Social Distancing

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Woman gored after approaching bison in Yellowstone National Park; Always stay more than 25 yards away from bison

It’s not as if the Park Service doesn’t warn people:

Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild.

When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.

But some people don’t listen because they are so intent on getting pictures. In this case the woman kept getting closer than ten feet from the bison.

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20 Responses to Social Distancing

  1. tammy j says:

    I suppose it may sound heartless to say…
    but I can’t feel too sorry for her.
    people have been warned and warned. over and over.
    you’d have to be living under a ROCK not to know that rule.
    and still… the obsession with cameras wins out. and she paid the price.
    she was in HIS habitat. she was the guest. and she had been warned.

  2. The OP Pack says:

    Peeps can be so stupid sometimes. Just like the ones that fall off steep cliffs trying to get a selfie 🙁

    Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber

  3. Rose says:

    I cannot imagine trying to get so close to the buffalo…or bears or wolves. I am even leary of big birds. LOL Roger read an account of guy photographing a Great Blue Heron and the photographer got a bit too close and the heron drove its beak through his hand.

  4. Ginny Hartzler says:

    Good grief! Talk about being dedicated to photography! Did she live?

    • Jean says:

      They would have said if she didn’t. And she’s not the only one who gets too close…incidents like this often make the news.

      Years and years ago a park ranger was horrified when he saw a man trying to push a bear into the driver’s seat of his car, next to his wife, so he could take a picture. That’s a lot worse!

  5. Mike Goad says:

    When I read about this one the other day, I shared an article about it on Facebook, saying:

    “When I saw the headline, I immediately wondered, “OK, what did SHE do?” before I read the article, though I had a pretty good idea.”
    “Sure, enough, THAT”S what she did!”
    “Obviously, another case of “The rules don’t apply to me,” assuming, of course, that she read the rules.”

    • Jean says:

      It’s not the first time it happened. But a year or so ago I also read of a woman who got by with it and ended up with some great pictures.

      Years ago when Andy and I were in the Canadian Rockies we saw an elk by the side of the road surrounded by people looking and taking pictures. Andy shuddered at the danger. I shuddered for the poor harassed animal.

  6. Ann Thompson says:

    I’m all for getting a good picture but not at the risk of being seriously injured or killed. Some people are not real bright.

  7. With the long range lens they have for cameras these days no one needs to get close to any animal. Honestly, I feel sorry for the bison because they are subject to losing their lives if they hurt a foolish human who didn’t honor the safe distance rule.

    That bear story above is a jaw dropper!

    • Jean says:

      In cases like this the animal doesn’t lose its life. Animals that get fed by people, directly or through unsecured garbage, are the ones in danger…they lose their fear of people and aggressively go after food. Animals like the bison just want to be left in peace.

  8. Madsnapper says:

    That’s what happened when humans do things that they’re told not to do. Americans especially seem to have a problem with being told what to do and doing it. I agree about feeling sorry for the animals and I do for the people. They live there we don’t.

  9. Andrea says:

    Isn’t the saying: “There’s no fixing stupid.” ? That saying comes to mind when reading your post, Jean. Was the woman killed? If not I hope she recovers soon. Love, Andrea xoxo

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