Yellowstone National Park offers 11 campgrounds with over 2,000 established campsites and one of the most sought after for wildlife viewing is Slough Creek Campground. Slough Creek is located at the end of a two-mile dirt road and is near some of the best wildlife watching opportunities in the park. Campers at Slough Creek can look forward to quiet nights with unimpeded view of the stars and the possibility of hearing wolves howl but should also be aware they may also need to pull up stakes at a moment’s notice if bison herd rolls through the area.
The following video was taken from a safe distance by visitors on a backpacking trip through Yellowstone who were playing cards in their tents when they heard “bellowing and snorting” coming in their direction. When they unzipped their tent to investigate, they found a massive herd of bison had entered the campsite.
The campers wisely abandoned their tents and escaped without injury. Despite the bison surrounding their tents for nearly 2 hours, when they returned to investigate the damage they found their tents unscathed:
“We were in the tents playing cards, while a light shower passed through, when we started to hear bellowing and snorting. We quickly got out to see the herd was heading our way. Our tents were surrounded for almost 2 hours before they finally moved on. No damage was done, but there were 2 new wallows within 15 feet on either side of one tent. We watched from a safe distance from our core camp. Everyone we met on the trail asked us if we were worried about bears, and I have to say, the bears were the last thing on my mind on this trek.”
These campers did the right thing by respecting the bisons’ right of way and abandoning their campsite. Although bison may appear to be gentle giants, they are actually responsible for injuring more people at Yellowstone than any other species. 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.
I camped in Yellowstone’s Norris Campground and had bison around my tent at night. I didn’t know what it was and rolled over and went back to sleep, I identified what it was via tracks, there were a lot of tracks. It was probably wise to wait it out, the tent was not a threat, but man exiting would have been.
What’s up with shushing the voices in the background? Is your commentary so spectacular that you must not be interrupted? Take your touron money and attitude to California. You’ll fit right in.
Oh my gosh for the person at 4:33 p.m. on June 6th I seriously was trying to type something and I saw yours. And I oh man you made me laugh so hard. You can tell he’s a jerk and obviously thinks he’s the you know voice of the house and the man of the House and like you said a horrible commentator. Telling his wife to shush but then talks louder. I’d shove that phone/ camera right down his throat. In a very loving way. But at least they were doing the right thing.
HE DIDN’T WANT TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF THE BISON!!!
😉
AAAgreed!!!