Dubbed “America’s Serengeti”, Yellowstone National Park is a premier destination for wildlife photographers seeking to capture incredible moments of North American mega-fauna. Yellowstone is home dozens of large mammal species including moose, mule deer, bison, elk, wolves, and a healthy populations of grizzly bears.
Knowing the migration patterns and general behaviors 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 word travels fast when large fauna are lingering in a single locations and tourists tend to flock to these locations.
Most will respect park policies and observe the animals from a distance so as not disturb them when congregating in a wildlife hotspot but sometimes folks just toss the rules out the door and shutterbug fever replaces commonsense. Such was the case yesterday when this photographer actually hopped out his vehicle and sprinted down a road chasing after a grizzly bear. With his long lens in hand he hoofed down the shoulder of the road before giving up his foot chase and opting to “truck surf” to conserve energy on his hunt for the ultimate photo:
While most visitors keep a respectable distance in the presence of grizzly bears, every summer blatant acts reckless behavior like the one above are captured inside Yellowstone. Here’s how the woman taking the video described the scene:
“This takes the cake for stupid behavior around grizzly bears. The black dot that you see running towards the two idiots is a male grizzly bear in pursuit of a female who crossed the road. This male has been chasing this female for hours. This situation is very dangerous due to the unpredictability. The guy in the tan shirt then decided to truck surf down the road. I saw him in passing down the road and said “you are a fucking idiot” and he thanked me. I did get a photo of his plate but didn’t get a chance to talk to law enforcement about it.”
Remember folks, the entirety of Yellowstone’s 3,472 square miles is bear country and visitors must act on their own behalf to ensure their safety around these magestic but highly dangerous 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.
