Yellowstone National Park is home to thriving population of bison and their current numbers are widely regarded one of conservation’s greatest success stories. Due to habitat loss and overhunting, by the early 1900s there were only 23 wild bison surviving in Yellowstone National Park.
Through a thoughtfully orchestrated combination of increased protection measures, the introduction of a small number of domestic bison, and active wildlife management, Yellowstone’s herd rebounded from this “population bottleneck“ and their numbers now fluctuate between 4,000 and 6,000 animals.
Yellowstone’s thriving bison population has become a major attraction for the park’s more than four million annual visitors, with the iconic animals visible year-round throughout the park. However with thousands of bison roaming the same land as tourists, a recurring problem of visitor getting too close to North America’s largest land mammal has emerged.
Encountering bison while visiting Yellowstone is common occurrence and the park has ample signage reminding tourists to maintain the required 25 yard distance away from the animals at all times. Despite exhaustive efforts to educate visitors about the danger of approaching bison, some still chose to disregard Yellowstone policies like the group in the video below who walked in front of small herd of bison just as they began to charge.
Fortunately the bison didn’t actually catch any of these tourists as the ran for cover. If you are under the impression you can outrun a bison you are wrong as they can achieve top speeds of 35mph. If you plan on visiting Yellowstone National Park this summer, remember that bison are responsible for injuring more people than any other species in the park and should aways be given a wide berth. Read more on bison safety in Yellowstone National Park below.
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.
