The National Park Service social media team is back at it again with a nice “Avatar: The Last Airbender” reference to remind all tourists how they should be treating bison, including during the winter.
It’s not that complicated of a message: don’t try to jump on bison. They won’t fly if you manage to get on their backs, but there’s a very good chance that you will.
As a reminder, the below video shows what can happen if people get too close to bison. Remember, Yellowstone National Park requires that visitors give bison plenty of space, at least 25 yards (75 feet), at all times.
Yellowstone National Park Bison PSA:
Big Appa? Just remember, jumping on a bison and yelling “yip yip” will not make it fly. But you will.
During the cold winter season, bison develop thick, woolly coats that help protect them from freezing temperatures and harsh winds. It’s said that a bison’s winter coat is so thick and provides insulation so effective that when snow accumulates on its coat, it will not melt from the heat of the bison’s skin. Their skin also thickens in response to cold temperatures and fatty deposits appear to insulate the animal. This is important because during winter storms, bison will actually turn toward the storm, hunker down, and wait for it to pass.
P.S. No jumping on bison. There are easier ways to earn frequent flyer miles.