Selfies and wildlife not a good mix
Mary Karst uses a guide company in South Dakota’s Custer State Park to see bison. Photo/LTN
By Katie Rogers, New York Times
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 on Wednesday detailed the episode, which began when a 43-year-old and her child turned their backs to a bison while trying to take a selfie. The animal was about six yards away. (It is illegal to be closer than 25 yards to the animals, park officials said.)
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.
She should be charged with child endangerment. And given a semi-Darwin Award. poor kid, growing up knowing mama’s an idjit.
That incident is a perfect example of Idiot Tax Applied…
Someone commented, “Off the bus and into the food chain” which is kind of funny.
Having hiked many miles in Yellowstone on lots of the park trails and cross country, I would say that even 25 yards is too close with bison. They are extremely unpredictable. We always try to give them at least 100 yards hoping that this distance will render us uninteresting to them. You cannot tell when they will leap to their feet or turn toward you and let you know in no uncertain terms that they are unhappy to see you. They move with unexpected agility and speed.