>>> COMING UP, PREDATORS ARE ANIMALS THAT LIVE BY HUNTING OTHER ANIMALS.

THEY PLAY A KEY ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREDATORS AND PREY, STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>>> I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, WELCOME TO "D4K."

TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PREDATORS.

YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT PREDATORS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT PREY.

PREDATORS EAT PREY, BUT DON'T FEEL TOO SORRY FOR THE PREY.

NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 THE PREY ANIMAL GETS AWAY.

THE REASON IT'S SO HARD FOR PREDATORS TO CATCH THEIR DINNER IS THAT PRI ANIMALS HAVE FIGURED OUT MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIG HORNS USE PROTECTIVE COLORING OR CAMOUFLAGE TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS.

THEIR PALE COLOR MAKES THE SHEEP DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE BRIGHT DESERT SURROUNDINGS.

TEST YOURSELF.

HOW MANY SHEEP DO YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE?

EVEN AS THE CAMERA CLOSES IN, UNTIL THEY MOVE, THE BIG HORNS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE.

OTHER PREY ANIMALS LIKE PORCUPINES HAVE CLEVER DEFENSES.

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN STUCK WITH A PORCUPINE QUILL, YOU KNOW, IT HURTS!

MANY LARGE PREY ANIMALS LIKE ANTELOPE, DEER, AND ELK, RELY ON SPEED TO OUTRUN PREDATORS.

THEY ALSO HAVE EXCELLENT HEARING TO HELP THEM DETECT AN ATTACK.

AND HERE'S ONE MORE ADAPTATION THAT HELPS MANY PREY ANIMALS -- SEE HOW THE EYES ON THIS ELK ARE POSITIONED?

WIDE APART ON THE SIDE OF ITS HEAD.

THAT GIVES THE ELK A WIDE RANGE OF VISION TO HELP SPOT AN APPROACHING PREDATOR.

BUT PREY ANIMALS ONT THE ONLY ONES WITH SPECIAL TRICKS.

PREDATORS HAVE SNEAKY WAYS OF GETTING WHAT THEY WANT.

MOST PREDATORS HAVE BY KNOCK LAR VISION.

THEIR EYES ARE SET CLOSE TOGETHER SO THEY CAN LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD AND SEE OVER GREAT DISTANCES.

BINOCULAR INVESTIGATION HELPS PREDATORS LIKE THIS SPOT ITS PREY.

SOME PREDATORS USE EXPLOSIVE BURSTS OF SPEED TO CHASE THEIR VICTIMS SO THEY CAN RUN, SWIM, OR FLY, MUCH FASTER THAN THEIR PREY.

OTHER PREDATORS LIKE THIS COYOTE, MIGHT QUIETLY AND THEN SUDDENLY AMBUSH AN UNSUSPECTING ANIMAL.

HERE IS A PREDATOR THAT WILL SCARE ALMOST ANY ONE.

A SNAKE.

THIS BOA CONSTRICTOR USES ITS ENTIRE BODY TO KILL PREY.

THE BOA WRAPS ITSELF AROUND A RAT AND SQUEEZES UNTIL THE RAT IS DEAD.

THE SNAKE GOES ABOUT THE SLOW PROCESS OF SWALLOWING ITS DINNER.

AT THIS POINT WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE MORE OBVIOUS PREDATORS OUT THERE.

BUT PREDATORS ARE EVERYWHERE.

SOME OF THEM IN PLACES YOU MIGHT NEVER SUSPECT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT MANY BIRDS ARE ALSO PREDATORS?

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY TOO EAT OTHER ANIMALS.

CHECK OUT THIS BLUE HERON.

HE'S EATING A RAINBOW TROUT.

ARE HIS EYES BIGGER THAN HIS STOMACH, OR WHAT?

ALL IN ALL, PREDATORS ARE PRETTY CLEVER CREATURES.

AND PREY ANIMALS ARE AWFULLY SMART TOO.

