Three grizzly bears quarrel over an elk kill conveniently provided by seven wolf members of the Molly Pack near Indian Pond in the Mary Bay area of Yellowstone National Park.
Though the scene was too dark to get good visuals, James Yule of Worland got outstanding audio of the Oct. 14 affair and graciously let the Tribune post it here. The following 1:20 clip represents about six minutes of audio, clipped to remove dead space.
While the timeline has been condensed, “the audio's all pure,” Yule told the Tribune. If the clip doesn't appear in a player below, you can download it here.
“They’re ripping and tearing,” said Neale Blank, a local photographer who witnessed the grizzly spectacle while his friend Yule recorded it.
Low-throated moaning as the bears' plaintive-sounding wails waft the dawn air.
The day before, the wolves brought down a cow and calf elk, but in their jubilation, they announced to the animal world their success.
“When a pack makes a kill,” Blank said, “they celebrate.”
They bark, howl and cavort, he said.
Grizzlies, attuned to the wolves’ merrymaking, arrived pronto.
The sounds morph from moans to growls as the bears bicker over choice cuts.
Then, a gaggle of geese honk, as though their echoing expressions are background music for nature’s concert.
While the audio played at the Tribune on Thursday, Blank rewound the scene in his head.
“The sounds of nature; you can always see in your mind,” Blank said. “You’ll never forget it.”
You can see some of James Yule's nifty wildlife videography on his YouTube channel.
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