I have seen wolves around over the past 12 years of living and working in Grand Teton National Park. The sightings were always very brief and from a great distance. That all changed yesterday, November 14th 2021. A carcass was visible from the roadway. A recent kill, most likely an elk by the look of it. I decided to wait all day, watching as a pair of coyotes and a bald eagle briefly made an appearance, but for the most part a group of ravens had the meal to themselves.
Eventually I peeled away to look for some other photo opportunities. I found some bison that were close to the roadway which I thought was nice.
The sun started to set and I was tempted to head home, but decided to give the carcass another visit. I found the site largely devoid of cars and people. One of the guys I had talked to earlier let me know that I hadn’t missed anything. Everyone packed up and headed out. I made a couple unsuccessful trips looking for any nearby action. As I passed by the carcass site on my way home I noticed two black dots out of my peripheral vision. I quickly parked off the roadway and jumped out of the car.
A black and a grey wolf were first to the carcass, trailed by many more. There were apparently two rival packs because a large group of wolves never approached the carcass and ultimately retreated into the forest. Needless to say, I have never had an experience like this and may never again. I shot some photos but because of the distance and looming darkness I mainly recorded video and enjoyed the spectacle through binoculars. It was amazing watching these magnificent animals play, socialize, and enjoy a meal.
View the full video below
