Wolf pack attack in the Banff National Park
On the weekend I was able to watch an amazing encounter in the Banff National Park. A pack of four wolves hunted and took down an elk on the outskirts of the Banff townsite. The wolves had trapped the elk on a train overpass and wore the much larger animal down with continuous lunges and bites. I will detail how the scene unfolded in an upcoming story but I wanted to share this image while I had a few minutes. Watching this was a window into survival in nature and I came away in awe of the victors and their tenacity, intelligence and cooperation. A shadow of sadness for the elk was a part of this story and I gave thanks for what that life lost meant to this pack.
Christopher Martin Photography 
Amazing Shot, Nice Job
March 16, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Wow! I’m torn over feeling bad for the elk and being happy for the wolves. My parents have huskies and wolves always remind me of them.
March 1, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Lucky shot and amazing story. Thanks for sharing!
March 1, 2016 at 12:52 am
“came away in awe of the victors and their tenacity, intelligence and cooperation.” ~ could not have said it better myself (nor captured such a story within this one photograph).
February 28, 2016 at 7:16 pm
You’re a kind man with kinder words – thank you, sir!
February 29, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Pingback: Stunning photos show wolf pack taking down an elk on railway overpass in Banff | National Post
Excellent photos. Thank you for sharing!
February 25, 2016 at 7:37 am
Thank you Nicole. I can’t wait until I’m down in Yellowstone this May!
February 25, 2016 at 10:50 pm
distressing ..
February 25, 2016 at 5:03 am
how so? It’s nature in action… it is FAR less distressing than the pigs and cattle raised in industrial feedlots?
February 25, 2016 at 9:51 pm
Pingback: Wolf pack takes down elk on railway overpass in Banff | VancouverNe.ws
Pingback: Lup atac ambalaj în Parcul Național Banff – detoatepentrutoti2016
Sadly the wolves didn’t get to keep the kill so it’s a bit of a lose lose situation.
February 24, 2016 at 9:52 am
Wildlife officers said in a recent report they have the carcass in a freezer and will be bringing it back to the area shortly. Just needed to clear the area since they were so close to the railway tracks, did not want any of the wolves to be hit.
February 24, 2016 at 10:55 am
Thanks for visiting Jim. I was a bit dismayed to hear that the carcass could not be relocated but there are a lot of factors that go into those decisions so I respect the Park warden’s decision. As it was the wolves had roughly 40 minutes to feed off their kill before it was removed – a decent amount of time to fill their bellies but maybe not get second helpings.
February 24, 2016 at 11:32 am
Wow. That would be a spectacular encounter.
February 24, 2016 at 9:19 am
It really was Lyle – the best I have had with wolves… By a fair margin!
February 24, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Reblogged this on janencarinvandijk and commented:
ja zo is het leven v d dieren
February 24, 2016 at 6:08 am
Fantastic shot – nature, red in tooth and claw
February 24, 2016 at 1:32 am
Pingback: Wolves slow train | Calgary Herald
Amazing! Were you ever in the right place at the right time.
Fran Schultz 41-595 Yates Rd Kelowna, BC V1V 1P8 Phone: 250-868-9119 Cell: 778-214-7124
>
February 23, 2016 at 9:16 pm
Good fortune shined my way for sure 😊!
February 24, 2016 at 2:36 pm