'Shocking' Yellowstone Video Shows Child Approaching Bison
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A video captured in Yellowstone National Park shows a toddler and accompanying adult approaching a grazing bison to within mere feet.
Newsweek contacted Yellowstone National Park for comment via online form on Friday.
Why It Matters
In a previous statement to Newsweek, a Yellowstone National Park spokesperson said: "Visitors should never approach wildlife. The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be."
What To Know
Retired professional Ohio photographer Jennifer Gunderson posted the footage she had taken of the incident on her Instagram account, which has since had over 17,000 likes.
Filmed near Pebble Creek, the video reveals a child walking with an adult towards the enormous animal. Gunderson captioned the video, dated June 2:
"Never in a million years did we think we would witness such stupidity. EVERYONE INCLUDING US TOLD THEM TO GET BACK BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING. OTHERS CALLED PARK RANGER AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. WARNINGS ARE POSTED THROUGHOUT THE PARKS AND IN LITERATURE TO STAY BACK FROM WILDLIFE."
Gunderson used the hashtag #touronsofyellowstone. Touron is a portmanteau of the words "tourist" and "moron" to describe tourists flirting with danger in pursuit of the perfect photo.
Genetically pure bull American bison on March 2, 2025 in Yellowstone National Park.
Genetically pure bull American bison on March 2, 2025 in Yellowstone National Park.Gunderson commented that the pair were "close enough to spit" on the bison. Speaking to the U.K. newspaper The Independent, which called the incident "shocking," Gunderson said:
"I was shocked that people would get that close to a wild animal let alone bring small children with them."
Gunderson and her husband, both experienced hunters, understand the importance of maintaining safe distances from large wild animals, as bison are unpredictable and capable of charging without warning.
According to National Park Service (NPS) guidelines, visitors must keep at least 25 yards from bison. Violating this rule not only risks triggering a potentially deadly charge but may also lead to serious legal consequences.
Although no one was injured in this instance, earlier this week, a man was gored by a bison at the park after a group of tourists encroached on its space, as reported by The Associated Press.
The 30-year-old man from New Jersey sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene, the park reported. His name and condition were not released, and the incident remains under investigation.
In May, a 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Florida, was also injured in a similar encounter near Lake Village.
In 2024, at least two people were gored by bison in the park, including an 83-year-old woman from South Carolina who was seriously hurt. Another woman from Arizona was also gored in 2023.
What People Are Saying
Gunderson said she heard shouting as several parents with small children made their way towards the bison, telling The Independent: "We also shouted with the others, but none of these families responded and kept getting closer. The people next to me were on the phone with park services, so I decided to start recording in case of an incident and evidence was needed."
Park guidelines state: "The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk."
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