At least for today.
"Hopefully, I'll have better luck tomorrow," he said.
Just as Lyons was leaving, though, workers for the Pennsylvania Game Commission were heading back to the park, having heard reports of new sightings.
Earlier in the week, assisted by a couple of guys from a wolf sanctuary in Lititz, Pa., game commission agents made a series of attempts at safe capture using live traps, nets, snare poles and sedative-laced hot dogs.
A tranquilizer dart even snagged the critter Tuesday evening, but the search party had no luck in the deepening darkness.
Searchers took Wednesday off, to give the animal time to recover and, they hoped, feel comfortable enough to appear in clearings again.
This afternoon, authorities were also just learning how to contact Lyons, who has decided to surrender the pet, after talking with his ex-fiancee.
The puppy was Lyon's gift to her for Valentine's Day.
Now she doesn't want an animal that might be more wolf than woof, even if it does still seem docile.
Infested with ticks, but not ticked off.
Wolf-dog hybrids are illegal without a special permit in Pennsylvania, so the animal, if DNA testing proves it's part wolf, would wind up at state-licensed facility, like a wolf sanctuary, according to wildlife conservation officer Jerry Czech of the Game Commission.
"I just want to make sure that's he's going to be safe and taken care of, and that he's out of harm's way," Lyons said.
Wildlife agents would likely try to team up with Lyons to make another attempt, perhaps even today. Czech said Thursday that a former owner would have the best chance of getting close to the wary, wily carnivore.
Levi got loose on March 13, during a walk along Rhawn Street. Lyons' ex-fiancee let Levi off the leash, while he'd gone to get gauze to tend to a wisdom tooth extraction. Apparently, the wolf side of Levi heard the call of the wild.
The timing fits reports that the mystery beast had been seen for two or three months.
No, the escape had nothing to do with the breakup, Lyons said.
Wolf-dog hybrids tend to become aloof and more independent as they grow up, according to experts.
"She's going the smart thing, because it's not an easy animal to have," said Darin Tompkins of the wolf sanctuary.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
