Nick Jans
Wolves are amazing animals. They may look like their domesticated cousins but it's good to remember that they're wild and aren't cuddly like dogs. As long as you give them space, everyone's happy.
Nick Jans was walking his dog through the snow in Alaska when he was met by a huge wolf right by his house. Nick was scared that his dog would get hurt. But what came next had Nick's jaw hanging wide open.
The Wolf Appeared
Nick was sitting on his porch with his dog Dakotah curled by his feet. The large wolf came through the trees and stopped right in front of Nick and Dakotah.
Dakotah shot towards the wolf before Nick could even think about what to do. Dakotah was either trying to protect her owner from the threat or she wanted to play with the wolf.
The Canines Meet
Nick was distraught. He was so scared that the wolf was going to attack his loyal dog. Before he could act on any impulses something truly surprised him as his dog drew closer to the big black wolf.
The two canines started playing together like puppies. Only once Nick made sure nothing was going to happen to his dog did he rush inside and bring out his camera. Then he started taking photos.
The Wolf's Name
The wolf seemed to like the area here and would often stop by to play with Dakotah. Nick felt it fitting to name the wolf and thought about it for a while. He thought that a good name for the beautiful animal was Romeo.
Nick knew although Romeo was perfectly friend, he was still wild and potentially dangerous if crossed. He was always careful when the two animals played together and made sure nothing happened to his dog.
Other Dogs Met Romeo As Well
Romeo soon went further into Mendenhall Glacier Park to meet with all the other dogs. Romeo could often be seen playing with all the neighborhood dogs. Romeo was always friendly to all of them.
Meeting Dakotah gave Romeo the confidence he needed to look for other friends to play with. Romeo was soon known by all the dogs in the neighborhood and would often come and play with all the local dogs.
He Was Looked Fondly Upon
The residents were worried about the wolf at first. They thought that maybe the wolf would hurt one of their domestic dogs. But after seeing how sweet Romeo was when he played they forgot all about their worries.
Romeo may have been a large wolf that was much bigger than any of the dogs in the neighborhood, but he just wanted some friends to play with. Didn't he deserve that?
The Dogs Enjoyed His Company
Even some of the dogs didn't like Romeo at first, like their owners, they were worried about his huge size. But after enough time passed they grew fond of him and joined in whenever he was around to play.
Romeo really wanted some canine company. He clearly didn't have much interaction with his own kind in the wild. Maybe he had been exiled or lost his pack and now he just wanted to be invited into a new one.
Romeo Acted Like A Big Dog
After a while people also befriended Romeo. Nick Jans said in an interview: "he would bring out toys that he’d stashed and bring them to the people at the park. He was doing everything he could to win the favor of these Alaskan residents."
He just wanted the acceptance of those around him, including the humans. Nick was quite sure that Romeo would not pose a threat to any of the dogs in the neighborhood.
Fetch
Nick further elaborated about what Romeo would bring to the park: "One was a Styrofoam float. Romeo would pick it up and bring it to [my friend] Harry to throw."
Romeo might have learned fetch from the dogs at the park and wanted some attention from the people too. It must be instinctual for dogs, no matter how feral or domestic, to love to run after thrown objects.
Romeo Might Have Been Half Dog
Romeo wasn't a domesticated animal by any means, but he had a lot of mannerisms that you would typically find in a dog. Nick also said that: "clearly understood the same sort of behaviors that we see in dogs."
Romeo was used to dogs and learned from how they behaved. Even though he may have been a wild wolf, he was just like another dog to the residents at Mendenhall Glacier Park.
A Man And His Dog And A Wolf
Nick noted how spectacular the circumstance he was in was. He, his dog, and the wolf enjoyed playing together in the snow outside his house. They all got along perfectly.
Nick elaborated: "We were these three species working out how to get along harmoniously. And we did." Nick also admitted that this was a very rare situation to be in and his appreciated every minute of it.
Romeo Felt Right At Home
Romeo sort of lived with Nick and Dakotah for a long time. Of course, he never actually moved into their house. He is still a wild animal, after all. But he did frequently visit the pair over the course of the next six years.
If you traveled to Mendenhall Glacier Park between the years 2004 and 2009, you would see a long black wolf playing with the dogs at the dog park.
Romeo Connected The Community With The Wild
Eventually, Romeo not only earned the community's trust but became a fixture in it. The local residents, both those with dogs and others who came to the park to see the wolf everyone was talking about were in awe of the beautiful animal.
The community enjoyed the fact that they could trust a wild animal, and he trusted them back. For the locals, Romeo was an important symbol that they could be one with the land and wildlife around them.
People Went To The Lake Just To See Romeo
As Romeo's popularity grew, locals visited the lake where he liked to hang out with the other dogs just to see the wolf. The situation came a long way from when everyone was initially (and understandably) freaked out about the presence of the wolf around their dogs.
Still, at first sight, many who hadn't heard about Romeo were freaked out about a wolf who wanted to play with their family dog.
Some Visitors Were Nervous
While all of the locals knew that Romeo was harmless, some of the visitors were anxious about being so close to a wild animal. It's difficult to put all of your trust into a wolf, especially a wolf as big and as strong as Romeo.
There are so many stories and folktales about "big bad wolves." In reality, wolves aren't bad at all. They're just living their lives according to instinct.
All Good Things Come To An End
Romeo "was downright relaxed and tolerant from the start," Nick said, “as if he had dropped out of the sky like a unicorn.” Romeo had built friendships with all kinds of dogs, from border collies, to laboradors, to poodles.
Unfortunately, some friendships aren't built to last forever. Eventually, everything has its endpoint. Romeo's time at Mendenhall Glacier Park was coming to a close. Romeo was about to suffer a fate similar to his namesake.
A Tragedy Of Shakespearean Proportions
Romeo was named after a figure in a Shakespearean tragedy, and sadly, he too would suffer a tragic end. Tragically, in 2009, Romeo was shot and killed by hunters.
Everyone who lived around Mendenhall Glacier Park felt the immense loss of a dear friend. The residents of Juneau decided to have a memorial service for Romeo, and they even had a plaque made in his memory. This lone wolf turned pack animal will never be forgotten.
A Fitting Tribute
That plaque is still standing in Juneau. If you ever travel to Alaska, you should visit the place where Romeo once roamed. The residents of that beautiful city plan on keeping the plaque up for years to come.
On the plaque are the words: "Romeo 2003-2009. The spirit of Juneau's friendly black wolf lives on in this wild place." There's an image of Romeo on the plaque right above the inscription.
He'll Live On Forever In Their Hearts
Even though Romeo isn't around anymore, he made a lasting impression on all of the residents of Juneau. Nick enjoyed getting to know Romeo, and he's pretty sure Dakotah enjoyed being his friend too.
Even though Romeo was a wild animal, he was one of the friendliest animals that Nick had ever met. Even though hunting is sometimes necessary, Romeo wasn't shot for food. Let's all be more aware of the damage we're doing to this planet and all of its beautiful creatures.
Romeo's Story Will Persist
Shortly after Romeo passed away, Nick documented his relationship with his dear animal friend in a book called A Wolf Called Romeo. If you want to know more about how Romeo got along with the people and dogs of Juneau, definitely pick up a copy of Nick's book.
Alaska is an incredible place that's full of stories about animals bonding with human beings. Not too far from where Nick lives, a woman had her very own wild encounter...