01x06 - The Great Defenders

[bunniefuu]

Defense.

Get out your crash helmet,
bug spray, and bandages.

On this episode,
we'll find out about

The animal world's
great defenders.

[Allison]
what happens when chris,
martin, and I team up?

Not again.

Somebody's going down,
and it won't be me.

[Chris]
martin will
sacrifice everything

To learn about
the great defenders.

[Martin]
in the end, chris and allison

Might find out how
creatures defend themselves.

We'll be learning the secrets
of animal self-defense

On kratts' creatures.

Iarriba!

Iandale, andale!

Creature vision goggles?

Creature vision goggles.

Net.butterfly net?

Got it.camcorder?

Batteries.batteries?

We're all ready

For one of the greatest creature
adventures of all time.

We're checking out
the great defenders.

In our travels,
we've seen some
amazing defenses

From all sorts of
amazing creatures.

Wild animals defend themselves
in wild ways,

Like paws, charges,
snapping jaws,

Biting jaws,

Poisonous barbs,
poisonous spikes,

Camouflage,

Patterning,

Running,

Armor,

Warning colors, swimming,

Horns,

Power,

Burrows, tusks,

And size and strength.

What we're going to do today
is check out creatures

In our own backyard--

Animals we all know about

But don't always think of
as being masters of defense.

The amazing thing

Is that every creature
on the face of the earth

Has some way
of defending itself.

Ready?

Ready.

The search for
the great defenders has begun.

There have got to
be some creatures

Defending themselves
around here.

We might not be able
to see some of them.

You're right

Because
some creatures

Defend themselves
by camouflage.

Hey, you guys,

I found something
over here.

I camouflaged myself
as a tree

And found
a walkingstick.

Where is it?

Right there.

Oh, yeah!
A walkingstick
is an insect

That looks exactly
like a stick.

That's how it hides
from predators.

I got to get
a closer look at this.

[Allison]
the walkingstick is
one of many insect defenders.

Only problem is, so many insects
use camouflage as a defense

That they can be amazingly
difficult to spot.

Man. If I didn't
know it was there,

I wouldn't know
it was there.

Which is the idea.

When a walkingstick
does move,

It makes a jerky motion,

So it looks just like
a part of the branch

Blowing in the breeze,

[Chris]
which is exactly
what the chameleon does

In africa.

For defense, chameleons
move in a jerky style,

Making them look like
a blowing leaf to predators.

Another good defense
are his swiveling eyes.

Without moving his head,
he can see in all directions,

Spotting predators and spotting
what he wants to eat.

He uses his boomeranglike
tongue to nab them.

Chameleons don't change color
only for camouflage.

They do it more
to communicate their moods.

Here's another insect that
avoids being eaten by birds.

It has two defenses.

One, it flies erratically--
up, down, every which way,

All over the place,

And two,
it tastes really bad.

Blech.

Monarch butterfly caterpillars
feed on milkweed,

Which is really bitter,

But they love it.

Monarchs nibble as much
milkweed as possible.

Not only is
milkweed bitter,

It's poisonous,
not to monarchs,

But it makes small animals, like
rats or squirrels, really sick.

And it's also
poisonous to birds.

[Allison]
humans should never
eat milkweed.

After all, for smaller animals,
even a tiny bit is bad news.

When monarchs
turn into butterflies,

They keep the poison
in their bodies.

If a bird ate one, he'd find it
a sickening experience.

So the moral
of the story is

Don't eat a monarch,

And it's a lesson
birds learn pretty quickly.

So the moral
of the story is

Don't eat
a monarch,

And it's
a lesson birds
learn quickly.

Martin,
what are you doing?

Martin, what are
you doing?

Martin's mimicking chris.

Mimicry's what you call it
when you copy someone.

In the nature world,

It's another great way
creatures defend themselves.

Viceroy butterflies
use mimicry as a defense,

And all that flying around--
up, down, and everywhere--

Is making it pretty hard
for martin to catch one.

Ow.

The viceroy butterfly
is a great example.

It looks almost exactly like

A gross-tasting
monarch butterfly,

So the birds won't eat it.

The funny thing, though,

Is that the viceroy butterfly
isn't poisonous,

But its looks
fool the birds.

Hey, wait a second.

This isa monarch butterfly.

Is mimicry just about
imitating other animals?

Not always.

Look at this!

Some creatures have
taken mimicry

In a different direction.

This satyr butterfly has spots
on the end of its wings

That look like eyes.

Preying birds zero
in on the eyespots.

It looks like
the head of a creature,

But it's just the ends
of his wings.

The birds are
likely to miss.

The satyr butterfly escapes

With little more
than a frayed wing.

[Chris]
plenty of great defenders
use this strategy.

This sonoran centipede
has false antennae

On his back end

To make it look like
he has two heads.

