Wild Kratts
Spots in the Desert
Season 6 Episode 3 | 26m 25sVideo has Closed Captions
The Kratts get a call from a Kratts kid with an ocelot in his backyard!
Chris is in the middle of organizing his creature power discs, when they get a call from Wild Kratts kid Manuel who lives in the Sonoran Desert. He says he has spotted an ocelot in his backyard. An ocelot in the desert? That's so rare, since these wild cats usually live in rainforests. Their Creature Mission - to "spot" an ocelot in the desert.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Wild Kratts
Spots in the Desert
Season 6 Episode 3 | 26m 25sVideo has Closed Captions
Chris is in the middle of organizing his creature power discs, when they get a call from Wild Kratts kid Manuel who lives in the Sonoran Desert. He says he has spotted an ocelot in his backyard. An ocelot in the desert? That's so rare, since these wild cats usually live in rainforests. Their Creature Mission - to "spot" an ocelot in the desert.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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♪ Wild Kratts ♪ Chris: We're here in North America in the spectacular Sonoran Desert.
Wow, this place is amazing!
I'm Martin: It's us, the Kratt Brothers.
Chris: I'm Chris.
Martin: I'm Martin.
Chris: And that's a cactus.
Chris: In this hot, dry desert, you'll find all kinds of creatures who are perfectly adapted to living in this habitat.
Like lizards, scorpions, and snakes.
Martin: And this desert is also home to a really elusive creature, the ocelot.
Ocelots are mostly found throughout Central and South America in a variety of habitats, but mostly jungle.
So to find a desert ocelot up here in the northern desert is very rare and special.
Chris: The ocelot is about twice the size of a house cat.
Its coat is beautiful with lots of spots.
The spots sometimes run together to create stripes.
Martin: This cat uses its awesome senses, hearing, sight, and smell, to track down prey.
And when it's after something, the ocelot's acrobatic powers help it grab a meal.
The ocelot is really secretive and hard to find.
Chris: Any ocelot moving into this habitat faces serious competition from other predators.
Martin: Like bobcats.
Bobcats are about the same size as an ocelot and they're going after the same prey species.
Like jackrabbits.
Chris: And there are pumas.
They are the top predator out here.
And ocelots really have to watch their backs with pumas around.
Martin: Imagine if we could find an ocelot prowling in the Sonoran Desert.
Chris: Imagine if we could prowl like an ocelot.
Martin: Imagine if we had ocelot powers.
Both: What if?
(upbeat music) ♪ On adventure with the coolest creatures ♪ ♪ From the oceans to the trees ♪ ♪ The Brothers Kratt are going places ♪ ♪ You never get to see ♪ ♪ Hanging with their creature friends ♪ ♪ Get ready, it's the hour ♪ ♪ We're gonna save some animals today ♪ ♪ With Creature Power ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild wild ♪ ♪ Cheetah speed and lizard glide ♪ ♪ Falcon flight and lion pride ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ ♪ Go wild wild Wild Kratts ♪ Martin: Spots in the Desert.
♪ Chris: Sifaka lemur.
Chris: Okay, now onto the cats.
Cheetah Power Disc.
Tiger Power Disc.
Lion Power Disc.
Jaguar Power Disc.
(giggles) Gotta love wild cats.
Martin: Hmm, hey, I wouldn't mind doing a Wild Kratts wild cats adventure today.
Koki: Okay then.
Since we're here in Central America, let's see if any Wild Kratts kids have seen any wild cats around here.
Sending message to any Wild Kratts kids in the area.
Have any of you seen any wild cats in your backyard?
Chris: Uh, all wild cats are pretty secretive.
Martin: Yeah, wild cats can be hard to spot.
Aviva: Yeah, cats can hide really well.
Chris: They can be right near you and you wouldn't know it.
Martin: You do have to get real lucky to spot a wild cat.
Aviva: We got a message!
Koki: Martin/Chris: Whoo-hoo!
Yes!
Koki: Connecting.
Aviva: Koki, problem with the transmission?
Koki: Just a little static.
Got it, transmission coming in.
Manuel: Hi, it's Manuel.
I think I saw an ocelot.
That's a wild cat, right?
Chris/Martin: An ocelot?
Manuel: Yeah, just last night.
