More from the Banff wolf pack’s attack on the elk
The story of the Banff wolf pack’s takedown of the elk last Sunday begins for me where Banff Avenue goes under the Trans-Canada Highway. I had spent some time along the Vermilion Lakes, then the Bow Valley Parkway and was heading for the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. At the stop sign I looked south for oncoming traffic and noticed movement up on the railway overpass. Pulling off the road, I could see an elk from the shoulder up – the body blocked by the solid concrete side of the bridge.
The elk took a couple of paces, doubled back and then repeated that a couple of times. It seemed unusual behaviour so I trained my telephoto lens on her to have a better look. When I did, I couldn’t make out anything unusual – until a wolf’s head came into view when it leaped up and bit the elk’s neck!
At that point, part of me was in amazement but the more important part got to work. I ran up the small hill beside the bridge to get level with the animals. As I did, I could see four wolves (although the pack has five members; I just don’t have one photograph with more than four but all five were likely there) surrounding the elk. I did not see what led to the elk being on the bridge but suspect it was herded there by the wolves.
Over the next seven minutes, the wolves alternated between attacking the animal and walling it in on the bridge. Both the herding and the attacking suggested great intelligence and teamwork.
The large male, likely the alpha, which primarily attacked the face and neck alternated initial lunges with the other wolves at the back. Whoever went first would dodge and parry the increasingly weak counters by the elk while the others would bite viciously while her attention was distracted from them.
When the elk would get closer to one of the ends of the bridge, the wolves would line up along the edge and force her back towards the middle. During the struggle, she was pulled down twice and recovered her legs before being taken down for good by the alpha in a twisting move of immense power.
The cold air, it was about -15°C at 10AM when I came across the attack, condensed the breath and the heat from the open wounds into steam that added to the poignancy of the scene.
When the elk was down, the pack wasted no time in starting their feast. They had about 45 minutes before the carcass was removed which gave the whole pack time to get at least one full meal down.
Parks Canada has said that the elk was removed due to the location beside the tracks in the middle of the bridge and the danger that would pose to the wolves and the other animals the kill would attract. I fully agree with that and hope the carcass is taken to a location where the pack can find it again whenever that decision makes sense. I had hoped they might move the carcass to another location immediately but there are a number of factors involved in making those decisions. I respect the Parks Canada people that follow these wolves on a daily basis and believe they will continue to make those calls with the best outcome for the wildlife. I certainly appreciate their work getting the trains slowed down for a period of time after the attack and giving the wolves a decent amount of time before the elk was moved.
I will post a few more images a little later but wanted to share the story as I saw it now.
Christopher Martin Photography 
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Those are some amazing & beautiful pictures.cant wait to see if your going to make some stills of the wolves & the elk before the attack of course..,
April 3, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Excellent photo story, Chris. Jawdroppingly powerful documentation.
January 15, 2017 at 5:33 am
Just discovering this story. I can’t help but notice that the bridge in this case (which is unnatural and man made) played a part in this hunt and how it was used to trap the elk.
January 9, 2017 at 5:51 am
The wonder of nature, and the wild! Looks like you’ve captured a hungry crew and a lone, worried elk… but not for long. Great shots!
April 27, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Great story
April 26, 2016 at 8:40 am
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Very Nice Photos, You Very Good Photography
March 16, 2016 at 9:28 pm
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Wow, talk about right time, right place! Skillfully captured as well, graphically represented but not overly so. The effect the temperature added is probably a once-in-a-lifetime event (well, it is Canada, so maybe not, lol). Thank you for allowing us a peek over your shoulder at an inspiring and sobering moment in the circle of life.
March 9, 2016 at 6:20 am
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Absolutely stunning pictures! I can’t believe you were able to witness this!
March 2, 2016 at 10:05 am
That was an amazing sequence. Thank you for sharing. I live in very urban Oakland, CA so I can’t even imagine a scene like this in town. Is this a very populated area? Are the wolves often roaming in town? Do they ever get hit by cars? And what kind of bridge was that? You mentioned tracks…
March 1, 2016 at 10:10 pm
Hi Jeannette,
Banff is a town in the Banff National Park with ~8000 people. The wolves very rarely come into the outskirts of town – they do not roam there often more when they are transiting to another part of the valley. This bridge is a railway overpass that is about 1-1.5 miles outside of the town. It is rare for the wolves to get hit by cars but it has happened.
Cheers,
Chris
March 2, 2016 at 7:19 am
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Thank you the story, and amazing pictures!
