, but still, that's incredible. Charlie's been at Bush Wildlife for a whole year now, and he's doing better than ever. To celebrate his anniversary, they got him his very own pinata. Don't be jealous, Tomla. And even though he's got a few tricks up his sleeve, he still feels wild, which means he's going to be [music] happy and healthy for a long time to come. All thanks to these [music] amazing animals saving heroes. You can help animals, too. Check out the Earth Rangers Act [music] to learn more about how you can protect animals and the planet. Animals will thank you, just like Charlie thanks his heroes [music] every day. Okay. What is happening here, ## How Do You Fix a Turtle Shell? [05:08] Earth Rangers? Those [music] vets are putting some kind of goo on that turtle's shell. Is it toothpaste? Nah, turtles don't have teeth. And that's [music] not his mouth. Wait, I know what that stuff is. It's beeswax. Is this turtle going undercover? Maybe as a candle. No, they must be doing it for some other reason. But why? Let's solve this turtle mystery by going [music] back to the beginning. The New England Wildlife Centers see all kinds of animals coming through their doors, especially turtles. >> No, wait. Sorry. That's a tortoise. That's a turtle. Careful. That's a snapping turtle. Turtles arrive at the animal hospital with all sorts of problems. Some have hooks in them. Poor guy. Some need medicine for their colds, and many have broken shells, often from cars, because people put roads right through the middle of their habitat. That's called habitat fragmentation, and it's a real problem. It's also why I have to slam the brakes on this video to tell you something super important. We need more Earth Rangers like you to help us protect turtles and [music] other wildlife. If you want to join the team, ask your parents to download the Earth Rangers app. The turtles need you. Okay, back to the story. That looks painful. Wait, are they they're putting beeswax on the cracked parts? But why do that? Is the wax just a [music] patch? No, there must be more to it than that. But what? Also, wouldn't it be easier if we took the turtle out of his shell? Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but that's not how it works. A turtle's shell is part of its body. It doesn't come off. And turtles with cracked shells can't survive in the wild. Ooh, candy. No thanks. I'm in the middle of this video. Oh, that's the beeswax. But how does it go from that to that? Oh, [screaming] it's got to be melted. That was quick. Once the pellets are [music] melted, the team gets stirring. And so much stirring until the wax is nice and sticky. Next, they roll the wax into a ball just like clay and put it on the cracks in the turtle [music] shell to keep the injury clean and dry. But why can't they just use a bandage? It's because turtles like to hang out underwater. And beeswax is waterproof. It doesn't get soggy like a regular bandage would. Plus, there's a bonus. The beeswax also contains honey, which has been used as medicine since ancient times. But does it actually help? Healing takes time. So, to find out, we need a turtle who's had the [music] wax on for a while. Let's just peel this off. That looks so good. A little more healing time and you'll be ready to go back home. Like this guy who came in looking like this. Got a turtle healing beeswax treatment and now looks like this. Have fun. I hope you never have to come back like this turtle did. She was released a year ago and just became [music] a patient again. Don't worry. It's nothing the team can't handle. Look at her shell now. Sure, it's not as good as new, but that's an incredible recovery considering this is what she looked like when [music] she got here. Beeswax really is amazing. The New England [music] Wildlife Centers have saved so many turtles with it. I guess it just goes [music] to show that sometimes sticky problems call for stickier solutions. ## Crave vs Bear: Who Will Win? [09:15] Wait, I know what that bird is saying. It's a crane warning cry. But where's the danger? Uh-oh. It's a black bear. [music] And he's headed this way. I'd be squawking, too, if I were him. Wait, that bear is all the way on the other side of the lake. So, why is this bird freaking out? Oh, yeah. Bears can swim. And this one's getting closer and closer and closer. Run, Mr. Crane. Run. I mean, fly. fly. Why isn't he flying away? Get out of there, bird. Maybe we better rewind. Welcome to Yellowstone National Park. This is Floating Island Lake. That island, not even real, just a floating blob of [music] plants. But birds love it. It's also where this story starts. A couple of months ago, a