Tiny Creatures (2020) s01e06 Episode Script
Florida
1
[narrator] Florida,
home to the Everglades.
A wild expanse
of almost two million acres of wetlands.
Isolated among the grassy waters
stands a fishing shack,
the backdrop
for two very different animals
whose stories are destined to cross.
[cawing]
A raven.
A sleek bird with beautiful,
black, glossy feathers.
Behind this polished appearance,
the raven possesses intellect
as well as beauty.
Lately, the raven's been keeping an eye
on this fishing shack,
tracking the movements of a human owner,
their habits, and their routine.
He knows when the coast will be clear.
[caws]
Ravens are quirky characters,
and this one is keen to explore.
His eyesight, however,
isn't as sharp as his mind.
He can't see well in the dark.
But this bird is a problem solver,
and he has the perfect solution.
As smart as a chimpanzee,
ravens frequently use their brains
to exploit the riches of others,
especially humans.
And this person has many treasures
hidden away,
safely out of reach.
But for the raven,
this is a test of his wits.
[caws]
And he does what ravens do best:
he improvises.
Ravens are one of only a few animals
known to use tools.
Armed with their superior intellect,
they're fast and adaptable learners.
And this raven has developed a talent
for working out
exactly how to get what he wants.
[caws]
Shaping the Everglades is a gigantic,
slow-moving freshwater river,
spanning 60 miles wide and 100 miles long.
The water is also home
to an assortment of wildlife.
Unlike the raven, some animals
strive for a simple existence.
After a busy night exploring,
this brown rat is traveling home to rest.
Each night, she swims from bank to bank
to see what she can forage.
Just like humans,
not all rats are natural swimmers.
Those rats who have mastered the art
can swim over a mile in one go.
With her small frame and streamlined body,
she's a natural,
moving effortlessly through the water.
This is a familiar and safe route.
Not many predators can follow her
through these narrow tunnels.
It was her swimming agility
which brought her
to this hidden route to her home.
A light at the end of the tunnel
signifies her final hurdle.
One that relies on her ability
to hold her breath
and stay submerged
for up to three minutes.
A rather unconventional way
of entering her home in the fishing shack.
Now soaked to the bone,
she carries an extra 5% of her mass
in water weight.
If her fur stays wet for too long,
she's at risk of hypothermia.
Using the equivalent
of nature's hair dryer to dry off,
she adopts an alternative approach.
Vigorously shaking her body
back and forth 18 times per second,
she experiences forces up to 20 Gs
as she performs
a high-speed twist and shake.
It's an efficient,
if not slightly messy, approach.
Within just four seconds,
she's removed 70% of the water droplets.
Unbeknown to the rat, however,
there's a trespasser inside her home.
And the normal serenity of the shack
is swiftly broken.
[caws]
The presence of the rat
irritates the raven.
He could easily kill this rodent,
but he has other ideas.
[caws]
Ravens are one of the few bird species
who like to play.
And the rat is the unfortunate victim
of its game
and her tail is a tempting target.
Fleeing this terrifying predator,
the rat seeks sanctuary where she can.
[cawing]
This game is a little one-sided.
The raven uses its sharp beak
to poke and probe.
But the rat's size and agility
just give her the edge
in this unusual terrain.
She seizes her opportunity
and makes a dash for it.
She squeezes through a one-inch gap,
leaving the raven still pecking.
[caws]
Distracted by the chase,
the raven has lost track of time.
The fisherman arrives back at the shack,
seeking shelter from the midday sun.
But for some, the heat of the sun's rays
are welcome to warm cold blood.
Originally introduced to southern Florida
by humans,
green iguanas
have invaded the Everglades,
and these giant lizards
have a voracious appetite.
The fisherman returns from a long
but successful day on the water.
He is unaware of the raven's game
that's still taking place in the shack.
[squeaks]
-[floorboard creaks]
-[caws]
The noise of the fisherman
alerts the raven.
Realizing the human has returned,
the game with the rat
is no longer of interest to him,
as the raven spots
a more appealing opportunity outside.
[caws]
Luckily, the pause in the chase
allows the rat to escape to her bed.
For the raven,
it seems there are bigger fish to fry.
With no teeth to chew its food,
the raven pecks at the fish,
swallowing the smaller,
more manageable pieces.
Capable of smelling food
from a mile away,
the smell of fish entices the rat
from its hiding place.