March 1, 2016 at 11:49 am
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I would have done the same thing. What a scene! I love the shot of the elk looking over the railing, and on the underside of the bridge is a bunch of cameras.
February 29, 2016 at 12:39 pm
Wow, I am amazed at this series of photos and the scene you witnessed… Seeing this in the wild would be something else, but to have it happen at the crossroads between the wild & modernity, simply amazing. Your shots show the essence of nature so cleanly ~ and the intelligence of a wolf pack. Wonderful series of photos and discussion.
February 28, 2016 at 7:15 pm
That is the nature…but sad to see :`(
February 28, 2016 at 3:57 am
Stunning photography!
February 27, 2016 at 1:53 pm
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fantastic pics. But wolves have no business being that close to a town. You won’t think there so cool when they eat fluffy or attack your children.
February 27, 2016 at 9:39 am
We are the intruders to nature, especially as our towns and cities expand…not them to us. We need to learn to live with them.
February 27, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Wolves don’t attack people. There has not been a verified incidence of a wolf attacking a person.
February 28, 2016 at 10:06 am
Really? At Points North Landing in Saskatchewan about 10 years ago a guy was killed and partially eaten by wolves. I guess that puts your theory in the fail column.
February 29, 2016 at 3:20 pm
If you live in a National Park you have to accept that the wildlife are free to roam wherever they want. Keep fluffy inside and don’t let your kids wander around unless you want them to be part of the food chain.
February 29, 2016 at 3:15 pm
An amazing documentary on a kill. I have heard of this ability for wolves to work as a team
February 27, 2016 at 12:40 am
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Thank you so much for showing this. The vegans should go wild. Humans do have the ability to eat meat and kill swiftly without pain. Anyways, sure you heard on facebook today that JonBenet Ramsey is singer Katy Perry. Well, she’s not, and here’s why. https://thehumblejewishman.wordpress.com/2016/01/30/dave-johnson-is-nominated-for-junglesurfer-list-as-biggest-shill-of-2016/
February 26, 2016 at 5:30 pm
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Nicely photographed, but I feel sorry for the deer, why can not the wolves make a quick end to the suffering.
February 26, 2016 at 11:08 am
They obviously want to kill it as quick as they can but they don’t want to endanger themselves in the process. This is nature at work and a lot of animals do not die peacefully in bed.
February 26, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Just awesome! Great pictures and descriptive narration. I do have one question though, What were the sounds like?? Did the wolves bark/growl in the process….did the elk “cry out” at all, or were the sounds subdued?
February 26, 2016 at 10:56 am
It was very quiet. I was surprised by that – very few growls that I could hear from 100-150m away and no cries from the elk.
February 26, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Just amazing. Thank you for the experience.
February 26, 2016 at 9:43 pm
Wild animals doing what wild animals do every day. Amazing pictures, thanks for taking the time to record something most will never witness.
February 26, 2016 at 10:40 am
Wow. Gripping story. I love the photos, makes me feel like I was right there. Well done and thanks for sharing.
February 26, 2016 at 7:26 am
Powerful as has been said, but also I truly appreciate the blog format, instead of simply giving us a gallery of images! Nature is always telling us a story – so thanks for depicting it here… and that it happened there vs. out in the trees is cool and scary at the same time for Banff!
February 26, 2016 at 6:54 am
Just curious, what is it I’m seeing behind the wolves in the third- and second-last photos? Is that a train going by?? Incredible photos, Mr. Martin!
February 26, 2016 at 6:42 am
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Gorgeous photos of nature in the raw. You were so lucky to be in the right place at the right time! So many times I have headed under that bridge going to see if we could find wildlife in the Lake Minnewanka area. Great job at getting the shots and describing the scenes – a rare treat to witness the incredible precision of a Wolf pack in action.
February 25, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Thank you Gord. It was very lucky and an incredible encounter to witness.
February 25, 2016 at 11:58 pm
You shld have saved the elk
February 25, 2016 at 8:29 pm
I wouldn’t interfere for any reason. I do not feel that I should have done anything different.
February 25, 2016 at 11:57 pm
Photographers should just capture these kind of natural take downs between two wild animals. This sort of thing happens daily in the wild you did the right thing by it run it’s course. Great pic by the way.
February 26, 2016 at 8:25 am
As a nature photographer I agree. We record nature in it’s beautiful and not so beautiful moments, but we are there to capture nature not interfere with it. Besides what could you do? Run over there and try to chase 5 100lb hungry wolves away from their meal? You would just become the appetizer.
