Since wolves were introduced in Yellowstone National Park back in 1995, their impact on the ecosystem, including their role in food web dynamics and trophic cascades, has been closely monitored by researchers.
The diet of Yellowstone wolves primarily consists of elk, which make up about 80% of their overall food intake. Bison account for approximately 15-20% of their diet. As opportunistic hunters, Yellowstone wolves will eat just about anything the remainder of their diet is rounded out by animals like ground squirrels, rabbits, pronghorns and beavers.
As the seasons change, so does the wolves’ prey. In the summer wolves focus on newborn elk and bison calves as they are easy targets. In the winter they predate on adult elk and bison who are in a weakened state due to the harsh conditions.
The following video was taken in the heart of Yellowstone National Park where a photo adventure group witnessed an “unforgettable wildlife drama” when a small herd of bison was confronted by the 23 members of the Wapiti Lake Wolf Pack.
The photo group spent the entire day observing the Wapiti Lake Wolf Pack’s social dynamics as they playfully socialized and went on probing missions to access weaknesses in the nearby bison herd.
“As the sun dipped lower, we watched the beginning of the end for one bison—a stark and humbling reminder of nature’s raw, untamed beauty.”
By the following morning the wolf pack had successfully taken down a bison. As a reminder Yellowstone tourists, wildlife watching at Yellowstone National Park can be a stark reminder of the rugged untamed nature of our nation’s first National Park.