Lowell Thomas Journeys to Far Places - Hungry Winters

Series: Lowell Thomas Journeys to Far Places

Description: This short wildlife film from the "Journeys to Far Places" series featuring Lowell Thomas, is titled "Hungry Winters". It contrasts two seasonal struggles faced by North American big game: Alaskan caribou crossing the Yukon River during their annual migration and Wyoming elk surviving the harsh winter in Jackson Hole. The caribou must brave swift, cold water to reach fresh feeding grounds, while the elk descend from snowbound mountain ranges and depend on supplemental food. The film highlights an important early wildlife-management effort, explaining how the U.S. Biological Survey provided roughly 4,000 tons of hay annually to help Wyoming's elk survive severe winters. 0:00 - Main titles. 0:46 - Lowell Thomas describes the annual migration of Alaskan caribou as the first of two “thrilling dramas.” The animals must cross the broad Yukon River to reach unfrozen feeding grounds, making the dangerous crossing essential to their survival. 1:01 - Hungry caribou struggle against the river's swift current toward the fresh vegetation on the opposite bank. Their migration is portrayed as a seasonal battle against winter and the scarcity of food. 1:18 - The film shifts to Wyoming's elk, which descend from their high mountain summer ranges into the famous Jackson Hole valley when snow and ice make their usual feeding grounds inaccessible. 1:26 - The elk face severe winter conditions, with the grass buried beneath a heavy crust of snow and ice. After their long journey into Jackson Hole, the animals are shown facing the possibility of starvation. 1:37 - Thomas presents the winter hardship as a looming tragedy for the elk before introducing the intervention that will save them. 1:40 - The U.S. government, humorously personified as “Uncle Sam,” comes to the rescue. The Biological Survey provides tons of hay to supplement the elk's scarce winter food supply. 1:52 - The narrator explains that approximately 4,000 tons of hay are distributed to Wyoming's elk each year, illustrating the scale of the government's winter wildlife-feeding program. 1:57 - One elk, nicknamed “Bill,” becomes accustomed to the people and cameras around him. The narrator humorously portrays him as a friendly animal who even approaches and poses in front of the camera. 2:07 - Bill is shown displaying a fondness for the female elk, with the narration maintaining the lighthearted anthropomorphic tone. 2:15 - Farewell to Bill and the elk until the following winter.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2R-1yPw4FM

Metadata Source:YouTube