We are here in Yellowstone National Park to follow some grey wolves and observe the deadly brilliance of the pack. They’ve learned to cooperate, hunting their prey with many acting as one pack.
This mother grizzly knows how to protect its cub and itself. Stand your ground. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t let the grey wolves run you down. Grizzly mum stands up to the grey wolves. And eventually, they lose interest.
Stand up, hold your ground. Wolves know that large prey can be dangerous if they fight back. What the wolves want is to get their prey on the run. Like, for example this herd of elk. Now the wolves can fan out over the herd, waiting for an old or sick or just unlucky elk to make a wrong move. The alpha male leads the hunt. He bides his time, directing his troops. And eventually, one elk stumbles.
The hungry wolves quickly surround their faltering victim. They swarm in forthe kill, and then, the meal. Wolves are a vital part of a healthy Yellowstone echo-system. They filter out sick and weak animals in the herds and helpscavengers survive but providing leftovers from their hunts. This coyote however is not a scavenger but also a competitor, who's been interfering with the kills of the pack.
So once again, the wolves use cooperation to guard their turf and drive out the intruder.
1. alpha/beta/omega male or female:
In the power hierarchy, the alpha male or alpha female is the individual in the community to whom the others follow and defer. The beta male or female is the contender, subservient to the alpha male or female, but only after testing. The omega refer to member at the bottom of the social hierarchy that is subservient to all members.
2. bide one's time:
To await an opportunity; wait patiently until your chance comes.
3. scavenger:
An animal, such as a bird or insect, that feeds on dead or decaying matter.
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