04x16 - Smoky Solutions/Tooey's Egg-Sighting Adventures

[bunniefuu]

Hey, everyone-- it's me, Molly!

♪ Molly of Denali ♪

Let's go!

♪ She's Molly of Denali ♪

[laughing]: Whoo!

♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪

♪ She is ready to explore

♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪

♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪

Yeah!

♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪

♪ Always by her side And Trini!

♪ Discovering the outdoors

♪ On adventures day and night

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ Through fields of fireweed

♪ Come along with Molly ♪

♪ Molly

♪ From tundra to the sea

Mahsi'choo-- let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali ♪

Yeah!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

♪ Come on ♪ Let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali ♪

♪ She's Molly of Denali ♪

MOLLY: "Smoky Solutions."

[camera chime]

MOLLY [imitates radio squawk]: Commander Molly to Mars Base.

No sign of life yet, over. [imitates radio squawk]

VERA [imitates radio squawk]: Mars Base here.

We're picking up something on the radar headed your way.

Something big! It's almost on you.

Commander Molly! It's a...

[thud]

MOLLY and VERA: Giant Martian Space Dog![barks]

[giggles] Suki. Aw... so cute.

[barks]

This is the best Suki Story yet!

Here, girl.[barks]

Oo'ee neiinchii!

[barks]

Whoa!

The sky in Alaska is so different.

Is it always so orange?

MOLLY: No. There's a wildfire.

The smoke turns the sky this Martian color.

A wildfire? Should we be worried?

No, the fire's far away.

Oh, good to know-- oh, I'm Kayla.

I'm Vera. And I'm Molly.

Oop. [nervous laughs, sighs]

Are you staying in the bunkhouse?

Yup. My mom's checking us in.

It's my first time in Alaska.

And my first wildfire sky.

So, if the fire is far away,

how come the smoke is here?

It can travel longdistances.

Sometimes hundreds of miles.

Come on, we can show you.

[Suki whines]

See, the closest fire is here.

Qyah is here.

Even though it's far away, we're in the path of the smoke.

The air quality's okay now,

but if it gets worse, we'd stay inside.

Oh. Are these all fires too?

MOLLY: Yeah.

That's why my parents are away.

They're volunteering in nearby villages.

And my parents are putting together food packages

for people who had to leave their homes.

Wow! People in Alaska are so nice.

[Grandpa Nat humming]

You have to try our blueberry nivagi!

Best this side of the Yukon. [chuckles]

Oh, well, maybe when you've settled in.

Thanks so much, Nat.

Come on, Kayla, let's go unpack.

Okay, Mom! Thanks for the fire lesson.

See ya! Bye!

[door opens, bell rings]

[door closes, bell rings]

Shchada'a,there were lots of wildfires last year too.

Seems like it's happening more than ever.

It is. How come?

Well,

summers are getting hotter and drier.

And the forest is drier too.

A small spark can start a fire.

Now when I was your age,

our elders made small fires called cultural burnings.

They were very carefully done

to clear out old, dead wood, and let new, healthy plants grow.

These burnings were stopped years ago.

But they're making a comeback. [snaps]

Not enough to help us today, but maybe in the future.

Isn't there something we can do to help right now?

Well, I'm no wildfire expert, but Vera's parents are.

They run Qyah's fire department.

We should ask them.

Yeah! Mahsi', Shchada'a.Mm.

Ah, ooh, ha, anytime, Shgguya! [Suki barks]

[Suki panting]

So, Grandpa Nat said we should ask you

how we can help keep wildfires from happening.

Yeah! How do they get started in the first place?

Some are from lightning strikes,

but most fires are started by people lighting fireworks

or driving ATVs through dry grass.

But the big one is being careless with campfires.

Ooh! My dad taught me how to put out campfires.

I can show people how to do that.

Me too! What else can we do?

Lots of things.

Here, I'll send you a website

with a ton of information you can trust.

MOLLY: Okay.

I've made a wildfire prevention list

based on that website your mom sent,

everything from campfires to ATVs.

