Bear vs Coyote July 3, 2011

After a long hike yesterday we decided to just take a trip up to Estes Park and check out the Beaver Dams on Fish Creek Road.  We arrived early (as usual) but very little activity so we drove in to Morraine Park to see if Randy could get some shots of hummingbirds.   As we were driving in Randy yells "BEAR", Thankful to be in the car I see a Bear cross the road in front of us.  Randy takes the switch back so he can be in position to take pictures when the bear crosses the road again.  This poor bear had no idea what he was running into.  As we drive around instead of the bear crossing the road we see a baby coyote run across the road in full speed.  Randy gets out of the car looking up to see the bear being chased up a tree by the two parent coyotes.  The bear comes down the tree and the coyotes proceed to chase the bear away.  Once the bear is diverted in a opposite direction the female coyote leaves to find the baby.  The other coyote stays on the heels of the bear pushing him further and further away.  The bear although annoyed by the coyote would stop to eat or scratch himself and occasionally turn and swat at the coyote when he got too close.
Randy is following the two but staying a safe distance.  The coyote continued to follow and nip at the bear for at least a mile until we last sight of the pair.