AND EVEN THOUGH PREDATORS CHASE PREY, AND PREY ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO TRICK PREDATORS, THE TWO ARE NOT WHAT YOU'D CALL ENEMIES.

IT'S MORE LIKE THEY ARE EACH TRYING TO OUTSMART THE OTHER WHILE LIVING OUT THEIR SPECIFIC ROLES IN NATURE.

IN FACT, PREDATORS AND PREY DEPEND ON EACH OTHER IN WAYS YOU MIGHT NEVER EXPECT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN A POPULATION OF PREY ANIMALS SUFFERS, THE PREDATOR OF THAT ANIMAL WILL SUFFER TOO.

DID YOU KNOW EVERY 10 YEARS THE POPULATION OF JACKRABBITS NATURALLY DROPS OFF?

BOBCATS RELY ON JACKRABBITS FOR FOOD.

WHAT WOULD THE BOBCATS DO WITH FEWER JACKRABBITS TO EAT?

MANY BOBCATS WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

IN THIS WAY, THE POPULATION OF PREY ANIMALS CONTROLS THE POPULATIONS OF PREDATORS.

SO NEXT TIME YOU SEE A PREDATOR IN THE WILD, DON'T THINK IT'S MEAN JUST BECAUSE IT EATS OTHER ANIMALS.

PREDATORS ARE DOING JUST WHAT NATURE INTENDED.

JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT PREDATORS ARE TWO SCIENTISTS, GREGG LOSINSKI AND JON RACHAEL BOTH FROM THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800 OR YOU CAN EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG OR YOU CAN TWEET US@D4K ONIDAHOPTV.

OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM WILL WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ARE WOLVES SCAVENGERS?

>> SURE THEY ARE.

>> ANIMALS ARE OPPORTUNISTIC.

IT'S ALL ABOUT ENERGY.

IF YOU CAN JUST FIND SOMETHING LAYING THERE THAT'S GOOD TO EAT, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT TAKES LESS ENERGY THAN TRYING TO CHASE SOMETHING DOWN.

NO ONE IS TOO PROUD.

>> IS A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD A PREY OR A PREDATOR?

>> LET'S SAY BOTH.

MOUNTAIN BLUE BIRDS ARE PREDATORS, INSECTS, AND THERE ARE HAWKS AND OTHER RAPTORS THAT WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.

>> WE HAVE VIDEO QUESTIONS.

LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST ONE FROM CANDACE.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS CANDACE, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO PREDATORS HAVE SHARP TEETH?

>> HAVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES FROM SOME SKULLS.

>> WE'VE GOT A MOUNTAIN LION SKULL, AND OF COURSE IF THEY'RE CHASING THEIR PREY, THEY WANT TO GRIP IT SO IT DOESN'T GET AWAY.

THAT'S WHY THEY'LL HAVE THE LARGER CANINES TO GRAB IT.

THEN THEY'LL HAVE TEETH THAT ARE LIKE RAZOR BLADES TO CUT THE MEAT.

THEY'RE JUST TOOLS, BUT THEY'RE TOOLS THEY CARRY WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.

>> HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO AN ELK, WHAT IS AN HERBIVORE?

>> THIS ELK SKULL DOESN'T HAVE MUCH -- THIS ONE IS MISSING MOST OF ITS TEETH.

IT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF GRIPPING OR SHEERING TEETH, BUT IT HAS THESE FLAT TEETH IN THE BACK, THE MOW DARIUS, THAT GRIND.

AND SO ELK PRIMARILY EAT GRASSES AND THEY GRIND THE GRASSES RATHER THAN GRIP, CUT, AND TEAR.

>> HUMAN TEETH HAVE A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

>> WE FALL IN THE OMNIVORE TYPE OF CATEGORY WHERE WE EAT BOTH MEAT AND VEGETABLES.

>> WILL WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE NICEST PREDATOR?

>> THAT'S AN EASY ONE.

I AM THE NICEST PREDATOR.

[LAUGHTER] >> OK.

BUT THERE IS NO REALLY GOOD OR BAD WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORLD OF PREDATORS AND PREY?

