A new viral video shot in Yellowstone National Park serves as a stark reminder of why we should respect wildlife, especially 1,000-kilogram bison, when visiting their habitat. The video, shot by onlooker Hayley Dayton, shows a large male bison charging a small girl and tossing her high into the air, agitated by the presence of over 50 tourists invading his personal space.
The 9-year-old girl from Odessa, Florida, was treated by park emergency personnel and transported to the Old Faith Clinic before being released to her family.
The incident occurred on July 22 near Observation Point Trail in Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Geyser area. Despite park officials’ advice to stay at least 23 meters (75 feet) away from Yellowstone’s wild residents, and signage placed throughout the park reminding visitors of this, the group of about 50 people got far too close. They were only 1.5 to 3 meters (5-10 feet) away from the animal for at least 20 minutes, according to witnesses.
The bison became defensive and charged as a result of the situation. What happened can be seen in the video below.
The incident occurred on July 22 near Observation Point Trail in Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Geyser area. Despite park officials’ advice to stay at least 23 meters (75 feet) away from Yellowstone’s wild residents, and signage placed throughout the park reminding visitors of this, the group of about 50 people got far too close. They were only 1.5 to 3 meters (5-10 feet) away from the animal for at least 20 minutes, according to witnesses.
The bison became defensive and charged as a result of the situation. What happened can be seen in the video below.
The American bison (often referred to as a buffalo despite being only a distant relative of the true buffalo) is the largest living terrestrial animal in North America. Male bison can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and stand 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall at the shoulder, as seen in the video. They have sharp horns and can run at up to 64 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour).
People should keep a safe distance when they see one of these mighty beasts in the flesh. Evidently not.
In response to the recent incident, which is still under investigation, the National Park Service (NPS) issued the following statement, urging visitors to respect wild animals.
“The wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is truly wild.” “Give an animal space if it is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or developed area,” writes the National Park Service. “Stay at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes.” Turn around and go the other way if necessary to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.”
Massive herds of bison once roamed America’s Great Plains, providing a vital source of food for Native Americans. Before Christopher Columbus’ arrival, as many as 30 million roamed the grasslands of North America, but settlers decimated their populations to near extinction. Conservation efforts have resulted in approximately 30,000 bison living on federal, tribal, and state lands (many more are raised for meat on private land), with 5,000 found in Yellowstone National Park. They are now celebrated as the United States’ national mammal, so let us give them the respect (and wide berth) they deserve.
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