That confuses predators who
aren't sure which end to att*ck.

Like the sonoran,
this trumpetfish's tail

Looks like his head.

A predator zeroing in
will probably target

The wrong end
and miss his mark.

[Martin]
this butterfly fish not only
has a false eyespot,

He also hides his real eye
in a dark stripe.

[Chris]
what it comes down to is that
creatures can sometimes survive

If their tails
get bitten off,

But without a head,
forget it.

[Martin]
talk about great defenders,
check out bees.

[Bees buzzing]

Ow! You know,
they can really sting!

One thing most people
don't realize

Is that bees and wasps

Only sting to protect
themselves or their nest.

So if you accidentally
disturb a beehive,

You're threatening
them,

And they'll sting,
like martin found out.

If you don't bother them
they won't bother you.

I need a better defense.

Hey, that beekeeper's hat

Is a great idea.

Thanks.

A lot of creatures
have protective armor.

A lot might be
stretching it.

Let's think
about this.

There are


In the world, right?

But only 169 of them

Have natural
protective armor.

Armor is pretty
special stuff.

[Martin]
if you want armor,
check out the armadillo.

Her armor is made
of special hard, horny skin.

For flexibility, it's hinged
in bands, like a suit of armor.

That way,
she can scoot around

As she hunts for
insects and fruit.

The hinges let her roll
into a ball if threatened.

Rhinos don't have armor,
but they have thick, tough skin.

His skin presents
a challenge

To even the sharpest claws.

The rhino's size
is his best defense.

If he's in trouble, he isn't
shy about using that horn.

It's strong enough
to pierce a metal jeep.

And talk about piercing,

The north american porcupine
has quills that pierce the skin.

If a dog or bear goes after
a porc, they'll be sorry,

Coming away with quills
stuck in their face.

Similar defense,
unrelated creature--

Australia's echidna.

If a predator att*cks,

The echidna buries himself,
leaving a sea of spikes.

How about another australian
defender, the wombat?

These grass eaters
find protection

Without needing
armor or spikes.

Wombats found protection

With a well-dug hole
and a solid rump shield.

Each creature specializes
and carves out its own turf,

But it's not just mammals.

Reptiles have
protective armor, too.

[Allison]
like the australian
thorny devil.

This scaly lizard
is covered in spikes

That make him almost impossible
for predators to swallow.

But do reptiles use
more than spikes for defense?

Oh, yeah.

If it wasn't for
the rock hard shell,

A turtle would be
practically defenseless.

Turtles can't run fast,

They can't climb trees,

And except for
snapping turtles--

Hey, this is
a snapping turtle.

Ah!

These should be enough.

You know,
you're lucky.

If you hadn't had
your foot armor on,

You'd be less
one toe.

You can't blame
the turtle.

I was in his space.

I would have
done the same thing.

Like bees and wasps,

Snapping turtles are
great defenders.

There's
another reptile

Who's a master
of escape.

I give you the skink.

When he's att*cked,
he takes off,

So usually the predator
can grab only its tail.

But surprise!
The tail falls right off,

And that's all
the predator gets.

Sorry about that, pal.

The skink gets away.

Then all he's got to do

Is grow another tail.

Neat trick, huh?

Only if you
have a tail.

Human ancestors
lost their tails

Millions of years ago.

O.k. Then how about
the old ink screen?

When an octopus is in danger,

It sh**t out this blue ink
which hangs in the water

And blocks it
from view long enough

For the octopus to escape.

Talk about
an ink-credible defense.

Ink-credible. Get it?

I cr*ck me up.

Yeah.

[Ttark]
I know all about
the great defenders,

And there's a lot to know.

Defense comes in many sizes,
shapes, colors, and fortresses.

Termites build
fortresslike mounds

For defense from predators
and the elements.

Some creatures defend
not just themselves,

But their homes, too.

Take acacia ants.

These feisty guys
will att*ck anyone

Who even brushes up
against their acacia tree.

Talk about touchy.

How about
african buffalo weavers?

Defense starts
at home for them.

Their huge nest protects them
and their chicks,

Making it hard for a predator to
invite himself over for dinner.

And take the millipede
munching meerkat.

These little mongoose-type guys

Are real social.

They love to hang out
in groups,

Which is part of
their defense.

They rely on each other
to spot danger, like an eagle.

And don't forget burrows.

At any sign of danger,

That's where
you'll find a meerkat.

You won't find some crabs
spending much time above ground.

These claw-clutching
sidesteppers

Spend a lot of time
under the sand,

Where predators, like birds,

Can't swoop them up
for a snack.

You may wonder why a leopard

Would even shed a whisker
worrying about defense,

But lions or even hyenas
love to swipe their food.

That's why the leopard
takes it to the trees.

It's a great defense against
losing fights and lunch.