>> NO.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PICK ANY PREY ANIMAL AND ASK ITS OPINION WHICH IS THE NICEST ANIMAL THAT'S TRYING TO EAT YOU?

SO IT'S ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT VIDEO QUESTION.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS ZOEY.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO PREDATORS HAVE TO EAT MEAT?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT LIVING, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ENERGY IT TAKES TO LIVE.

SO THERE'S ANIMALS FURTHER DOWN THE FOOD CHAIN THAT ARE TAKING ENERGY THE PREDATORS COULDN'T CONSUME AND CONVERTING IT TO A SOURCE LIKE MEAT THAT THEY'LL -- THE PREDATORS CAN EAT.

SO IT'S JUST PART OF A CHAIN, AND THOSE PREY ANIMALS ARE FULFILLING A NEED FOR THE PREDATORS.

>> QUESTIONS FROM MRS.

SWEITZER'S CLASS, AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY.

WHERE DO PREDATORS LIVE?

SIERRA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

>> JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

>> REALLY YOU CAN FIND THEM ANYWHERE.

>> WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PREDATORS.

WE HAVE THE MORE COMMON PREDATORS THAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK OF, LIKE LIONS, OR WOLVES, BEARS.

>> BIG CATS.

>> CATS.

BUT YOU COULD ALSO GO DOWN TO SNAKES, FROGS, INSECTS ARE PREDATORS OF OTHER INSECTS.

REALLY, ANYWHERE YOU LOOK.

>> OR FISH.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THERE'S FISH-EATING FISH OR FISH THAT EAT OTHER THINGS LIKE WORMS AND SUCH, AND SO THERE'S A WHOLE FOOD CHAIN IN THE RIVER AND LAKES THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE.

>> FISHING WOULDN'T BE MUCH FUN IF THEY DIDN'T TRY AND GO AFTER SOMETHING.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM AMELIA, HOW FAST CAN A GRIZZLY BEAR RUN?

>> IN A BURST, 35 MILES AN HOUR.

SO THEY CAN OUTRUN A PERSON, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU EVER DO ENCOUNTER A BEAR, YOU DON'T TRY TO OUTRUN THE BEAR.

>> ADAM WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DO GRAY WOLVES ATTACK IN GROUPS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY.

TYPICALLY WOLVES ARE AFTER LARGER PREY, AND IT'S EASIER AND SAFER FOR THEM TO WORK IN A TEAM IF THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING DOWN AN ELK OR MOOSE THAT'S MUCH LARGER THAN THEY R. THAN TRY TO GO IT ALONE.

>> CAN A LARGER PREDATOR EAT A SMALLER PREDATOR?

THAT'S USUALLY THE CASE, ISN'T IT?

>> USUALLY, BUT IT WORKS THE OTHER WAY TOO.

IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD IT'S THE SMALL THINGS THAT WILL GET THE BIG CRITTERS.

WE THINK ABOUT BIG THINGS BEING POWERFUL, BUT SMALL THINGS WORKING TOGETHER HAVE A LOT OF POWER TOO.

SO THINGS LIKE TICKS CAN BE -- BE -- CAN PREDATE ON MOOSE.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM COLTON.

>> HI, MY NAME IS COLTON, AND I GO TO DALTON ELEMENTARY.

MY QUESTION IS, DOES -- IS A FOX A PREDATOR?

>> DEFINITELY A PREDATOR, BUT NOT AN APEX.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT AN APEX PREDATOR IS.

>> APEX GENERALLY MEANS THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID, THAT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S EATING THINGS BELOW YOU.

SOMETIMES THAT'S I THINK A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, MAYBE, BUT WE START TO -- TALK ABOUT PREDATORS LIKE THE FOX WE CALL IT A MEZO PREDATOR, SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE MORE.

IT'S EATING SOMETHING, BUT ALSO BEING EATEN BY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> SOME PREDATORS ARE KNOWN AS KEYSTONE ANIMALS?