February 29, 2016 at 3:26 pm
And let 5 wolves starve? The area is full of elk
February 26, 2016 at 9:11 am
So the wolves could starve? just let nature take its course
February 26, 2016 at 10:12 am
Yes they should have. I would have . Poor Elk. And she is pregnant this time of year. Sad
February 27, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Nature at it’s finest moment, yet worst. Thank you. The wolves must eat,..and no one is putting a bowl of food down for them each & every day… all of them are gorgeous creatures.
February 25, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Great respect for how this story was shared and for the decision makers involved in wildlife management.
February 25, 2016 at 1:29 pm
I find it difficult to express my appreciation of your photo work,your attitude and the attitude of those who commented on a very sensitive subject where I spend much time — Montana / Alaska. Your comment ” As I saw it now,” very, very good. My comment,”You can learn a lot from a WOLF!” Hope to see you in Banff on my way to Alaska next mo.
February 25, 2016 at 12:59 pm
e-leet sir
February 25, 2016 at 12:49 pm
An amazing documentary on a kill. I have heard of this ability for wolves to work as a team. I sympathize with the elk but nature is what it is.
February 25, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Wow! Amazing thank you for sharing. What a powerful experience that must have been.
February 25, 2016 at 8:25 am
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Survival of the fittest in action and pity on the poor victim.
February 25, 2016 at 6:37 am
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Your photographs are always a blessing because they are a flash of everything that is inspiring about nature. Grateful.
February 24, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing these pictures of nature/life that we rarely see. I only hope that this pack moves away from the town.
Watching these magnificent creatures in action must of been a personal highlight!
February 24, 2016 at 10:21 pm
Beautiful we get to see these animals how they are without human interference and making it “better” nature know its own course. Thanks for making these pictures and sharing these without bias; true photography
February 24, 2016 at 10:02 pm
Interesting story. Thanks for observing and photographing the hunt. Also interesting to hear about how Parks Canada intervenes in such situations. Do you know if coyotes hunt in packs the same way?
February 24, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Amazing pictures Chris, Just how far back were you? Between the off ramps or closer?
February 24, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Hi William – thank you! I was on the rise beside the the west edge of the bridge. About 150m from the wolves.
February 24, 2016 at 9:40 pm
Awesome pictures, thanks for sharing. Just how far away were you? Between the 2 exits from the TC?
That black one looks to have a radio tracking device strapped to his neck
February 24, 2016 at 8:18 pm
I think two of them are collared. Parks were telling me that they have alternate “on” times to stretch the battery life out.
February 24, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Wow. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos with us.
February 24, 2016 at 6:22 pm
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Amazing pictures! The brutal, beautiful process of nature taking its course even in the midst of human footprints on the landscape everywhere! How cool that you got that close to nature in action!!
February 24, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Seeing the Wolves’ teamwork in action would likely be the best part and you got a ringside seat!
February 24, 2016 at 3:43 pm
You would have loved it Lyle – you are absolutely correct that was one of the best parts.
February 24, 2016 at 7:55 pm
Amazing experience thanks for sharing
February 24, 2016 at 3:12 pm
What an incredible capture, for everyone. Very powerful.
February 24, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Reblogged this on janencarinvandijk and commented:
mooie foto serie
February 24, 2016 at 2:22 pm
ja heel mooie foto ja een dier is altijd eerlijk heel mooi repotage
February 24, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Coincidentally, we just watched: How Wolves Change Rivers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q
Love your photos ! ~~ Steve Stephen R Elliott
srElliott0@Gmail.com La Antigua Guatemala
On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 1:58 PM, Christopher Martin Photography wrote:
> Christopher Martin posted: ” The story of the Banff wolf pack’s takedown > of the elk last Sunday begins for me where Banff Avenue goes under the > Trans-Canada Highway. I had spent some time along the Vermilion Lakes, > then the Bow Valley Parkway and was heading for the Lake Minnewa” >
February 24, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Thank you Steve! I will need to check that video out.
February 24, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Incredible images. Good on you for stopping to capture these.
February 24, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Thank you Pascal!
February 24, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Amazing display of nature! As sad as some will think this is, it is life in the wild. Great photos. Must have been truly powerful to witness.
February 25, 2016 at 7:05 am
Congratulations on your pictures and by consequence you showing up on my CBC feed.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/banff-wolf-pack-elk-takedown-christopher-martin-photographer-1.3462499
February 26, 2016 at 7:52 pm
What amazingly powerful images! Well done.
February 24, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Excellent images … in particular the penultimate one of the lone wolf facing the camera.
February 24, 2016 at 1:28 pm