Similar to ravens,
rats are not choosy about what they eat.
There's more than enough food here
for both of them.
Though still wary of the raven,
the rat hopes this distraction
will allow her to break cover
and grab a quick bite unnoticed.
But the beady-eyed raven
hasn't learned the art of sharing.
[cawing]
Woken by the commotion of the raven,
this sensitive lizard doesn't hesitate.
Its instinctive reaction is to run.
In a flash, it's gone.
Ravens can learn
to either like or dislike a person
depending on how they're treated.
And they never forget a face.
[cawing]
Get out of here! Go!
Now the rat can finally rest.
Both the rat and the raven
are blissfully unaware
of the new danger
being constructed outside.
Humans also hold grudges,
and the raven's actions have consequences.
[cage rattles]
[raven cawing]
A distressing sound
brings the rat out of a deep sleep.
Trapped and outsmarted
by the fisherman,
the raven calls for help.
A social animal, the rat can sense
the raven's distress.
Unnerved by the calls for help,
her instinct draws her to the raven.
Arriving to see the trapped bird,
a sense of empathy washes over the rat.
She approaches cautiously.
She has not forgotten
the raven's torment from yesterday.
But her sense of compassion
overrides her concern.
Equipped with super strong teeth,
rats are adept at chewing
through concrete, glass, and even metal.
Although not quite as clever as the raven,
rats are super smart.
Unsure of when the fisherman will return,
the rat works as quickly as she can
to gnaw through the rope.
[squeaks]
The raven is puzzled by the rat's actions,
but grateful nonetheless.
The fisherman is returning
from an early-morning outing.
The raven warns the rat.
The Everglades are home to many animals.
The American alligator
is a keystone species,
crucial to the health and well-being
of the ecosystem.
But some animals aren't always welcome.
An exotic species introduced by humans,
the Burmese python doesn't
naturally belong in the Everglades.
Despite this fact,
it has everything it requires
to multiply and dominate
these delicate waterways.
An intense odor
is coming through the pipes.
It can smell a rat.
Although the Burmese python
is one of the largest snakes in the world,
they're surprisingly agile climbers.
To shift their heavy, elongated frame,
specialized muscles under their belly
propel them forward.
Continuously flicking its forked tongue,
it analyzes its surroundings.
The snake can taste chemical trails
in the air left behind by passing prey.
Instead of adopting an ambush attack,
it elects to stalk its unsuspecting prey
slowly and silently.
Able to open its mouth
five times wider than its own head,
the rat is an easy meal for the python.
Using heat-sensitive pits
lined along its upper lip,
the python possesses infrared vision.
This allows it to detect warm things.
The fisherman has grown up
on the Everglades,
and he still honors the good old days.
A single transparent plastic bag
half-filled with water and five coins
hangs near the window of the shack.
Sunlight passing through the bag
acts like a prism,
scattering light in all directions.
The idea is that it dazzles
and confuses flies, keeping them away.
But it might not just be flies
that get confused.
The python has the advantage
of not only seeing the rat,
but also feeling it.
Detecting the heat signature
emitted as far as three feet away
the rodent appears illuminated.
The python slithers ever closer.
Its target lies dead ahead.
The raven notices the snake
and calls out to warn the rat.
[caws]
But it's no use.
The loud munching of the rat
has blocked out the raven's call.
Time for more drastic action.
[tapping]
The snake's hearing is sensitive
only to low frequency sounds,
and so it remains unperturbed
by the raven's tapping.
[caws]
Fixating on its victim,
it retracts its body
into the strike position.
The hanging water bag
has gradually heated in the sun.
Now the snake senses two warm targets.
Any small movement from either
will trigger
the snake's predatory instinct to strike.
[raven cawing]
The raven's sudden appearance
has foiled the python's ambush.
[caws]
Usually the cryptic nature of these snakes
makes them hard to detect in the grass,
but in the shack, there's nowhere to hide.
Expertly catching the snake,
the fisherman plans to take it far away.
The rat retreats to the safety
and protection of her home.
Once classed as America's
last and impenetrable frontier,
the mixture of heavy rainfall
and plentiful sunshine gives life
to this rich and green landscape.
The waters and the banks of the Everglades
provide humans with endless opportunities.
After an exhaustingly long day
on the water,
the fisherman's work isn't done yet.
