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Bear Coyotes Wolf Stand Off

This is the story of a Grizzly bear and her three cubs, 3 coyotes, a limping but otherwise healthy wolf and an assortment of birds on a sunny day in the Hayden Valley of Yellowstone. Be sure to view the pictures on pages 3-4 as well, or you'll miss the confrontation between the wolf and the coyotes.

We heard that sometime between 8 and 10 in the morning a pack of wolves took down an Elk in a stream in the Hayden Valley. Later a Grizzly and three cubs arrived and started feeding on the Elk. Apparently the Grizzly had driven the wolves away. An English couple told us about these events and we rushed to the scene, arriving about 2 pm. There were about 100 people watching, including several park rangers keeping the crowd at a safe distance about 250 to 300 yards away. When we arrived two coyotes were feeding on the Elk while the Grizzly sow, with three cubs tucked beneath her, stared from the grass about 100 yards beyond. Eventually the the coyotes had their fill and retreated to the grassland, yielding the Elk feed to an assortment of ravens, vultures and other birds.

Eventually, the Grizzly decided she had rested enough and it was time to reclaim the Elk. She gathered her cubs, strolled through the meadow and into the stream and invited her cubs to feed on remains of the Elk. The following is the story of the events that transpired over the next 6 hours, culminating in an unusual confrontation between coyotes and a wolf.
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The wolf gets the message and wanders away.
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The wolf gets the message and wanders away.

GrizzlyYellowstone

  • Three coyotes were still observing the scene. (Only one is pictured here).
  • What the coyote is observing is that a Wolf has entered the scene and is approaching the Grizzly.
  • Notice how the cubs are almost completely tucked in beneath the mother bear.
  • The Grizzly bear warns the wolf.  Notwithstanding his limp, the fact he appears to be well fed and healthy is a testament to his continued ability to provide for himself.
  • The cubs stand safely behind the mama bear.
  • The wolf gets the message and wanders away.
  • Untitled photo
  • The Grizzly keeps her eye on the wolf while the cubs feed.
  • If you look carefully on the left you can see the coyote has worked himself into the picture to see if there is something he can take advantage of in the situation.
  • The wolf checks to see if there might be an opening at the rear.
  • Deciding there's no chance the bear will give way, he exits the stream and moves to the right side of the stream.  He peers into the crowd of onlookers, now 100 yards away.
  • The coyotes have worked their way to the right side of the stream also, and start to harass the wolf.  He weighs over 100 pounds.  They weigh around 35 pounds. Notice the buffalo in the meadow.
  • The confrontation begins.
  • Although the coyotes test to see whether the limping wolf can be a meal, his snarl makes clear he can defend himself. He warns the coyotes to back off.  This is my favorite picture.
  • The coyotes howl, but think the better of it and slowly back away.
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