A photographer in Yellowstone Park who got nose-to-nose with a bison was reported to park authorities after a video was recorded of his encounter.
The Instagram account @touronsofyellowstone shared the video calling the photographer a “touron” (a combination of tourist and moron).
“This bison is still pretty young, if that was an older bull he would have most likely been knocked into Timbuktu‼️” Writes the account. “Even a female bison could kick his a***.”
“Please keep at least 25 yards from these bison, there is absolutely no reason to be this close, do you really need a pic up into bison nostrils⁉️ The touron’s license plate was sent over to the park along with this video.”
“I’m always disappointed when they don’t charge,” writes one commenter. “How did he get to be his age walking with such dimness?” Ask another. “Fine them and ban them from National Park,” writes Cydnee White.
Photographers and Tourists Regularly Break the Rules at Yellowstone
This is far from the first such incident between photographers and bison at Yellowstone Park with park rangers’ pleas to stay at least 25 yards from wild animals falling on deaf ears.
Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and are capable of throwing fully grown adults into the air “like rag dolls,” that’s according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Bison are familiar with people and cars in Yellowstone but can become easily agitated when they feel threatened. A 2018 study showed that on average, bison injured one or two people in Yellowstone every year.
In PetaPixel’s guide to photographing bison, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven writes, “Let’s start with the obvious: bison are wild animals and although they appear docile most of the time, can and will harm you when provoked. At a top speed of 35 miles per hour, they can easily outrun the fastest human being on earth. Bison have poor eyesight but have excellent smell and hearing.
“Do not approach a bison closer than the National Park required distance of 25 yards…multiple tourists annually attempt close-up cell phone shots, posing next to a bison or even petting one, and, as a result, are thrown in the air and injured by a charging bison. Fact: per the National Park Service, bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal!”
Image credits: M.A.K Photography