1 00:00:01,411 --> 00:00:03,046 ♪ MTV ♪ 2 00:00:03,213 --> 00:00:04,447 [gentle music] 3 00:00:04,514 --> 00:00:07,150 [peacocks crying] 4 00:00:07,217 --> 00:00:09,519 [narrator] Dawn breaks, 5 00:00:10,453 --> 00:00:12,489 revealing an ancient ritual 6 00:00:12,556 --> 00:00:15,926 performed for millennia in the jungles of South Asia. 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,229 [soft tranquil music] 8 00:00:19,296 --> 00:00:21,798 [peacock cries] 9 00:00:21,865 --> 00:00:24,734 The peacock's cry is a familiar sound... 10 00:00:25,402 --> 00:00:26,670 [horn beeps] 11 00:00:26,736 --> 00:00:28,438 ...in Miami? 12 00:00:28,505 --> 00:00:31,374 [upbeat music] 13 00:00:31,441 --> 00:00:34,444 These birds are a long way from home, 14 00:00:34,511 --> 00:00:36,680 {\an1}but they're in good company. 15 00:00:36,746 --> 00:00:39,516 This vibrant metropolis of six million 16 00:00:39,583 --> 00:00:42,052 draws people from all over the world 17 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,423 and it's not just humans. 18 00:00:46,489 --> 00:00:49,025 Miami is a melting pot of wildlife, 19 00:00:49,092 --> 00:00:50,961 indigenous and invasive. 20 00:00:53,296 --> 00:00:55,732 New arrivals must adapt to survive, 21 00:00:55,799 --> 00:00:59,302 while locals adjust to life with new neighbors. 22 00:01:00,604 --> 00:01:03,006 {\an1}It's America's wildest city, 23 00:01:03,106 --> 00:01:07,644 where urban wildlife means more than rats and pigeons. 24 00:01:07,711 --> 00:01:10,847 {\an1}And you never know what you'll see around the next corner. 25 00:01:10,914 --> 00:01:13,583 [upbeat music] 26 00:01:15,585 --> 00:01:18,121 Welcome to Miami Wild. 27 00:01:18,188 --> 00:01:20,924 [theme music playing] 28 00:01:20,991 --> 00:01:22,559 [horn tooting] 29 00:01:25,028 --> 00:01:27,797 [Gloria] It's a late spring morning in South Miami. 30 00:01:30,033 --> 00:01:33,136 The peacock's breeding season is winding down. 31 00:01:34,204 --> 00:01:36,373 {\an1}A few males are still dancing, 32 00:01:36,439 --> 00:01:39,476 but the females aren't interested. 33 00:01:39,542 --> 00:01:43,547 They chose mates and laid their eggs weeks ago. 34 00:01:43,613 --> 00:01:46,216 Now their chicks are venturing into the world 35 00:01:46,283 --> 00:01:48,184 for the first time. 36 00:01:48,251 --> 00:01:50,687 [tranquil upbeat music] 37 00:01:52,422 --> 00:01:54,691 [chicks peeping] 38 00:02:01,665 --> 00:02:05,368 {\an1}Peacocks have roamed these streets for almost 30 years, 39 00:02:06,503 --> 00:02:09,205 a few birds escape from a private backyard, 40 00:02:09,272 --> 00:02:12,108 {\an1}during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. 41 00:02:13,510 --> 00:02:17,547 {\an1}Today, the neighborhood's overrun with their descendants. 42 00:02:18,315 --> 00:02:20,817 [peacock cries] 43 00:02:22,185 --> 00:02:25,989 {\an1}The chicks are born knowing how to find seeds and insects, 44 00:02:30,126 --> 00:02:32,562 But this little male seems more interested 45 00:02:32,629 --> 00:02:34,831 {\an1}in practicing his dance moves. 46 00:02:34,898 --> 00:02:37,167 [lively music] 47 00:02:39,135 --> 00:02:43,206 He's hardwired to show off his spectacular tail, 48 00:02:43,273 --> 00:02:45,842 {\an1}even if it hasn't grown yet. 49 00:02:48,745 --> 00:02:50,881 Mom, isn't impressed. 50 00:02:55,952 --> 00:02:58,221 Back to searching for breakfast in the park, 51 00:02:58,288 --> 00:02:59,956 [leaves rustling] 52 00:03:01,358 --> 00:03:03,660 ah, he spots something. 53 00:03:04,494 --> 00:03:06,830 Mom comes to investigate. 54 00:03:08,098 --> 00:03:10,834 [dramatic music] 55 00:03:13,870 --> 00:03:15,705 It's a young knight anole, 56 00:03:15,772 --> 00:03:18,708 a tree-climbing lizard that hails from Cuba. 57 00:03:19,542 --> 00:03:21,945 [lively music] 58 00:03:22,579 --> 00:03:25,582 This is a rare prize, 59 00:03:25,649 --> 00:03:28,518 but his eyes might be bigger than his stomach. 60 00:03:34,157 --> 00:03:36,459 Mom has second thoughts, 61 00:03:38,595 --> 00:03:41,131 {\an1}but the chick is determined, 62 00:03:41,197 --> 00:03:43,934 [playful music] 63 00:03:45,268 --> 00:03:48,405 with a final effort it's down the hatch. 64 00:03:48,471 --> 00:03:50,674 [playful music crescendos] 65 00:03:52,475 --> 00:03:54,778 [tranquil upbeat music] 66 00:03:56,446 --> 00:03:59,516 The park is full of anole lizards, 67 00:03:59,583 --> 00:04:02,118 but only one species belongs here. 68 00:04:03,453 --> 00:04:07,557 {\an1}The green anole was Florida's only tree-dwelling lizard 69 00:04:07,624 --> 00:04:09,593 for thousands of years. 70 00:04:11,461 --> 00:04:15,265 But today, Miami swarms with nine other species 71 00:04:15,332 --> 00:04:16,933 from across the Caribbean. 72 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,603 [upbeat music] 73 00:04:23,473 --> 00:04:26,209 They arrived here as unwanted pets, 74 00:04:26,276 --> 00:04:28,912 {\an1}or stowaways on cargo ships. 