Video by @ronan_donovan | The standoff between predator and prey can last for hours or minutes. It all depends on the fitness, skill, and numbers of both species. 
Wolves must learn how to hunt the abundant prey in the region where they are born, and here in the high Arctic, at 80 degrees north, this subspecies of gray wolf has to learned how to hunt muskoxen. A relative of goats, muskoxen can weigh upwards of 800 pounds and are a formidable force when they stand together, like these three males.

Predators are often forced to put themselves in mortal danger just to eat, so there is a good deal of calculation before rushing into a situation that could end in being gored or kicked. It’s a stressful event for wolves and prey. In this video a yearling female arctic wolf circles a herd on Canada’s Ellesmere Island. The rest of her pack stands just out frame. That big yawn at the start of the video is no doubt a sign of stress as this young wolf observes these muskoxen. The older wolves spotted a weakness in the oldest bull muskoxen. But together the shaggy beasts were impenetrable and the wolves were forced to look elsewhere for a meal. 
Follow along with @ronan_donovan to see more video and images of these wolves. There is also a 3-part series streaming now on @disneyplus about these wolves.