A tour guide and his client this week witnessed an extraordinary scene involving wolves chasing two elk for 3-plus miles in Yellowstone National Park.
The accompanying footage, captured by guide Andrea Baratte of Yellowstone Adventure Tours, shows one wolf’s pursuit of a bull elk that attempts to kick the wolf during the “incredible chase.”
Wolf in pursuit of elk in Yellowstone.
The kick does not fully connect – fortunately for the wolf – but it creates space and the elk ultimately outpaces the wolf.
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Baratte stated via Instagram: “The chase stretched over a [3.5 to 4-mile] span and the wolves did not succeed. Wolves have a low hunting success rate of about 10%-15% in Yellowstone’s northern range.”
The footage also shows bison running from the chase path and maneuvering into defensive positions – all part of the predator-prey dynamics in Yellowstone.
According to the park website, wolves prey predominantly on elk, especially during winter.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Wolves chase elk for 3-plus miles in Yellowstone’s northern range