A group that studies wild horses in Alberta, Canada, on Monday shared trail-cam footage showing a stallion and herd members intently defending a foal from wolves.
“A lot of people ask us if the Stallion would try to protect his foal from wolves,” Help Alberta Wildies Society stated via Facebook. “This short video will give you an idea of what that might look like.”
The footage (posted below), which HAWS said was captured a year ago, shows the stallion leading a determined effort to cut off the wolves’ advances. (Click here if video player doesn’t appear below.)
https://www.facebook.com/HelpAlbertaWildiesSociety/videos/1600909290503558
Viewers will note that the wolves steer clear of the larger horses (and their hooves) but remain persistent in trying to single out the foal.
Reads the top comment: “The wolves want them to run so they can separate their intended prey and isolate it to take it down. When the herds stand their ground and put the foals in the center the predators tend to look for easier prey.”
The outcome was not clear, but the horses appear determined to hold their ground.
On a related topic, HAWS also has clips showing horses running from grizzly bears, which can sprint up to 35 mph. The bears, like the wolves, are hoping to catch a weary foal or a larger horse to fall and become injured.
In 2022, we featured one such chase that also involved a foal, with the grizzly in close pursuit. HAWS was quoted:
“The next time someone tells you that the Wild Horses have no natural predators, send them to me. We are losing a lot of horses this year, sooner and quicker than in past years. Not just the foals. Adults also.”
It was not clear if the bear was successful in its chase.