He sets about preparing and maintaining
his much-loved equipment,
working late into the early hours
of the morning.
Such delicate work
requires a lot of focus.
But, as the saying goes,
you shouldn't burn the candle
at both ends.
[man snoring gently]
The rat never passes on an opportunity
to fuel up,
and she quickly collects the crumbs
dropped by the fisherman.
The noise of the whistling kettle
draws the attention of the rat,
who anxiously watches
as a gust of wind through the open window
ignites a disaster.
Unaware of the catastrophe
spreading around him,
the fisherman slips into a deeper sleep.
[snores loudly]
The rat realizes she must act fast
if she's to save her home.
[clatters]
The rat's actions fall on deaf ears.
[caws]
[caws]
[continues cawing]
The raven calls loudly.
[continues snoring]
It appears
to be trying to help the fisherman.
The raven is not giving up.
This situation calls
for more drastic measures.
[caws]
Time to get physical.
The fisherman has woken
to an alarming spectacle.
[kettle whistling]
Fires are common in the Everglades,
and luckily he is well-prepared
for such an emergency.
The heroic efforts
of both the rat and the raven
meant the fire didn't get a chance
to cause too much damage.
The human has cheated death,
and he has the rat and the raven to thank.
But the rat is left without a home.
She must find a new place
to rest her weary head.
Troubled by the fire,
the fisherman seeks solace on the water.
Collecting his equipment,
he sets off on his boat to clear his mind.
Concerned about where the fisherman
is taking the rat,
the raven follows closely behind
from the air.
The fisherman has an unexpected stowaway,
but luckily for the rat,
she comes
from a long line of seafaring ancestors.
As the boat engine stops,
he sets up his fishing equipment.
The rat owes a lot to the fisherman.
The shack has provided a shelter
for her and any future offspring.
All over the Everglades,
animals do what they must to survive.
In a delicate ecosystem such as this,
a balance
between predator and prey is critical.
Through their trials and tribulations,
the rat and the raven have developed
a mutual respect and understanding
for one another.
These two lonely souls
have formed an unlikely bond,
proving that no matter where you're from
or who you are,
it's your actions that truly define you.
The once great rivalry
that existed between them
has transformed
into an even greater friendship.
Now, with the support of one another,
anything is possible.
[narrator] Florida,
home to the Everglades.
A wild expanse
of almost two million acres of wetlands.
Isolated among the grassy waters
stands a fishing shack,
the backdrop
for two very different animals
whose stories are destined to cross.
[cawing]
A raven.
A sleek bird with beautiful,
black, glossy feathers.
Behind this polished appearance,
the raven possesses intellect
as well as beauty.
Lately, the raven's been keeping an eye
on this fishing shack,
tracking the movements of a human owner,
their habits, and their routine.
He knows when the coast will be clear.
[caws]
Ravens are quirky characters,
and this one is keen to explore.
His eyesight, however,
isn't as sharp as his mind.
He can't see well in the dark.
But this bird is a problem solver,
and he has the perfect solution.
As smart as a chimpanzee,
ravens frequently use their brains
to exploit the riches of others,
especially humans.
And this person has many treasures
hidden away,
safely out of reach.
But for the raven,
this is a test of his wits.
[caws]
And he does what ravens do best:
he improvises.
Ravens are one of only a few animals
known to use tools.
Armed with their superior intellect,
they're fast and adaptable learners.
And this raven has developed a talent
for working out
exactly how to get what he wants.
[caws]
Shaping the Everglades is a gigantic,
slow-moving freshwater river,
spanning 60 miles wide and 100 miles long.
The water is also home
to an assortment of wildlife.
Unlike the raven, some animals
strive for a simple existence.
After a busy night exploring,
this brown rat is traveling home to rest.
Each night, she swims from bank to bank
to see what she can forage.
Just like humans,
not all rats are natural swimmers.
Those rats who have mastered the art
can swim over a mile in one go.
With her small frame and streamlined body,
she's a natural,
moving effortlessly through the water.
This is a familiar and safe route.
Not many predators can follow her
through these narrow tunnels.
It was her swimming agility
which brought her
to this hidden route to her home.
A light at the end of the tunnel
signifies her final hurdle.
One that relies on her ability
to hold her breath
and stay submerged
for up to three minutes.
A rather unconventional way
of entering her home in the fishing shack.
Now soaked to the bone,
she carries an extra 5% of her mass
in water weight.
