Beth Dutton, portrayed by Kelly Reilly, is undeniably a force to be reckoned with. As one of the standout characters in “Yellowstone,” she exhibits a rebellious streak, showing no hesitation in displaying violent tendencies or behaving inappropriately in public. However, there was one episode that highlighted Beth’s dramatic behavior, requiring Reilly to perform alongside some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures — wolves, which were on the set consuming pieces of red meat, leaving Reilly understandably apprehensive about her safety.

The notable scene is found in Season 1’s “Kill the Messenger.” In just the second episode of the series, Beth goes on a date with Rip, played by Cole Hauser, and decides to interact with a pack of wolves feasting on a recent kill on the Dutton family’s land. To ensure authenticity, the producers opted to use real, trained wolves. Despite the scene becoming iconic for Beth’s character, Reilly confessed that she harbored some reservations about performing it in front of the cameras. Fortunately, the production crew provided her with support and assurances off-camera to calm her nerves.

When Reilly sought guidance from the crew about her wolf-related task, they confidently assured her of their control over the situation. “The crew said not to worry,” she shared with Yahoo! News. “They have these invisible cords in place so if the wolves charge, they’ll be stopped.”

Although relying on cords might not reassure everyone, Reilly decided to take the plunge. She bravely ran toward the wolves, stopping just short of them before Cole Hauser’s Rip intervened, ensuring she didn’t become fodder for the canines. In the narrative of the series, Rip and Beth’s encounter strengthens their relationship, cementing their remarkable connection within the show’s legend.

Luckily, Reilly emerged unscathed from the scene, and the wolves remained unharmed. However, “Yellowstone” has faced criticism in the past regarding its animal treatment during filming.

Although the wolves’ on-set appearances sparked no disputes, “Yellowstone” has faced scrutiny from animal rights groups on multiple fronts. In 2018, concerns arose when a whistleblower alleged via PETA that a real cow was slaughtered for a particular scene. Both Paramount Network and the show’s producers refuted these claims in a statement to The Wrap, though PETA maintained its account was accurate.

One of the show’s actors has debunked concerns over scenes some fans felt involved unnecessarily cruel actions towards animals, such as when Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) and Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) are forced to watch as a number of dogs are shot. Fans were concerned that the moment might encourage viewers to treat animals poorly and found the series’ overall treatment of such issues appalling.

Forrie J Smith, who played Lloyd on “Yellowstone,” ultimately spoke out on his Instagram, defending the storylines along with how the show treats its animal actors. He said in part, “Not one horse or animal has been harmed or put down on Yellowstone! [Series creator] Taylor Sheridan is very conscientious about the animals we use in our scenes!” Since Sheridan runs his own ranch and the show often uses his own horses, cattle, etc. on the set, Smith’s statement is one you can probably accept at face value no matter if you agree with the show’s tendency to depict animal mistreatment or not.