Alarming footage out of Yellowstone National Park where a visitor learned the hard way that hand feeding North America’s largest land mammal is not a bright idea.
Yellowstone’s bison population is the largest on public land in the United States with around 5,400 animals split mostly between two primary breeding herds. They can be found year-round in the Hayden and Lamar valleys, though they do migrate up to 70 miles between summer and winter ranges.
American bison are the largest land mammal in North America, with males weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Despite their massive size, bison are still agile and quick, running at speeds up to 30mph, and they can be quite unpredictable and aggressive. With all that combined, it’s not much of a surprise to learn that bison are responsible for more injuries in Yellowstone National Park than any other animal.
This man was lucky he was fleet of foot after attempting to hand-feed a bison and escaping its ensuing charge. Feeding wildlife in Yellowstone, along with all National Parks, can not only be extremely dangerous but is illegal.
To be abundantly 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 to patrol its breadth, so it often times falls upon visitors to police themselves around wildlife. Learn more about bison safety at Yellowstone National Park below.
Yellowstone National Park Wildlife 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.
