Tourist Allows Toddler To Walk Straight Up To Bison @ Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park‘s 2.2 million acres provide visitors with unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem. The park is home to a vast range of mammals from small weasels to massive grizzly bears but the bison is easily Yellowstone’s most iconic beast.
Yellowstone is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived ceaselessly since prehistoric times. They mark the largest bison population on public land in the country with an estimated 5,400 (as of 2024) living in the park. Bison are the largest land mammal in North America, weighing up to 2,000 pounds, and can run at speeds up to 35 miles per hour.
Despite the park’s massive size and numerous wildlife viewing opportunities, some visitors seem to have a hard time resisting the urge to crowd the wildlife. Yellowstone is very clear with it’s rules and regulations when it comes to behavior around animals, especially around bison, yet people still frequently break those rules putting both themselves and the animals at risk.
Such was the case in this clip of two parents with their very young children who approached far too close to a bison in the Pebble Creek area of Yellowstone National Park. Fortunately the bison stayed calm through the interaction but one misstep and this could have ended a whole lot worse.
Despite their often less-than-threatening demeanor, bison have injured more people in Yellowstone National Park than any other animal. All animals need to be given a safe amount of space (100 yards for wolves and bears, 25 yards for every other animal), but bison incidents are particularly common. The massive animals are unpredictable and can run up to three times as fast as people. These parents are absolutely endangering their children by approaching this close. Read more on bison safety below.
Yellowstone National Park Bison Safety:
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. Always stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from bison.
- Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity. 
- Approaching bison threatens them, and they may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, or snorting. These are warning signs that you are too close and that a charge is imminent.
- Do not stand your ground. Immediately walk or run away from the animal. Spray bear spray as you are moving away if the animal follows you.
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