Yellowstone tourist branded an 'idiot' after angry bison rams him in park

19 September 2023 , 16:54

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The bison attacked the man in Yellowstone National Park (Image: touronsofyellowstone/Instagram)

A tourist visiting Yellowstone National Park has been branded an "idiot" after getting too close to an angry bison.

The 2.2 million acre park is home to more than 200 species of animal, including grizzly bears, wolves, bald eagles and mountain lions. The park also boasts North America's largest free-ranging population of bison with around 4,700 roaming the area.

One tourist appears to have got extremtly close to a bison during a recent trip to Yellowstone, as seen on the TouronsOfYellowstone Instagram. The image shows one man on the floor, with a huge bison standing over him. The animal, clearly agitated, can be seen leaning his head into the man's body.

The caption on the post reads: "You okay over there Bob??!" Of course, a number of people took to the comments to criticise the man for getting too close to the four-legged animal.

One said: "Well! If he wanted a selfie, he ended up having a unforgettable picture." Another commented: "What does it take for people to respect animals. They blame the animal. Who raised these people."

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Humans are encouraged to always stay at least 25 yards away from bison (Matthew Brown/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

A third said: "Wish people would use their heads!! There are way too many incidents like this!!" A fourth added: "I wish more of these idiots encountered the same fate."

According to the Yellowstone Vacations website, people should not get within 25 yards of a bison. The website says: "While their calves appear playful and pup-like, an adult can weigh up to 2,425 lbs and reach a top speed of 35 mph. Keep a safe distance, a minimum of 25 yards, as adults are dangerous and unpredictable."

The National Park Service website states bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. "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," advice on the website says.

"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."

Sam Truelove