Posted on 05/26/2017 3:24:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A mother elk and bear face off for the life of an elk calf. Screenshot: Shannon Seville/YouTube May 26 (UPI) -- A couple out observing nature in the Arizona mountains captured video of a mother elk kicking a bear in the face to rescue her calf.
Shannon Seville of Flagstaff said she and her boyfriend, Joel Floyd, were cruising the Forest Service roads near the city in their new Toyota Land Cruiser earlier this week when they stopped to observe a bear.
The video shows the bear menacing a crying creature concealed by a fallen branch, but is soon revealed to be a baby elk.
The bear's intentions toward the calf seem clear, but its meal plans are foiled when the mother elk appears and chases it partway up a tree.
The bear appears to decide it isn't afraid of the mother elk and makes another attempt to get the baby, leading the mother to kick it in the face.
The mother elk and calf flee as the bear climbs back to the safety of the tree.
"The animals left our line of vision and we weren't about to get out of the vehicle to follow. I imagine nature took its course, however it was meant to," Seville told The Arizona Republic. "The calf didn't appear injured, and the mother stayed near."
Sometimes the bear eats what it wants, and sometimes it’s gotta go grab a salmon.
Good job, mama!
“And stay up there!”
The bear looks like an overgrown racoon.
Cute video. Mom was in control of the situation.
That’s clearly a young grizzly bear but according to the wildlife experts, there aren’t any in Arizona........dumbasses
Somehow, this is relevant to the story.
**in their new Toyota Land Cruiser**
The couple are Nascar fans and have to mention their sponsor.
Not sure I see that. Its head and face look black bear to me. The coloration isn't common for a black bear but not unheard of - there are definitely blond phase black bears.
It sure looked like a griz to me.
Today must be the Day of the Elk! lol
I don't see the dish-shaped facial profile of a grizzly nor the shoulder hump common to grizzlies. Also, the prominent ears are much more black-bear-like than grizzly-like. In the first few seconds of the video, when the bear is standing in profile, what am I missing that implies it is a grizzly?
The shoulder hump isn’t well developed but it appeared to be present to me.
Wish someone would kick USFW and Montana FWP where it really hurts.
Wish someone would kick USFW and Montana FWP where it really hurts.
a female deer in protecting her fawn is a formidable foe!!!
And you're well known for recognizing a good hump when you see one lol...
You’re really getting a kick out of this thread. I hope.
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