Latest news with #MacNeilLyons
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Tense moments as German Shepherd leaps from vehicle to chase wolf in Yellowstone
A group of tourists witnessed an extraordinary scene in Yellowstone National Park on Friday as a German Shepherd leaped from the back of a vehicle to chase a young wolf on the side of a road. Dogs are allowed in the park on the condition that their owners maintain "physical control" over them at all times, and this incident underscores the reasoning for that rule. MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight described what happened via Instagram, explaining that the wolf had been trying to access an animal carcass across the highway despite a large presence of tourists who were observing the wolf from the highway. 'There was a carcass hidden to one side of the roadway and the wolf was trying to navigate a safe road crossing, through the people and traffic, to the food source,' Lyons explained. 'Many people were already out of their vehicles and this smart wolf began walking off the road edge, paralleling it, just to get past people. 'The car with the dog was driving slowly, assessing the situation. I am not sure if the dog stepped on the back window button to open it, or if the window was already open. 'As the car passed the wolf, the dog leaped out from the car and ran full sprint towards the wolf. Once the wolf saw the Shepherd, it began loping away which switched to a faster gait down the road.' Ultimately, the wolf stopped and faced the German Shepherd, which subsequently stopped. They were in a standoff about 15 feet apart before the driver of the vehicle reversed to where he could call and collect his dog. Lyons added: 'The yearling gray wolf seemed a bit shook up, but quickly kept on its mission to circumnavigate the people and eventually swim the Yellowstone River to obtain its breakfast.' According to park regulations, tourists must stay at least 100 yards from wolves and bears if they're outside their vehicles. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tense moments in Yellowstone as dog leaps from vehicle to chase wolf
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Tense moments as German Shepherd leaps from vehicle to chase wolf in Yellowstone
Tense moments as German Shepherd leaps from vehicle to chase wolf in Yellowstone A group of tourists witnessed an extraordinary scene in Yellowstone National Park on Friday as a German Shepherd leaped from the back of a vehicle to chase a young wolf on the side of a road. Dogs are allowed in the park on the condition that their owners maintain "physical control" over them at all times, and this incident underscores the reasoning for that rule. MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight described what happened via Instagram, explaining that the wolf had been trying to access an animal carcass across the highway despite a large presence of tourists who were observing the wolf from the highway. 'There was a carcass hidden to one side of the roadway and the wolf was trying to navigate a safe road crossing, through the people and traffic, to the food source,' Lyons explained. 'Many people were already out of their vehicles and this smart wolf began walking off the road edge, paralleling it, just to get past people. 'The car with the dog was driving slowly, assessing the situation. I am not sure if the dog stepped on the back window button to open it, or if the window was already open. 'As the car passed the wolf, the dog leaped out from the car and ran full sprint towards the wolf. Once the wolf saw the Shepherd, it began loping away which switched to a faster gait down the road.' Ultimately, the wolf stopped and faced the German Shepherd, which subsequently stopped. They were in a standoff about 15 feet apart before the driver of the vehicle reversed to where he could call and collect his dog. Lyons added: 'The yearling gray wolf seemed a bit shook up, but quickly kept on its mission to circumnavigate the people and eventually swim the Yellowstone River to obtain its breakfast.' According to park regulations, tourists must stay at least 100 yards from wolves and bears if they're outside their vehicles. This rule, however, is often ignored.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Yellowstone cougars 'saunter' across ridge in rare sighting
A guide in Yellowstone National Park last week captured footage of rarely seen cougars traversing a snow-covered ridge as if out for a Sunday stroll. MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight told FTW Outdoors that he was leading a photography tour with a guest from the U.K., who was 'extremely excited' to observe cougars for the first time. Understandable, considering that most visitors to Yellowstone do not see cougars, or mountain lions. Although the park is home to perhaps a few dozen of the large wildcats, they're famously stealthy and elusive. Lyons shared the accompanying footage via Instagram, writing: 'High in elevation, between craggy peaks these two sauntered on the ridge line with a backlit 'bluebird' sky! As the lions went out of view from one vantage point, I read the landscape and moved a few miles down the road to try a different vantage point. RELATED: Yellowstone bison stampede toward snow coach in thrilling encounter 'Our luck continued as we picked them up as one sat and peered over the edge of large snow cornices. We had our time with them for at least 20 minutes.' Lyons told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in the northern range from more than a mile away, with an iPhone attached to a Swarovski spotting scope. He said the cougars might be the same pair – perhaps a courting pair, or a mom with a subadult offspring – that was spotted recently on a ridge hunting mountain goats. According to the park, cougars are native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem but were nearly eradicated throughout the Lower 48 states during predator-removal campaigns in the early 1900s. They survived in the West largely because of their preference for remote, rugged habitat, and their elusive nature. Lyons, who has documented an astonishing 37 cougar sightings in 25 years of living in Montana, expressed concern for the future of the park and surrounding region in light of new or proposed laws that could jeopardize wildlife. He concluded his Instagram post: 'We need these Wild Places. But more importantly the entire 4-legged, feathered and scaled community needs this wild space. Pay attention to new state & federal laws that lessen the protection of our Public Lands. 'Times are changing and seemingly not to the benefit of those without a voice… the animal community. Be their voice for protection and ethical stewardship of these wild spaces. 'Thank you to all that are keeping up the Good Fight.' This article originally appeared on For The Win: Yellowstone cougars 'saunter' across ridge in rare sighting
USA Today
08-02-2025
- USA Today
Yellowstone cougars 'saunter' across ridge in rare sighting
A guide in Yellowstone National Park last week captured footage of rarely seen cougars traversing a snow-covered ridge as if out for a Sunday stroll. MacNeil Lyons of Yellowstone Insight told FTW Outdoors that he was leading a photography tour with a guest from the U.K., who was 'extremely excited' to observe cougars for the first time. Understandable, considering that most visitors to Yellowstone do not see cougars, or mountain lions. Although the park is home to perhaps a few dozen of the large wildcats, they're famously stealthy and elusive. Lyons shared the accompanying footage via Instagram, writing: 'High in elevation, between craggy peaks these two sauntered on the ridge line with a backlit 'bluebird' sky! As the lions went out of view from one vantage point, I read the landscape and moved a few miles down the road to try a different vantage point. RELATED: Yellowstone bison stampede toward snow coach in thrilling encounter 'Our luck continued as we picked them up as one sat and peered over the edge of large snow cornices. We had our time with them for at least 20 minutes.' Lyons told FTW Outdoors that he captured the footage in the northern range from more than a mile away, with an iPhone attached to a Swarovski spotting scope. He said the cougars might be the same pair – perhaps a courting pair, or a mom with a subadult offspring – that was spotted recently on a ridge hunting mountain goats. According to the park, cougars are native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem but were nearly eradicated throughout the Lower 48 states during predator-removal campaigns in the early 1900s. They survived in the West largely because of their preference for remote, rugged habitat, and their elusive nature. Lyons, who has documented an astonishing 37 cougar sightings in 25 years of living in Montana, expressed concern for the future of the park and surrounding region in light of new or proposed laws that could jeopardize wildlife. He concluded his Instagram post: 'We need these Wild Places. But more importantly the entire 4-legged, feathered and scaled community needs this wild space. Pay attention to new state & federal laws that lessen the protection of our Public Lands. 'Times are changing and seemingly not to the benefit of those without a voice… the animal community. Be their voice for protection and ethical stewardship of these wild spaces. 'Thank you to all that are keeping up the Good Fight.'
