Welcome to the main website of Martin W. Grosnick! You've been redirected to this site to view some interesting interactions between wolves and bears over the possession of a moose carcass. These images were previously posted on a free webserver with annoying banner ads--hopefully this server will load the images faster. After you finish this section, you are invited to peruse the new Portrait and Africa Portfolios just added to this website by clicking here.
		SOME BACKGROUND: Two weeks earlier these same wolves injured this young bull moose at the same location (Teklanika River bar, Denali National Park), but to the disbelief of onlookers, the moose regathered his strength and walked away. Everyone thought the incident had ended. On the evening previous to when these photographs were taken (August 11, 2000), the moose reappeared in the same spot, being harrassed by the same pack of wolves, as well as several grizzly bears. After a rather gruesome ordeal (including for those watching), the wolves finally dispatched the moose and began to feed. Immediately they were challenged by several different bears, and possession of the carcass passed back and forth between the two species. The images displayed here show one of the last of the challenges, with the wolves successfully chasing off a grizzly bear. By the next morning, the carcass was nothing but left-over bones, and was carried down-river by the current. For those offended by the gore, keep in mind that this is Nature at work, and Nature is not always pretty. Incidents like this happen every day, but usually not within the range of cameras to record it. The wolves were just doing their job, which included feeding 5 pups born that spring, and risked permanent injury or death doing it. As it was, one wolf was kicked by the moose, and continued to hobble about throughout the incident.