City folks just don’t get it.
No, I’m not talking about FarmersOnly.com. I don’t honestly know how all of that works, or if it’s still even active. All I do know is that their jingle will forever be stuck in my head, and that’s really all you can ask for as a business (getting your slogan/jingle perpetually stuck in the minds of consumers).
I was instead saying that people who visit national parks and other outdoor sites from… let’s just say more urban areas, generally have no idea how to interact with wild animals. Here’s a clue for those that aren’t sure how to act around wildlife – you interact with them by not interacting with them at all.
The National Park Service advises tourists to stay 25 yards away from animals that are deemed “non-violent,” like bison, elk, and other creatures that tend to be relatively docile. When it comes to bears, wolves, and other apex predators, the NPS warns park goers to keep a football-field-distance between them and the animals.
I feel as though I sound like a broken record saying that, because anytime one of these videos pops up, I include a variation of that paragraph above. I’m doing so in hopes that my words will reach one of the people that may not be informed on how to act around wild animals… but then again, I do enjoy covering these idiotic videos.
This guy was visiting Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada and opted to press his luck by attempting to snap a selfie with a massive elk standing a few feet off the road. Taking pictures of wild life from a safe distance? That’s encouraged, and for some, necessary in the memory-making process. Trying to take a front-camera selfie with an animal (thus turning your back to it) that could easily put you in the hospital? To quote Abraham Lincoln, “Buddy, you’re asking for it.”
His actions are as “touron” (combination of tourist and moron) as you can get. You’d think having other people around would make someone be less reckless, but this guy didn’t care a bit. He wanted a selfie with an elk, and he got one. It’s a shame he didn’t get knocked on his you-know-what to be taught a lesson.
Check it out:
(P.S. – Ol’ Honest Abe probably didn’t ever say, “Buddy, you’re asking for it.” But at the same time, I can’t confirm that he didn’t.)
