A tradition unlike any other.
It’s a good thing winter is coming, because Yellowstone National Park and the wild animals that call it home need a break from some of the ill-informed tourists that visit every year (some 4 million people). Now to be clear, not every single person that visits the beautiful park is an idiot.
I’d actually love to a break down in percentages though (normal visitors versus dumb visitors).
In case you were wondering, the National Park Service advises tourists to stay 25 yards away from animals that are deemed “non-violent.” That list includes bison, elk, and other creatures that tend to be relatively docile – though docile is a relative term. When it comes to bears, wolves, and other apex predators, the NPS warns park goers to keep 100-yards between them and the animals.
I try to include that PSA-like announcement anytime I’m writing a story on one of these clips that goes viral. Why? I’m doing my best to spread helpful information in hopes that my words will reach one of the people that may not be informed on how to act around wild animals. Then again, I do need things to write about, and these types of videos basically write themselves.
In the video below, a woman dressed like she was ready to hit the Honky Tonks of Broadway can be seen standing way too close to a sizable, 800 pound bull elk. Naturally, she was trying to take a selfie with the large animal, posing and moving her phone to check out different angles.
At one point, she turns her back to the bull elk, and that was one of many questionable mistakes she made that day. Just as she lets her guard down, the bull elk pauses snack time and decides that he’s had enough. So the big ol’ elk lowers his antlers and charged right at the woman as someone from the car shouted:
“This animal is trying to eat and this crazy psychopath… oh my gosh, look at it. Mom… mom, MOM! It’s coming after you!”
They didn’t even know what kind of animal it was? Sheesh.
Imagine your daughter – who is smart enough to stay in the car – warning you (as a parent) that an elk is charging at you while you have your back turned towards it. That’s not exactly what you call setting a good example. But thankfully (?), the mother was able to retreat back to the car and laugh it off:
Another touron (tourist + moron) gets away scot-free at Yellowstone National Park.
She may have avoided physical harm during the charge, but the video that made its way online has probably caused her some mental and emotional harm if the woman looked within the comment section below the post:
“The elk gave up the chase far too soon. We need more elk with initiative to complete tasks.”
“This did not end the way I wanted it to.”
“The saddest part here is listening to the laughing at the end.”
“Why have a zoom lens on a camera if ya need to be so close to the subject? Trying for hair follicle pics?”
“People are getting more entitled everyday and don’t think the rules apply to them.”
