As the orcas celebrate the success of their hunt, silver salmon, or “coho” are moving from the sea to the inland streams where they will breed. But they‘ll have to be careful and lucky too, as otters and black bears are waiting along the way.

Alongside the wild Pacific coast of the USA, the Olympic National Park encompasses an unparalleled variety of exciting natural environments, from rainforest to rugged mountains. First, we experience the thrill of the hunt, as a pod of killer whales targets a group of unsuspecting Steller sea lions.

After the rains, there is enough water and food for all to share in the desert and Saguaro National Park can bask in all its glory.

A thunderstorm hits with the power of a tropical monsoon, putting the desert creatures at risk from the powerful floodwaters.

A horned lizard out hunting for ants catches the eye of a hungry coachwhip snake, and deploys an impressive variety of strategies in order to not be eaten alive.

A giant scorpion is on the prowl looking for food, and a family of grasshopper mice seems to be on his menu tonight. However, the fortitude of the desert's denizens should never be underestimated.

After the rain, the opuntia cactus, or “prickly pear,” ripens to provide a sweet but not easily accessible meal for animals such as the ground squirrel. As the water seeps in, the park enjoys a moment of relaxation.

In June, surviving the ferocious sun and intense heat is a challenge for every living being in the park, and each has developed a special technique to see it through until the next rain.

The saguaro cactus blooms overnight and its flower is visited the next morning by a Gila woodpecker. As the heat of day rises, harvester ants work go about their work, wary of a mortal enemy in the park.

May sees drought conditions in the park, but the saguaro cactus is completely unaffected. A family of ground squirrels is laying low, but a long-nosed snake has caught their scent.

The heat of a scorched riverbed is too much for some animals, but the rare and venomous Gila monster is still active and hunting for prey. Meanwhile, the untiring hummingbird mother will feed her remaining chick until it finally fledges.

Despite the intense heat, a female hummingbird must adapt her diet and work non-stop to feed the young in her nest. The rattlesnakes are breeding, and the victorious male claims its hard-won mate.

Male rattlesnakes “dance” in a show of strength designed to win females. A cholla cactus uses its prickly form of defense and the passing javelina to populate new parts of the desert. Meanwhile, the javelina’s tiny young are threatened by a hungry coyote.

A courageous roadrunner faces off with a venomous rattlesnake. The small amount of precious rainfall that January provides gives the desert a sudden spark of life. Plants grow, flower, and store water, and the tiny Costa’s hummingbird uses the finest materials that nature provides to make a nest for her young.

Arizona’s Saguaro National Park was created to save the iconic and increasingly rare saguaro cactus from extinction. Within the park’s desert scenery, conflicts arise between species and can often resemble an Old West showdown at high noon!