75 00:04:30,113 --> 00:04:32,182 [cars whooshing] 76 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:38,955 With so many anoles looking for a home. 77 00:04:39,022 --> 00:04:42,025 The park's trees are prime real estate. 78 00:04:43,994 --> 00:04:46,730 A male Puerto Rican crested anole, 79 00:04:46,796 --> 00:04:48,698 one of the invasives, 80 00:04:48,765 --> 00:04:50,867 has his eye on an ornamental palm, 81 00:04:56,806 --> 00:04:59,910 but this tree is already spoken for. 82 00:04:59,976 --> 00:05:02,712 [suspenseful upbeat music] 83 00:05:02,779 --> 00:05:05,248 The resident male sends a warning, 84 00:05:06,716 --> 00:05:09,185 but the intruder isn't backing down. 85 00:05:10,554 --> 00:05:12,923 [frenzied upbeat music] 86 00:05:26,803 --> 00:05:30,240 Battles like this can last more than 30 minutes. 87 00:05:31,107 --> 00:05:33,310 [frenzied upbeat music] 88 00:05:46,790 --> 00:05:48,758 [dramatic music swells] 89 00:05:54,864 --> 00:05:57,267 [leaves rustling] 90 00:05:57,334 --> 00:06:00,637 {\an1}Finally, the resident prevails. 91 00:06:00,704 --> 00:06:03,073 [soft mystical music] 92 00:06:10,347 --> 00:06:13,483 Exhausted, the loser continues his search 93 00:06:13,550 --> 00:06:14,985 for a place to live. 94 00:06:18,855 --> 00:06:20,991 This pile of branches could work. 95 00:06:23,693 --> 00:06:25,395 [feet pattering lightly] 96 00:06:28,498 --> 00:06:32,903 {\an1}But little does he know his journey has only just begun. 97 00:06:38,008 --> 00:06:41,778 The male chick is a few weeks old and growing fast. 98 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:46,092 {\an1}Lucky for him, his mother knows that it's feeding time 99 00:06:46,116 --> 00:06:48,518 {\an1}for another invasive species. 100 00:06:48,585 --> 00:06:50,654 [cats meow] 101 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,589 [light upbeat music] 102 00:06:52,656 --> 00:06:56,493 Miami is home to 400,000 feral cats 103 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,495 {\an1}and countless free-ranging pets. 104 00:06:58,562 --> 00:07:00,964 [lively music] 105 00:07:01,765 --> 00:07:04,067 [cat meowing] 106 00:07:06,670 --> 00:07:10,674 {\an1}For the peacocks, there is such a thing as a free lunch. 107 00:07:15,445 --> 00:07:18,281 The more peacocks discover this bounty, 108 00:07:18,348 --> 00:07:20,951 the more food's needed for the cats, 109 00:07:24,888 --> 00:07:28,225 more cat food means more peacocks. 110 00:07:29,459 --> 00:07:32,562 So our love of one invasive species, 111 00:07:32,629 --> 00:07:34,898 {\an1}fuels the spread of another. 112 00:07:38,101 --> 00:07:40,503 These invasions often begin with the species 113 00:07:40,570 --> 00:07:42,205 we keep in our homes. 114 00:07:43,773 --> 00:07:45,342 From parrots to pythons, 115 00:07:45,408 --> 00:07:47,944 Miami is the perfect home away from home 116 00:07:48,011 --> 00:07:50,480 {\an1}for escaped and unwanted pets. 117 00:07:52,515 --> 00:07:53,917 The more exotic they are, 118 00:07:53,984 --> 00:07:56,419 the better Miami seems to suit them. 119 00:07:58,455 --> 00:08:02,259 Today invasive species are everywhere. 120 00:08:03,593 --> 00:08:05,729 [birds calling] 121 00:08:05,795 --> 00:08:08,331 [horn honking] 122 00:08:08,398 --> 00:08:09,933 As the sun sets, 123 00:08:10,066 --> 00:08:14,170 {\an1}the peacocks gather in the trees to spend the night. 124 00:08:14,971 --> 00:08:17,173 [air whooshing] 125 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:18,508 [horn honking] 126 00:08:22,946 --> 00:08:24,748 Under cover of darkness, 127 00:08:24,814 --> 00:08:28,084 a shady character arrives at the park, 128 00:08:28,518 --> 00:08:30,353 a local rancher. 129 00:08:31,855 --> 00:08:35,926 He's brought some surprising livestock 130 00:08:35,992 --> 00:08:39,796 veiled chameleons native to the Arabian Peninsula. 131 00:08:40,697 --> 00:08:43,166 [gentle mysterious music] 132 00:08:45,368 --> 00:08:48,939 {\an1}Releasing non-native reptiles like this is illegal, 133 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,108 but this is the perfect breeding ground 134 00:08:52,142 --> 00:08:54,444 {\an1}for these prized exotic pets 135 00:08:55,645 --> 00:08:58,215 and this female's about to lay eggs. 136 00:09:01,718 --> 00:09:04,154 In a few months, the rancher will be back 137 00:09:04,221 --> 00:09:06,856 {\an1}to check on his illicit brood. 138 00:09:16,008 --> 00:09:18,010 While Miami parties, 139 00:09:18,076 --> 00:09:20,679 chameleon ranchers aren't the only mask troublemakers 140 00:09:20,746 --> 00:09:22,314 out on the town. 141 00:09:22,381 --> 00:09:24,917 [siren wailing] 142 00:09:25,884 --> 00:09:28,754 [upbeat music] 143 00:09:29,688 --> 00:09:32,224 {\an1}A young raccoon is on the prowl, 144 00:09:33,592 --> 00:09:35,060 she's a Florida native. 145 00:09:37,563 --> 00:09:41,733 Most large mammals steer clear of cities, 146 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,604 but raccoons didn't get that memo. 147 00:09:45,671 --> 00:09:49,107 {\an1}They're more numerous here in Miami than outside the city. 148 00:09:50,542 --> 00:09:53,579 Life in the fast lane, suits her just fine. 149 00:09:53,645 --> 00:09:57,449 {\an1}She knows where to find food and how to avoid trouble. 