The video was taken on December 29, 2019, when grizzlies are usually hibernating. However, the grizzly in this video decided to stay awake, alert, and hungry. As the video starts, you can hear a crowd murmuring behind the tour guide. In the center of the scene, you can see a massive grizzly atop what looks like a rather recent kill. The white snow has turned to a dark brown and red mess beneath the grizzly’s paws as it brushes the snow around the carcass. A few wolves can be seen on either side of the bear, walking about as if also interested in what the bear is pawing at. It’s not apparent at first, but this grizzly is taking something that doesn’t belong to it. The Junction Butte Wolf Pack has previously taken down this elk, and the grizzly has come in to lay claim over the carcass. Understandably, the wolf pack wants what’s theirs. At first, you can only see a few wolves trying to approach. The grizzly starts defending the carcass as if it belonged to it all along. It charges at several wolves and spins in circles, attempting to defend itself from every angle. More wolves appear on the scene in the blink of an eye, and suddenly, this grizzly is working against a pack of 5 then 14 wolves at once. Although outnumbered, this grizzly’s hunger is much stronger. It keeps its stance over the carcass, even though the wolves are circling all around it. It bites and lunges at any wolf that gets too close. Different wolves try sneaking toward it, but none of them are willing to fight the grizzly for the elk’s carcass. The grizzly lunges at the wolves a few more times before the wolves collectively decide to accept their loss. They begin walking away from the grizzly and from the prey they’ve managed to kill as the grizzly remains atop the carcass, gathering snow on top of it the way a cat gathers litter on top of its waste. In Yellowstone, about 80% of wolf kills are stolen by grizzlies. Even when it was supposed to be time for bear hibernation, this wolf pack had to take another loss.
Is This Normal Behavior?
Bears are not typical everyday dinner for wolves; however, wolves will attempt to take down a grizzly if they have the number and they are hungry or desperate enough. Moreover, wolves will tend to attack very young, lame, or old bears rather than healthy bears. Wolves and bears normal behavior haves them mutually avoiding each other and their territories. These two species of animals hope to find easier prey or scavenge for remains of other killed animals.
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See more wolves and bears that have been caught on the scene and on camera:
See British Adventurer Meet a Wolf Pack In the Dead of WinterWatch a Bear Being Swept Over a Waterfall In YellowstoneBrave Minnesotan Releases Huge Timberwolf Up CloseWatch a Gigantic Moose Chase Down a Racing Grizzly