It was small, well, more medium, with spots.
I live in-- (static hissing) Koki: (gasps) Aw, there's a problem with the transmission.
Aviva: And the location pointer is moving around.
Koki: I know, I just can't get a lock.
Chris: You know, we've never seen an ocelot in the wild.
They're not on my life list with the other wild cats.
Like the jaguar, lion, or lynx.
See, no Leopardus pardalis.
Martin: You're right.
I really like ocelots, they're like mini jaguars.
We gotta meet one up close and personal.
Chris: And get it for the Creature List.
Martin: Yeah, okay, let's go!
Chris: Wait, we don't know where Manuel spotted the wild cat.
Martin: (chuckles) Very funny.
Chris: What do you mean?
Martin: Where he spotted it, ocelot spots, spot the spotted ocelot.
(chuckles) Chris: Okay.
Martin: So let's go!
Chris: Go where?
Martin: To spot an ocelot.
Chris: But we haven't got a location.
Martin: Well, we're in Central America.
All we have to do is go outside into the rainforest where they live and we'll spot one easy.
Chris: What about wild cats being hard to spot?
Martin: Well, we're the Wild Kratts, come on!
Chris: But we don't know where!
Martin: Ocelots, here we come!
Aviva: Do you think they'll find an ocelot?
Koki: If they do, it won't be the one Manuel saw.
My tracking is showing he's further north.
So the bros aren't heading to the right spot.
Jimmy: Spot, I get it.
Ocelot spot.
Chris: Okay, this looks like good habitat.
Martin: You got it, bro.
Chris: Lots of trees, vegetation.
Oh, yeah, hey, and, Whoa!
Whoa!
Whoa!
(both yelling) (water splashing) (both groaning) Chris: Not helpful.
Martin: But that might be, tracks.
Chris: Aha, must be a wild cat.
See, no claws showing.
Martin: But what kind?
Chris: May be a jaguar or an ocelot.
Or a margay.
Martin: Margay, small, ocelot, medium, and jaguar, large.
Martin: Margay paws are the size of a quarter.
Chris: This track is much bigger than a quarter.
Martin: Okay, how about a chocolate chip cookie.
Ocelot paws are about the size of your average chocolate chip cookie.
Chris: Still bigger than a chocolate chip cookie.
Martin: Well, how about a jaguar's?
Their paws are about the size of a pancake!
Chris: That's a match!
Hold it, what are you doing with a pancake in your backpack?
Martin: (laughing) Well, got a whole stack.
And butter and maple syrup.
Chris: Okay, while you have your breakfast, I'm gonna see if I can spot that jaguar.
This is ideal rainforest habitat for jaguars, ocelots, and margays, too.
Gotta be around here somewhere.
Chris: Martin, they might be right around you and you wouldn't even see them.
(Martin mumbles) 'Cause they're so good at hiding.
Their spots really help them blend into the rainforest.
Martin: Yum, all done.
Chris: Nothin'.
Koki: No surprise there, you're searching in the wrong place.
Manuel didn't call from the rainforest.
He called from the desert.
Chris/Martin: An ocelot in the desert?
Koki: Yes, the Sonoran Desert, in Southwestern North America.
Chris: Wow, what's an ocelot doing in the Sonoran Desert?
Martin: Well, a desert would be an easier place to spot an ocelot without all this jungly vegetation in the way.
Chris: Right, let's go!
Hey, but it's too bad we didn't see any wild cats.
(upbeat music) Chris/Martin: To the desert!
Jimmy: Bye-bye, rainforest.
Chris: Look at this, jaguars, ocelots, and margays live in this huge area from Northern Argentina to Central America.
And if you're lucky, you can even find ocelots in the United States, but that's rare.
Aviva: You were right in the middle of jaguar, ocelot, and margay territory and you didn't see any?
Martin: Don't rub it in.
Chris: And now we're headed to the far northern end of the ocelot's distribution, the Sonoran Desert.
Koki: I hope Manuel didn't just see a house cat with spots.
Jimmy: Koki, have a little faith in the Wild Kratts kids.
Chris/Martin/Aviva: Yeah!
Koki: I was just kidding.
(beeping) Jimmy: Wow as far as habitats go, rainforest and desert couldn't be more different.