150 00:09:59,451 --> 00:10:01,787 But that doesn't mean life is easy. 151 00:10:05,157 --> 00:10:07,259 Maybe it's time for a change of scene. 152 00:10:07,326 --> 00:10:09,828 [horn honking] 153 00:10:09,895 --> 00:10:11,864 {\an1}Weary from a night in the city, 154 00:10:11,930 --> 00:10:14,833 she stumbles into the park. 155 00:10:15,367 --> 00:10:17,369 [birds calling] 156 00:10:19,738 --> 00:10:22,407 Up above something stirs, 157 00:10:22,474 --> 00:10:24,943 [lively music] 158 00:10:30,849 --> 00:10:33,385 [lively music swells] 159 00:10:44,196 --> 00:10:46,999 {\an1}others emerge from the bushes 160 00:10:49,468 --> 00:10:51,570 and the mangroves. 161 00:10:54,740 --> 00:10:57,109 {\an1}What is this raccoon paradise? 162 00:10:59,011 --> 00:11:01,079 [leaves rustling] 163 00:11:05,050 --> 00:11:07,920 It's a thriving community here in the park. 164 00:11:09,521 --> 00:11:10,789 Why they're all here, 165 00:11:10,856 --> 00:11:13,392 {\an1}the female doesn't yet know, 166 00:11:13,458 --> 00:11:16,528 but this many raccoons can't be wrong. 167 00:11:17,496 --> 00:11:20,232 [siren wailing] 168 00:11:22,534 --> 00:11:25,204 [upbeat music] 169 00:11:26,939 --> 00:11:28,774 With his new home in the brush pile. 170 00:11:28,841 --> 00:11:32,077 Life is good for the Puerto Rican crested anole. 171 00:11:38,584 --> 00:11:41,153 Well, life was good. 172 00:11:43,388 --> 00:11:45,657 Once a week, trucks scour the neighborhood 173 00:11:45,724 --> 00:11:48,961 for yard trimmings and landscaping debris. 174 00:11:50,395 --> 00:11:53,599 Suddenly the anole's choice of territory, 175 00:11:53,665 --> 00:11:55,567 doesn't look so smart. 176 00:11:56,201 --> 00:11:58,604 [lively music swells] 177 00:12:01,507 --> 00:12:03,442 [machinery rattles] 178 00:12:03,509 --> 00:12:05,010 In one scoop 179 00:12:05,077 --> 00:12:07,412 his home is gone. 180 00:12:10,582 --> 00:12:12,684 [branches crunching] 181 00:12:16,221 --> 00:12:17,756 But where's the anole? 182 00:12:17,823 --> 00:12:20,492 [gentle music] 183 00:12:21,693 --> 00:12:24,163 [soft frenzied music] 184 00:12:25,697 --> 00:12:27,633 He's an unwitting stowaway 185 00:12:27,699 --> 00:12:31,136 on a ride that might finally change his luck. 186 00:12:31,203 --> 00:12:34,072 [frenzied music continues] 187 00:12:45,818 --> 00:12:48,487 Welcome to Mount Trashmore. 188 00:12:49,388 --> 00:12:51,657 [frenzied music swells] 189 00:12:51,723 --> 00:12:54,593 {\an1}A 220 foot tall pile of garbage 190 00:12:54,660 --> 00:12:57,029 that towers over the city. 191 00:13:00,599 --> 00:13:03,569 Miami's garbage trucks are like public transit 192 00:13:03,635 --> 00:13:05,237 for invasive species, 193 00:13:08,273 --> 00:13:12,511 so wild animals from all over the city end up here. 194 00:13:17,149 --> 00:13:20,719 Now the anole can finally settle down, 195 00:13:20,786 --> 00:13:24,356 in a home with a view of a man-made mountain. 196 00:13:28,727 --> 00:13:30,963 For those who prefer to travel by water, 197 00:13:31,029 --> 00:13:35,167 {\an1}a maze of canals cuts through Miami's backyards and parks, 198 00:13:35,234 --> 00:13:38,270 connecting the city with the swamp and the sea. 199 00:13:41,773 --> 00:13:44,776 The canals control flooding during storms. 200 00:13:46,578 --> 00:13:51,216 {\an1}They also provide a home for Miami's largest lizards. 201 00:13:53,652 --> 00:13:56,021 Green iguanas, 202 00:13:57,256 --> 00:13:59,491 definitely not native. 203 00:13:59,558 --> 00:14:02,194 [upbeat music] 204 00:14:03,962 --> 00:14:07,966 {\an1}These Central American lizards can grow six feet long, 205 00:14:08,033 --> 00:14:10,135 {\an1}too big for most pet owners. 206 00:14:12,104 --> 00:14:16,341 Elsewhere, cold is a killer for unwanted pet iguanas, 207 00:14:17,876 --> 00:14:20,913 but here in Miami, where the winters are warm, 208 00:14:20,979 --> 00:14:23,682 {\an1}the population has exploded. 209 00:14:29,421 --> 00:14:30,956 In the summer heat, 210 00:14:31,023 --> 00:14:33,258 {\an1}this female is in her element. 211 00:14:34,726 --> 00:14:37,563 She has no natural predators here, 212 00:14:39,364 --> 00:14:42,067 but old instincts die hard, 213 00:14:43,235 --> 00:14:45,504 a possible threat. 214 00:14:50,843 --> 00:14:53,745 He's not exactly the king of the jungle, 215 00:14:53,812 --> 00:14:55,848 [suspenseful upbeat music] 216 00:14:59,618 --> 00:15:02,387 but the iguanas aren't taking any chances. 217 00:15:04,456 --> 00:15:06,792 {\an1}[suspenseful music crescendos] 218 00:15:12,998 --> 00:15:14,066 [water splashes] 219 00:15:14,132 --> 00:15:16,502 {\an1}[suspenseful music crescendos] 220 00:15:30,849 --> 00:15:33,352 [water splashes] 221 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,523 For the female, it's now or never. 222 00:15:39,224 --> 00:15:41,560 [slow mystical music] 223 00:15:44,997 --> 00:15:47,966 By holding her breath for up to 30 minutes, 224 00:15:48,033 --> 00:15:51,770 {\an1}the iguanas can outlast all but the most tenacious hunters. 