Awesome![Suki barks]

[chuckles] Hear that, Suki?

Time to suit up!

♪ ♪

MOLLY and VERA: The Qyah Junior Fire Crew is ready for action!

[Suki howls]

[Suki barks]

What's the first step?

MOLLY: "Always check the fire risk in your area."

It says the risk in Qyah is moderate.

That means campfires are okay, but fireworks are banned.

[door opens, bell rings] KRISTEN: Fireworks?

[door closes, bell rings] Oh, that's a great idea.

Do you have any for sale?

Oh. No, sorry.

Even if we did, the fire risk is moderate.

That means fireworks aren't allowed.

They could start a wildfire. [barks]

Oh! [chuckles] I didn't know.

Guess we won't be setting off any fireworks then.

Is there anything we should be doing to help prevent fires?

Glad you asked!

MOLLY: "Clear anything that can catch fire away from buildings."

♪ ♪

VERA: "Always keep your campfire in a firepit,

and at least five feet from anything that can catch fire."

♪ ♪

[barks]

MOLLY: "Set up water stations or extinguishers for easy access."

VERA: "Wet down dry grass to lower its burnability."

[water running]

MOLLY: "Always put out your campfire with water

until the embers are cold."

[fire sizzling out]

[barks]

[sighs] Who knew fire prevention was so much work?

And we haven't even gotten through the whole list yet.

You two have been doing such a great job,

I think you deserve a little treat.

Ta-da!

[both gasp]

Mm, blueberry nivagi!

Mahsi', Shchada'a.

Mm. Yum!

[distant engine running]

[ATV engine revving]

Hey, Molly, what was the last thing

on our wildfire prevention list?

Uh...

Oh, "Avoid driving ATVs through dry grass.

The heat from the engine could start a fire."

[ATV engine running continues]

[ATV revving]

[engine starts]

[spark]

[Molly gasps]

Ah! Fire!

GRANDPA NAT: Stay close!

[Suki barks]

[barking]

I'll text my parents!

We have to get this out, fast!

Shchada'a!Vera and I set up a water station. Aanaii!

[Suki barks]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[grunting]

[fire sizzling]

Here you go, Shchada'a.

[fire fizzles out]

[sighs] Good work, girls.

Your water station saved the day.

We are so sorry.

We didn't know the ATV could start a grass fire.

Me neither, until we talked to Maurice and made this list.

The fire is completely out.

Your wildfire prevention helped stop it from spreading.

We're very proud of you girls.

[bell rings] I'm happy our work helped, but...

But what, Shgguya?

There will always be new people visiting,

and not just in Qyah, but all over Alaska.

How can we make sure everyone everywhere

knows good wildfire prevention?

Well, we'll definitely never forget, right, Suki?

[gasps] Wait a second.

Maybe Suki can help us get the word out!

Molly, I love Suki,

but she's the worst firedog I've ever seen.

Well, I think I can lend her a hand.

MOLLY: Welcome to another exciting Suki Story!

[whines]

Today's episode is all about Suki's Wildfire Prevention Tips.

To help prevent wildfires, Suki says,

[imitates Suki] "Always check the fire risk in your area."

Fire risk is moderate. That means campfires are okay.

[on phone]: Suki says,

"Clear anything-- ruff!

"That can catch fire away

from buildings."

Suki says,

"Always keep your campfire in a firepit,

"and at least five feet-- ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff!

From anything that can catch fire."

[Suki barks] Wah!

[loud thud]

Suki says, "Set up water stations, ruff!

Or extinguishers for easy access."

[on phone]: Suki says,

"Wet down dry grass to lower its burnability.

Ruff, ruff!"

Suki says, "Always put out your campfire with water

until the embers are cold."

Suki says, "Avoid driving ATVs through dry grass.

The heat from the engine could start a fire."

But most important, to help prevent wildfires,

Suki says,

"It's up to every one of us

to take care of the land and each other."

[Suki barks]

Hey, everyone!

Molly here to answer your questions about life in Alaska.