If her fur stays wet for too long,
she's at risk of hypothermia.
Using the equivalent
of nature's hair dryer to dry off,
she adopts an alternative approach.
Vigorously shaking her body
back and forth 18 times per second,
she experiences forces up to 20 Gs
as she performs
a high-speed twist and shake.
It's an efficient,
if not slightly messy, approach.
Within just four seconds,
she's removed 70% of the water droplets.
Unbeknown to the rat, however,
there's a trespasser inside her home.
And the normal serenity of the shack
is swiftly broken.
[caws]
The presence of the rat
irritates the raven.
He could easily kill this rodent,
but he has other ideas.
[caws]
Ravens are one of the few bird species
who like to play.
And the rat is the unfortunate victim
of its game
and her tail is a tempting target.
Fleeing this terrifying predator,
the rat seeks sanctuary where she can.
[cawing]
This game is a little one-sided.
The raven uses its sharp beak
to poke and probe.
But the rat's size and agility
just give her the edge
in this unusual terrain.
She seizes her opportunity
and makes a dash for it.
She squeezes through a one-inch gap,
leaving the raven still pecking.
[caws]
Distracted by the chase,
the raven has lost track of time.
The fisherman arrives back at the shack,
seeking shelter from the midday sun.
But for some, the heat of the sun's rays
are welcome to warm cold blood.
Originally introduced to southern Florida
by humans,
green iguanas
have invaded the Everglades,
and these giant lizards
have a voracious appetite.
The fisherman returns from a long
but successful day on the water.
He is unaware of the raven's game
that's still taking place in the shack.
[squeaks]
-[floorboard creaks]
-[caws]
The noise of the fisherman
alerts the raven.
Realizing the human has returned,
the game with the rat
is no longer of interest to him,
as the raven spots
a more appealing opportunity outside.
[caws]
Luckily, the pause in the chase
allows the rat to escape to her bed.
For the raven,
it seems there are bigger fish to fry.
With no teeth to chew its food,
the raven pecks at the fish,
swallowing the smaller,
more manageable pieces.
Capable of smelling food
from a mile away,
the smell of fish entices the rat
from its hiding place.
Similar to ravens,
rats are not choosy about what they eat.
There's more than enough food here
for both of them.
Though still wary of the raven,
the rat hopes this distraction
will allow her to break cover
and grab a quick bite unnoticed.
But the beady-eyed raven
hasn't learned the art of sharing.
[cawing]
Woken by the commotion of the raven,
this sensitive lizard doesn't hesitate.
Its instinctive reaction is to run.
In a flash, it's gone.
Ravens can learn
to either like or dislike a person
depending on how they're treated.
And they never forget a face.
[cawing]
Get out of here! Go!
Now the rat can finally rest.
Both the rat and the raven
are blissfully unaware
of the new danger
being constructed outside.
Humans also hold grudges,
and the raven's actions have consequences.
[cage rattles]
[raven cawing]
A distressing sound
brings the rat out of a deep sleep.
Trapped and outsmarted
by the fisherman,
the raven calls for help.
A social animal, the rat can sense
the raven's distress.
Unnerved by the calls for help,
her instinct draws her to the raven.
Arriving to see the trapped bird,
a sense of empathy washes over the rat.
She approaches cautiously.
She has not forgotten
the raven's torment from yesterday.
But her sense of compassion
overrides her concern.
Equipped with super strong teeth,
rats are adept at chewing
through concrete, glass, and even metal.
Although not quite as clever as the raven,
rats are super smart.
Unsure of when the fisherman will return,
the rat works as quickly as she can
to gnaw through the rope.
[squeaks]
The raven is puzzled by the rat's actions,
but grateful nonetheless.
The fisherman is returning
from an early-morning outing.
The raven warns the rat.
The Everglades are home to many animals.
The American alligator
is a keystone species,
crucial to the health and well-being
of the ecosystem.
But some animals aren't always welcome.
An exotic species introduced by humans,
the Burmese python doesn't
naturally belong in the Everglades.
Despite this fact,
it has everything it requires
to multiply and dominate
these delicate waterways.
An intense odor
is coming through the pipes.
It can smell a rat.
Although the Burmese python
is one of the largest snakes in the world,
they're surprisingly agile climbers.
To shift their heavy, elongated frame,
specialized muscles under their belly
propel them forward.