225 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:56,508 Below the surface, 226 00:15:56,575 --> 00:15:59,912 she gets a glimpse of a hidden side of Miami. 227 00:16:02,181 --> 00:16:04,783 The canals team with life. 228 00:16:07,486 --> 00:16:10,756 Tropical cichlids and carp swim with natives, 229 00:16:10,823 --> 00:16:12,724 like bass and gar. 230 00:16:16,361 --> 00:16:18,163 {\an1}Indigenous snakes and turtles 231 00:16:18,230 --> 00:16:21,066 share the water with invasive species. 232 00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:23,869 [water burbles] 233 00:16:25,337 --> 00:16:29,041 {\an1}Pulsating swarms of poisonous cane toad tadpoles 234 00:16:29,107 --> 00:16:31,810 consume everything in their path. 235 00:16:31,877 --> 00:16:34,613 [water burbles] 236 00:16:35,848 --> 00:16:38,851 Near the ocean, the canals get saltier 237 00:16:38,917 --> 00:16:40,953 {\an1}and marine predators like tarpon 238 00:16:41,019 --> 00:16:43,355 {\an1}mingle with fresh water species. 239 00:16:46,158 --> 00:16:49,194 When exotic fish grew too big for home aquariums, 240 00:16:49,261 --> 00:16:51,196 hobbyists release them, 241 00:16:51,263 --> 00:16:53,499 some become invasive. 242 00:16:53,565 --> 00:16:57,669 {\an1}Multiplying and eating or out-competing native species. 243 00:16:58,904 --> 00:17:02,574 It's a whole ecosystem of unintended consequences, 244 00:17:04,143 --> 00:17:08,280 {\an1}but the arrival of one exotic species was premeditated. 245 00:17:11,116 --> 00:17:12,784 In 1984, 246 00:17:12,851 --> 00:17:15,296 Florida's Wildlife Agency made a bet 247 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:16,688 that the peacock bass, 248 00:17:16,755 --> 00:17:19,491 a voracious predator from the Amazon, 249 00:17:19,558 --> 00:17:22,361 could keep other invasive fish in check. 250 00:17:23,962 --> 00:17:27,900 So far, this gamble is paying off. 251 00:17:27,966 --> 00:17:30,469 Peacock bass do eat the invasive fish, 252 00:17:30,536 --> 00:17:33,005 but haven't spread far beyond the city. 253 00:17:33,071 --> 00:17:36,008 [calm soft music] 254 00:17:39,745 --> 00:17:42,414 [bird calls] 255 00:17:43,916 --> 00:17:46,685 {\an1}Back in the park, the rancher's elicit chameleons 256 00:17:46,752 --> 00:17:48,620 {\an1}have made themselves at home. 257 00:17:51,990 --> 00:17:54,960 Months have passed since the female was released, 258 00:17:56,862 --> 00:17:59,998 even though she's free to leave, she hasn't. 259 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:03,769 She's comfortable here 260 00:18:03,836 --> 00:18:06,405 and she really isn't built for walking. 261 00:18:07,806 --> 00:18:11,977 {\an1}Instead, like other chameleons, she's a master climber. 262 00:18:13,145 --> 00:18:16,014 [branches creaking] 263 00:18:20,686 --> 00:18:23,889 The female's little tree has gotten crowded, 264 00:18:25,090 --> 00:18:28,427 40 babies destined for the pet trade. 265 00:18:29,995 --> 00:18:32,564 This youngster is wary. 266 00:18:32,631 --> 00:18:35,734 Adult chameleons often eat hatchlings, 267 00:18:36,702 --> 00:18:38,804 {\an1}but the baby's got to eat too. 268 00:18:39,338 --> 00:18:41,607 [dramatic music] 269 00:18:46,879 --> 00:18:48,447 A muscle at the end of the tongue, 270 00:18:48,514 --> 00:18:51,416 forms a suction cup to grip prey. 271 00:18:55,220 --> 00:18:57,055 At least that's the theory, 272 00:18:59,124 --> 00:19:01,693 {\an1}if at first you don't succeed, 273 00:19:02,361 --> 00:19:04,496 there it is. 274 00:19:07,466 --> 00:19:09,468 {\an1}The chameleons will be well fed, 275 00:19:09,535 --> 00:19:11,203 {\an1}when the law-breaking rancher 276 00:19:11,270 --> 00:19:13,605 {\an1}returns to round up his herd. 277 00:19:18,911 --> 00:19:21,146 Down the block, a backyard is the stage 278 00:19:21,213 --> 00:19:24,750 for a drama that could only unfold in Miami. 279 00:19:26,785 --> 00:19:28,954 {\an1}A native red-bellied woodpecker, 280 00:19:29,021 --> 00:19:32,424 excavates a nest hole in a royal palm tree. 281 00:19:34,259 --> 00:19:35,761 He's got an audience. 282 00:19:37,863 --> 00:19:41,300 Two red-masked parakeets, native to Peru, 283 00:19:41,366 --> 00:19:43,902 have their eye on his home. 284 00:19:43,969 --> 00:19:46,438 [playful music] 285 00:19:47,639 --> 00:19:49,641 {\an1}The parakeets make their move. 286 00:19:49,708 --> 00:19:52,644 [playful upbeat music] 287 00:19:52,711 --> 00:19:55,848 {\an1}Just a few home improvements and it'll be perfect. 288 00:19:57,916 --> 00:20:00,452 It's time to make more parakeets. 289 00:20:02,621 --> 00:20:05,524 {\an1}Score one for the invasives. 290 00:20:09,436 --> 00:20:14,141 {\an1}Miami has more wild parrots than anywhere else in the US. 291 00:20:15,743 --> 00:20:18,279 More than a dozen species breed here, 292 00:20:18,345 --> 00:20:22,750 all of them descended from escaped or released pets. 293 00:20:25,352 --> 00:20:28,923 {\an1}And just like in the jungles of Central and South America, 294 00:20:28,989 --> 00:20:31,258 they need tree cavities to breed. 