>> KEYSTONE SPECIES IS A TERM THAT'S USED, IT'S A TERM THAT'S IMPORTANT TO A SYSTEM.

>> OK.

LET'S TRY OUR NEXT VIDEO QUESTION.

FROM CASSIE.

>> MY NAME IS CASSIE, GUY TO DALTON ELEMENTARY.

HOW FAST DO WOLVES RUN TRYING TO CATCH PREY?

>> HOW FAST DO WOLVES RUN?

>> I THINK WOLVES PROBABLY ARE ALMOST AS FAST AS GRIZZLY BEARS IN A VERY SHORT BURST.

BUT REALLY, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO TRAVEL LONGER DISTANCES MORE EFFICIENTLY.

THEY HAVE MUCH GREATER ENDURANCE THAN BEARS DO.

AND THEY TEND TO WEAR THEIR ANIMALS DOWN AND GET THEM TO A POINT WHERE THEY STOP RUNNING AND THEN THEY TEST THEM.

PARTICULARLY IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ANIMALS IN THE PACK.

>> THE SIXTH GRADE CLASS AT HILL VIEW WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL SOME WAYS PREDATORS OUTSMART THEIR PREY AND SOME WAYS PREY OUTSMART THEIR PREDATORS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS PREY CAN OUTSMART THEIR PREDATORS?

>> WELL, PREY ARE ADAPTED TO AVOID GETTING KILLED.

SOMETIMES THEIR COLORATION ALLOWS THEM TO HIDE.

SOMETIMES EVEN OUT IN THE OPEN IF THEY BLEND IN VERY WELL WITH THEIR BACKGROUND AND FOREGROUND.

THEY ALSO HAVE BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS WHERE THEY MAY SIT VERY, VERY STILL AND QUIETLY SO THEY'RE NOT DETECTED BY MOVEMENT.

BUT THEY TYPICALLY ALSO HAVE ADAPTATIONS WHERE THEY CAN MOVE VERY, VERY QUICKLY TO ESCAPE THE PREDATOR.

>> I KNOW MY BUNNY DOESN'T SLEEP HEAVY, EVEN THOUGH NOBODY IN OUR HOUSE IS GOING TO EAT HIM, HE STILL -- >> ALWAYS ALERT.

>> ALWAYS ALERT.

THAT'S ANOTHER ADAPTATION.

>> AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE POSITIONING OF THE EYES.

PRINCE RAINIER ANIMALS TYPICALLY HAVE EYES ON THE SIDE OF THEIR HEAD TO ALLOW THEM MUCH GREATER RANGE OF VISION TO THE FRONT, TO THE BACK, TO THE SIDE, AND FROM ABOVE.

SO THEY CAN HELP DETECT PREDATORS IN TIME TO ESCAPE.

>> HOW ABOUT PREDATORS?

HOW DO PREDATORS GET AROUND?

>> A LOT OF THE SAME ADAPTATIONS.

AT CERTAIN TIMES THEY MAY HAVE PHYSICAL ADAPTATION AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE BURSTS OF SPEED THAT ARE BENEFICIAL THAT THEIR PREY DON'T HAVE.

THEY MAY AT TIMES HAVE A SENSE OF COOPERATION, LIKE WOLVES THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT THEY ARE USING SOME LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE THAT'S HIGHER FUNCTIONING THAN SOME OF THEIR PREY SPECIES.

A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS, THE COLORATION ASPECTS, A LOT OF THE SURPRISE ASPECTS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME TOOLBOX SO TO SPEAK IN MANY RESPECTS, JUST WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO USE THOSE TOOLS.

>> FROM MRS.

SWEITZER'S CLASS, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PREDATOR?

>> BOY OH, BOY.

>> WELL, FOR A LAND PREDATOR, NORTH AMERICA, IT WOULD BE THE POLAR BEAR AS BEING THE LARGEST LAND MAMMAL.

AND THEN IF WE GO OUT TO THE SEA, ECAN GO MUCH LARGER TO ANOTHER MAMMAL, WE COULD FIND THE ORCA.

