Alaska's Arctic Wildlife

For eight months of the year temperatures do not rise above freezing on the barren northern slope of Alaska's Brooks Range, but for the three months the sun doesn't set, the tundra becomes a breeding ground for 150 species of birds as well as mammals ranging in size from tiny lemmings up through musk oxen and polar bears. Alaska's Arctic Wildlife takes a chronological approach, beginning in April as the frozen Arctic Sea thaws, giving rise to microorganisms in the water that attract fish, birds, and marine mammals to feed (“our garden is in the ocean…the only garden we have,” explains one Inupiaq native), continuing through the end of November when the sun sets until late January. Backed by lovely original music from William Sussman, the film beautifully captures the landscape, wildlife, and phenomena such as the Northern Lights. Originally copyrighted in 1996 and aired on the Discovery Channel, the DVD release unfortunately does not feature individual chapters (which limits its convenience for classroom use), but this should be a welcome addition to general collections in public libraries. Recommended. [Note: Alaska's Coolest Birds is also newly available on DVD for $24.99.] Aud: P. (R. Reagan)