Wolves Learn the Hard Way Not to Attack the Calf of This Mother Moose

Oct. 3, 2014 
Liz Klimas

The instinctive pull for a mother to protect her young can turn into scary thing for anyone that tries to come between them, and a couple of wolves that attacked a moose calf recently figured that out right quick.

Footage provided to Sweden’s hunters association showed the cow and calf hanging around a salt lick when two wolves decided to disrupt the peaceful scene.

One of the wolves lunged for the calf, knocking it on the ground. While it might have looked like the mother moose wasn’t prepared for the attack because her back was turned to her baby, if you watch the video closely, you’ll see her kick her hind leg toward the wolf the moment he jumped for her young.

Notice the kick. (Image source: YouTube)

She then quickly turned around, momentarily scaring off the wolf, and tended to the calf, which was struggling to get up. Eventually, with its mother warding off further attacks, the calf stood up, but the fight wasn’t over.

The mother moose was filled with rage and snorted as she protected her young against wolves. (Image source: YouTube)

The mother continued to bat at the wolves with her hooves. Eventually, the scene was taken out of the camera’s field of view, but we assume the cow and calf escaped. Why? One wolf runs alone back through the camera’s screen, somewhat dejectedly, followed shortly afterward by the second.

Watch the footage:


source