Grizzly bears and wolves have coexisted for millennia — but when food is scarce, these two apex predators must fight to survive.

Grizzly bears and wolves are both native to North America, sharing similar wilderness habitats across the Northwestern-most states, including Montana, Wyoming, and Washington. Harsh environments often result in food scarcity, where predators are forced to compete over prey.

A carcass on the side of a river makes the perfect scavenged meal — appealing to both species of hungry predators.

Wolves are social animals, hunting mostly in packs. They prefer to work together to conquer larger mammals, including moose and bison. Bears live more solitary lives, although alone they are capable of taking down equally enormous prey.

The gray wolf has a bite capacity that can deliver 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch. A grizzly bear boasts a bite that exceeds 1,200 pounds per square inch, in addition to a thick hide and sizable, sharp claws.

In some places in the western United States including Yellowstone National Park, it is common to witness interspecific battles between these two animals. Although outnumbered, a grizzly bear is a fair match for a group of gray wolves.

In this incident, the grizzly proves his strength, and the wolves must allow him to join them for dinner.

Credit: Russ Gutshall NaturePhotoVideo/NatureFootage