Chris: And yet ocelots live in both places.
They're adaptable creatures.
Martin: And must have some awesome creature powers.
Aviva: Find an ocelot out there and I'll do the programming.
I've got to make a new Ocelot Power Suit.
Martin: Yes!
Jimmy: Do you mind, I'm driving.
Martin: Yes, we're back in the Sonoran Desert.
The only place in the world where the saguaro cactus grow wild.
Come on, bro...oof!
Ooh, who put that cactus there?
Oh, hi, Elfis, great to see you again.
And I know what you're thinking.
I should look where I'm running.
I'm just so excited to be in the Sonoran Desert again.
Chris: Uh, Martin, you okay?
You're talking to a cactus.
Martin: Nope, I'm talking to Elfis, the elf owl.
Chris: Elfis!
Hey, buddy, you see any ocelots?
Martin: (chuckles) Cute.
But not very helpful.
Chris: You'd think they'd be easy to spot here.
No lush green trees to hide them.
Manuel: Martin, Chris!
Chris: Oh, I see Manuel.
Both: Manuel!
Manuel: Chris, Martin, you made it!
Martin: How you doing, buddy?
Manuel: Great!
Chris: And you saw an ocelot?
Manuel: Yeah, I did, last night.
I was sleeping when a noise woke me up.
I went to the window to see what it was.
But then it was quiet, nothing was there.
Then something moved in the shadow.
At first, I couldn't see anything, but then slowly I saw a cat.
It was bigger than my pet cat, but smaller than a mountain lion.
And it had spots.
And then it was gone.
It had to be an ocelot, right?
Martin: Oh, yeah!
Chris: Okay, well first of all, how many spots-- Martin: Absolutely it was an ocelot.
Great job, you saw an ocelot in the desert.
That's so rare, oh, way to go, ocelot!
Martin/Manuel: Yeah!
Chris: How many spots did it have?
Manuel: Lots and lots.
And some of them were kind of like stripes.
Chris: Hmm, that does sound like an ocelot.
But you never know, it could've been shadows and moon spots.
So we don't know for sure.
Martin: Okay, so let's find out for sure.
Let's find that ocelot.
Aviva, we're on the move.
Aviva: Fantastico, good luck with your tracking, bye.
Chris: Manuel, could you show us where you saw him to see if there are any tracks?
Manuel: Sure, this way.
Aviva: Hmm.
Ocelots are similar to jaguars, but smaller.
What makes them different?
Do they have unique creature powers?
Jimmy: Well, jaguars are oranger, orangier?
Uh, more orangy, more orange?
Yeah, more orange.
Ocelots, less orange.
Aviva: That's true.
Koki: And look at their coat patterns.
They're different, too.
Aviva: Yeah, the ocelot's spots can run together, creating striped patterns, while the jaguar's doesn't.
Maybe ocelots are more similar to the mid-sized clouded leopard.
Their spots look like clouds.
Koki: Or a caracal, who took your badminton birdie, remember?
Aviva: Ugh, don't remind me.
But I guess I can use the caracal programming as the basis for the new Ocelot Power Disc.
Let's just hope the bros can find that elusive ocelot.
Let's get to work.
Both: Yeah!
Manuel: Here's my window.
And the ocelot was like, over there, outside my window.
Chris: Time for some trackin' action.
(Chris yells) Oh!
Martin: Action Trackson.
Chris: Well, gotta get low to analyze these tracks.
There was definitely a cat here.
And these are definitely cat tracks.
See, no claws in front of the toe pads.
That means that they were retracted or hidden.
Something almost all cats do.
Let's measure the paw size.
Martin: Oof!
Okay.
Yup, the track's the size of a chocolate chip cookie.
Definitely an ocelot track.
Chris: Awesome.
Manuel: Yay, ocelots and cookies, can I have it?
Martin: Sure.
Manuel: Thanks.
Martin: Hey, and I think I know a great name for when we spot an ocelot.
Manuel: Spot?
Martin: Cookie.
(laughs) Chris: Oh yeah, it just might be an ocelot.
Paw width, two inches.
Individual toe pads are almost and inch.
So this could either be an adult female or a juvenile male.
The tracks head that way.
Martin: We'll let you know when we find him or her.
