Yellowstone National Park is home to the most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mudpots, and fumaroles on planet Earth. More than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found at Yellowstone including over 500 geysers. Microorganisms called thermophiles, or heat lovers, make their homes in the hydrothermal features but these delicate areas also attract resident wildlife on a larger scale like bison (largest land dwelling mammal in North America).
The bison of Yellowstone National Park can appear disarmingly docile but make no mistake about it, they are quite dangerous and account for more injuries to visitors than any other species. To prevent negative encounters, Yellowstone has a strict policy that visitors maintain at least 25 yards away from the 5,400 bison that roam the park at all times.
Despite ample signage and educational initiatives to discourage tourists from getting too close to bison, this type bad behavior is a persistent issue. Case in point is this video taken on a thermal area boardwalk where multiple tourists get within inches of bison and one woman crouches down to stick her phone in the bison’s face.
To be absolutely crystal clear, Yellowstone National Park strictly prohibits willfully remaining near or approaching wildlife. Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres and there are only 750 employees during the peak summer season, so it often times falls upon visitors to police themselves around wildlife. Learn more about bison safety at Yellowstone National Park below.
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.