Young elk exhibits remarkable speed while fleeing wolves in Yellowstone
The accompanying footage, captured by Andrea Baratte of Montana Wild, shows part of a scene that unfolded last week after the Wapiti wolf pack had separated an elk calf from its mother.
'The calf swam across the river and, thinking the wolves were gone, decided to swim back,' Baratte explained via Instagram. 'Unfortunately, three wolves were waiting on the other side.'
RELATED: Bison stampede footage shows that iconic critters are 'born to run'
The footage opens with the elk sprinting at top speed and plunging into the Yellowstone River, with two of the three wolves continuing the chase in the water. The footage ends there, but Baratte assured, 'In a brave attempt, the calf made it safely back to its mother.'
Yellowstone provides summer habitat for as many as 20,000 elk. The park is also home to more than 100 wolves, which prey on elk, deer, bison, and smaller mammals.
As Baratte noted, wolves have a low success rate when it comes to hunting large mammals. But a single kill can provide days of sustenance.
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