Chris: Let's go!
Manuel: Good luck, bye!
Chris: On course, 12 o'clock straight ahead, like she's or he's going somewhere.
Martin: Ooh, that's a neat track.
Gotta see who's making these tracks.
Hmm, (gasps) a roadrunner!
So these tracks belong to a roadrunner.
Oh, you might be my favorite bird.
Wow, oh, hey, where's he going?
Spotted a lizard!
Got it!
Whoa, that is some deadly creature speed.
Martin: What do you see?
My bro got that far?
Oh, and he's still tracking.
I gotta get going, but he's far!
And I don't have a horse, how am I gonna catch up?
Oh, yes, I think you can help.
Chris: Look at this, Martin.
The tracks make a circle around this saguaro cactus and straight on again.
Looks like this ocelot, whether boy or girl, is on a mission, going some place.
So we've got to keep our eyes on these tracks.
Don't want to miss anything.
Martin: Yeah, you've got the power to get me across the desert fast.
Insert Roadrunner Power Disc.
Touch roadrunner.
Activate roadrunner powers!
(whooshing) (frantic music) ♪♪♪ Chris: Hey, thanks for being so quiet while we track the cat, Martin, you haven't said a thing.
Martin: Uh-- Chris: It's a little strange, but it kept me focused.
Martin: Oh, yeah, sure, no problem.
Yeah, uh, me too, focused on creature tracks, right?
Chris: This ocelot is focused too, really focused on going somewhere in particular.
Aviva: Hey, bros, spotted the ocelot yet?
Chris: Not yet, still tracking.
Martin: Aviva, how's the disc going?
Aviva: Getting close.
Let me know when you find that wild cat.
See ya.
Chris: Okay, steps to the side to check something out.
But then keeps heading due north.
Martin: Let's keep tracking.
Chris: All right, hey, what are these tracks?
Two of the feet are real long, two are real short.
Interesting.
Martin: Gotta see who's making these.
Whoa, a jackrabbit!
The biggest wild hare in the world.
And the fastest, too.
Huh, what is it?
A coyote!
Jackrabbit heard him coming.
Not much gets past those ears.
He hears the coyote, now sees him, here we go!
Look at that jackrabbit run!
Coyote's on his tail.
Rabbit zigs and zags and zigs.
And gets away!
Martin: That is some serious running power.
You left that coyote in a cloud of dust.
(chuckles) Oh, I see what you're doing now.
Freeze like a statue.
Blend into the background 'till the coast is clear.
Good one, oh, yeah.
Whoa, and Chris is leaving me in the dust, again.
Uh, I think I'm gonna need your help.
(upbeat music) Insert Jackrabbit Power Disc.
Touch jackrabbit.
Activate jackrabbit powers!
Yeah, whoo-hoo, all right!
Whoo, let's get hopping!
Zigging and zagging through the desert, wow!
Chris: Martin, can you believe it?
Seems like these tracks have finally reached their destination, right?
Martin: Uh, yeah, right.
Chris: The ocelot went in there.
Chris: Whoa!
Martin: Cool.
Chris: Lots of tracks in and out.
The ocelot must use this a lot.
Martin: (laughs) Good one.
Let's split up, I'll go this way.
Chris: And I'll go that way.
Contact me on the Creaturepod if you find anything.
Martin: Will do.
(lively music) Martin: Oof.
Chris: Ah!
(both laughing) Martin: Hey, bro, it's you.
Chris: I didn't see you coming.
Look, tracks climbing the rocks.
Martin: And tracks crossing the stream.
I'm following these.
Chris: And I'll go up.
Chris: I hear something sliding.
Could be a slinking ocelot.
Martin: I hear something scratching.
Could be an ocelot sharping its claws.
(gasps) Gila monster!
(Gila monster hissing) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whew, that was close.
Nearly got crunched by his powerful jaws.
(Gila monster hissing) Chris: Rattlesnake!
(tail rattling) Whoa!
(Martin groans) Chris: Thanks for the cushion, bro.
Martin: Oh, no problem.
Martin: Uh, Chris, problem.
(Gila monster hissing) (Chris and Martin yelling) Chris: Where we going?
Whoa!
(Chris yelling) Martin: Chris, you okay?
Chris, speak to me, bro!
