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Yellowstone bison attacks old man in campground

Glenn MacGrady

Glenn MacGrady

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Massive bull bison tosses Yellowstone tourist into the air like a ragdoll in shocking attack

A massive bull bison tossed a tourist into the air, seriously injuring him, in a heart-pounding caught-on-camera attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Video shows the unidentified man bei…
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I've camped and canoed in Yellowstone, as many others have, and I certainly didn't expect aggressive bison to be roaming around my campsite. Maybe the population of bison in the constrained area of Yellowstone has become too concentrated. There seem to be environmental benefits and deficits to the bison presence there, but they are hunted or captured and slaughtered once they try to migrate out of the park. What and why?

 
ALL bison are potentially aggressive, at any moment, and without any warning. The NPS has pamphlets and warning signs all over at Yellowstone and people still walk up to the fuzzy cows. The NPS says to stay back 25 yards, but when I've been there, I get wary at a hundred and won't go anywhere near 25 yards, no way, no how - that's less than 2 seconds at bison speed. But man, that was a great rodeo clown flip!
It might be more accurate to say that the people concentration at Yellowstone is much too high.
 
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I first went to Ystone in 1955. I have walked up on lone bull bison several times laying around cud chewing. ScottS is right. Give them room. Avoid eye contact. Keep some trees between yourself and bison. Do not become a threat.

Campgrounds are built in wildlife habitat. Act accordingly.
 
Glenn MacGrady said:
Yellowstone has become too concentrated. There seem to be environmental benefits and deficits to the bison presence there, but they are hunted or captured and slaughtered once they try to migrate out of the park. What and why?
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I recall reading years ago that there has been a problem with the bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle outside of the park.

It's amazing how close some people deliberately he to those beasts. That's a big nope in my book.
 
Does running attract the attention of a bison to run after you like it would a predator? I kept thinking the man would have done better to hide behind a tree or a car. Not that the trees were big enough but being still behind a tree would not provide a target as much as running.
 
Erica said:
Does running attract the attention of a bison to run after you like it would a predator? I kept thinking the man would have done better to hide behind a tree or a car. Not that the trees were big enough but being still behind a tree would not provide a target as much as running.
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Walking up to take a cell phone photo of an angry bull bison was the problem. Always make sure that several dumb people are between you and the bison...it's common knowledge.
 
I've known several biologists and naturalists over the years and they all say the same thing- NEVER run, never look a wild animal in the eyes, and never get too close. Even large prey animals can consider someone running as a threat because many predators will often circle at high speed or perform "out and back" attacks as a way of getting a better attack angle or to distract from other pack animals coming from different directions.
Most suggested that you walk away while using your peripheral vision to track the animal, a rapid walk is ok as long as you quarter away and DO NOT run- animals are keenly aware of your gait and any change to it, and don't stop until it turns away and moves off.
Remember, even a fat old black bear can cover a football field in 4 seconds, can you?
 
scoutergriz said:
I've known several biologists and naturalists over the years and they all say the same thing- NEVER run, never look a wild animal in the eyes, and never get too close.
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Years ago we were in Kruger National Park in South Africa and a ranger told us that pretty much every single animal in the park can outrun you so don't even try. I don't know about bison, but rhinos have bad eyesight and rely on movement so standing still is your best move. It's still unnerving when one catches your scent and turns to face you. I'm not sure if the "stand still" advice applies to hippos. They're the #1 killer (excluding mosquitos) in Africa so best to give them a wide berth. My brother was a river guide on the Zambezi in Zimbabwe and he was more scared of hippos than crocs.
 
I don’t understand why the park service would allow camping in an area the allows bison to roam freely in that area. If your going to allow camping then their should be patrolling to prevent such encounters. I personally wouldn’t camp in such areas.
 
GeoBoy said:
...I personally wouldn’t camp in such areas.
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and there, I suspect, is the answer to your question.

Especially in wilderness or around large animals, it is critical that we make good decisions. Nobody needs to restrict animals (or humans) if the humans use good judgement.

I am reminded of this with every step as an unruly horse really put a hurtin' on me Saturday morning (I know better and should have walked away when it acted up the first time). Chiropractor this afternoon. UGH
 
GeoBoy said:
I don’t understand why the park service would allow camping in an area the allows bison to roam freely in that area. If your going to allow camping then their should be patrolling to prevent such encounters. I personally wouldn’t camp in such areas.
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Bison go everywhere in Yellowstone Park, it is not a zoo.
 
GeoBoy said:
I don’t understand why the park service would allow camping in an area the allows bison to roam freely in that area. If your going to allow camping then their should be patrolling to prevent such encounters. I personally wouldn’t camp in such areas.
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I'm afraid I have bad news about most outdoor recreation, and camping in particular...
 
Gamma1214 said:
I am reminded of this with every step as an unruly horse really put a hurtin' on me Saturday morning (I know better and should have walked away when it acted up the first time). Chiropractor this afternoon. UGH
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When I first moved to Alaska my wife and I were on a ski trail waiting for a moose to get out of the way before we could go on. A guy came skiing up and said, "they're just like farm animals and they will get out of your way. He then banged his poles together to scare it, skied on and the moose got out of his way. I knew enough about farm animals and the fact that people are killed by them every year to keep my distance from a moose. My policy was to never challenge a moose over real estate.

I hope he didn't beat you up too bad Gamma.
 
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