pair of [music] sandill cranes decided to nest here and had two fuzzy babies. Hello, baby cranes. That's the magic of wetlands. They're perfect [music] places for animals to raise families. Which is why I need to slam the brakes on this video to tell you something super important. Wetlands everywhere are shrinking, [music] and we need more Earth Rangers like you to help protect them. Get the Earth Rangers app to find out how you can help. Now, back to the story. [music] You know what else is great about living on floating island? It's harder for most predators [music] to get to you. Most predators. But sometimes you got to leave the island to find food, which means swimming to shore. And as soon as the babies were big enough, that's what they did. While the family feeds, Dad keeps an eye out for danger. A red-winged blackbird. Is he an enemy? Nope. He's just protecting [music] his family. The cranes got a little too close to his nest, so he's [music] trying to scare them away. Crane dad is like, "Chill out, fellow bird. Blackbirds might not be a problem for sandill cranes." But a bear definitely could be, like the one who keeps getting closer. But I still don't get it. Why aren't the cranes flying away? Unless the babies can't fly yet, they're still too young. And dad's not just going to leave his kids behind, which means he has to face the bear. This crane weighs what? 10 lb. That bear weighs hundreds. Oh, I can't watch. Hold up. Is this crane charging the bear? I did not see that coming. And neither did the bear because it's totally freaking him out. Cran dad's like, "You better run, bear. I know karate." Hi. Looks like this bird's using [music] a classic animal defense strategy. Look scary. Hope it works. And the bear's falling for it. He's climbing a tree. That's right. This giant bear is hiding from a bird. That bear's like, "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. I don't believe it. The bear is running away. Crane dad one, bear zero. I guess you can never underestimate what animals will do to defend their babies. But thanks to the gutsiest crane in Yellowstone, [music] the chicks grew up and learned to fly just in time to head south [music] for the winter, leaving behind memories and one very embarrassed ## Bobby The 3 Legged Bob Cat [12:57] bear. This grumpy furball is Bobby. He's a bobcat with only three legs. And he's trying to do something nearly impossible. Get back to the wild. That's where he lived until he got hit by a car. When the rescuers finally freed him, they could see his leg was hurt and rushed him to the vet for x-rays. Bobby's leg was broken in a way that couldn't be fixed. And to [music] save his life, the vet had to surgically remove it. Bobby was really scared. He was still a young bobcat. How could he learn to do the things that wild bobcats do to survive, like climbing and catching food? He needed help in a big way, which is why Bobby's rescuer brought him to Tisha at Go Wild Rehab. It's a special place where sick and injured animals can get better and hopefully someday go back to the wild. But Bobby wasn't happy about being so close to people. It's not personal. It's just his wild nature. Bobcats might look like big house cats, but they're not pets. You got to keep your distance. Tisha knew Bobby needed to start moving again. So, she placed him in an extra-l [music] large enclosure with multiple levels and left him alone. But she kept the security cameras on so we can see what happened. For a long time, Bobby didn't move at all. He was like, "Climb and jump with only three legs? I don't think so." But then he spotted something he couldn't resist. A cardboard box. Maybe if he was careful. It was just a little jump. Yes. Okay. Okay. Maybe bobcats and house cats do have some things in common. It was a little jump, but [music] a big boost of confidence. And soon Bobby was doing more climbing and pulling off slightly bigger jumps. But climbing a few platforms and jumping into boxes wasn't the same as surviving in the wild. Would he ever be ready to go home? But what Bobby didn't know was that someone special was coming to help him. Betty. Betty was another young bobcat who got hit by a car and had a bad head injury. She needed time to heal, too. So, her rescuer brought her to Go Wild Rehab. She was just as thrilled as Bobby. Then Tisha had an idea. Maybe these two bobcats could help each other by becoming roommates. So Tisha moved them both to a bigger enclosure outdoors. Wait, was this a good idea? In the wild, bobcats don't usually make friends, not even with other bobcats. But Bobby and Betty were both still young. Sharing space with another animal would help