Rare Camera Trap Footage Shows Wolves Hunting European Bison in Poland

First-of-Its-Kind Footage Captures Wolf Pack Attacking Bison Calf

In a groundbreaking observation, researchers have captured rare camera-trap footage of a wolf pack hunting a European bison calf in Poland's Białowieża Primaeval Forest. The video, recorded in September 2025, shows seven wolves targeting a newborn bison from a herd of 11, providing the first clear evidence that wolves actively hunt Europe's largest land mammal. The encounter lasted 20 minutes, with the wolves biting the calf's neck twice before adult bison fought back, charging with their horns and surrounding the calf to protect it. The ultimate fate of the calf remains unknown.

Surprising Behavior Challenges Existing Knowledge

Robin Wijnands at the Polish Academy of Sciences, who co-captured the footage with Tomasz Borowik, expressed astonishment at the event. 'My mind was blown,' she said. 'I was really surprised because I really didn't expect wolves to hunt bison, especially when there are so many other prey available in the forest.' The observation suggests that wolves may prey on bison more frequently than previously believed, despite the abundance of alternative prey like deer and wild boar.

Conservation Success Stories Collide

The European bison (Bison bonasus) was once widespread across Europe but became extinct in the wild in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. Intensive conservation efforts, including captive breeding and reintroductions, began in the 1950s. Today, around 9,000 individuals live in scattered populations across the continent, with Białowieża Primaeval Forest serving as a key reintroduction site. Meanwhile, wolf populations have surged in Europe, increasing by 58% over the past decade. Despite both species recovering, documented cases of wolves hunting bison have been extremely rare since reintroductions began.

Rare Opportunity for Observation

Oswald Schmitz at Yale University, who was not involved in the study, noted the rarity of such footage. 'The chance that the camera is placed in a location that captures the wolf-prey interaction is very low. It's a matter of the camera being in the right place at the right time. So this is a lucky recording.' The camera trap was set up as part of ongoing research into forest ecology, and the team had no prior expectation of capturing a predation event.

Implications for Bison Management and Ecosystem Dynamics

The finding has significant implications for understanding predator-prey dynamics in European forests. With bison numbers increasing, there have been concerns that excessive bison populations could damage habitats or farmland and negatively impact other species. The presence of wolves as a natural predator could help regulate bison numbers, potentially reducing the need for human intervention such as culling. However, the impact of wolf predation on bison populations remains unclear, and further research is needed to assess how frequently such attacks occur and their effect on herd dynamics.

Future Research Directions

Wijnands and Borowik plan to continue monitoring the forest with camera traps to gather more data on wolf-bison interactions. They also aim to study whether wolves selectively target calves or also attack adult bison. The researchers emphasize that while this single event is informative, long-term studies are required to understand the ecological role of wolves in controlling bison populations. The footage also raises questions about how bison behavior and social structure may have evolved in response to predation pressure, which was historically present but absent during the species' near-extinction and reintroduction period.

Broader Context of Wolf Recovery in Europe

Wolves have been making a comeback across Europe, with populations expanding into areas where they were absent for centuries. This recovery has sparked debates about coexistence with livestock and human activities. The new evidence that wolves can prey on bison adds another dimension to these discussions, as bison are both a conservation success story and a potential source of conflict with forestry and agriculture. Understanding natural predation may help inform management strategies that balance conservation goals with human interests.

The footage from Białowieża Primaeval Forest serves as a powerful reminder of the complex interactions that emerge as keystone species recover. It underscores the importance of continued monitoring and research in rewilded landscapes, where ecological relationships are still being reestablished after centuries of human disruption.

This article is based on reporting by New Scientist. Read the original article.