The other day two hikers in the Biscuit Basin area of Yellowstone National Park were charged by a bison, and one was head-butted and flipped into the air. Initially, the park's report sounded as if the bison attacked unprovoked. But this video shows differently.
This is how the park's release explained the incident:
At about 8:30 p.m. on July 19, a 49-year-old woman and a 61-year-old male family member were exiting the Biscuit Basin thermal area to rejoin their family group in the parking lot, when a bison appeared in some nearby brush and charged them. The woman was struck and flipped in the air by the bison.
She sustained injuries as a result of the bison’s impact and subsequent fall to the ground. As her male family member attempted to escape the bison’s charge, he tripped and fell, sustaining injuries to his shoulder, hand, and foot. He was not injured by the bison.
However, a reporter for CNN tracked down the woman who filmed the "attack," and filed the following report. In the video it's easy to see that the two approached way too close to the bison, which was minding it's own business. And, if you look closely enough at the video, it appears someone threw a stick at the bison and hit it in the flanks.
With this information in hand, it'll be curious to learn whether park officials decide to cite the two, and whether anyone can finger who threw the stick at the bison. Park regulations require you to stay at least 25 yards -- 75 feet -- from bison and elk, and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. And, the park's website notes, "Those who fail to abide by these requirements not only put themselves in danger, they may also be subject to a citation and fine."
Fortunately for the couple, they weren't killed or even seriously injured.
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Comments
So it seems they threw a stick at it to get it to look at the camera for a "better shot". Well, they certainly got their closeup! Dumb decision, but I'm glad they are okay.
Well this proves that it is the duty of some people's lives to serve as the warning for others. Maybe it won't happen again, but... don't get so close, idiots!
You can't piss these guys off! They are bigger than us by several pounds!
Don't get me started about some of the visitors at Yellowstone. How many times have I seen people put a finger into hot water or get off the boardwalk when it's clearly marked that such behavior is dangerous? This just fits the pattern. Lovely park, a precious jewel of wilderness, a joy and privilege to visit, etc., etc. And evidently a magnet for tourists with less sense than a grapefruit.
We were in Biscuit Basin about noon on this same day and saw no Buffalo. However, around 7pm at night we were at the Mud Volcano Area when a herd of approximately 30-35 buffalo with three calves cut off our return to the parking lot from the loop trail. They were on both sides of the walkway and some were crossing over the walk way. We had to be patient for about 15 minutes to allow them to move along. When we passed the nearest ones quickly they gave us some pretty serious looks and who wouldn't with three newborns along. We gave them plenty of space and managed to co-exist very peacefully.
Stupid people trips. They should be charged.
I'd love to have Letterman do a "10 Stupid People Tricks in Yellowstone NP." Should be really good because he'd have a huge amount of material to choose from.
The world needs more bison...they'd be an effective method for controlling the proliferation of morons as seen in the video above.