What happens when you leave a camera on a carcass in the frozen wild of Bridger-Teton National Forest (Yellowstone) for 3 weeks?
Wildlife filmmaker Jake Davis did just that—and what he captured is a haunting, slow-motion standoff between apex predators, complete with vanishing wolves, stolen gear, and a bone-crunching finale.
Highlights:
- After six days of complete silence, a black wolf finally appears at the untouched carcass—and is soon joined by another.
- The two black wolves suddenly freeze and dash off, seemingly pulled by haunting howls in the distance.
- Despite being surrounded by scavengers like golden eagles and red foxes, the carcass remains almost pristine for days.
- Wolves and other animals approach the carcass with extreme caution—glancing around like they’re expecting a trap.
- One curious wolf casually steals one of Jake’s camera traps.
- Sixteen days in, more wolves—including an older gray one—show up and begin to feast.
- Even after the meat is gone, the pack returns and eerily reassembles the skeleton—then starts crunching the bones.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc