A hiker at Yellowstone got quite the scare when a young black wolf followed him for over 10 minutes. The wolf got so close that he had to use bear spray to make it back off.
The frightening encounter happened Sunday, Aug. 23, on the Lamar River Trail in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. It was Ignazio Zanin’s first day visiting the park.
Another visitor, Deric Smith, recorded the wolf through a spotting scope. The collared wolf reportedly never growled, snarled or showed other signs that it was preparing to attack, but it continued getting closer.
Yellowstone spoke about the incident and confirmed that using bear spray was appropriate. Luckily, no one was injured.
The Wolf Followed Him for More Than 10 Minutes
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The video shows the wolf walking through the sagebrush behind Zanin and repeatedly moving closer. At one point, it moves alongside him and comes close enough for him to turn and spray it.
After being sprayed, the wolf backed away approximately 20 feet, but Zanin later said he used two short bursts during the encounter. He told Cowboy State Daily that the animal never threatened him, but he was still nervous about having a wild predator so close.
The Hiker Stayed Calm and Kept Walking
Zanin did not run or make any sudden movements. Instead, he continued walking and occasionally turned around to see where the wolf was.
He admitted that he did not want to return the way he came while the wolf was nearby, so he completed a longer loop back to the highway. Park rangers spoke with him afterward and said the animal was likely just a curious adolescent wolf.
Yellowstone’s public affairs office said that this type of curiosity is not unusual among younger wolves. Park rangers also confirmed that the wolf had left the area and rejoined other wolves.
Yellowstone Says Not to Run From a Wolf
Yellowstone requires visitors to stay at least 100 yards from wolves, bears and cougars. You should never approach a wolf, even if it appears calm or does not seem afraid of people.
If a wolf comes too close, the National Park Service advises visitors not to run. They recommend that you stop, stand tall and watch what it does. If it continues approaching, wave your arms, yell and open your jacket to make yourself appear larger.
Visitors can throw something or use bear spray if the wolf keeps coming. The park also recommends grouping up with other people and reporting any wolf that behaves strangely or spends time near developed areas to a ranger.