(Gila monster hissing) That's not Chris, is it?
Okay, Gila monster, I'm going.
(Martin yells) Martin: Thanks for the cushion-- Chris: Shh, don't move.
Huh, what?
Martin: The Gila monster, a rattlesnake, a scorpion?
Chris: No, look.
Both: Ocelot kittens.
Martin: Oh, they are so cute.
And playful.
Chris: Whoa, something's coming.
It's an ocelot.
So our ocelot was an adult female.
Martin: A mom.
Hiya, Cookie!
Aviva: Aw.
Koki: Manuel, you did see an ocelot.
Manuel: I knew it!
Aviva: And guys, your Creature Mission is accomplished, too.
Koki: Yeah, you found an ocelot in the desert.
Martin: Even better, we found a den full of ocelot kittens in the desert, and now we have a new Creature Mission.
Aviva: A new Creature Mission?
Martin: Yeah, playing with kittens.
Hi, guys.
(ocelot snarling) Whoa!
(Martin yells) Chris: She doesn't like that.
Martin: Nuh-uh.
Martin: Ooh, you thinking what I'm thinking, bro?
Chris: I think so, we need some help from-- Both: Ocelot Powers.
Aviva?
Aviva: Ocelot Power Discs hot off the presses.
Coming at ya, Jimmy.
Jimmy: Energize and zap 'em.
(discs zapping) Martin: Okay, you distract the mom and I'll touch a kitten.
Chris: What, I don't think I like this plan.
Uh, so Mom, how do you like the desert?
Different from the rainforest, right?
Martin: Activate ocelot powers.
Chris: Martin!
Martin: Uh-oh.
(intense music) ♪ Martin: Yeah, whoa!
Chris: My turn... activate ocelot powers!
Chris: Whoo-hoo!
(upbeat music) (Martin panting) Martin: Whew, where did she go?
Martin: Uh-oh, hi, Mom.
(yells) Hey, yes, she's accepted our ocelot-ness.
Chris: Uh, hi, Mom.
Martin: Whoa.
(chuckles) We are officially ocelot kittens.
Who wants to play?
Martin: What's up, sis?
Chris: Hey, bro.
Martin: Whoa, you got me, you're quick!
Chris: Oof, sneak attack.
(laughing) Martin: So seeing an ocelot in the Sonoran Desert would be the find of a lifetime.
Chris: Let's keep prowling.
Martin: We hiked through this hot, dry desert with no sign of an ocelot.
But we found some of its prey.
Like an Arizona mountain kingsnake.
Martin: Wow, and look at that pattern.
This striped colorful pattern mimics the venomous coral snake, so you would never wanna pick up any snake that looks like this without being a snake expert.
And always remember, give snakes their space.
This mountain kingsnake would be something an ocelot would eat.
Chris: Yep.
Chris: But we still couldn't find an ocelot, so we split up.
An ocelot could be hiding anywhere, behind any cactus.
Chris: Wow, the javelina, the wild pig of this desert region.
Pigs can be tough, so a full grown javelina might be one of the harder things for an ocelot to tackle.
But a piglet, or a young one, is fair game.
Ocelots, like a lot of wild cats, aren't picky.
They'll eat smaller packets of protein, too.
Like insects and arachnids.
This is a desert hairy scorpion.
Their tail has a venomous stinger on the end.
But for an ocelot, the sting is only as bad as a bee sting.
So ocelots gobble these guys down.
But still no luck finding ocelots.
Martin: They're very good at hiding, especially when sneaking up on unsuspecting prey.
Martin: An ocelot can easily catch a small reptile like a spiny lizard or an iguana.
But they would have a much harder time tackling the venomous reptiles like a Gila monster with a strong, powerful jaw.
Or a rattlesnake.
You never know what a hungry wild cat is gonna try to eat.
Martin: Whew, we're still searching for that ocelot of the Sonoran Desert.
Chris: And we could be searching for a long time.
Martin: Keep on creature adventuring.
Chris: We'll see you on the creature trail.
(gentle music) (upbeat theme music) ♪ Chris: To find out more about cool animals, Martin: And collect your own Wild Kratt's creature powers, Chris: go to the Wild Kratt's website Martin: at pbskids.org Both: We'll see you there!
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