prepare them for the kinds of encounters they'd face in the wild. Plus, seeing Betty climbing around might encourage Bobby to do the same. And Betty was a climber. She climbed the walls, the big tree branch. She even went to the [music] top of the giant cat tower, which is when Bobby realized that if he wanted to go back to the wild, [music] he had to become a climber, too. >> [music] >> Betty's like, "Did you see that?" But then something Tisha didn't expect to happen happened. Betty and Bobby became friends. I know. I know. I said bobcats don't usually make friends, but these two did with each other, not with anyone else. And after 8 months, Bobby was moving around just as good on [music] three legs as he did on four, which meant it was time for him to go home. When Tisho took him out [music] to the woods and opened his crate, he was gone in a flash. He didn't say goodbye, but he didn't growl at her either, which is as close to a thank [music] you as you can get with a bobcat. We didn't forget about you, Betty. She went back to the [music] wild just two weeks later. Who knows, maybe they'll find each other out there. ## Epic Sea Turtle Rescue [17:36] This giant sea turtle just [music] escaped from danger. But she still needed serious help. And she wasn't the only one in trouble because a whole squad of police cars had just arrived with nine more injured turtles. What happened to all these sea turtles? I think we need to back up a bit. Last night, these wild sea turtles crawled onto the beach to lay their eggs when people tried to grab them. Stealing protected animals like sea turtles is called poaching. And it's against the law, Earth Rangers. But this time, the police showed up and caught the poachers. And thank [music] goodness they did because the poachers had been planning to sell the endangered sea turtles as food. Okay, stop the video for a second. Sea turtles aren't the only animals [music] that need protection. Wildlife everywhere needs heroes, and you can be one of them by becoming an Earth Ranger. Ask your parents to download [music] the Earth Rangers app so you can join the team. Okay, back to the story. The rescued sea turtles were in rough shape. Scratches on their shells, cuts on their fins. One had even been kept upside down [music] for hours, which is super dangerous because turtles can't breathe properly that way. So, the police rush the turtles straight to the jaguar rescue [music] center. The honorary Earth Rangers here help all kinds of animals, including sea turtles. Right away, [music] they placed the turtles into special turtle recovery pools. The pools would help calm the turtles until the vets could treat them. Wait, what's this? The police also brought turtle eggs. 138 of them to be exact. Remember, the turtles were laying their eggs when the poachers showed up. And the poachers planned to sell the eggs as food, too. Those eggs were meant to hatch into baby turtles away from their nests. The eggs had almost no chance of hatching unless they could be placed in special incubators. And that was a big problem because the jaguar rescue center didn't have enough incubators for so many eggs. So they sent the eggs to some friends who did. Kawita Turtle Rescue just up the coast. Hopefully they could save some of the eggs while the jaguar team focused on the big turtles. The vets treated the turtles wounds and gently tucked them back into their recovery pools. The turtles were safe, but they belonged in the ocean, not pools. When could they go home? Were they going home? Don't worry, pool time was almost up. Over the next 10 days, nine of the turtles were healthy enough [music] to be released, and huge crowds of honorary Earth Rangers showed up to cheer them on. They couldn't wait to get back to the sea. Bye, turtles. That left [music] just one last turtle waiting. She'd been injured worse than the others and needed a little more time to heal. But two weeks later, [music] she was ready. And an even bigger crowd showed up to cheer as she crawled into the ocean. But this rescue wasn't over yet. Remember the turtle eggs? The team at Kawita had kept them safe and warm for weeks until 16 tiny turtles were born. This time, there wasn't a big crowd. Baby turtles need a clear, [music] obstacle-free path to the ocean so they don't get confused. But take my word for it, even without the cheering, it was just as amazing. It wasn't all 138. But even in the wild, not every sea turtle egg hatches. And in a rescue situation, saving even a few turtles is a big win. Uh, I think I'm experiencing turtle cuteness overload. That's 26 sea turtles who got a second chance, Earth Rangers. With numbers like those, the