Spring Fever (Japanese: ここほれウリムー!おんせんをさがせ!!Dig Here Urimoo! Search for the Hot Spring!!) is the 188th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 8, 2001 and in the United States on February 2, 2002.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
As Todd and our heroes take a lunch break on a rocky mountain top, a Swinub rushes at them from a nearby crevasse. Misty is startled and drops her lunch. As the Swinub quickly swipes it, two more appear followed by a pint-sized girl named Peggy. She explains her father uses the Swinub to sniff out hot springs for hotels wanting to build resorts. Unfortunately, the Swinub's sniffers haven't been up-to-snuff and they haven't honed in on a hot spring in months. When Team Rocket try to steal the Swinub, the ensuing battle is just what they need to warm up to the search for hot springs!
Plot
This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.
Continuing their travels with Todd, their search for Articuno, Ash and his friends no sooner stop for a snack break than a trio of Swinub appears and makes off with Misty’s rice cake. The group then jump to pursue them and soon learn that these Pokémon are in the employ of a father-daughter team of water prospectors. The Swinub’s keen sense of smell allows them to detect substances buried deep underground. Impressed by their operations, Team Rocket decided to pirate the idea and its key Pokémon and turn them to their own gain...
Major events
For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.
The names of the Swinub in this episode are Sue, Ein, Ub, which, if said together quickly, become their species, Swinub. The same applies to their Japanese names, U, Ri, and Moo are the three syllables that comprise Urimoo.
This episode is featured on the Volume 5: Ice copy of Pokémon Elements.
Errors
In the dub, Jessie commands Arbok to use a Fang Attack on two of the Swinub. She most likely meant Bite and it was simply misunderstood when dubbing.