For some animals, living
in a tree has a down side.

If a predator puts you
out on a limb,

Make like the sugar glider
and jump for it.

[Chris]
that's right.

Sugar gliders have
a great defense.

If a predator, like a cat,
comes after them,

These flying creatures just take
a big leap to the next tree,

As far as 55 feet away.

Of all the defenses I've seen,
gliding's the coolest.

As creature imitations go,
gliding 55 feet sounds amazing.

Nah. I think I'll stick to
protective armor.

Humans are so limited.

Hey. You know,
a lot of creatures

Give warning signs before
they use their defenses.

Yeah! They use
warning signs
because most animals

Don't use their
defenses if they
don't have to.

So, they advertise.

The way we use bright colors
to warn people of danger.

Just like creatures use
bright colors to warn others

That it's dangerous to
come near them.

A great example
of that is...

The poison arrow frog.

What do these frogs
have in common?

They're all brightly marked,

And they're all packing
lethal poison.

These bright colors attract
the predator's attention.

It tells them, "remember me?

"I'm that poisonous frog
you really shouldn't bite

Unless you want to die.
Feeling lucky?"

Bright-colored warning signs

Aren't just used by frogs.

Check out
these poisonous caterpillars.

They advertise
their chemical weapons

In big, bright,
colorful, and furry ways.

One of the all-time
great defenders,

Who gives plenty
of warning signals

Before releasing
her chemical weapons--

The skunk.

But skunks don't use poison.

They use...stink.

Noxious, rotten,
horrible stink.

The skunk's markings are
the first warning.

The skunk has
other warnings.

It stamps its feet.

Arches its back.

And if the intruder persists,

It sways back and forth.

In a last-ditch effort,
the skunk may do a handstand,

Almost like
he's pointing out

Exactly what danger
the intruder's in for.

Or they try to.

These young skunks haven't
quite mastered that yet.

And if the intruder
still comes,

The skunk has no choice
but to fire.

By intruders, do you
mean creatures
like that dog?

Dog?

[Dog barking]

Oh, no!

[Dog whimpering]

If you or your family pet

Or your brother ever
gets sprayed by a skunk,

A tomato juice bath will help
get rid of the musky smell.

[Coughing]

Truth is, the skunk
only sprays

To protect himself.

He wants to make you
smell so bad,

You'll never
forget who you
got too close to.

I know who I got
too close to.

A skunk only has enough scent

For five or six sprays,

And it takes a while
to make more,

So, a skunk is careful
not to spray unless he has to.

I never thought of that.

It's not like he can
manufacture more
in a laboratory.

Let's see.


And ammonium.

Essence of garlic.

A jar of sewer gas.

Concentrated sulfur.

Solidified musk oil.

I think we've got it.

The perfect recipe
for skunk musk.

[Allison]
of course, everyone knows
that scientists

Didn't invent skunk musk.

There's more to these
omnivores than stink power.

They tend to
keep to themselves

And give plenty of warning
before they spray.

They use their sharp claws
to root through soil for bugs.

They also eat mice, eggs,
and carrion.

Mother skunks
usually have six babies.

They stick close to her

While learning the ropes,
like foraging for food.

Although most predators learn to
avoid skunks after one spray,

They have to watch out
for predators

Like bobcats and birds of prey.

This mom has to watch out
for the great horned owl,

Who'd love to snatch
her babies for a meal.

The great horned owl
is one bird of prey

Who really puts the fear
into a skunk.

They're so proficient
at hunting skunks,

Their nests often reek
of musk.

And now, let's check out
more great defenders.

Ready, guys?

Ready.

[Martin]
ready.

Defense.

Another creature with
great self-defense--

The squirrel.

His way of staying alive

Is to always
keep something

Between himself

And his enemies.

If I'm the predator

And I'm after
that red squirrel,

He plays this game
of hide-and-seek.

No matter where I go,

He scurries to the other side
where I can't see him.

Ah!

The trick is to freeze

Once you get to the safe side
of the tree.

Then keep an eye
on the predator.

Whichever way I go,

That squirrel is
a step ahead.

Always out of my view.

What's going on, chris?
You find something?

I found a hawk's nest
with chicks in it.

Wait a minute.

Hawks don't leave
their chicks for long.

Oh, yeah.

If a mother hawk finds
us close to her nest,

She'll go ballistic!

You can tell when
a mother goshawk is peeved

Because just before she's about
to dive-b*mb an intruder,

She--

[Hawk shrieks]

Shrieks.

Not again.

Sometimes
the best defense

Is a good offense.

I think
right now

Our best defense
is silence.

Ah.

This time, I'm not
taking any chances.

[Ttark]
and this time,

You're finally using
your head.

Yeah, and I'm
protecting it

With a mask
and a helmet.

