Yellowstone: Battle for Life

This fine offering from the BBC's Earth series looks at America's first national park, described as “perhaps the most treasured wilderness on Earth.” Separate 50-minute chapters are devoted to summer, autumn, and winter (apparently the latter is so long and brutal that spring is all but nonexistent), capturing a wide array of wildlife that alternately flourishes and struggles to survive in this extraordinary place. Winter is the domain of the wolf, although other species (such as bison) are well adapted, and still others (otters, elk, foxes) make do as best they can to endure temperatures that may reach 40 below zero. In summer, when “the race to recover winter's losses” is on, the bears emerge from hibernation. Autumn is mating season for the elk and the time when bears, squirrels, and other forest fauna stockpile supplies for the winter. Through it all, one thing remains constant: Yellowstone's “dark secret”—the chamber of molten rock that lies three miles below a 50-mile-wide bowl; although it's impossible to predict when this enormous volcano will erupt again, there's no doubt that it will, with unimaginably devastating results. Meanwhile, this gorgeously photographed documentary (which looks especially breathtaking on Blu-ray) will leave viewers humbled by the realization that such a place exists, awestruck by nature's unbridled power and glory, and perhaps a bit chastened by the reminder that here, at least, the Earth does just fine on its own when humans devote themselves to preserving and protecting it, instead of exploiting it. DVD/Blu-ray extras include the featurette “The People of Yellowstone.” Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)