wave725

Just a reminder that bison are dangerous! As this guy found out this past weekend, he should have heeded the park's warning about keeping his distance from bison and could have avoided an unprovoked attack:
http://hikinginglacier.blogspot.com/...r-failing.html

HowardR

The danger is, indeed, very real. I remember our first trip there when fortunately my wife noticed an "unhappy" (for want of a better word) bison as I was taking a photograph of the animal. Her near-panic warning alerted me to move away very quickly....and I did.

Ackislander

All wild animals are dangerous, especially if cornered or if you come between them and their food, escape route, or offspring.

You may have seen the video of the tourist trying to shove a bear into the driver's seat of his car so he could take a clever photo.

Tomsd

The Bison can get to be 1,500 lbs - and are fast and as nimble as goats. Don't get too close or spook them.

Same goes for any wild animal - especially the ones bigger than you.

sylvia3

I was once (decades ago) working in the area and saw a father trying to get his little boy to go into a meadow and stand next to one for a photo. The ranger was hysterical, yelling through a bullhorn, "sir do not not approach the buffalo they are very dangerous sir do not approach...!!" He was so upset that he could only scream his one line warning over and over as he raced to the child and stopped him.
The father actually seemed irked.

nytraveler

Obviously the bison are a lot smarter than some of the people.
Since most people no longer have contct with the wild our society is no longer deprived of (saved from)the really stupid members who think wild animals are disney characters.

Myer

I have wondered when watching some bison run across a field, up onto the road, between some cars and down into the field on the other side.

What if they miss the relatively small opening between the cars?

What if the drive happens to move the car a few feet.

They seem to be running with their heads down.

That sound you hear isn't thunder although it sounds like it.

polly229

I always figured you were pretty safe in a car and that only elk, not bison, attacked vehicles. But a couple of months ago I saw a You-Tube video of a herd crossing the road and meandering between - and sometimes along side - the stopped cars. A bull casually wandered the length of one of the cars, turned his head slightly, tore off the bottom panel along the driver's side, and then just kept wandering on. Nothing appeared to happen to disturb him. He didn't seem to be upset, it looked like he just did it because he could. (When he could move, the driver left dragging the panel behind him. Didn't seem interested in getting out to inspect the damage, which probably makes him smarter than a lot of tourists.)

Tomsd

LOL Polly: Yes, he did it becauae he could. Sometimes the bulls just need to show they are the baddeest dudes in the area. And these animals are so strong it's just amazing, and again, very fast and agile when need be.

And no - I woldn't chase after that guy trying to get his collar number.

Most of the time, stampeding animals do not run over big objects in their way but amazingly go around them, but not all the time. In any event - I would not want to be sitting in a car/whatever - while they were hauling axx right past you.

Even a herd of antelope - the fastest land animal in the US - can easily knock you down - and they "only" weigh about as much as you do, even less.

gail

How dangerous are the stupid people in Yellowstone? Saw a guy at GTNP holding up his baby towards a moose for a photo designed to look like the kid was petting the moose (which was relatively tame for a moose since it was eating landscaping at a condo).

nytraveler

Considering how much damage a tiny deer can do to a car when they collide - I would get my car out of the way if any bison headed in my direction - considering they can weigh 10 times as much.

panecott

These idiots who endanger their little children for photo ops should be prosecuted, both for child endangerment and for sheer stupidity.

StantonHyde

I worked at old faithful for a summer--it was truly astonishing!! People thought they were tame animals and wondered when the rangers let them out. I am not kidding.

happytrailstoyou

Bison aren't dangerous if you stay in your car and don't mess with them.

One of the things that always astonishes me in Yellowstone is crowds gathered on the side of the road to take close up photos of bears about which they have been warned to not approach within 100 yards.

Also watch out for spaced-out individuals on walkways over boiling substances who barge around without concern that their doltishness might endanger you.

Grand Teton NP is a much saner place.

HTTY

Tomsd

Just read an article on the loss of Bison in this country - and it was really due more to disease/interaction with cattle coming West - than over-hunting.

In any event - the cows alone can get to 1,500 lbs, and the Bulls - up to 2,500 lbs. That's a lot of mojo on the hoof, believe me.

And people also take pics of Bull Elk - which outside of the rutting season are fairly docile - but if they get riles up - they too are a force to be reckoned with. Huge Antlers, and they weight 700 pounds plus.

kanunu

I once saw a huge bull elk, between Banff and Jasper, eating grass just off the shoulder of the road. A few tourists had stopped, and kept a respectable distance, while taking pictures, etc. But one "photographer" (with a disposable camera) kept going closer, and closer, to get the prized shot. The bull picked his head up, stared him down, and then waved his head side to side a bit. Sure looked like a warning to me. But the photog didn't stop, just kept going closer, with the camera up to his eye.... so the bull started after him, though he only took 3 or 4 steps before stopping. Luckily, a false charge. The guy took off running, and never looked back until he got into his car.
One of the funnier things that I've ever seen! Fortunately, it wasn't a sad ending.

Melnq8

I once saw a bison stroll into a post office. I didn't stick around to see what it was up to.

spirobulldog

A bison nearly got into Lake Hotel when we were there.

I've been thinking about taking my daughter Smart Car to Yellowstone and dueling it out with some bison. LOL. I have some reindeer antlers she puts on it at Christmas and everything.

Tomsd

LOL Spiro. My bet is on the Bison and I am giving 10 to 1 odds.

hawksbill

I was just watching and photographing that herd near Norris this past week. There were lots of calves in it. Maybe that's what had the bison a little on edge.

I'm wrapping up my Yellowstone trip now, and I may post a little about it later. In short, as everyone else said above, Yellowstone visitors are morons. I saw a man drive his minivan within 15 feet of a bull elk that was grazing by the side of the road, open the side door, and then let his two kids (ages approximately 3 and 5) wander around freely while he went back inside to get his camera or something. Another couple near Mammoth was actually holding their toddler up in the air so he could try to pet a mother elk on the head.

Those events were upsetting, because there were small children involved. But I did enjoy watching some guy sprinting up out of a meadow and back to his car near the geyser basins, after he ignored everyone's warnings not to walk down there amongst the bison. He was so busy snapping pictures that he never even would have noticed the animal coming at him from the side, if his wife hadn't been shouting at him hysterically.

Last night a bison ambled through the parking lot at the Lake Lodge, on his way over to graze in the meadow by the lake. I noted that he was clearly smaller than the full-size pickup trucks, but comparable in bulk to the Civics. So I'm betting with Tomsd: the Smart Car is going down.