Lone wolf plays with dogs.
A wildlife photographer has spent six years chronicling the annual escapades of a lone wolf in Alaska.
Each winter Romeo the black wolf descends from the hills of Alaska's Tongass National Forest to play with domesticated dogs on their winter walks.
For the past six years, wildlife photographer John Hyde has been following the friendly animal. And gaining the huge wolf's trust has allowed him to take these intimate photos.
"I have been following Romeo ever since I heard there was a lone wolf patrolling the surrounding area," revealed the 56-year-old from Juneau, Alaska. "Stories of his arrival in the area began in 2003 when a pregnant female wolf was found dead about one-quarter mile from a nearby glacier visitor's centre.
"Six months later, Romeo's first howl could be heard, and then first regular sightings of Romeo occurred."
Determined to find the lone wanderer, John set about studying his movements in 2004 in a bid to photograph the animal.
"Wolves are common throughout Alaska, but the opportunity to develop the trust of one and to spend extended time with the same animal is something that doesn't happen often," he said. "In fact I have never heard of anything like it before.
"Wolves are seen rarely because they avoid humans. "Initially I came across its track, after which I spent many hours exploring the area and learning as much as I could about him.
"After a while I could find him often enough to make decent photos."
The Tongass National Forest is the largest unit in the national forest system, almost 17 million acres and is home to brown bears, bald eagles, Sitka black-tail deer, porcupines and wolves.
Source
Each winter Romeo the black wolf descends from the hills of Alaska's Tongass National Forest to play with domesticated dogs on their winter walks.
For the past six years, wildlife photographer John Hyde has been following the friendly animal. And gaining the huge wolf's trust has allowed him to take these intimate photos.
"I have been following Romeo ever since I heard there was a lone wolf patrolling the surrounding area," revealed the 56-year-old from Juneau, Alaska. "Stories of his arrival in the area began in 2003 when a pregnant female wolf was found dead about one-quarter mile from a nearby glacier visitor's centre.
"Six months later, Romeo's first howl could be heard, and then first regular sightings of Romeo occurred."
Determined to find the lone wanderer, John set about studying his movements in 2004 in a bid to photograph the animal.
"Wolves are common throughout Alaska, but the opportunity to develop the trust of one and to spend extended time with the same animal is something that doesn't happen often," he said. "In fact I have never heard of anything like it before.
"Wolves are seen rarely because they avoid humans. "Initially I came across its track, after which I spent many hours exploring the area and learning as much as I could about him.
"After a while I could find him often enough to make decent photos."
The Tongass National Forest is the largest unit in the national forest system, almost 17 million acres and is home to brown bears, bald eagles, Sitka black-tail deer, porcupines and wolves.
Source
VIDEO
I heard about romeo 4 like 5 years i always wanted to go there and see 4 my own eyes i luv my wolves there so beautiful ......
Wow. What a beauty.
but not for long i guess.... i thought wolfs seeing dogs as rivals?! aaahhh but only packs defending their territory.... im right? its really cute... but im scared for the dog :D
He is beautiful! I'm not sure if I saw a wolf looking like this one if I would realize it was s wolf and not a big, beautiful dog! I am unnaturally trusting and once fed a caged bear from my hand! I love all animals!
The title is misleading, this is not a video, just a series pf stills tacked together.
What a gorgeous creature!
So now that it trust the man, what then? Will it go to other people? I think this wolf will not last much longer. Hope he got his pictures and thinks it was worth it. Sorry, but I don't believe in habituating wild life for our benefits. Yes, he is beautiful.
On the last picture with the mountain in the background it kind of looked like a wolf facing the same way as romeo xD ! <3
Agreed
I say THANK YOU! To White Wolf for putting this beautiful memory of Romeo up! As for blaming the wolf advocates about posting good pictures of the wolves, it is not US that has went out to take them away from everyone and their family packs. Remember it is the people in Govt. writing these laws allowing it to happen, next it is greedy pelt takers, and people who target specific TROPHY'S like Romeo was. He meant nothing to the person who slaughtered him, that person only wanted the glory of killing an icon. We need to REMOVE every member in State and Federal offices to change these laws, and I am especially happy that this came out because right now in Wisconsin in the USA they are using dogs to chase and run and train to kill Wolves. The legal wolf-killers... not us wolf advocates. Thanks White Wolf! keep up the amazing work, I enjoy promoting your articles :) Blessings ... Sierra Dragoncaller The Wolf Army
dog be like...you the man, wolf, you the man
This wolf looks like he's got dog in him.... That would explain why he's so friendly around dogs and why the dogs will go up to him...normally they won't go around each other if its a full wolf.
some bastard shot Romeo, no wildlife is safe from humans
Romeo has been dead for years because he wasnt afraid humans,so a human shot him for his pelt. what a sad ending to a beautiful soul.
Sad that they killed him. My question: why? He wasn't hurting no one or anything way out in the woods. He was gorgeous, i know someone who has a german shepherd that looks almost identical to him, so it makes me think also that this could've been a wolf/dog mix. Besides, i have read where loose dogs will be welcomed into the ranks of wolves & run with them so it isn't so unbelievable that this Romeo played with this dog. What a sad thing to know he's gone for no good reason.
Beautiful and powerful being
Actually, wolves treat dogs as puppies, even if they are grown because dogs have a personality more like a wolf pup than a grown up wolf. There are times wolves even breed with dogs. I wouldn't worry as much about dogs and wolves visiting with each other, I'd be more worried about humans trying to bond with them.
wow, I knew wolves were large but standing next to a domesticated dog I an see he is far bigger than I expected. Great story.
Yes, I remember Romeo. I was very upset when that man shot him.
What a Beautiful Wolf. I hope he has Some Cubs some where
In the Wild...♡♡♡♡
Rip gorgeous heart from heaven 'Romeo'.why didn't nearby people alerted and warned the evil,named-hunter.
that wolf is one of a kind .. it should be breed with dog = most faitful combanion
omg some one killed that wolf ? .. i make it personal duty find who it was .. and i make hes life living hell
if anyone has any idea who did it .. i have 10000 euros to hunt him down
People can be so f'd up...I've come to the point where I wish every hunter dead.
So people that hunt to feed there family should be dead Lynn? Not every hunter hints for sport or for trophies. Yes people that shoot things for the sake of shooting just to have a pelt suck but to say all hunters should be dead makes you no better than them.
Cowgirl, u know people who need to hunt to feed their families? Perhaps indigenous Native Americans who cant subsist on Govt. checks alone? U don't seriously believe the SOB hunter who killed that beautiful perfect animal killed it to feed their family? Because that's what precipitated the Lynn comment.
Beautiful! It is a Shame Someone saw fit to take out his mate! He's looking for answers why it seems! Glad the dogs & Humans are reaching out to him. We must learn from Animals! That is just one of the reasons why Our Creator put them on the Arch! Wake Up People!
A beautiful animal....