295 00:20:31,325 --> 00:20:34,395 [playful upbeat music] 296 00:20:34,461 --> 00:20:37,831 [parrots calling] 297 00:20:37,898 --> 00:20:40,201 So while the parakeets bullied the woodpeckers 298 00:20:40,267 --> 00:20:42,069 out of their home, 299 00:20:42,136 --> 00:20:45,172 there's now an even bigger bully on the block. 300 00:20:45,239 --> 00:20:46,841 [parrots calling] 301 00:20:46,907 --> 00:20:48,442 {\an1}Orange-winged Amazon parrots. 302 00:20:48,509 --> 00:20:50,878 [parrots calling] 303 00:20:58,719 --> 00:21:00,955 How can a bird avoid all this drama? 304 00:21:02,122 --> 00:21:05,292 Build a nest where no one else can. 305 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,828 [playful upbeat music] 306 00:21:12,399 --> 00:21:14,068 Telltale movements. 307 00:21:15,236 --> 00:21:18,172 [playful upbeat music] 308 00:21:18,239 --> 00:21:21,809 These monk parakeets didn't have to steal a nest hole, 309 00:21:21,876 --> 00:21:23,744 they built one instead. 310 00:21:31,185 --> 00:21:35,055 The location may seem like an odd choice, 311 00:21:35,122 --> 00:21:38,225 but these steel beams provide sturdy support 312 00:21:41,328 --> 00:21:43,531 {\an1}and the monk parakeets need it. 313 00:21:44,765 --> 00:21:46,800 They're the only parrots in the world 314 00:21:46,867 --> 00:21:49,603 {\an1}that build nests out of sticks 315 00:21:50,938 --> 00:21:53,941 {\an1}and these are no ordinary nests. 316 00:21:55,676 --> 00:21:59,046 As one pair builds a home, others join in. 317 00:22:00,781 --> 00:22:04,652 {\an1}When they're finished, the nest condos can be five feet wide 318 00:22:04,785 --> 00:22:06,620 and weigh up to a ton. 319 00:22:08,455 --> 00:22:11,725 {\an1}Living so close to the neighbors can cost some friction. 320 00:22:11,792 --> 00:22:15,196 [lively upbeat music] 321 00:22:20,134 --> 00:22:21,402 [parakeets twittering] 322 00:22:21,468 --> 00:22:23,571 [wings rustling] 323 00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:30,244 The parakeets need for twigs is insatiable. 324 00:22:30,311 --> 00:22:32,746 [playful upbeat music] 325 00:22:42,590 --> 00:22:44,992 [playful music swells] 326 00:23:04,678 --> 00:23:06,780 There's always room for improvement, 327 00:23:08,349 --> 00:23:11,051 {\an1}but some folks are never happy. 328 00:23:13,487 --> 00:23:15,122 Despite their differences, 329 00:23:15,189 --> 00:23:17,625 these two are devoted to each other 330 00:23:20,561 --> 00:23:22,763 and they aren't afraid to show it. 331 00:23:24,398 --> 00:23:27,801 [relaxing gentle music] 332 00:23:30,404 --> 00:23:34,808 {\an1}Not surprisingly, the parakeets huge nests cause problems. 333 00:23:34,875 --> 00:23:37,378 Short-circuiting the grid and cutting power 334 00:23:37,444 --> 00:23:39,346 to thousands of people. 335 00:23:42,650 --> 00:23:44,818 The nests can be removed, 336 00:23:44,885 --> 00:23:47,588 but the parakeets are here to stay. 337 00:23:51,192 --> 00:23:53,737 And it never takes these industrious birds long 338 00:23:53,761 --> 00:23:55,262 to rebuild. 339 00:24:01,235 --> 00:24:04,438 It's late summer and the peacocks in the park 340 00:24:04,505 --> 00:24:06,240 are feeling the heat. 341 00:24:06,307 --> 00:24:09,043 [mystical upbeat music] 342 00:24:14,248 --> 00:24:17,251 Digging a shallow hole in the dry soil, 343 00:24:17,318 --> 00:24:20,187 the pea hen begins a strange ritual. 344 00:24:20,254 --> 00:24:22,723 [mysterious upbeat music] 345 00:24:34,735 --> 00:24:37,004 {\an1}The male chick follows her lead. 346 00:24:44,478 --> 00:24:48,816 {\an1}Dust bathing helps absorb oils and keeps feathers clean, 347 00:24:51,752 --> 00:24:54,421 but it's no substitute for the real thing. 348 00:24:58,893 --> 00:24:59,827 [thunder claps] 349 00:24:59,894 --> 00:25:01,428 [rain patters] 350 00:25:01,495 --> 00:25:04,164 [lively music] 351 00:25:07,501 --> 00:25:10,771 The chicks find cover under their mother's wings, 352 00:25:13,374 --> 00:25:15,009 others aren't so lucky. 353 00:25:20,414 --> 00:25:24,018 {\an1}The downpour might be uncomfortable in the moment, 354 00:25:24,084 --> 00:25:25,819 but summer rains are the lifeblood 355 00:25:25,886 --> 00:25:28,455 {\an1}of this subtropical ecosystem. 356 00:25:33,027 --> 00:25:37,364 {\an1}And they bring one of Miami's most mysterious creatures 357 00:25:37,431 --> 00:25:38,899 out of hiding. 358 00:25:42,770 --> 00:25:44,305 At the Park's edge, 359 00:25:44,371 --> 00:25:47,441 deep in the mud beneath the mangrove roots, 360 00:25:47,508 --> 00:25:49,376 they stir. 361 00:25:53,414 --> 00:25:56,951 A female blue land crab emerges from her burrow 362 00:25:57,017 --> 00:25:59,086 to forage for leaf litter. 363 00:26:03,390 --> 00:26:06,427 Her kind have lived in Florida's coastal forests 364 00:26:06,493 --> 00:26:08,429 for millennia and still thrive 365 00:26:08,495 --> 00:26:11,732 where the mangroves remain healthy. 366 00:26:14,702 --> 00:26:16,403 [water splashes] 367 00:26:18,372 --> 00:26:21,509 She needs to keep her gills wet to breathe. 