Not just that.

You're also making yourself
look bigger.

That trick's been
working for eons.

[Allison]
that's true. Check out
the grizzly bear.

When he stands up,
he's over 8 feet tall--

An intimidating sight.

Lots of animals
make themselves look bigger

When faced with trouble.

The lionfish sticks out
his barbs,

Doubling his normal size.

On the african savanna,

Size really comes into play.

These creatures use their
immense size for protection.

Some creatures,
like antelope,

Use huge groups for defense,
pooling their resources

And depending on each other
to spot predators.

Same story for dolphin.

They live in pods,

Sticking together
for protection

From one of the biggest
predators of the sea--

Sharks.

So ttark's right.
In the creature world,

Size is maybe
the best defense.

You can increase
your numbers

Or make yourself
look bigger.

[Chris]
talking about
special tricks--

The muscles a dog
or cat uses

To raise its fur
and make itself look bigger

Are the same muscles
this creature uses

To defend itself.

The hair that
this creature raises

Is a special kind
of hair.

[Martin]
quills, barbed quills

That give predators a painful
reminder to leave porcs alone.

In fact, almost no predator

Wants to go near them.

With that bit of defense,
the porcupine can take his time.

Have you ever seen
one walking?

They're in no hurry.

They just waddle around

Until they get to another tree.

Then you see another
side of porcs.

They're amazing climbers.

The claws and pads
on their hind feet

Give them a firm grip.

Their stiff tail hairs
help prevent them

From sliding down.

[Allison]
porcupines are vegetarians--

Eating leaves and shrubs.

With those quills,
the porcupine has

An almost invincible
defense--almost.

At up to 40 pounds,
a porc is an attractive meal

To a predator, like a bobcat,
wolverine, or great horned owl,

And some predators have clever
ways of defeating his defense.

Even the porcupine's defenses
aren't impenetrable

To everybody.

Check out the fisher.

Fishers are
fast-moving predators

Who can rush in and att*ck
a porcupine's face

Then, he att*cks
it's quill-less underbelly.

The porcupine's clumsiness
and poor eyesight

Are big disadvantages
against a fisher.

A fisher picks up his scent
then races in,

Closing the gap,
and before long, it's all over.

There's one thing
I've always wondered--

Is it true that
porcupines can throw
their quills?

Well, not really,

But when a porcupine
is approached by an enemy--

Hey, martin
will show us.

What?

Why not?

I've got about


That's how many quills
a porcupine has.

Come on.
It'll be cool.

All right.
I'll do it for science.

Like a skunk,
a porcupine has

Plenty of warning signs.

It only uses its quills
as a last resort.

[Chris]
a porcupine is interested
in avoiding trouble,

But if a predator does
come his way, he doesn't panic

Because he knows
he's got a great defense.

[Allison]
if the intruder persists,
the porc gives him

Reasons to reevaluate--warnings
like chattering his teeth.

As a final warning,
he'll give up a scent,

Not as strong as the skunk's,
but still memorable.

When a porcupine
feels threatened,

First he'll turn
his back on you.

When he gets really scared,
he backs up, swings his tail,

And tries to stick you
with the--

Chris,
where's martin?

Aah! Ow!

Quills.

Porcupine quills
are really neatly designed.

They're covered
with barbs

That really keep
them stuck in there.

They go in easily...

Ow!

But they're incredibly
hard to get out.

[Ttark]
hard to get out?

Says who?

They come out,

Just not the way
they went in.

You see, quills
are designed to travel.

They work their way in
up to an inch a day

Until eventually,
they come out the other side.

Presto. Another reminder
that when a porcupine's around,

Stay clear.

Get the...point?

Yeah. I got the point.

[Chris]
count yourself lucky.

Some creatures
actually die

Because the quills
travel so far

They can puncture
a vital organ,

Like a heart or a lung.

This time, I'm going
to be extra careful.

Martin, what are
you doing?

Keeping my
defenses up.

He's had
a tough day.

That's for sure.

Right now, I'm not the one
having a tough day.

Nothing's
happened to us.

You're standing
in poison ivy,

A beehive's above you,

And a skunk's
to your left!

Well,
we've learned a lot about

The great defenders today,
haven't we?

If you
keep laughing,

No defense
in the world's

Going to
save you.

Oh, yeah?

In the creature world,

Great defenses come in
all sorts of packages.

Some ingenious,
effective,

And completely
unexpected.

[Allison]
what it comes
down to is that

Creature defense is about
protection and avoiding trouble.

Great defenders would
rather be left alone.

Creatures with natural defenses

Use their defensive weapons only
as a last resort.

If you don't have
a good natural
defense system,

The next
best thing--

A good first-aid kit.

Bandages?

Bandages.

Tomato juice?

Tomato juice.

Antivenom?

Antivenom.