On Friday, at Yellowstone National Park, a German shepherd jumped out of an open rear window of the vehicle he had been in with his family and briefly chased a juvenile wolf along the park’s roadway.
According to one a park guide, the dog and the wolf had a brief standoff about 11 feet apart, when the shepherd obeyed his owner’s call to return to the vehicle. There were many tourists left momentarily with their mouths open, not knowing what to expect.
There had been a carcass hidden to one side of the roadway. The wolf had been crossing the road to get to the food source.
Although the yearling wolf seemed disoriented, he kept to his mission, was able to swim the Yellowstone River and get to his food.
The owner told authorities the shepherd escaped because of a safety feature that lowers the window in the 2024 Jeep even though the owner stated he was trying his best to keep the dog in the vehicle.
According to Yellowstone Insight, an educational tour organization, the wolf is part of the Wapiti pack and are accustomed to seeing people during tourist season. The wolves are protected from hunting and trapping.
Check out some of the photos:
Not only did the dog owner make a mistake, but other people had left their vehicles to take photos. At one point, a few of the visitors were only a few feet away from the yearling wolf.
Park regulations require visitors on foot to stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other animals.
Dogs are allowed on the major roads in the park, however it is the owner’s responsibility to keep their pets under control – either in a vehicle, in a crate or leashed at all times.
Officials continue to investigate and charges allegedly have been made. The dog’s owner has not been named.
(Photos via Instagram @ Yellowstone Insight)
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