This Lone Wolf Weighs Up a Solo Attack on an Injured Elk  Epic Yellowstone   Smithsonian Channel - video Dailymotion

Watch This Lone Wolf Weighs Up a Solo Attack on an Injured Elk  Epic Yellowstone   Smithsonian Channel - Hadeer cA TV on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00 (wind whooshing)

00:02 Winter comes early to Yellowstone.

00:04 (wolves howling)

00:08 This is the season of the wolf.

00:13 While others battle the elements, wolves are in their prime.

00:20 Their success is tied to the collective strength of the pack.

00:25 (wind whooshing)

00:30 A curious adolescent named Blacktail.

00:33 Like many young males,

00:36 he's left behind the security of his pack.

00:39 Winter's wrath could be fatal for a lone wolf.

00:43 In this lean season, every meal is critical.

00:48 And hiding among the willows

00:52 is what looks like a perfect opportunity.

00:57 A wounded bull elk, half frozen at the water's edge.

01:02 A wolf pack would go straight for the kill.

01:08 But alone, Blacktail has almost no chance of taking it down.

01:15 He must wait until the bull gives out.

01:26 (gentle music)

01:29 But time is not in his favor.

01:33 Far across the valley, a legion is gathering.

01:38 The Wapiti Pack.

01:41 More than 20 wolves strong,

01:47 they travel in formation, searching for prey.

01:53 They follow the river unhurried

01:56 until in unison, they spot something.

01:59 The wounded elk.

02:06 Blacktail holds his ground in the meadow.

02:12 He can't afford to abandon this chance of a meal.

02:17 The Wapitis gather in the timber.

02:23 They're staging for an ambush,

02:24 just as night is falling.

02:28 The sun rises on what little remains of the old bull elk.

02:41 The Wapitis' night ambush was a success.

02:46 20 wolves fed on their prize and vanished,

02:51 leaving only scraps for ravens and coyotes.

02:54 Blacktail is nowhere to be seen.

03:00 (upbeat music)

03:05 (upbeat music)