This bothersome coyote is lucky that the much larger grizzly didn’t enforce its power during this Yellowstone National Park encounter.
Coyotes, whether we (or the grizzly bear in this footage below) like it or not, are thriving across the United States. The canines have an innate ability to survive in all different types of climates and habitats, and one place they call home is Yellowstone. Though there aren’t as many coyotes within the national park as there used to be – because of the wolf population – the smaller canines are still plentiful in the area.
Though small in stature, coyotes are predators and scavengers that will hunt and scavenge anything they can get their teeth around. The competition for prey is much higher within Yellowstone National Park, so occasionally they’ll set their eyes on something that’s a big bigger than what they can actually handle.
Like a grizzly bear.
Let’s be clear. This coyote didn’t really have a chance at attacking and bringing down a five year old grizzly bear. In reality, it should have been running for the hills and putting as much space between the grizzly and itself for its own safety. Coyotes aren’t a regular in a grizzly bear’s diet, but the bears are opportunistic, and if one gets on their nerves… it suddenly shoots to the top of the menu.
Fortunately for this coyote, this grizzly recognized as “1109” was not in the mood on this early, Yellowstone morning. The sizable bear was walking along, minding its own business when it couldn’t help but feel like something was following. That’s because something was. A coyote was hot on its tail, and was even bold enough to start nipping at the grizzly bear’s ankles.
As you might imagine, the grizzly bear didn’t care for that at all.
Andrea Baratte, a wildlife photographer in the Yellowstone area, captured all of that playing out in real time. The coyote ran up behind the grizzly, clamped down on its back leg – if only for a moment – and then bolted. Reacting to the unexpected bite, the grizzly turned around and gave out a little warning roar before getting back to its walk through Yellowstone National Park.
The funny thing about the entire interaction? It never really seemed like either the coyote or the grizzly was in legitimate danger. How everything played out… the ankle-biting felt more like two friends poking fun at each other, or two puppies getting some energy out by fake wrestling. The video had all the tension of an outdoors video, but at the same time, came off as a really playful moment in the animal kingdom.
You can check it out below:
“Coyote harassing a young grizzly bear in Yellowstone. This young grizzly bear 1109 was followed by two coyotes early this morning and could not catch a break. While he obviously was never in real danger, it still annoyed him! He is about 5 years old.”
The grizzly did seem “annoyed.” That’s definitely the right way to describe it. But I’d say it came off as more of a, “Really? We’re going this again?” kind of annoyance… if that matters at all.
