Words and photos by Amy Ames
An injured bison stood on the far side of the Firehole River. It was hulking and still, showing flesh wounds on the hind quarters. He appeared to be an older bull, according to our guide Mindy, who said it had likely been injured or sick before it was stalked by the wolves.
In January, I took my annual winter voyage to Yellowstone National Park, leading a group of photographers from across the country. I was nervous: in low snow and mild temperatures, I wasn’t sure what wildlife we would see. On the third day, however, we caught wind that a bobcat had been spotted near the Firehole River. As we hurried to the area, we saw them: three wolves waking up from a nap in the middle of the road. As others emerged from the forest, they all crossed the river toward the bison.
Over the next nine hours, we watched from across the Firehole as the Wapiti wolf pack engaged in the hunt. They launched repeated attacks on the bison, younger members of the pack exhausting it by nipping at its hindquarters. Each time he attempted to sit and rest, the young wolves leapt forward, startling him into standing again. As the hours passed, the bison became more fatigued. Then, when we were leaving the park for the night, the bison stood up and entered the river, denying the pack an easy meal. Instead, he chose to venture to the water and lay his head down. An off-duty ranger told us the next morning that the bison took his last breath in the water shortly after we’d left.
The carcass was partially consumed. The wolves had waited for the bison to drift into shallower waters, then spent the night celebrating their meal. Over the next two days, we watched 14 different wolves visit the carcass, but they weren’t alone. Several coyotes snuck in to snatch whatever scraps they could before being driven off. Eagles and ravens circled above, waiting for the right moment to swoop down and claim their share. Although the wolves were highly protective of their kill, many other carnivores and scavengers benefited from the carcass they left behind. The experience illustrated a vivid picture of the dynamic balance within ecosystems. The death of one sustains the life of others.
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Visit amyamesphotography.com to see more of Ames’s stunning work.
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