Wolfpack hunting Moose. (Wolves chase Moose cow and calf) Glacier National Park. Elizabeth Lake
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General:Filmed in Glacier on a
General:
Filmed in Glacier on a cold morning about 15 miles up the Belly River from Chief Mountain trailhead. While hunkered barefoot on an island, watching beaver and water fowl, I heard a loud crash and grunts in the tree-line about 20 yards from me. I switched on my camera to get what I thought might be some cool audio of a couple grizzly bears fighting out of sight.
I only had a bout 30' to work with when by the time the group turned towards my beach. I moved quick to give them some of the space they needed.
Things that may be hard to pick out in the vid:
- A wolf pack hidden in that tree-line, quietly moving into position around a Cow and Calf in the monotone twilight of the predawn hours. Prior to the emergence of the group there was about 5 minutes of branches cracking, loud grunts, and splashes heard out of sight. I imagine that initially the Moose were surrounded while sleeping but were able to break through the predators after a couple minutes of struggle.
- The wolves were silent throughout! Meaning no barking, howling, yipping. Silent disciplined hunters. Didn't hear a single wolf in my month spent hiking in the the Bob and Glacier.
- Initially two smaller wolves come out of the trees tailing the Moose quickly followed by two bigger wolves that come out of the tree-line at the flanks of the Moose. It appeared that the older wolves were at the flanks and the young were occupying a trail/pursuit position.
- When the Cow turns in deep water to stomp at the pack, the smaller wolves turn back almost immediately, probably due to inexperience and deepening water (and threat of a Cow Moose now in its element). The two larger wolves pause momentarily while the splash subsides, then continue pursuit despite the threat. After a few more seconds the remaining two wolves quite their pursuit.
- The last wolf to turn back stuck around for about 20 minutes after its pack had retreated. It patrolled the shoreline shifting its gaze between me(!) and the Moose before finally calling it quits. At one point it actually took several steps into the water towards me. It may have just been curious and not have known that I was a human at the time (I was hunkered down behind some bushes about 80' away). I imagine I looked like a beaver in my brown hoodie.
- I eventually clear the beach entirely to give the Moose space. Before I cleared the beach it seemed like the moose were more willing to go back into the wolf-infested tree-line than they were to go anywhere near my human-infested beach. As I retreated further the Moose did in-fact walk directly over where I had been positioned.
- While the Moose came out safe on this encounter, other hikers reported a lone Cow moose (no calf) seen the following day in the same area. Possibly a different Moose or an indication of a wolf pack now a little less hungry.
- I do have additional photos and footage for context and setting that I got later on in the day.
Thanks:
Overall an incredible place even without this expereince, and I got to meet lots of cool people from around the world on the trails throughout my month spent backpacking in Glacier.
Thank you to all the park rangers and fellow hikers in for taking great care of the park!!
Filmed in Glacier on a cold morning about 15 miles up the Belly River from Chief Mountain trailhead. While hunkered barefoot on an island, watching beaver and water fowl, I heard a loud crash and grunts in the tree-line about 20 yards from me. I switched on my camera to get what I thought might be some cool audio of a couple grizzly bears fighting out of sight.
I only had a bout 30' to work with when by the time the group turned towards my beach. I moved quick to give them some of the space they needed.
Things that may be hard to pick out in the vid:
- A wolf pack hidden in that tree-line, quietly moving into position around a Cow and Calf in the monotone twilight of the predawn hours. Prior to the emergence of the group there was about 5 minutes of branches cracking, loud grunts, and splashes heard out of sight. I imagine that initially the Moose were surrounded while sleeping but were able to break through the predators after a couple minutes of struggle.
- The wolves were silent throughout! Meaning no barking, howling, yipping. Silent disciplined hunters. Didn't hear a single wolf in my month spent hiking in the the Bob and Glacier.
- Initially two smaller wolves come out of the trees tailing the Moose quickly followed by two bigger wolves that come out of the tree-line at the flanks of the Moose. It appeared that the older wolves were at the flanks and the young were occupying a trail/pursuit position.
- When the Cow turns in deep water to stomp at the pack, the smaller wolves turn back almost immediately, probably due to inexperience and deepening water (and threat of a Cow Moose now in its element). The two larger wolves pause momentarily while the splash subsides, then continue pursuit despite the threat. After a few more seconds the remaining two wolves quite their pursuit.
- The last wolf to turn back stuck around for about 20 minutes after its pack had retreated. It patrolled the shoreline shifting its gaze between me(!) and the Moose before finally calling it quits. At one point it actually took several steps into the water towards me. It may have just been curious and not have known that I was a human at the time (I was hunkered down behind some bushes about 80' away). I imagine I looked like a beaver in my brown hoodie.
- I eventually clear the beach entirely to give the Moose space. Before I cleared the beach it seemed like the moose were more willing to go back into the wolf-infested tree-line than they were to go anywhere near my human-infested beach. As I retreated further the Moose did in-fact walk directly over where I had been positioned.
- While the Moose came out safe on this encounter, other hikers reported a lone Cow moose (no calf) seen the following day in the same area. Possibly a different Moose or an indication of a wolf pack now a little less hungry.
- I do have additional photos and footage for context and setting that I got later on in the day.
Thanks:
Overall an incredible place even without this expereince, and I got to meet lots of cool people from around the world on the trails throughout my month spent backpacking in Glacier.
Thank you to all the park rangers and fellow hikers in for taking great care of the park!!
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