A guide has captured dramatic footage showing two adult bison rushing to the rescue as wolves attacked a young calf in Yellowstone National Park.
Michael Sypniewski, who guides for Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, described what he documented via Instagram:
“This young bison was sleeping on the outskirts of it’s herd when it was caught off guard by a group of wolves. Separated from the herd, I thought for sure the wolves were on their way to securing an easy meal.
“Then, seemingly out of no where, two adult bison from the nearby herd came barreling onto the scene to protect the youngster, almost trampling the calf in the process.”
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The bison calf, which sustained bite wounds, did not appear to have been seriously injured.
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Wolves in Yellowstone prey on bison calves – along with elk, deer and other mammals – and have been known to attack adult bison if an animal appears vulnerable.
Bison are the largest land mammals in North America and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. More than 5,000 bison inhabit Yellowstone National Park.
–Generic bison image courtesy of NPS/Yellowstone National Park