YELLOWSTONE BEAR ON THE HUNT
It is a rare occasion during my hikes that I am able to capture an encounter such as this. I observed this elderly cinnamon bear for approximately an hour.
I observed a cinnamon-colored black bear heading upriver, stopping to rub against a tree, and then continuing its journey. The bear was on the opposite side of the river from where I was positioned. Using a 600MM lens, I maintained a safe distance. The bear would occasionally pause to sniff the air, having evidently picked up the scent of something. Further upriver, I spotted what had caught the bear's attention—two elk at the river's edge. After noticing the elk, the bear quickly advanced towards them. The elk, sensing danger, began to flee, with the bull elk crossing the river towards the bear. The bear and the elk crossed paths mid-river. I realized the bear's goal was to reach the young elk within the group near the tree line. The elk, now aware of the impending danger, became restless, and the young ones grouped together with the help of their mothers.
They were all relocated to safety, and the bear continued upstream without a meal.
The Cinnamon Bear, rubbing against the tree, is a subspecies of the American black bear.
He had spotted the two elk at the river's edge.
Elk, both female and male, were waiting to see what the bear was going to do.
While in transit, monitoring their activities.
The bull elk headed into the river towards the bear. I am unsure if it was a deliberate distraction for the bear or if it panicked and went in the wrong direction.
The bear focused its gaze on the young elk across the way.
Advancing cautiously while maintaining a vigilant watch on the young elk.
The bear was shaking the water off its body.
The bear was approaching the herd of elk.
The herd knew he was coming in their direction.
Young Elk
The females were gathering the young and moving them out of harm's way.
The old bear had no luck catching the young elk.
© Chris LeBoutillier
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