According to Storyful and park documentation, a viral video captured a child running toward a grazing bison at Yellowstone National Park on July 28, prompting the animal to briefly chase the visitor.
The July 28 Incident and Visitor Reactions
The encounter occurred while a group of adults and children walked along a park boardwalk. According to footage shared by Brittany Peteler with Storyful, a bison was grazing close to the pedestrian pathway. When the animal turned toward the group, one child ran closer and past the bison, triggering a brief chase from the wildlife.
Other park visitors captured the scene from a distance, shouting warnings such as “Go back! Do not go towards him! Go away from him!” in the video. Park officials confirmed that the child managed to get to safety, though annual visitor injuries underscore the persistent risks of approaching large animals.
Yellowstone Wildlife Distance Regulations
According to Yellowstone National Park guidelines, visitors must maintain specific safety buffers from all park fauna. Rules require tourists to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk, and most other wildlife. Twenty-five yards is equivalent to the length of two standard buses.
For more formidable predators, the distance requirements increase significantly. The park mandates that visitors stay at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars. “The animals in Yellowstone are wild and dangerous, no matter how docile they may appear to be,” the park’s website warns visitors. “The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car.”
Historical Context and Safety Precedents
Wildlife encounters resulting in injuries occur annually at Yellowstone, often when tourists fail to heed posted distance rules. Just weeks before the boardwalk incident, a grandfather was tossed into the air by a bison in a separate encounter captured on media.
Did You Know?
Frequently Asked Questions
How far do you have to stay away from bison at Yellowstone?
According to Yellowstone National Park rules, visitors must stay at least 25 yards away from bison, which is roughly the length of two buses.
What should you do if a bison gets too close?
Running can provoke the animal into giving chase, as demonstrated in recent park footage.
Are bears and wolves subject to the same distance rules as bison?
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