A Montana biker crew on their way to the The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota made a pitstop in Yellowstone National Park where they spent over an hour in a bison jam. The group is from Montana and has encountered plenty of cattle on the road in the past, but a large herd of bison certainly must be entirely new. Bison used to live across Montana, but now just a few herds, most notably those in Yellowstone, remain.
Bison jams, and other animal jams, are a common and iconic occurrence in Yellowstone National Park, where large herds of bison often block roads and cause traffic delays. They can also be caused simply by tourists hoping to grab some good photos of animals inside the park. Whatever the case, Yellowstone National Park asks that drivers remain patient and understand that drives may take longer than expected inside the park. If you have to stop, whether for an emergency or to take pictures or just enjoy a view, use a pullout to completely pull off the road. Do not block traffic.
Yellowstone National Park doesn’t have any specific guidelines for motorcycling inside the park, but the National Park Service does. In particular, they ask motorcyclists to understand how any excessive noise from their bikes might disturb park wildlife. This particular group doesn’t seem to be revving their engines too much or traveling with too many people. But being on a bike does mean exposure to animals, and riders should be extra cautious around any wildlife if they’re outside a vehicle. This means giving bison plenty of space, at least 25 yards, at not approaching them like the bikers seem to do in the video.
Yellowstone National Park on Bison Safety:
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. Always stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from bison.
- Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity. 
- Approaching bison threatens them, and they may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, or snorting. 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. Spray bear spray as you are moving away if the animal follows you.