>> AND THEY ARE HUGE.

>> THEY ARE VERY LARGE.

>> FOR MRS.

CAMERON'S CLASS AT GRACE JORDAN ELEMENTARY, GABE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO PREDATORS ALWAYS KILL THEIR OWN DINNER OR DO THEY EVER STEAL OTHER PREDATORS' KILL?

>> IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT ENERGY.

IF YOU CAN HORN IN ON SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK, THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT IN PLACES LIKE YELLOWSTONE WHERE THERE'S THE WOLVES AND GRIZZLIES, THE GRIZZLIES WILL HANG BACK AND LISTEN TO THE WOLVES DOING THE WORK AND WHEN THEY KNOW THE WOLVES HAVE GOT SOMETHING DOWN THE GRIZZLIES WILL PUSH OFF THE WOLVES AND THEN FEED ON IT AND THE WOLVES WILL JUST HAVE TO SIT IN AND TAKE IT UNTIL THE BEAR IS DONE AND CAN MOVE OFF AND THEY CAN MOVE IN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT ENERGY.

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH SAVING ENERGY TO GET A MEAL, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

>> DO BABY PREDATORS STAY WITH THEIR PARENTS WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE HUNTING?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW MOBILE THEY ARE, AND HOW SAFE THEY ARE.

SO AT SOME POINT THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO FLUNT THEIR PARENTS, BUT EARLY ON THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING TO LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY CAN HIDE AND WHERE THEY'RE SAFE, AND THEY WON'T BE PREY TO OTHER PREDATORS.

>> AN EMAIL QUESTION FROM PAYTON WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW FAST CAN A MOUNTAIN LION RUN, AND WHAT ENABLES IT TO CLIMB SO WELL?

>> OH, WOW.

MOUNTAIN LIONS ARE AGAIN, MARVELOUSLY ADAPTED FOR VERY, VERY POWERFUL SHORT BURSTS OF ENERGY.

SO THEY'RE VERY FAST.

I WOULD THINK OVER A VERY SHORT DISTANCES, THEY COULD -- THEY'RE EVEN FASTER THAN A GRIZZLY BEAR.

THEY ARE DESIGNED WHERE THEY CAN JUMP VERY EFFICIENTLY, THEY CAN SPRINT VERY QUICKLY, BUT THEY TYPICALLY AMBUSH THEIR PREY AND SO THEY WILL PURSUE IT JUST FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, CATCH UP TO IT AND TRY TO BRING IT DOWRNTION OR THEY'LL FAIL VERY QUICKLY.

>> NINE TIMES OUT OF 10.

>> THEY'RE VERY, VERY MUSCULAR, VERY, VERY QUICK EXERTION AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT ALLOWS THEM TO CLIMB, TO JUMP AND GRIP AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE VERY WELL ADAPTED CLAWS AS WELL.

>> AND THEIR CLAWS ARE LIKE HOUSE CATS IN THAT THEY KEEP THEM RETRACTED AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING DULD OUT WHEN IN USE.

>> LET'S GO TO LILY'S QUESTION.

GO AHEAD.

>> HI, MY NAME IS LILY I GO TO DALTON ELEMENTARY, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE PREDATOR BECAME INSTINCT.

>> WHAT DOES HAPPEN IF A PREDATOR GOES INSTINCT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, OFTEN TIMES THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PREDATOR ON A GIVEN PREY SPECIES.

BUT ULTIMATELY, HYPOTHETICALLY COULD YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE PREY SPECIES COULD JUST BOOM AND THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT COULD ACTUALLY RUIN ITS HABITAT.

SOMETIMES WE THINK IF WE GOT RID OF ALL THE PREDATORS WE'D HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF PREY WE'D LIKE.

THAT ALWAYS DOESN'T WORK, BECAUSE YOU GET SO MANY OF THE PREY SPECIES THEY MAKE IT WORSE FOR THEMSELVES.

