Subject: elk, cougar encounter final

[mpritchard]

This showed up in my email today. Just thought it was pretty cool!!




Subject: elk, cougar encounter final

I took these photos on Monday the 18th of Feb. at 12:30 PM at mm 34.5 on
Hiway 191 south of Big Sky along the Gallatin River. The six point bull
elk was belly deep in snow and struggling. I stopped to observe, and
when the elk stood up, I noticed something hanging from his neck. A
cougar was attempting a choke hold to suffocate the elk by collapsing
his trachea. These photos are just a few of the pictures I took during
this five minute struggle. Finally the cat gave up on his choke hold
and decided to take a look at me. He took a couple steps toward me, and
I put my hands into the air and yelled loudly. He hesitated, looked
back at the elk that was now meandering south along the hiway, and then
looked back towards me. I raised my hands and yelled again, he finally
retreated up the hill, and the encounter was over. The bull headed south
apparently uninjured and feeling very lucky.

(See attached file: DSC00356 (2).JPG)(See attached file: DSC00358
(3).JPG) (See attached file: DSC00359 (2).JPG)(See attached file:
DSC00360 (2).JPG) (See attached file: DSC00368 (2).JPG)

Gary Craddock
Goosenest Ranger District
Fire Prevention Battalion Chief (BC73)

There were actually 5 pix but these were the best ones.

[Calkins]

Wow must have really been hungry to attempt such a kill. Thanks for sharing.

[BlacktailStalker]

Sorry, always wanted to use that
Lucky elk.

[mpritchard]