Arriving in Minnesota just as bears are emerging from their winter dens, Gordon Buchanan must earn the trust of a young mother bear before he can begin filming her and her young cub.

As summer arrives, Gordon Buchanan returns to Minnesota and discovers that a tiny bear cub has been abandoned by her mother. He tracks down the starving cub and steps in to try keep her alive.

Returning to the forest in early autumn, Gordon Buchanan tries to protect the bear family as hunting season begins.