SO PREDATORS DO HAVE A ROLE IN LIMITING THE POPULATIONS OF THOSE PREY SPECIES.

>> I READ A STUDY WHEN THEY REMOVED CATS FROM AN ENVIRONMENT, THE RAT POPULATION EXPLODED TO THE POWNT WHERE THEY STARTED EATING ALL THE FOOD.

SO YOU NEEDED TO HAVE THAT BALANCE TO KEEP -- >> THE BALANCE IS HARD TO FIGURE OUT.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN MAN GETS INVOLVED, WE KNOW A LOT OF STUFF, BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW EVERYTHING FITS TOGETHER, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU MEAN TO DO WELL WE MUCK THINGS UP WORSE.

AGAIN, IT'S BEST TO NOT RUIN A SYSTEM UNLESS YOU REALLY HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST PHONE CALL.

WHO IS ON OUR EN OUR PHONE?

>> DO BLUE BIRDS HAVE TEETH?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

NO, BLUE BIRDS ACTUALLY HAVE BILLS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TEETH.

BUT THEY WILL CAPTURE AND EAT INSPECTS BY -- INSECTS BY CATCHING THEM IN THEIR BILL.

>> A SNAP AND A SWALLOW.

>> OTHER TYPES OF BIRDS HAVE A CROPPER, A GIZZARD WHERE THEY CAN EAT ROCKS AND THE ROCKS WILL BE DOING THE GRINDING.

SO THAT'S WHY CERTAIN TYPES OF BIRDS HAVE GUTIERREZ AARDSMA.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT VIDEO QUESTION FROM ELLEN.

>> HI, MY NAME IS ELLEN, I GO TO DALTON ELEMENTARY, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A GRIZZLY BEAR IS ABOUT TO ATTACK?

>> WHAT IF YOU ARE THE PREY AND A GUTIERREZLY IS BECOMEB TO ATTACK?

>> MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY A GRIZZLY BEAR.

HOW YOU REACT TO A BEAR IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR GRIZZLY BEARS GENERALLY YOU'VE SURPRISED THEM AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO BE SURPRISED.

FOR ANY BEAR, THE WORST THING TO DO IS RUN AWAY F IT'S AN ATTACK SITUATION, YOU NEED TO -- AND IT'S ON YOU, ROLL UP AND PLAY DEAD, JUST LET IT CHECK YOU OUT AND MOVE ON.

IF IT DID HAPPEN TO BE A BLACK BEAR, THEN THINGS COULD BE DIFFERENT.

YOU COULD TELL, KICK, SCREAM, AND TRY TO DRIVE THE BEAR AWAY.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE POWERFUL THEY'RE NOT GENERALLY AWARE OF THEIR POWER AND STRENGTH.

>> WHY DON'T YOU TELL US THE DIFFERENCE.

>> DON'T RELY ON COLOR, THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

PEOPLE SAY BLACK BEAR, BROWN BEAR.

THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER FEATURES.

IF YOU'RE THAT KESELOWSKI YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CLAWS.

GRIZZLYLESS HAVE LARGER CLAWS THAN BLACK BEARS.

AND THE SHAPE OF THE FACE, BLACK BEARS TEND TO HAVE A POINTED SNOUT MORE, POINT EARS VERSUS THE GRIZZLY WITH A ROUND DISHED-IN FACE.

AND GRIZZLIES HAVE THE TRADEMARK HUMP, WHICH HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT YOU'D PUT THOSE ALL TOGETHER, THAT'S WHEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL BLACK BEAR VERSUS GRIZZLY BEAR.

IN IDAHO WE HAVE BOTH IN MANY CASES.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE HIKE CAN IN THE BACK COUNTRY WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SURPRISE A BEAR?

>> MAKE LOTS OF NOISE.

TRAVEL IN GROUPS.

DON'T GO WALKING AROUND IN THE FOREST AT NIGHT.

AND, YEAH, DON'T SNEAK AROUND ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES, AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO SIGH SMALL CUNS ON THEIR OWN, BACK AWAY SLOWLY.

