Safety around Yellowstone National Park’s thermal features is paramount. The water inside the features can be extremely hot, causing severe or fatal burns, and the crust that covers surrounding areas can be quite fragile. In these areas, tourists should always stay on boardwalks or designated trails, understanding that any deviation can lead damaging of the delicate ecosystem and serious injury to the trespasser.
Yellowstone’s wildlife can be an equal threat to poorly behaved visitors. The bison population, reaching up to 6,000, has injured more people than any other animal in the park, including the largest predators. Unfortunately many tourists, like the ones in the below video, seem to believe bison are safe enough to closely approach.
The people in this video had walked through one of Yellowstone’s sensitive thermal features to approach these bison, coming within a dangerously close distance. Bison, like any other animal inside Yellowstone, should be given plenty of space. This means at least 25 yards or 75 feet. If a bison approaches you, you should back away.
Yellowstone Bison Safety Guidelines:
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