Animal attacks have been no stranger to the headlines this past month. Bears were chasing runners and coyotes were running wild in New York City. But now, tourists are getting more than they bargained for when visiting some of the more famous wildlife hotspots.
The Threat of Animal Attacks at Yellowstone
In the United States, Yellowstone National Park is alive with wild animals, including bison. Unfortunately, taking pictures of the wildlife can lead to an unwanted adventure. Twice in the last month, bison have attacked tourists trying to snap that perfect shot. Most recently in animal attacks, a bison charged at a 62-year-old Australian when he got too close. The man was taking pictures of the bison, which triggered the bison’s instincts. The bison charged at the man and tossed him in the air. According to a press release sent out by Yellowstone National Park, the main sustained several injuries, but they were not life threatening.
Respect The Animals at Yellowstone National Park
Bison are a lot larger, and more aggressive, than one might originally think. A male weighs around 2,000 pounds, while a female weighs around 1,100pounds. They might look cute, but they are agile and aggressive. Bison can run as fast as 30 miles an hour, and attacks can be deadly.
When tourists descend on the bison, they can become more edgy and unpredictable than when left alone. Unfortunately, some tourists don’t respect the boundaries of the bison and hoard around them, harassing them for the perfect photo.
In Time For Summer, Yellowstone’s Warnings to Visitors
Park authorities encourage tourists to keep a safe distance between them and the bison. They recommend visitors maintain a distance of at least 75 feet to ensure safety. Just because the bison are in a national park, doesn’t mean they are tame creatures.
Although this isn’t the first animal attack at Yellowstone National Park this season, they are typically uncommon occurrences. Park rangers don’t want to discourage tourists and visitors from experiencing the natural beauty of the park, but they want to impress upon tourists the importance of respecting the animals and their wildlife.
It can be tempting to get a close-up picture, but the only way to ensure animal attacks don’t happen is to be smart and respect boundaries.
