Yellowstone: When Bison Attack

Above, bison sunning in a Yellowstone meadow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer vacation season is only a few months away and many people will likely go visit Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone is my favorite national park. There's plenty to see, but there's one thing that people should be mindful of for a safe visit: bison (buffalo) are dangerous.

An article in The Smart Set is one that visitors should read before crossing into the park's entrances.

It begins with:

Before Yellowstone, I never thought about the murderous qualities of buffalo. After Yellowstone, it was all I could think about. 

In the fall of 2007, my then-girlfriend Katelyn and I were on an epic cross-country road trip. Passing through Wyoming, we made a detour to visit America’s oldest national park for a few days. As we drove up to the main gate, we were stopped at a booth by a park ranger in a wide-brimmed hat. “Is this your first visit to Yellowstone?” she asked. 

“It sure is!” I answered. She nodded and handed over a small packet of papers that Katelyn flipped through as we drove into the park. It contained all of the expected materials: a detailed map, a large spread on various wildlife, a leaflet on camping regulations. 

Then Katelyn pulled out a bright yellow flier that made us glance at each other, horrified. It was an illustration of a hapless park visitor, arms and legs outstretched, mouth in a round “O,” being launched into the air by a hulking buffalo. The beast’s sharp horns were inches from the man’s rump. “WARNING! MANY VISITORS HAVE BEEN GORED BY BUFFALO,” the page screamed in bold, capital type, “These animals may appear tame but are wild, unpredictable, and dangerous. DO NOT APPROACH BUFFALO.”

Above, two bison on a hill near a gasoline station in Yellowstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is best to observe bison from a safe distance. All my photos of them were with zoom lenses.

To read more, go here.