Camillo in Puerto Rico asks,

"I'm going on a boat ride in Alaska.

Is there anything I should know?"

My friends can show you.

ALL: Hi, Molly!

BOY: We're going on a boat ride around Unalaska.

But before that, we have to make sure we have life jackets.

We got this handout.

We're gonna use this to find out

what type of life jackets we need.

The top part talks about all life jackets in general.

GIRL: "All life jackets must fit properly to work."

GIRL: The bottom part talks about different types of life jackets.

"There are different life jackets made

"for different situations,

"so it is important to know which life jacket you need.

"Offshore life jackets are designed for more

"rough, remote, open waters.

"Near-shore life jackets are designed for calm inland water.

"Near-shore floatation A*DS are designed

"for a wide variety of uses,

"including boating, fishing, and waterskiing.

Since we are boating on calm water near the shore,

a near-shore floatation'd work.

♪ ♪

It fits!

And we're ready to go boating.

♪ ♪

GIRL: I hope today that we see a sea otter.

Oh, look at that!

[cheering]

GIRL: Ooh, the water's cold.

♪ ♪

Ooh, an otter!

♪ ♪

[laughing]

♪ ♪

I got it!

I got it!

Whoa.

♪ ♪

[giggling, chatting indistinctly]

ALL: Bye, Molly!

MOLLY: Mahsi'choo!

Thanks for asking and see you next time!

MOLLY: "Tooey's Egg-Sighting Adventure!"

[camera chimes] Hey, everyone!

Guess what?

Today, for the first time ever,

Tooey is taking me hunting for herring gull eggs.

They look like this.

Only certain Alaska Native communities are allowed

to gather gull eggs, so I feel super lucky to be invited.

You know, I don't even know where gulls lay their eggs.

In trees? On the edge of a cliff?

Ha. Guess I'll find out!

[laughs] No, the nests aren't on a cliff.

[barks] They're on the ground. See?

Oh! [laughs]

Much easier than climbing up a cliff.

But not as egg-citing.

Get it? Egg-citing. [chuckles]

[laughs]

TOOEY [on phone]: Found another one!

When was this?

Last year, at my favorite egg gathering spot.

MOLLY: Whoa! Look at all the gulls!

TOOEY: That's always a good sign.

It means there will be lots of eggs!

[on video]: Got two!

Why did you only take two eggs?

Well, if there are three eggs, you take two.

If there are two eggs, you take one.

If there's only one egg, you don't take any.

How come?

Mom? Why don't we take all them?

To show respect for the gulls.

Also, if everyone took all the eggs, there'd be no gulls left.

Right.

Oh, you always say quyana after you take an egg

to thank the gulls.

See?

[on video]: There are three eggs in this nest too!

It's an egg-stravaganza!

Hey, Tooey? I didn't hear you say quyana.

I guess I was so excited, I forgot.

Hopefully, the gulls will still give us eggs this year,

even if I didn't thank them last year.

I hope so.

Ooh, I can't wait to see all the gulls!

[Khi barks]

Here's our spot. Let's go find some gull eggs!

Why aren't there any gulls...?

I don't know...

[Khi barking]

Khi probably scared them for a second

with all his crazy running.

I'll keep him with me while you hunt for eggs.

[whistles] Aren't you hunting too?

The only things I'll be hunting

are jewel thieves with Inspector Klufynder.

[Khi barks]

The egg hunting is all yours.

All right! Whoo hoo!

[gasps] I see a nest!

Huh. No eggs...

MOLLY: Doesn't look like anyone's living in it anymore.

Yeah, usually there are new twigs and feathers, and eggs.

Huh, maybe the nest was too close to the edge of the bank.

See how it's kind of washed out?

Looks like the river came up higher than it usually does.

See all these sticks and stuff?

Yeah. Let's find another nest.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

At least there's one?

Yeah, but out of all the nests we've looked in,

that's it?

If this is the only egg, we can't take it.

Ugh.

Normally, I'd have almost a full bucket by now.

Hm, I wonder where the gulls went.