Continuously flicking its forked tongue,
it analyzes its surroundings.
The snake can taste chemical trails
in the air left behind by passing prey.
Instead of adopting an ambush attack,
it elects to stalk its unsuspecting prey
slowly and silently.
Able to open its mouth
five times wider than its own head,
the rat is an easy meal for the python.
Using heat-sensitive pits
lined along its upper lip,
the python possesses infrared vision.
This allows it to detect warm things.
The fisherman has grown up
on the Everglades,
and he still honors the good old days.
A single transparent plastic bag
half-filled with water and five coins
hangs near the window of the shack.
Sunlight passing through the bag
acts like a prism,
scattering light in all directions.
The idea is that it dazzles
and confuses flies, keeping them away.
But it might not just be flies
that get confused.
The python has the advantage
of not only seeing the rat,
but also feeling it.
Detecting the heat signature
emitted as far as three feet away
the rodent appears illuminated.
The python slithers ever closer.
Its target lies dead ahead.
The raven notices the snake
and calls out to warn the rat.
[caws]
But it's no use.
The loud munching of the rat
has blocked out the raven's call.
Time for more drastic action.
[tapping]
The snake's hearing is sensitive
only to low frequency sounds,
and so it remains unperturbed
by the raven's tapping.
[caws]
Fixating on its victim,
it retracts its body
into the strike position.
The hanging water bag
has gradually heated in the sun.
Now the snake senses two warm targets.
Any small movement from either
will trigger
the snake's predatory instinct to strike.
[raven cawing]
The raven's sudden appearance
has foiled the python's ambush.
[caws]
Usually the cryptic nature of these snakes
makes them hard to detect in the grass,
but in the shack, there's nowhere to hide.
Expertly catching the snake,
the fisherman plans to take it far away.
The rat retreats to the safety
and protection of her home.
Once classed as America's
last and impenetrable frontier,
the mixture of heavy rainfall
and plentiful sunshine gives life
to this rich and green landscape.
The waters and the banks of the Everglades
provide humans with endless opportunities.
After an exhaustingly long day
on the water,
the fisherman's work isn't done yet.
He sets about preparing and maintaining
his much-loved equipment,
working late into the early hours
of the morning.
Such delicate work
requires a lot of focus.
But, as the saying goes,
you shouldn't burn the candle
at both ends.
[man snoring gently]
The rat never passes on an opportunity
to fuel up,
and she quickly collects the crumbs
dropped by the fisherman.
The noise of the whistling kettle
draws the attention of the rat,
who anxiously watches
as a gust of wind through the open window
ignites a disaster.
Unaware of the catastrophe
spreading around him,
the fisherman slips into a deeper sleep.
[snores loudly]
The rat realizes she must act fast
if she's to save her home.
[clatters]
The rat's actions fall on deaf ears.
[caws]
[caws]
[continues cawing]
The raven calls loudly.
[continues snoring]
It appears
to be trying to help the fisherman.
The raven is not giving up.
This situation calls
for more drastic measures.
[caws]
Time to get physical.
The fisherman has woken
to an alarming spectacle.
[kettle whistling]
Fires are common in the Everglades,
and luckily he is well-prepared
for such an emergency.
The heroic efforts
of both the rat and the raven
meant the fire didn't get a chance
to cause too much damage.
The human has cheated death,
and he has the rat and the raven to thank.
But the rat is left without a home.
She must find a new place
to rest her weary head.
Troubled by the fire,
the fisherman seeks solace on the water.
Collecting his equipment,
he sets off on his boat to clear his mind.
Concerned about where the fisherman
is taking the rat,
the raven follows closely behind
from the air.
The fisherman has an unexpected stowaway,
but luckily for the rat,
she comes
from a long line of seafaring ancestors.
As the boat engine stops,
he sets up his fishing equipment.
The rat owes a lot to the fisherman.
The shack has provided a shelter
for her and any future offspring.
All over the Everglades,
animals do what they must to survive.
In a delicate ecosystem such as this,
a balance
between predator and prey is critical.
Through their trials and tribulations,
the rat and the raven have developed
a mutual respect and understanding
for one another.
These two lonely souls
have formed an unlikely bond,
proving that no matter where you're from
or who you are,
it's your actions that truly define you.
The once great rivalry
that existed between them
has transformed
into an even greater friendship.
Now, with the support of one another,
anything is possible.