368 00:26:25,312 --> 00:26:27,715 So whenever she leaves the watery depth 369 00:26:27,781 --> 00:26:29,450 of her burrow to feed, 370 00:26:29,517 --> 00:26:31,318 the clock starts ticking. 371 00:26:33,354 --> 00:26:34,822 Time to go. 372 00:26:37,992 --> 00:26:41,862 As summer turns to fall, a new delicacy appears. 373 00:26:44,765 --> 00:26:46,534 Sun-ripened fruit. 374 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,003 [joyous music] 375 00:26:56,877 --> 00:26:58,345 Manna from heaven. 376 00:26:58,412 --> 00:27:01,081 [joyous music] 377 00:27:08,689 --> 00:27:12,092 {\an1}On days like this, there's plenty for everyone, 378 00:27:14,929 --> 00:27:17,464 {\an1}sometimes a little too much. 379 00:27:20,467 --> 00:27:23,137 Bellies full, the crabs head home. 380 00:27:24,939 --> 00:27:27,174 {\an1}Just another day in paradise. 381 00:27:28,843 --> 00:27:30,744 [cars whooshing] 382 00:27:30,811 --> 00:27:31,912 [horns honking] 383 00:27:31,979 --> 00:27:34,982 [gentle music] 384 00:27:36,550 --> 00:27:41,956 {\an1}Under the first full moon of Autumn an epic journey begins. 385 00:27:45,492 --> 00:27:48,362 Blue land crabs in their thousands. 386 00:27:56,053 --> 00:27:57,555 All across Miami, 387 00:27:57,621 --> 00:28:01,392 {\an1}blue land crabs emerge as one from the mangroves. 388 00:28:03,761 --> 00:28:07,765 A female pallid white and heavy with eggs 389 00:28:07,832 --> 00:28:10,401 {\an1}must reach the ocean to spawn. 390 00:28:10,468 --> 00:28:13,204 [cars whooshing] 391 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,375 [gentle upbeat music] 392 00:28:19,443 --> 00:28:22,713 Evolution hasn't prepared her for roads, 393 00:28:22,780 --> 00:28:25,216 lawns or parking garages. 394 00:28:35,259 --> 00:28:39,697 Bright lights and confusing dead ends disorient many. 395 00:28:41,565 --> 00:28:44,001 Their journey ends here. 396 00:28:45,936 --> 00:28:50,541 {\an1}The females struggles onward, determined to reach the sea. 397 00:28:53,511 --> 00:28:55,413 She's relentless. 398 00:28:58,282 --> 00:29:00,284 Not far now, 399 00:29:00,351 --> 00:29:02,586 just a few feet to go. 400 00:29:03,087 --> 00:29:05,623 [gentle music] 401 00:29:08,192 --> 00:29:09,827 Even here, 402 00:29:09,894 --> 00:29:11,562 some die from exhaustion, 403 00:29:14,298 --> 00:29:16,300 but they don't go to waste. 404 00:29:22,873 --> 00:29:24,308 When she reaches the water, 405 00:29:24,375 --> 00:29:27,678 the female releases up to half a million eggs. 406 00:29:29,213 --> 00:29:33,317 It's a numbers game with steeper odds than ever. 407 00:29:35,052 --> 00:29:38,789 {\an1}These mass migrations were once a common spectacle, 408 00:29:38,856 --> 00:29:42,302 {\an1}but as development threatens Miami's mangroves, 409 00:29:42,326 --> 00:29:43,928 they're increasingly rare. 410 00:29:43,994 --> 00:29:46,497 [crab feet pattering] 411 00:29:47,431 --> 00:29:50,634 {\an1}Still, some locals are thriving. 412 00:29:53,571 --> 00:29:57,274 {\an1}The female raccoon has settled in nicely at the park, 413 00:29:58,509 --> 00:30:01,912 and she has a new set of mouths to feed. 414 00:30:01,979 --> 00:30:05,116 [birds twittering] 415 00:30:07,284 --> 00:30:10,087 She'll teach her kids everything she's learned 416 00:30:10,154 --> 00:30:11,589 about surviving here. 417 00:30:16,827 --> 00:30:19,296 In the mangroves at the park's edge, 418 00:30:19,363 --> 00:30:21,165 she gives her first lesson. 419 00:30:26,837 --> 00:30:29,073 Step one, wash your hands. 420 00:30:36,914 --> 00:30:38,149 Water sensitizes the paws, 421 00:30:38,215 --> 00:30:40,851 helping her find food in the mud. 422 00:30:41,685 --> 00:30:44,055 [upbeat music] 423 00:30:44,121 --> 00:30:46,724 [water sloshes] 424 00:30:57,868 --> 00:30:59,970 Out of the water, she shows her kids 425 00:31:00,037 --> 00:31:04,275 {\an1}how to use their paws to explore the grass for insects. 426 00:31:08,012 --> 00:31:11,148 But it's hard for youngsters to stay focused. 427 00:31:13,284 --> 00:31:15,686 Who cares about bugs when you can wrestle? 428 00:31:16,987 --> 00:31:19,724 [playful music] 429 00:31:26,197 --> 00:31:28,332 You wouldn't know it looking at the raccoons, 430 00:31:28,399 --> 00:31:30,434 but most of Miami's parks 431 00:31:30,501 --> 00:31:32,636 {\an1}were made for human recreation. 432 00:31:34,839 --> 00:31:37,742 These picnickers are about to get a visit 433 00:31:37,808 --> 00:31:39,944 from a tiny uninvited 434 00:31:40,010 --> 00:31:42,680 and most unwelcome guest. 435 00:31:44,882 --> 00:31:47,084 Mosquitoes breed in Miami 436 00:31:47,151 --> 00:31:48,919 by the billions. 437 00:31:49,887 --> 00:31:52,790 They're a mix of natives and newcomers, 438 00:31:52,857 --> 00:31:54,959 nearly 50 species in all. 439 00:31:55,025 --> 00:31:57,294 [violin music] 440 00:31:57,361 --> 00:31:59,597 [mosquitoe buzzes] 441 00:32:00,331 --> 00:32:02,533 {\an1}Male mosquitoes feed on nectar, 442 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,736 but females they're out for blood. 