Heard Around the West

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

uch like “a teenager, curious and bold,” said Yellowstone biologist Doug Smith, a young wolf in the national park’s Hayden Valley became fascinated by a family picnicking near the Yellowstone River. Now the Missouri family has a wild story to tell once they get home — as does, no doubt, the wolf. As the entranced animal ventured closer, the parents, Michael and Ashley VanZant, moved nearer to their 1-year-old, who was in. At that point, Michael said, he thought about using his .380 pistol. His wife, however, had already started throwing sticks, one of which hit the wolf, which growled. Michael then grabbed a large branch and waved it at the wolf, and the animal slowly retreated and finally ran off. “It was like he was as confused as we were for a little bit,” Michael said. “It was scary, but at the same time it was awesome.” Smith noted that the inquisitive wolf was a member of the Wapiti Pack, “the most exposed to humans of any in the world,” and one of the most wellknown and photographed.