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Katie Rogers reports at the NYT that officials at Yellowstone National Park are warning visitors not to fraternize with wildlife after a woman was injured while trying to take a selfie near a bison — but that hasn't stopped some visitors from posting their close encounters on social media. A notice released by the National Park Service details how a 43-year-old and her child turned their backs to a bison while trying to take a selfie while the animal was 6 yards away. The visitors tried to get away when they heard the bison approach, but the animal lifted the woman up and tossed her with its head. She is the fifth person to be injured in an encounter with one of the park's bison this summer.
The park's warnings are not subtle: Upon entering, visitors receive a bright yellow flier that depicts a person getting gored by a bison. According to Julena Campbell, summer, which is breeding season, is the most dangerous time to be near the animals. "The family said they read the warnings in both the park literature and the signage, but saw other people close to the bison, so they thought it would be OK," says Colleen Rawlings, a ranger in the park's Old Faithful District. "People need to recognize that Yellowstone wildlife is wild, even though they seem docile. This woman was lucky that her injuries were not more severe."
(Score: 4, Informative) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday August 04 2015, @11:09AM
I grew up in the Rockies north of Yellowstone and went there quite a lot as a kid and young man. In high school a friend and I did a trip down there and went through the north entrance because we wanted to camp in the Mammoth campground near the Mammoth hot springs and limestone terraces [shannontech.com]. The Boiling River Trail [hikespeak.com] at the bottom of that hill admits the heated water from the terraces in cascades to the cold Gardiner River that runs along the base of the plateau. It's a great swimming hole, with the hot water mixing with the cold in grades.
Anyway it's a favorite with the rangers and park employees who live there through the summer and year-round and you often meet them there taking their ease. On that occasion we struck up a conversation with one about animal attacks in the park. The wolves had been recently reintroduced there and we were wondering if there had been any encounters between the new packs and the visitors. The ranger said no, and there hadn't been any with bears that year either. Those are rarer than people think because most people have the sense not to get too close to bears. I said yeah I remembered more people getting attacked by the bison. He said actually more people get killed and seriously injured because they get too close to moose, who have poor vision and hearing, and startle when camera flashes go off. But the animal responsible for the most trouble is the elk. People don't think elk are dangerous, because popular lore tells people's brains that they're like a bigger version of bambi.
The moral of the story is that wild animals are wild and can hurt you, even the ones that look cute and cuddly.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday August 04 2015, @04:22PM
The moral of the story is that wild animals are wild and can hurt you, even the ones that look cute and cuddly.
No kidding, especially when with young. My back deck, where I have a bird bath, was visited frequently by a female raccoon that obviously was nursing. She pretty much ignored me when she came for a drink and I was able to slide open the door wide enough to get pictures. However, when she first showed up with the young ones it was a different story. When I slid the door open a bit she immediately charged, growling and snarling. I jumped back and shut the door, she came right up to it looking very aggressive. She then gathered up the young ones and departed.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 04 2015, @07:22PM
Just a little myth dispelling: wolf attacks on humans are incredibly rare, as in just a few per century and many of those are in dispute. Bear attacks are several orders of magnitude more common but are still quite rare. Wikipedia even keeps a list containing all the fatal ones. Moose, elk, raccoon, even squirrels and other seemingly more benign animals are far more dangerous on a numbers basis.
As a backpacker I fear raccoons the most. Aggressive, curious, and disease carrying. They are not easily dissuaded and one scratch or bite a ways away from civilization can be as serious as many snake bites. Second is moose, but only during the two seasons (rut and calf). Honestly if I had to go with a third I'd pick other humans...
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Wednesday August 05 2015, @01:27AM
Even Bambi deer will try to kick your teeth out if you go up to them, especially if there are a few of them, they're not as friendly as they are in the Disney cartoons.
I was fortunate enough to grow up with a grandma who had a horse ranch. One of the things you learn from something like that is you know always in the back of your mind that some animals will always be able to kick your ass.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 05 2015, @08:46AM
Haha, I had a Blackfoot Indian friend who lived on a farm on the edge of town. They had a bay mare and a cute older pony. My friend was the better rider and took the mare, riding bareback holding the mane (he said that was his Indian pride to not use saddles). So he gave me the pony, saddled. That thing was the meanest bitch you ever saw, kicking, biting, trying to scrape you off under low-hanging branches. Now when my kids watch My Little Poney I think of that beast and say, "Cute, my ass."
Washington DC delenda est.