Stupidity At Yellowstone National Park

Above, two bison in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It never ceases to amaze me at how stupid people can get.

Regulations and warnings are practically all over the place in Yellowstone National Park telling visitors to keep a safe distance from the animals in the park.

The latest is from the Billings Gazette:

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A man reaches over a railing to pet a bison on the head in yet another example of dangerous behavior by visitors to Yellowstone National Park. 

A video shows the bison stepped away from the man standing on a crowded boardwalk near a thermal area. Nobody was hurt but Yellowstone officials warned Wednesday the outcome could have been different if the animal had charged. 

Similar incidents happen several times a year, sometimes with harmful results. Bison injure a handful of people in Yellowstone every year on average. 

The man demonstrated "an incredible lack of judgment and common sense," park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement. "Not only did he put himself and others at risk, he violated regulations designed to keep these animals wild. We expect better from our visitors." 

Park officials are still investigating details of the video posted online July 8, including who the man was and where and when the incident happened, Yellowstone spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said.

To read more, go here.