In rare footage above, we witness a large mother Grizzly bear chase down a young elk. This may be the fastest bear ever filmed in the wild!

The grizzly bear is at the top of the food chain. Grizzly bears are omnivores. Their diet will vary throughout the year, from fishing for trout, to eating blueberries. But sometimes they use their speed to take down prey.

This awe inspiring giant has the ability to reach speeds of over 30 miles an hour. Once a Grizzly Bear has its prey in its clutches, it’s all over. The Grizzly Bear has a bite that can be up to 1200 pounds per square inch, and also has a thick hide and huge, sharp claws that easily tear flesh.

The elk calf has a chance to escape, until it makes a fatal mistake. An elk like this one can easily exceed speeds of 40 mph during a sprint. The bear would normally never be able to reach the elk at this speed. It takes the calf to make a wrong turn, and a fatal mistake, for the hungry mother bear to catch her prey.

This amazing footage was filmed from a helicopter hovering above Yellowstone. This was one of the first sightings of its kind from this point of view.

Photo: NPS

Nature can seem cruel. But as the mother bear’s cubs approach, we are reminded that oftentimes in the wild, something has to die for something else to live. Grizzlies eat as much meat as they can during the end of summer, with the winter and the season of hibernation fast approaching.