DON'T BE THREATENED.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM MRS.

McCAPTAINISH CAMERON'S CLASS, DO SOME PREDATORS HAVE TO TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES TO FIND FOOD?

>> DEFINITELY.

I KNOW CERTAIN PREDATORS, WOLVES, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN COVER 20 MILES IN A DAY, CHECK OUT WHAT'S OUT THERE.

AND SO AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT ENERGY AND IF YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING CLOSE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

ABOUT IT TIMES CAN BE TOUGH AND DO YOU HAVE TO COVER GREAT DISTANCES SOMETIMES.

>> JADE FROM MRS.

HUNT'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL, WOLVES, OR LIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN CASES WHERE WOLVES HAVE EATEN LIONS, AND CASES PROBABLY WHERE LYONS HAVE EATEN WOLVES.

BUT THEY ARE KIND OF AT THE TOP OF THEIR FOOD CHAIN.

PEOPLE ARE ALSO PREDATORS OF THESE SPECIES, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS PEOPLE WILL EAT WOLVES AND MOUNTAIN LIONS.

>> HAVE EITHER OF GENTLEMEN TASTED -- >> HAVE NOT.

>> MOUNTAIN LIONS I LOVE.

OH, YES.

IT'S A WHITE MEAT I GUESS THE WAY I'D PUT IT.

>> BUT IN HISTORIC TIMES, THERE WAS NOT THAT TABOO, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S A TIME OF FAMINE.

IT'S A SORT OF MEAT.

AND BIOLOGICALLY THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE.

YOUR ABILITY TO DIGEST THAT.

>> LET'S GET OUR NEXT PHONE CALLER.

ASHLEY IN TWIN FALLS.

ASHLEY, GO AHEAD.

>> HI.

IS A PREDATOR -- IF A PREDATOR'S PREY -- WENT INSTINCT, THEN WOULD THE PREDATOR BE ABLE TO SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT PREY?

>> SO IF A PREY GOES INSTINCT IN AN ECOSYSTEM, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PREDATOR?

GREAT, ASHLEY.

THANK YOU.

>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE INDIVIDUAL PREDATOR SPECIES.

AND TRIR ABILITY TO ADAPT.

THERE ARE CASES LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, THE LYNX THAT ARE VERY, VERY SPECIALIZED ON SHOWSHOE HARES.

IF THE HARE POPULATION CRASHES, THE LYNX ARE GOING TO GO HUNGRY.

AND IT WILL SOON CRASH AS WELL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE OTHER PREDATORS, MOUNTAIN LIONS, WOLVES, THAT ARE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO SWITCH TO OTHER SPECIES.

THEY CAN PURSUE DEER, ELK, MOOSE, EVEN.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT, AL -- I APPRECIATE OWLS FOR TAKING CARE OF THE SKUNK POPULATION.

IN FACT, LET ME ASK YOU, CHASE ASKS THE SAME QUESTION, WHAT DO OWLS EAT?

BESIDES SKUNK, WHAT DO OWLS EAT?

>> DEPENDS ON THE OIL, BECAUSE -- OWLS, SOME WILL EAT LARGER THINGS, LIKE SKUNKS, OTHERS WILL EAT SMALLER SQUIRRELS OR RODENTS.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE ADAPTED TO AND WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> WE HAVE A WHOLE OWL PROGRAM ON THE "D4K" SITE SO YOU CAN CHECK THAT OUT.

LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT VIDEO QUESTION FROM BRADY.

>> MY NAME IS BRADY, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO YOU -- WHY DO PREDATORS STALK THEIR PREY?

>> WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE EFFICIENCY OF PREDATORS, TRYING NOT TO EXPEND TOO MUCH ENERGY JUST RUNNING AROUND CHASING EVERYTHING THEY SEE.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO VERY CAREFULLY SNEAK AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN, AND MAKE SURE THIS IS AN ANIMAL THAT THEY CAN CATCH.

