It’s Mine!

The National Elk Refuge is on the outskirts of Jackson, WY as you head north toward the airport, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone NP.

The elk come in and out of the National Elk Refuge taking advantage of a somewhat protected area in winter. When there are many there some will die of natural causes and the predators and scavengers come through to clean up. We were looking at the carcass of an elk that had died when a bald eagle flew in and landed on it for a meal. A coyote had been there earlier feeding on it as well. Apparently he saw the eagle land and from hundreds of yards away he came back to stake his claim. The eagle was having nothing to do with that and gave him a good peck in the head when the coyote approached him. This caused the coyote to start to run but thinking better of leaving a meal behind he paused and started circling. After several minutes of posturing they decided there was plenty for both and went to neutral sides for lunch.