Australian man hospitalized after being tossed into the air by bison in Yellowstone NP

[HuckleB]

Australian man hospitalized after tossed into the air by bison serves as reminder as tourist season picks up
http://fox4kc.com/2016/06/05/australian-man-hospitalized-after-tossed-into-the-air-by-bison-in-yellowstone/

"Park rangers have been saying it for years, but apparently, they need to keep reminding people: Stay away from wild animals in the park.

It might seem like common sense to some, but after a slew of reports of people coming too close to animals in our nation’s national parks (to predictably bad results), the message bears repeating: Stay away from wild animals in the park.

One visitor to ignore the warnings was a 62-year-old Australian man visiting Yellowstone who was sent to the hospital after he got to know the business end of a bison while trying to take a photo of the creature on his iPad last year, KTVQ reported.

The man had to be airlifted to a hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, park officials said in a statement.

..."

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Woman shooting photos gets too close to Yellowstone mama bear
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/woman-shooting-photos-gets-too-close-to-yellowstone-mama-bear/article_b9282ea2-ecec-51d3-b9fe-c4359ddfb789.html

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Some people should not be in the National Parks. Or so it seems.

[gratuitous]

1. I was in Yellowstone last summer

Looking at the ash volcano and its environs. A bison came ambling down to the area, on the other side of the rail fence. Those things are quite large, and appear to be capable of quite a bit of damage. Mrs. gratuitous and I kept a respectful distance, even as the bison drew nearer, and she snapped a picture or two. When it got to the other side of the fence, I walked several steps away, but practically everyone else moved toward the fence, and I swear some people were going to try to pet the thing! Luckily, it was concentrating on its bison-y business, kept going and left the area pretty quickly. But if it had hung around, I suspect someone might have gotten tangled up with it.

People can be remarkably stupid.

[HuckleB]

4. It's a big reason why we try to spend most of our time in YNP backpacking.

Bison are often on the trails, dozing in small meadows. We walk around them, giving them serious space. At least, I don't have to watch tourists do their "Ugly Wherever They Are From" routines.

[Sunlei]

2. too many tourists so crowded

[HuckleB]

12. That's why I love the backcountry!

[Sunlei]

19. Me too, I wish I didn't *have to work* foreverrrr to keep a roof over my head & eat

[HuckleB]

20. I'm with you, on that!

My employer has no idea that I am far more productive the last week before a backpacking trip, not to mention the week after my return.

[Wounded Bear]

3. People need to get their eyes off of their electronics...

and pay attention to the world around them, especially when wild animals are in the area.

Most people can't seem to see anything except through a view finder, or on a 2 inch video screen.

[pinboy3niner]

5. But how else will we get our selfies?

[Eleanors38]

16. Spinning, from an altitude of 12 feet.

[KamaAina]

6. At least he didn't put the bison in his car

[HuckleB]

8. Those folks are now making excuses for it. Ugh.

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-father-and-son-who-caused-yellowstone-bison-calf-to-be-euthanized-upset-by-public-reaction-1.2930675

[maxsolomon]

7. Quick! Shoot it!

Once it's gotten a taste for Human Flesh it will tell the others!

Decades ago I hung out of a car window in YNP and told tourists "Please return to your vehicles". They didn't listen - Bison look like wooly cows.

[Orrex]

9. Fun fact: that particular animal has been found to be 200 years old.

It's a bison tennial.

[HuckleB]

11. (Golf clap.)

[pinboy3niner]

15. How the hell did I fall for that?

This isn't over yet, Moriarty!

[MH1]

10. It's really easy to get too close to wildlife in Yellowstone

But also (so far for me at least) really easy to avoid, or at least to get back to a safe distance when you come around a bend and see that big elk or bison standing there. (Not sure it's so easy with bears, but I haven't had that challenge yet).

The key thing is to realize that you NEED to keep a safe distance. Too many people apparently don't get that.

[Rex]

13. Ignorant people are a danger to themselves and everyone around them, in the wild.

Been there seen it too many times, you can tell them a thousand times not to leave the car or try to pet the bald eagle. Eagles don't like to be pet like a doggy.

[NickB79]

14. We raised bulls on the family farm for a short period of time

The reason it was a short period of time was that several of them were dangerously violent, one almost gored my mom (she just barely made it under the gate in time), and that same fucking bull later gored the farmer who bought it from us and put him in the hospital for a month with broken bones.

A 1,000-lb animal can move incredibly fast when it wants to. Respect that.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

17. Herbivore does not mean docile

So many people seem to think that, almost always to the detriment of the person.

Cow attacks black bear: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319852/Moment-herd-cows-turns-black-bear-trying-eat-grazing-calf.html

[FSogol]

18. Was he trying to get a selfie? Here's one I saw in person:

Gran Teton NP in the 1980s. Guy silently walks up, sets a four year old on the back of a bison and steps back to take a photo. Bison takes off and charges right thru the guy. Guy suffers a broken arm, nose, and cracked ribs. Crying kid tumbles off the back of the bison, unharmed. It happened so fast, I couldn't even shout a warning. Park Ranger called him a F'ing dumbass as they loaded him into an ambulance.

Posted this before on DU.

[Javaman]

21. in other news...

people are still stupid.

[Odin2005]

22. You would think an Aussie would know a thing or two about not fucking with wildlife.

[HuckleB]

23. City folk are city folk, the world over.