While it might be cool to see a bison up close, it's always safer to observe them from afar. Yellowstone National Park's large American bison population sees a steady stream of visitors, too many of whom unfortunately tend to encroach on their personal space. Visitors are lying on roads to take pictures, venturing way too close, and one woman even got herself gored while taking a video. Bison, like all other wild animals, are unpredictable. They can charge at any time and are incredibly fast. The National Park Service recommends park visitors stay at least 25 yards away from bison. They also say if a bison bluff charges, get out of the way quickly. A set of park visitors learned this lesson firsthand.
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The video of the encounter was posted to the Tourons of Yellowstone's Instagram page, showing a group of bison walking through a field of wildflowers. As the camera pans, viewers see two men standing within five feet of the massive animals. The bison seems immediately uncomfortable with the duo being so close and begins to charge forward. The young men take the hint and run out of the way, avoiding serious injury. But the situation could have been a lot worse.
One viewer pointed out with the comment: "That was not a charge. It was a warning." While many viewers agreed that the young men were in the wrong, they are tired of seeing these types of interactions between bison and park visitors. One commenter wrote, "I really wish folks would stop this disrespectful and dangerous behavior. The Dept. of Interior needs to step in and come up with a way to stop this!" Another suggested that tourists need to invest in a camera with zoom if they want to get a close picture, which is certainly the safer option.
