Yellowstone National Park is an premier destination for wildlife photographers seeking to capture intimate moments with North American mega-fauna. Known as “America’s Serengeti”, Yellowstone is home dozens of mammal species including moose, mule deer, bison, elk, wolves, and grizzly bears.
Knowing the general behaviors and migration patterns of Yellowstone’s animals will often times give seasoned Yellowstone photographers the advantage when it comes to getting the perfect image on a given day but sometimes word spreads amongst newcomers about where wildlife may be located and novice photographers descend en masse on a single location.
This was exactly the case when word got around about a Yellowstone grizzly bear and her cubs had been feeding on the same bison carcass not far from a road for 10 days straight. The grizzlies predictably showed up everyday and so did a growing number of photographers.
Most kept a respectable distance away from the grizzly bears but one photographer disregarded ample warnings that he was breaking park rules by getting too close to the apex predators and they ended up within feet of him as he greedily snapped away.
“The photographer in the street refused to leave the area even after letting him know multiple times in advance that she was going to cross the road. Ethical photography needs to be practiced at all times.” –Yellowstone Tour Guide Andrea Baratte
This is photographer’s actions are prime example of how not act around wildlife at Yellowstone National Park. Rather than respecting the bears space, he felt the need to intrude and put himself in danger for the sake of getting the perfect shot. Remember, the entirety of Yellowstone is bear country and visitors must act on their own behalf to ensure their safety around these incredible animals. Learn more about grizzly bear safety at Yellowstone National Park below:
Yellowstone National Park Grizzly Safety Guidelines:
All of Yellowstone is bear country, from the trails in the park’s backcountry to the boardwalks and parking lots around Old Faithful. Your safety cannot be guaranteed, but you can play an active role in protecting yourself and the bears people come here to enjoy.
- Give bears space. Keep at least 100 yards (93 meters) from bears at all times and never approach a bear to take a photo.
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it. We recommend each person carry one can of bear spray in a readily accessible location like a quick-draw holster (not stowed away in your backpack).
- Hike in groups and make noise. Since 1970,91% of the people injured by bears in Yellowstone were hiking alone or with only one hiking partner. Only 9% of the people injured by bears were in groups of three or more people. While hiking on a trail, periodically yell “Hey bear!” to alert bears of your presence. Learn more about backcountry safety.
- Respect closures. Observe all closures and restrictions in active bear management areas.
- Never feed bears. Bears that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and will be killed.
- Stay with your stuff. Do not leave packs or bags containing food unattended, even for a few minutes, as bears learn new food sources quickly.
- If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away. We want to discourage this behavior for the bears’ safety and yours.
