Texas man's calm reaction as wolf follows him for 10 minutes goes viral

A Texas man's calm response after a wolf began following him through Yellowstone National Park for around 10 minutes has gone viral.Texas man's calm reaction as wolf follows him for 10 minutes goes viral (Photos: Deric Smith/ Collin Rugg) A man who visited Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming encountered a young wolf that followed him for around 10 minutes during a hike in Lamar Valley, coming close enough to leave him uneasy before he used bear spray to drive it back.Ignazio Zanin, from Texas, was hiking in the valley on Sunday when the wolf began trailing him. The black wolf, wearing a tracking collar, gradually moved closer as Zanin continued along the Lamar River Trail.“He didn’t threaten me at any time. But still, it’s a wild animal and a predator,” Zanin told news outlet Cowboy State Daily.Deric Smith, who also visited Yellowstone, captured the encounter through a spotting scope. He said the wolf remained behind Zanin for roughly 10 to 12 minutes and appeared unusually comfortable around him. Video recorded by Smith showed the wolf moving through the sagebrush behind Zanin as he calmly walked along the trail. At one point, the wolf moved alongside him, prompting Zanin to turn and spray it.The wolf retreated after the first burst but continued following at a distance. Zanin used bear spray again later during the encounter, after which the wolf moved farther away. Despite the close approach, the wolf did not growl, snarl or display behaviour that suggested it was about to attack.Texas man keeps walking while being followed by a wolf for 10 minutes at Yellowstone National Park.The man, Ignazio Zanin, was seen casually turning around and spraying the wolf with bear spray."It was a wolf. A predator. I didn’t know for certain if it was safe or not," pic.twitter.com/LcKEzeOIrI— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 26, 2026“It was a wolf. A predator. I didn’t know for certain if it was safe or not,” Zanin added.Cowboy State Daily reports that Zanin, who moved to the US from Chile, was visiting Yellowstone for the first time when he decided to hike in Lamar Valley, an area known for wolf sightings.“He just started following me for no reason,” he said, adding that park rangers later told him some wolves in the Lamar Valley have become accustomed to the presence of people.Zanin said the wolf initially kept its distance but gradually came closer. Rather than running or turning back, he continued walking because he believed panicking could make the situation worse.“I just kept walking,” he said, adding: “I knew that panic was not going to help you in any way. I just stayed calm.”Smith said he was struck by Zanin's composure throughout the encounter.Zanin also decided against retracing his route while the wolf was nearby. Instead, he continued ahead and eventually took a longer route that brought him back to the highway.Speaking to Cowboy State Daily in an email regarding the incident, the Yellowstone public affairs office said, "The information park personnel shared with the visitor is correct. It is not unusual for a sub-adult wolf to be curious towards people, and the aversive use of bear spray was appropriate.”Yellowstone National Park, spread across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, is known for its dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife, including wolves, bears and bison.- EndsPublished On: Aug 27, 2026 12:02 IST