Ep 2. Chipmunks of Yosemite
- TV-G
- November 10, 2008
- 28 min
In season 5 episode 2 of Wild America, entitled "Chipmunks of Yosemite," viewers are taken on a journey into the stunning wilderness of Yosemite National Park in search of one of its most beloved inhabitants - the chipmunk.
The episode begins with stunning aerial shots of the towering granite cliffs and lush valleys of Yosemite, before zooming in on the park's most famous chipmunk resident - Fatso. A plump, friendly creature with a love for hand-outs, Fatso has become something of a celebrity in Yosemite, drawing tourists from all over the world who come to catch a glimpse of the adorable little creature.
But Fatso is just one of many chipmunks who call Yosemite home, and over the course of the episode, we're introduced to a variety of different species and their unique habits and behaviors.
From the yellow-pine chipmunk, who can scale cliffs as high as 2,000 feet, to the lodgepole chipmunk, who builds elaborate underground tunnels for protection, each species of chipmunk in Yosemite has its own story to tell.
Viewers will get to see these creatures up close as they go about their daily routines - caching food, digging burrows, and playing in the trees. Along the way, the episode explores the different ecological niches each species fills in the park, and how they've adapted to thrive in their particular environment.
Of course, no episode about Yosemite would be complete without a nod to its human history, and viewers will get to learn about the role chipmunks played in the lives of the park's original inhabitants - the Miwok people. Used for food, medicine, and even religious ceremonies, chipmunks have been a part of Yosemite's ecosystem for centuries.
Throughout the episode, stunning footage of Yosemite's natural beauty - from towering waterfalls to sweeping vistas - serves as a breathtaking backdrop to the chipmunks' stories. And as the episode comes to a close, viewers will have a newfound appreciation for these small but mighty creatures, as well as the awe-inspiring wilderness they call home.