heroes at Jaguar Rescue Center totally deserve to be candidates for Earth Ranger of the Year. This dolphin is in trouble, Earth ## Saving Stranded Dolphins [21:41] Rangers. And it's [music] up to these people to save his life. Earlier that day, that dolphin looked a little like this. What he and his buddies didn't realize was that they were headed into dangerous waters. Cape Cod Bay. Suddenly, they were surrounded by land on three sides, and echolocation wasn't going to help them find their way up. The calls they were using to navigate [music] got absorbed by the soft sloping shores. They were stuck. But that still didn't explain how this dolphin ended up on land. Where did all the water go? Well, the tide went out big time. As the dolphins were swimming, the water got shallower and shallower until it was gone, leaving them stranded. And even though dolphins breathe air, they were in big trouble. Dolphins can survive being [music] out of water, but only for a short time and only when cared for by experts. Thankfully, some experts were nearby. The International Fund for Animal Welfare, IA. These honorary Earth Rangers have teams all over the world helping keep animals safe. And with Cape Cod seeing more strandings of live dolphins than anywhere in the world, they were the heroes to call. One thing you need to know is that [music] dolphins are big. Common dolphins like this one can be up to 8 ft long and weigh 300 lb. That's as much as a refrigerator. So, how are we going to [music] move this dolphin? With a whole team of people. Remember, lift with your knees, not your back. 3 2 1 up. Dolphins are way too heavy to carry very [music] far. So, it's a good thing the IFA team had this. A dolphin [music] cart. It's a special rescue tool for moving heavy dolphins over land. There's [music] even space for two. Uh, team, where are you going? The water's the other way. Oh, right. The tide was out. These dolphins are going to need a ride to a safer place [music] with deeper waters. This was a job for Moby's mobile dolphin clinic. It's like an ambulance for dolphins, stocked with all the things the team needed. Dolphin beds, blankets, room for up to 12 common dolphins, and even an ultrasound machine. Wa! Check it out. Scans like these [music] tell the team if the dolphins need more treatment at the rescue center or if they're ready to be released. For those [music] that were ready, these animals saving heroes needed to get them somewhere they wouldn't get stranded [music] again. The open ocean. That meant the farthest tip of Cape Cod. Herring Cove Beach. They got the dolphins set up on the sand. These tents aren't just for show. They keep the dolphins secure and out of the sun and wind. Hang in there, buddy. It won't be long now. The team moved the dolphin into the water, but he wasn't quite ready to be released yet. Hang on. Time for a better view. Everyone knows underwater is the best way to see a dolphin. Oh, he can't wait to get back home. First, the [music] team had to check out how he handled the water. He would tell them he was ready by pumping [music] his tail. Come on, you can do it. Was that a pump? It was. Let's do this. Release time in 3 2 1 go. The dolphin was on his way home. The team did an amazing job [music] saving that dolphin and his friends. That's why I'm nominating for Earth Rangers [music] of the Year. ## Why is this bird destroying its nest? [25:53] A mystery bird. Yellow feathers, black mask, red eyes. Maybe he's some kind of canary or parakeet. What are you? Wait, I think that's his nest. Kind of looks like a basket. That could be a clue. What is he tearing apart his own nest? Why do you hate your house, Mr. Bird? I hope it's not because of termites. Nah, he's a bird. Bugs are basically his chips. So, why is he ripping it down? I really wish we knew what kind of bird this was. Hold up. What's he doing with that blade of grass? He's tying it onto that skinny branch and it's not coming undone. It's almost like he's weaving it. Wait, maybe he's part spider. A spider bird. Okay. No, that's ridiculous. You can't just mix species, can you? Okay. Weaving. Weaving. That's it. He's a weaver bird. A southern masked weaver to be exact. They're super common in southern Africa, which is uh right where we are right now. There are over a 100 species of weaver birds, and they're all famous for the same thing, building some of the most complicated nests in the world, and also possibly destroying them. Either way, they do it by shredding grass into strips and looping them together like they're weaving a basket. It's way harder than it looks. Humans have tried to copy them. Total fail. Advantage: Weaver