Mountain lion hunters came across a gruesome scene of a small bear pulled from its den, killed and eaten by wolves.
It's a cliche, but it's true: Nature is unforgiving. A critter can't even hide itself away for a winter hibernation without risking its life. And when the snows get high and food gets scarce, many predators are not picky about the meals they'll take. If they can find an easy one, they will consume it.
According to Flying B Ranch, a guide for mountain lion hunters in Idaho found another example of just how brutal nature can be back in 2016. At the site of a bear den they found evidence that several wolves had attacked the den and killed at least one small bear.
"All that remained was the inside-out hide, skull (separated lower mandible), spine, and one foot," the ranch indicated.
Warning: this video contains semi-gruesome content of carcasses.
"This small bear was killed by about four wolves this winter," the guide says as his dogs sniff the carcass and surrounding area. Not only did the wolves kill this bear, it appears they consumed it down to the very bones. They must have been hungry because only a few small scraps of hair, hide and skull are left over. Nothing goes to waste in nature. We usually consider bears to be apex predators but that was not the case with this situation.
Wolf populations and their effect on other wildlife is a major issue of contention in a number of northern states right now. The small wildlife drama discovered here presents another layer to be considered by those involved in the controversy, particularly animal rights activists who decry the management by hunting of both bears and wolves.
NEXT: CAUGHT ON VIDEO: WOLF ATTACKING ELK IN RIVER IN YELLOWSTONE
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