Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom: Spring

Three-part series following pioneering Alaskans, both animal and human, as they battle the elements and reap the benefits of nature's seasonal gold rush. One of the most iconic wildernesses on the planet, Alaska is America's last frontier and by far its biggest state. It has deep forests and vast mountain ranges, and a third of it sits above the Arctic Circle. In this wild place, black bear cubs are faced with a daunting climb down from their tree-den, a mother sea otter nurses her fluff-ball baby through the chilly days of early spring and stealthy 50-tonne sperm whales steal fish from the end of fishermen's lines in an extraordinary marine heist. As spring lights up the land, Alaska faces one of the greatest transformations on earth. Temperatures soar, and as the sun's rays hit the snow and ice, water, light and warmth return. Alaska's transition to spring may look magical, but for those animals emerging from a long winter's sleep it is a time of intense competition. episode 1