There are wide variety of animals that seek out road salt as a supplement their winter diet due to its mineral rich content including potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Moose are famous for licking car coated in the road salt, so much so Parks Canada issues a warning every winter as moose venture out of the woods and down to the highways to increase their salt intake.
While we might not associate bison with an insatiable appetite for salt, native tribes and early explorers of the American frontier certainly did. Woodland bison once ranged over roughly one-third of North America and there were massive concentrations of North America’s largest land mammal around natural salt licks like the ones at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site along the Lewis & Clark Historic Trail. Areas rich in salt were also rich in game including herds of bison making them fertile hunting grounds.
Yellowstone National Park is home to a population of bison that fluctuates between 3,000 and 6,000 animals and they too find salt deposits irresistible, especially during the harsh winters. Whether it be natural sourced or manmade like this roadside marker coated in road salt, if Yellowstone’s bison can locate it, it will receive a vigorous licking.
Yellowstone National Park 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.