For once, it's a Yellowstone wolf – not tourist – that regrets its decision to chase elk

Most days, we find ourselves reporting on humans regretting their decision to chase, pet or otherwise get too close to big mammals in places like Yellowstone National Park – take the Wyoming hiker who recently tried to get a moose to pose for photos , for example. Today, however, it's one of Yellowstone's famous wolves that got too close for comfort.

In a video posted to Instagram by wildlife guide Bo Welden, which you can view below, a hungry wolf is seen chasing a solo elk. Though much larger than a wolf, elk make up most of Yellowstone's wolf population's prey in winter months.

However, the fleeing elk is soon seen meeting up with its herd, where it recruits a couple of buddies and in a show of force, the three elk quickly turn the tables on the retreating wolf.

One elk very nearly catches up to the wolf before giving up chase and allowing it to scurry off into the brush with its tail between its legs.

"Have you ever tried to catch and kill your food with your face? Plus your food runs 30+ miles an hour, one stomp from a powerful hoof kills/injures you, and has a fierce motherly instinct! It’s no easy task," writes Welden with the post.

Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995 and as of January this year, the park reports there are 10 packs with at least 124 wolves in total. They largely prey on elk, deer and even bison . Meanwhile, there are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 elk in the park, so you can't blame the wolf for having a go.

Wolves and elk are just a few of the amazing wildlife viewing opportunities on display at Yellowstone , and while it's worth going there to spot these creatures in the wild, it's important to remember to view them like this guide did – from a safe distance, through a lens like that on your best binoculars .

• Wolves returned to Isle Royale five years ago, and they’re thriving