[gasps] Oh no!

What?

What if, what if the gulls didn't come back

because I didn't say quyanalast year?

Oh, I'm sure there's another reason.

Like what if something's been eating all the gull eggs?

You mean like some kind of predator or something?

Uh-huh!

If there's an egg-eating predator,

then they'll probably come back for this egg too.

You know what we should do?

Stakeout! Stakeout!

[yawns][sighs]

[hums]

[sighs, grass rustling]

[quietly]: You hear that? [gasps]

[quietly]: The predator!

[grass rustling]

[quietly]: It's coming closer!

[barks]

[laughs] Predator! It's on me! Get it off!

[laughter]

Khi! You're not a predator.

[laughs]

[giggles] A good thing, too! [barking]

[laughs] But if there's no predator,

that means the gulls didn't come back because of me.

[sighs] I wasn't respectful.

MOLLY: Oh...

I don't know how I'm going to tell my mom

that the gulls left Qyah.

ATSAQ: How'd you do?

Find lots of eggs? [barks]

Tooey, there's gotta be some other reason

the gulls moved their nests.

[gasps] I'm gonna look it up as soon as we get home.

I have just the book for you.

MOLLY: River Birds of Alaska and Their Habitats.

Tooey's uncle wrote it.

Oh yeah!

I remember him doing all that research for it.

Thanks, Mom!

What are we looking for exactly?

Stuff about where herring gulls nest,

what they like, what they don't like.

Here, let's check the index.

TOOEY: "Blue-winged teal, bufflehead, grouse...

[gasps] Herring gull!" That's it!

Page .

MOLLY: "Habitat, food, nesting!"

"Herring gulls nest in soft soil

or sand with low vegetation..."

That means plants.

"...usually against a rock or a log

to keep the nest safe from high tides or big winds."

The old nests!

They were all washed out!

You think maybe the gulls moved because of that?

We've had a lot of floods lately.

Grandpa Nat says it's because the weather's getting warmer.

That's how we found that mastodon tusk, remember?

The flood water washed away the river bank.

See if the book says anything about

how the warming weather makes gulls change where they nest.

Uh... ah-ha!

"Our Warming Climate and Gull Nesting Habitats."

"Rapidly rising temperatures in spring

"causes snow to melt faster.

"This snow melt combined with heavier spring rains

"causes rivers to flood

and wash out herring gulls' normal nesting areas."

"Which may cause

flocks to move their nesting sites further from the banks!"

You hear that, Molly?

The gulls moved because of flooding, not because of me!

Yes! Now, let's go find some eggs!

We'll be right back!

[Khi barks]

[barks]

This looks like it would be a good place

for a new nesting area.

Yeah, far away from the river if it floods.

And plenty of nest-making material.

Only...

Yeah. No nests.

Maybe we need to go a little further in?

[growls] [gasps]

[growling continues]

Is it the egg predator? [growling]

[barking]

[squawking, barking]

Whoa!

Gulls!

Look! A nest!

[groans]

There aren't any eggs here either.

[squawks]

No, but looks like there's about to be!

Let's find another nest.

[gasps]

TOOEY: Eggs!

The gulls really aren't mad at me!

You take them, Molly. It's your first hunt.

No, you take them.

That way you can say quyana and make up for last year.

[gulls squawking]

Quyana,gulls, for coming back,

even though I wasn't respectful.

Quyanafor giving us eggs.

Why are you only taking one?

Can't you take two if there are three eggs in the nest?

The gulls just moved here.

If I take fewer eggs,

maybe they'll feel safe enough to stay here.

Now, you go find your eggs!

[gulls squawking]

[gasps] Three more!

♪ Whoo hoo!

It's an egg-stravaganza!

Just like you said.

Mahsi'choo,gulls.

Quyana,gulls.

I promise I'll never forget to say thank you ever again.

[gasps] Found another one!

[Khi barks] Quyana.

MOLLY [giggles]: Whoo! Found one!

Mahsi'.[Khi barks]

♪ ♪