JACKSON, Wyo. — A video was recently uploaded to YouTube that shows a girl tripping while attempting to run away from a charging bison after she approached it in Yellowstone.
It seems that almost every other week there is an incident in Yellowstone involving a bison photo op. After all, they are just wild, docile cows, right? Wrong! Wild bison are some of the toughest creatures on the planet. Weighing up to a ton, these massive ungulates are designed to fight off large predators like grizzly bears and wolves, none the less a camera-wielding tourist.
Normally, when charged by a non-predatory animal, it is recommended to run away. Non-predators typically won’t chase you, instead, they will charge you out of their area. In this situation, playing dead seemed to work for the lucky tourist, but that doesn’t mean the bison wouldn’t have trampled her if it chose to.
The park service recommends taking several steps to view wildlife safely, like staying at least 25 yards away from a bison, and 100 yards from bears and wolves.
