A tour guide in Yellowstone National Park on Monday captured rare footage showing a mountain lion and bull elk coexisting within a small space.
Andrea Baratte, a guide for Yellowstone Adventure Tours, stated via Instagram that he was “still speechless” after the encounter.
Baratte explained that the mountain lion, or cougar, was sleepy after feasting on a bighorn sheep carcass since at least the day before.
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The guide added: “The mountain lion had a full belly and was napping as this bull elk approached. Both were aware of each other. The cat never showed any interest.”
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Mountain lion sightings are extremely rare in Yellowstone National Park, which boasts a population of about 40 animals spread across the northern range.
According to the park, mountain lions prey largely on mule deer and elk, along with smaller mammals such as marmots. Bears and wolves, the park added, often displace mountain lions from their kills.