Three tourists at Yellowstone National Park showed a blatant disregard to park regulations by approaching a bison to within 15 feet or so, risking severe injuries to get a closeup photo.
Wildlife photographer April, known as Yellowstone Concierge on Instagram, recently documented in video the park rules these three broke: approaching wildlife and being less than 75 feet of a bison.
Many who follow posts from Yellowstone National Park are familiar with the term tourons, a term combining tourists and morons for people who do these sorts of things.
Most all the comments on April’s Instagram post condemn the actions portrayed in the video. Among them:
“Did they not hear about the old man the bison flipped?” [Documented by FTW Outdoors.]
“Or the woman who ended up losing her jeans to the bison?” [Documented by FTW Outdoors.]
“I feel like I have started rooting for the wild animals to charge at them.”
“If it doesn’t affect them personally, it doesn’t affect them at all. They can’t possibly care less about others or rules or laws or morals or ethics.”
“Where’s a Ranger? Fine the heck out of them!”
“Stupid Stupid Stupid!!! These are not pets. Stay in your cars.”
“Can’t fix stupid.”
Yellowstone National Park regulations state that visitors must maintain a distance of at least 75 feet from bison.© NPS/Jacob W. Frank
More people are injured by bison than by any other animal at Yellowstone National Park. Deaths are rare (only two have been recorded), but people have been gored and tossed violently into the air, resulting in broken bones, punctured lungs and severe internal trauma.
Also on FTW Outdoors: Reckless Yellowstone tourists play dangerous game of bison roulette
Bison are dangerous animals, which is why Yellowstone has regulations that visitors are to follow. If caught breaking them, they could face steep fines.
“Keep at least 25 yards (75 feet) from bison at all times and never approach a bison to take a photo,” the park states. “If need be, turn around and go the other way if a bison walks within 25 yards.
“If approached too closely, bison may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing while staring at you, pawing, bellowing, or raising its tail. These are warning signs that you are too close and that a charge is imminent—do not stand your ground! Immediately walk or run away from the animal. If the bison follows you, spray bear spray as you are moving away, and seek cover behind nearby trees or cars.
“Plan extra time when driving through Yellowstone—the speed limit is 45 mph, unless posted otherwise, and you’re likely to encounter a “bison jam”. If bison are on the road, be patient, drive slowly, and stay in your vehicle. Wait for bison to move along; do not honk your horn or drive aggressively toward them.”
As the park often states, give them room, use your zoom. You can easily zoom in with your camera and get quality photos or videos without putting yourself in harm’s way.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Yellowstone tourists risk injury to get closeup photo of bison (video)