(somber music)
- Brave Wilderness has become culturally synonymous
with animal bites and stings. (screams)
(dog growls)
In the name of science and entertainment, (exclaims)
I've taken on my fair share of painful encounters.
Ooh, it's stuck in my arm!
But some bites are far too dangerous
when it comes to human trials,
so that is where technology comes in.
We have teamed up with Ohio HD,
one of the Midwest's premier production houses.
Renowned for their arsenal of high-end equipment,
they're considered experts in executing creative ideas
with specialized solutions,
and today, we're combining our talents to bring you
into the strike zone.
(dramatic music)
On this episode, we're going to take you
into the slow-motion strike zone
of the mangrove snake and the water moccasin.
To capture these predator strikes,
we will be using a Phantom high-speed camera,
capable of capturing 1,000 frames per second,
at full 4K resolution.
Then, by slowing down the footage,
we will be able to closely analyze and break down
why these strikes are so effective and ultimately lethal.
- Wow. - Here we go!
Also joining our party is the Bolt High-Speed Cinebot,
which can go from standstill to high-speed motion
in a fraction of a second. (machine whirs)
Yep, it's a robot with a camera for a head
that can move faster than a human.
Trust me, I was just as impressed as you are.
Now before we enter the strike zone,
first, let me introduce our fearless wildlife experts,
Mario Aldecoa and Mike Easter.
They will help to ensure
that everything goes according to plan.
Remember, safety for the animals
and our crew is always the number one priority.
There you have it.
The cast of characters is set, so if you guys are ready,
let the strikes began.
- [Mario] Okay, that's good.
Now let's turn it. (machine whirs)
- [Coyote] So where we're gonna set this up is right here
on this amazing tree branch sculpture.
Now Mario, are you setting up for somebody's birthday?
(Mario blowing)
No, it's no one's birthday.
This is a prop.
It is a balloon,
and we are going to use this to entice a snake to strike out
and hopefully pop the balloon in slow motion.
- [Coyote] Okay, what snake species is going
to be striking at this balloon?
- [Mario] We're gonna be using a mangrove snake.
It is a mildly venomous Colubrid from Southeast Asia.
- [Coyote] Okay, fingers crossed, let's see what happens.
- [Mario] Oh, that's really good, all right.
Yeah, this is gonna be it.
This, of course, does not hurt the snake in any way.
The only injury will come to the balloon.
Okay, ready, ready, ready?
Is that good? - Yeah.
(balloon pops) (Coyote exclaims)
(men laugh) - Oh, that was the one.
(hands clapping) That was it.
Wow, okay, so careful with your camera right there.
The snake is still in strike pose.
That was a good strike, that was pretty cool.
That noise was loud
(balloon pops) inside of the studio, too.
- Yeah. (machine whirs)
Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've been waiting for.
It's time to enter the strike zone.
(tense percussion music)
Okay, this is the moment.
This is where we review the footage
to find out if we got the strike.
Man, the shot is crisp.
Look at the snake, his mouth is already gaped open.
Here comes the balloon
into the shot. - He's going.
- [Coyote] It seems like it lasts forever.
I expect it to come so much quicker.
- [Mario] Casey, nice, I see you're panning up.
- Yep, that's perfect. - That's great.
- [Coyote] Yeah, you can actually see the teeth hanging down
from the roof of his mouth.
- The anticipation! (men laugh)
1,000 frames a second lasts a long time.
Here comes the strike! - Here goes.
- [Coyote] Here it comes!
- Oh, man. - Ooh.
- Boom! (men laugh)
Wow, that was incredible!
- Oh, that is one heck- - Oh, my God, that's cool.
- Of a shot right there. - Yeah.
- [Coyote] Dancing in the treetops is no challenge
for this arboreal reptile, and what's more terrifying is
that this killer usually hunts at night.
Combining it's excellent vision
to pick up on even the slightest movement,
it's then the snake's forked tongue
that ultimately helps this lethal predator zero in
and lock its strike. (drum thuds)
The S-shaped stance allows the reptile to spring forward,
and if the strike is successful,
it will hold onto the prey and begin to chew,
maneuvering the victim toward its rear fangs,
where a mild venom is slowly injected.
To humans, this bite is not fatal,
but to birds, small mammals, and lizards,
this is a very slow and agonizing end.
(tense guitar music)
All right guys, water moccasin is coming onto set.
- [Mario] It's already got the gape going.
- [Coyote] Ooh, already in strike pose.
Oh, look at that. - That's nice.
- [Coyote] We've got this log situation set up here,
and the hopes is that the water moccasin's going
to coil right here and then we are going
to slowly add in a warm water balloon
and see if those heat-seeking pits are capable
of striking out and giving us quite the show.
(tail rattles) Think this is gonna work?
- Well, we got the mangrove snakes to strike.
Supposedly, water moccasins are a lot more aggressive.
I think this is gonna work.
- [Coyote] Well, let's see some action.
We want a water moccasin strike in slow-mo.
Casey, how's that framing look for you?
- I'm feeling good here.
- [Coyote] Okay, Mike, we feel good about the snake?
- Feel good. - Okay.
I think we're ready.
(balloon pops) (water splashes)
(men laugh) Ooh.
- [Casey] Damn, that is sweet!
- [Coyote] Wow, what just happened?
- He struck at the balloon.
I forgot about the water.
- Wow, so with virtually insane speed,
that snake struck out.
Those fangs hit the balloon,
an explosion of air and water everywhere.
That was going to be one very epic slow-motion shot.
You feel good about that, Casey?
- I love that. - Oh,
if Casey likes it, I like it!
All right, I say let's review the clip.
(tense orchestral music)
This is it, reviewing the footage
of the water moccasin's strike.
Look at that, tongue flicking in and out.
Casey, this frame is absolutely perfect.
Here we go! (men chatter)
Oh! - Wow.
- Bang. - Boom.
(balloon pops) (men laugh)
- [Coyote] That was amazing!
(men chatter) That water added
an unbelievable effect.
Dude, Casey, that might've been
the best shot of the day right there.
Distinguished by its stocky build and semi-aquatic nature,
this New World pit viper is an accurately lethal striker.
Using heat sensitive pits located
between the eyes and nostrils,
these sensory organs contain a network of thermal receptors
that help detect the heat signatures of prey items.
Even in complete darkness,
the pits allow them to strike with incredible precision,
and like a heat-seeking missile, their bite hits
and delivers an explosion of hematoxic venom.
To any prey item, this hit is fatal.
To humans, it's a race to the hospital.
(tense synthesizer music)
In slow motion, you can truly appreciate
how fast and accurate the strike of a snake can be.
It's not an experience you want to have,
so remember, pay attention
to your surroundings when out hiking,
and if you come across a venomous snake,
always admire it from a safe distance.
(machine whirs) I'm Coyote Peterson.
Be brave and stay out (machine whirs)
(balloon pops) (exhales) of the strike zone.
(dramatic music)
(laughs) Whoo, great job. (hands clapping)
Hey, coyote pack,
if you thought these slow-motion snake strikes were intense,
then stay tuned as we test out the bite accuracy
of three very bizarre-looking creatures.
Oh, and if you can't wait,
you can watch the next episode of Strike Zone
by joining memberships right now.
I promise you, it's wildly entertaining,
(drum thuds) (bear growls)
(coyote howls) (birds chirp)