443 00:32:10,274 --> 00:32:12,510 In a single meal, a female can drink 444 00:32:12,576 --> 00:32:15,179 two to three times her body weight. 445 00:32:18,549 --> 00:32:20,818 {\an1}She needs blood to produce eggs, 446 00:32:22,353 --> 00:32:25,289 but feeding on humans is risky business. 447 00:32:25,322 --> 00:32:30,728 [hand smacks] 448 00:32:33,931 --> 00:32:35,299 The females that escape, 449 00:32:35,332 --> 00:32:37,601 search for water to lay their eggs. 450 00:32:39,303 --> 00:32:41,072 When the eggs hatch, 451 00:32:41,138 --> 00:32:43,207 {\an1}the hunter becomes the hunted. 452 00:32:43,307 --> 00:32:45,976 [lively music] 453 00:32:47,778 --> 00:32:49,289 Mosquito fish. 454 00:32:49,313 --> 00:32:51,482 [lively music] 455 00:32:53,617 --> 00:32:57,888 {\an1}These tiny predators patrol waterways all over the city. 456 00:33:03,894 --> 00:33:07,398 Mosquito fish have been introduced around the world 457 00:33:07,465 --> 00:33:09,800 to control mosquitoes, 458 00:33:10,735 --> 00:33:14,939 but here in Miami, they're native 459 00:33:15,005 --> 00:33:18,476 and they do their work with ruthless efficiency. 460 00:33:26,117 --> 00:33:28,652 The peacock chicks are about seven months old 461 00:33:28,719 --> 00:33:31,422 and getting more independent every day. 462 00:33:34,325 --> 00:33:35,826 Like gawky teenagers, 463 00:33:35,893 --> 00:33:38,429 they're nearly as big as their mothers now. 464 00:33:41,599 --> 00:33:44,101 At this age, the male is desperate 465 00:33:44,168 --> 00:33:46,036 {\an1}to practice his mating dance. 466 00:33:50,207 --> 00:33:53,644 All the young males are working on their moves. 467 00:33:55,646 --> 00:33:57,748 It's not the breeding season yet, 468 00:33:57,815 --> 00:34:00,284 {\an1}but they are eager to impress. 469 00:34:05,256 --> 00:34:09,527 {\an1}Even up on a roof, the females can't get any peace. 470 00:34:09,593 --> 00:34:13,531 [passionate upbeat music] 471 00:34:17,568 --> 00:34:20,137 {\an1}The males need to practice now 472 00:34:20,271 --> 00:34:21,605 because in a few months, 473 00:34:21,672 --> 00:34:24,008 {\an1}the stakes will get very real. 474 00:34:31,315 --> 00:34:34,518 It's a perfect winter day for a picnic. 475 00:34:36,620 --> 00:34:39,557 And the raccoons are first in line. 476 00:34:40,958 --> 00:34:43,661 [lively music] 477 00:34:48,866 --> 00:34:51,635 The females learn that whenever people gather 478 00:34:51,702 --> 00:34:53,838 handouts are a possibility, 479 00:34:58,576 --> 00:35:01,011 but as the kits are about to discover, 480 00:35:01,078 --> 00:35:04,849 it's when people leave that a meal is guaranteed. 481 00:35:04,915 --> 00:35:07,618 [lively music] 482 00:35:12,990 --> 00:35:16,260 The remains are a veritable smorgasbord. 483 00:35:16,293 --> 00:35:18,662 [lively music] 484 00:35:19,930 --> 00:35:22,900 [garbage rustling] 485 00:35:43,287 --> 00:35:47,758 {\an1}It's an all you can eat buffet for mom and her kids. 486 00:35:52,163 --> 00:35:55,399 There's a reason people call them trash pandas. 487 00:36:03,591 --> 00:36:07,128 A day of dumpster diving calls for a good cleaning. 488 00:36:07,194 --> 00:36:10,598 [gentle upbeat music] 489 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:14,802 {\an1}The bounty of human leftovers 490 00:36:14,869 --> 00:36:17,438 feeds an army of raccoons in the park. 491 00:36:19,140 --> 00:36:22,409 And they're brazen begging isn't always welcome. 492 00:36:28,149 --> 00:36:30,684 But as long as the goodies keep coming, 493 00:36:30,751 --> 00:36:32,653 the raccoons will too. 494 00:36:35,289 --> 00:36:36,857 [trashcan bangs] 495 00:36:39,326 --> 00:36:40,928 [wind whooshing] 496 00:36:40,995 --> 00:36:43,130 [tranquil music] 497 00:36:47,101 --> 00:36:49,870 The chameleon rancher has finally returned 498 00:36:49,937 --> 00:36:52,506 to round up his scaly contraband. 499 00:36:54,675 --> 00:36:56,911 {\an1}This time he's brought help. 500 00:37:03,884 --> 00:37:06,554 Chameleons sleep on exposed branches, 501 00:37:06,687 --> 00:37:08,689 so they're easy to find at night. 502 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,163 Collecting non-native reptiles isn't illegal, 503 00:37:16,230 --> 00:37:19,567 but the whole endeavor began with a crime. 504 00:37:21,268 --> 00:37:25,206 {\an1}So the ranchers work quickly and quietly to avoid trouble. 505 00:37:25,272 --> 00:37:28,008 [soft tranquil music] 506 00:37:47,394 --> 00:37:48,963 Their bags are brimming 507 00:37:53,601 --> 00:37:55,970 and they'll be back to collect the offspring 508 00:37:56,036 --> 00:37:59,640 of these chameleons for generations to come. 509 00:38:05,079 --> 00:38:07,414 [upbeat music] 510 00:38:07,481 --> 00:38:09,450 {\an1}Speaking of new generations, 511 00:38:09,517 --> 00:38:12,720 the young male peacock is stepping out. 512 00:38:14,221 --> 00:38:17,958 {\an1}Adulthood brings new feathers and new confidence. 513 00:38:23,230 --> 00:38:27,168 Oh, who's this good-looking fellow? 514 00:38:29,370 --> 00:38:32,239 No, seriously, who is that? 515 00:38:40,214 --> 00:38:41,448 Back to business. 