RATHER THAN JUST RUNNING ALL OVER THE PLACE EVERY TIME THEY SEE SOMETHING.

>> LACY FROM HILL VIEW ELEMENTARY EMAILED THIS QUESTION, WHAT IS THE SMALLEST PREDATOR?

>> DEPENDING ON THE SYSTEM YOU'RE WORKING IN, I GUESS.

INSECTS CAN BE PREDATORS, SO IT'S SMALLER INSECT IS GOING TO BE EATEN BY A LARGER ONE.

IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

SIZE CAN GO DOWN TO JUST ABOUT NOTHING I GUESS.

>> AND ALONG -- CALLIE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE CALLED PREY HAVE TO BE SMALL?

>> NO.

LOOK AT A GIRAFFE, FOR EXAMPLE.

A GIRAFFE WOULD BE A PREY ANIMAL TO A LION.

>> THAT'S NOT SMALL.

>> NOT SMALL AT ALL.

>> ALONG THE INSECTS QUESTION, MEGAN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, CAN INSECTS EAT MEAT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, WHEN WE DEFINE MEAT WE TALK ABOUT PROTEIN.

OF COURSE THERE'S SCAVENGERS THAT WILL BREAK DOWN MEAT THAT'S ALREADY THERE.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF ANTS THAT I KNOW RAISE APHIDS TO CONSUME.

>> APHID FARMERS.

>> YEP.

>> WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT -- WE'VE GOT SOME EMAIL QUESTIONS -- SOME CALLERS ON THE LINE.

LET'S GET TO SAGE.

>> Caller: WHAT -- WHO IS HIGHER ON THE FOOD CHAIN, TIGERS OR PEOPLE?

>> WELL, I'D SAY THEY BOTH ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE TOP.

BUT GIVEN THAT PEOPLE WILL KILL TIGERS, I THINK GIVES THEM A BIT OF AN EDGE THERE.

>> THE TIGERS WILL KILL PEOPLE?

>> TIGERS WILL KILL PEOPLE.

>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE, THOUGH.

>> IN MOST SITUATIONS, I WOULD GIVE THE EDGE TO PEOPLE AS THE TOP PREDATOR.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

IF YOU'LL HOLD ON THE PHONE, WE'LL CATCH YOU WHEN WE DO OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

WOE HAVE A FEW MORE VIDEO QUESTIONS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE, WHY DO YOU LIKE STUDYING ABOUT PREDATORS?

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING?

>> TO ME EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED.

WHEN YOU STUDY ONE THING, YOU'RE STUDYING ITS RELATION TO OTHER THINGS AND EVEN PEOPLE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S FUN TO BREAK THINGS OUT IN CATEGORIES, BUT THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED.

THAT'S THE FUN PART.

>> REALLY FOR ME IT'S JUST THE COMPLEXITY OF HOW IT ALL IF ITS TOGETHER.

THE IMPACTS OF ONE PREDATOR ON ANOTHER, AND THE IMPACTS OF THE PREDATORS ON THEIR PREY, AND VICE VERSA, HOW THE STATUS OF THE PREY AFFECTS THE NUMBER OF PREDATORS.

>> IF YOU -- IF SOMEONE THINKS THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY GROW UP, WHAT SHOULD THEY STUDY?

>> WELL, PROBABLY THEY SHOULD GO TO SCHOOL IN SOMETHING WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY AND MAKE STUDYING PREDATORS A HOBBY.

>> ASIDE FROM THAT -- >> DEFINITELY SCIENCE AND MATH.

>> OK.

>> GET INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEERING IN SCOUTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO YOU CAN GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.

>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'VE GOT LOFTS INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE WEB-ONLY ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE, YOU CAN EXPLORE MORE LINKS, FACTS, AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PREDATORS.

MANY OF THE TOPICS, SO CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON "D4K."

LAST MONTH'S WINNER WAS BRINA IN REBECCA GRIS'S FIFTH-SIXTH CLASS AT VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

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