Latest news with #MontanaWild
USA Today
07-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Young elk exhibits remarkable speed while fleeing wolves in Yellowstone
Mature elk can run 40 mph when they become so inspired, and recent footage from Yellowstone National Park shows that young elk are likewise fleet of foot when their lives are at stake. 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.
USA Today
15-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Heart 'the size of a basketball' belongs to what iconic land creature?
Bison can weigh 2,000 pounds, so it's not surprising that the iconic beasts are powered by substantial heart organs. But who among those who have encountered bison in Yellowstone National Park or elsewhere knows what a bison heart looks like? Montana Wild, a division of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, showed followers Friday in a graphic Valentine's Day post, writing: 'Who needs chocolate when you've got a bison heart the size of a basketball?!' Montana Wild pointed out that a typical bison heart weighs between 3.7 and 7 pounds, and that the heart shown in the accompanying image provided four meals for the hunter who harvested the animal. To be sure, bison hearts are nutritious, rich with proteins and vitamins. The meat is considered savory when cooked properly, and hearts from farm-raised bison are sold fresh or shipped frozen to consumers. That's probably not what people think about when visiting Yellowstone National Park, which is home to nearly 5,000 free-ranging bison. But perhaps the information can serve as conversational fodder when in the presence of the colossal beasts.