516 00:38:41,515 --> 00:38:43,617 [calling out] 517 00:38:43,717 --> 00:38:47,188 {\an1}This female isn't impressed, 518 00:38:47,254 --> 00:38:50,491 but the youngster doesn't take it too hard. 519 00:38:50,558 --> 00:38:54,228 He won't grow a full train until he's three years old. 520 00:38:55,062 --> 00:38:56,330 In the meantime, 521 00:38:56,397 --> 00:38:59,133 he'll do his best with his meager endowments. 522 00:39:01,335 --> 00:39:04,405 The females have their eyes on someone else. 523 00:39:04,472 --> 00:39:07,208 [playful music] 524 00:39:10,678 --> 00:39:13,547 Now he's a prince. 525 00:39:15,716 --> 00:39:17,885 [birds twittering] 526 00:39:20,421 --> 00:39:23,290 This driveway looks like the place to be. 527 00:39:29,063 --> 00:39:33,677 {\an1}But wherever there are females and plenty of testosterone 528 00:39:33,701 --> 00:39:36,237 trouble is not far behind. 529 00:39:37,805 --> 00:39:40,174 [wings flapping] 530 00:39:50,417 --> 00:39:52,353 Beaten and bloodied, 531 00:39:52,419 --> 00:39:54,355 {\an1}the youngster leaves the ring. 532 00:39:54,421 --> 00:39:57,091 [gentle music] 533 00:40:00,561 --> 00:40:02,797 The prince has seen it all before. 534 00:40:02,863 --> 00:40:05,833 He won't engage in these juvenile power struggles. 535 00:40:07,668 --> 00:40:10,271 But when a new group of females arrives, 536 00:40:10,337 --> 00:40:13,574 it's time for the master to take the stage. 537 00:40:13,674 --> 00:40:14,675 [wings rustling] 538 00:40:14,708 --> 00:40:17,745 [slow romantic music] 539 00:40:19,313 --> 00:40:22,249 [feathers whooshing] 540 00:40:27,888 --> 00:40:30,691 {\an1}Every year he grows a new train, 541 00:40:30,724 --> 00:40:33,994 each more magnificent than the last. 542 00:40:39,266 --> 00:40:42,403 Now the seduction begins. 543 00:40:42,470 --> 00:40:45,272 [upbeat music] 544 00:40:47,908 --> 00:40:51,378 The hen inspects him from every angle. 545 00:41:01,322 --> 00:41:03,023 Not yet, 546 00:41:04,291 --> 00:41:06,760 this calls for more advanced moves. 547 00:41:06,827 --> 00:41:08,696 [feathers rustling] 548 00:41:08,762 --> 00:41:10,798 [slow seductive music] 549 00:41:14,101 --> 00:41:16,137 A pause, 550 00:41:16,203 --> 00:41:17,872 a subtle signal 551 00:41:17,938 --> 00:41:20,174 and she leads him forward. 552 00:41:20,241 --> 00:41:22,910 [lively music] 553 00:41:30,551 --> 00:41:33,354 [feathers rustling] 554 00:41:38,692 --> 00:41:41,695 [air whooshing] 555 00:41:41,762 --> 00:41:45,166 The deed done, he's right back to work. 556 00:41:45,232 --> 00:41:47,134 [gentle music] 557 00:41:49,036 --> 00:41:53,340 The females choose him again and again 558 00:41:54,475 --> 00:41:56,944 and again, 559 00:41:58,712 --> 00:42:00,981 some guys get all the luck. 560 00:42:03,818 --> 00:42:08,155 For the youngster, well, maybe next year. 561 00:42:11,692 --> 00:42:13,894 Until then he'll share the streets 562 00:42:13,961 --> 00:42:16,864 with wild neighbors from around the world. 563 00:42:18,566 --> 00:42:22,703 {\an1}Invasive species have transformed Miami's ecosystem 564 00:42:22,770 --> 00:42:25,039 {\an1}often at the expense of natives. 565 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:30,177 But peacocks, anoles, parrots, iguanas, 566 00:42:31,078 --> 00:42:32,947 they're not the villains. 567 00:42:33,013 --> 00:42:35,316 They're here because we brought them. 568 00:42:36,417 --> 00:42:39,386 Arriving with nothing but a drive to survive, 569 00:42:39,453 --> 00:42:43,257 they defied the odds and made new lives here. 570 00:42:44,058 --> 00:42:46,160 [upbeat jazz music] 571 00:42:46,227 --> 00:42:48,362 Stricter laws and better enforcement 572 00:42:48,429 --> 00:42:50,531 could slow the tide of new species 573 00:42:50,598 --> 00:42:52,867 arriving on Miami's shores. 574 00:42:54,535 --> 00:42:58,939 {\an1}But many of Miami's most iconic animals are invasive. 575 00:42:59,907 --> 00:43:01,775 {\an1}They've been here for decades 576 00:43:01,842 --> 00:43:04,645 {\an1}and they're so abundant that we couldn't get rid of them, 577 00:43:04,712 --> 00:43:06,113 even if we tried. 578 00:43:07,982 --> 00:43:10,818 Wherever their ancestors once lived, 579 00:43:10,885 --> 00:43:13,154 they're Miamians now. 580 00:43:14,321 --> 00:43:16,490 They've joined an equally unique community 581 00:43:16,557 --> 00:43:19,827 of native species that still persist 582 00:43:19,894 --> 00:43:22,897 in an ecosystem dominated by humans. 583 00:43:25,099 --> 00:43:27,935 {\an1}Whether native or not, the species that have made it 584 00:43:28,002 --> 00:43:30,070 make the city what it is. 585 00:43:31,071 --> 00:43:33,207 America's most colorful, 586 00:43:33,274 --> 00:43:34,875 most exotic 587 00:43:34,942 --> 00:43:37,578 {\an1}and most surprising metropolis, 588 00:43:38,879 --> 00:43:41,282 a city that could only be 589 00:43:41,348 --> 00:43:42,950 {\an8} Wild Miami. 590 00:43:43,017 --> 00:43:46,053 {\an8}[upbeat jazz music] 591 00:43:47,421 --> 00:43:50,124 {\an8}[birds calling]