Bird. But birds aren't the only master builders. Lots of animals make amazing homes. The problem is more and more are losing the safe spaces they need to build them. That's why Earth Rangers [music] work to protect animal habitats. And you can help, too. Just download the app. But I still don't get it. If we birds are so good at making nests, why did he tear his down? Ooh, look who just showed up. A female weaver bird. But she's not here to move in. She's here to do an inspection. You see, in the weaver bird world, dads do all the nest building, and the mom birds are super picky about where they lay their eggs. To attract a mate, you got to prove you can build a safe, strong nest. And it's got to be snake proof. That's why he builds way out on the skinny tips of branches. Easy to fly into, hard for snakes to reach. Grow some wings, you reptile. And he doesn't stop at just one. See that other nest over there? Yeah, he built that, too. It's a whole survival strategy. More nests equals more chances to impress. Wait, did I just do math? Finally, it's finished. But will she like it? Well, that's totally up to her. And if she's not impressed, rip it down. Start all over. Wait, that's why he demolished the first one. She didn't like it. I really hope this one gets a wings up. Then again, in [music] the weaver bird world, this is how you find love. One blade of grass at a time. ## Alligator Tooth Brushing [29:42] Hey, Freddy. Uh, what you doing? Whoa. Whoa. That's too close. Sorry, Earth Rangers. My survival instincts kicked in. But we actually need Freddy this close. Even if she is an apex predator. Wait, we're sure about this, right? Okay, just checking. We need her this close [music] because we're about to see something super rare. A professional alligator tooth cleaning. Bet you didn't know alligators need that, did you? Ha, they don't. Alligators lose and grow new teeth all the time. They can go through 3,000 teeth in their lifetime. So, why are we doing this? We'll get to that in a minute. First, I need to answer another question. How do we know Freddy's an alligator and not a crocodile? Easy. I'll show you. Uh, Freddy, you need to close your mouth. That's better. When Freddy closes her mouth, only her top teeth are showing. That makes her an alligator. Crocodiles show their top and bottom teeth. Also, crocodile snouts are V-shaped. And Freddy's snout is Stop. Stop. Stop. Personal space Freddy. There we go. U-shaped. Definitely an alligator. Either way, her teeth look pretty [music] sharp to me. And it still doesn't explain why these people are brushing an alligator's teeth. Okay. Okay. I'll tell you. It all started when Freddy was still in her egg and a person [music] cracked it open before she was ready to hatch. And that wasn't great for our poor Freddy. But to answer the most obvious question, yes, it's the reason she's so small. Oh, you didn't notice that? She should be like 8 ft long, but she's just 6 and 1/2. That's because she wasn't able to fully develop in her egg, which [music] led to brain and body problems and meant she couldn't survive in the wild. It's also how she ended up at Bush Wildlife Sanctuary. They're experts at helping sick and injured animals get better so they can [music] go back to the wild. And for the ones who can't be released, like Freddy, they get to live their best lives at the sanctuary. And when you're an alligator queen, it looks like this and this and this. Plus, food delivered right to your mouth. But back to the teeth. The real reason they're brushing Freddy's teeth, are you ready? Isn't about her teeth at all. I bet you did not see that twist coming. One of the ways the [music] team makes sure Freddy is healthy is by looking inside her mouth once in a while. Brushing her teeth [music] helps her get used to having people poking around in there. She is a wild animal after all. Remember, Apex Predator, and it's important that the team stays safe, which is also why [music] there's a fence between them while they brush brush brush to practice. These pearly whites are just a bonus. Looking good, Freddy. Well, most of the time. Freddy's lucky her early hatching didn't end badly. But remember, Earth Rangers, if you find an egg in the wild, leave it alone. Hatching too early can be dangerous. The babies inside, whatever species they are, need time to grow. And always, always leave the alligator toothbrushing to the professionals. I cannot stress that enough. Also, if you want to be jawsome like Freddy, download the Earth Rangers app. Do you think alligators floss? I bet they get a lot [music] of stuff stuck back there. I wonder if they've ever considered an electric toothbrush.