In a harrowing video posted on TikTok, the ramifications of messing with wild animals are starkly clear.
Shared by user Unilad (@unilad), a tourist in Yellowstone National Park is seen stepping on a bison and quickly faces the consequences.
In the video, the man appears to be trying to get a bison off the road — a common occurrence in Yellowstone that some like to call a “bison jam.” While these large mammals can slow down traffic, getting out of your car to deal with them is highly recommended.
“Don’t approach the bison!!” the post’s caption says. As the man maneuvers around the road shouting and walking towards the animal, the bison is seen charging him.
Despite some of the infamous predators that live in the park, such as wolves and grizzly bears, the bison are responsible for the most injuries every year.
It’s not exactly in the nature of a bison to harm a person, but cases like this, where bad judgment is involved, scare the animals, and put them on the defensive.
Yellowstone tourists can have the worst behavior when it comes to bison. A tourist was run over by one, and recently a group of people were charged by a bison, with one individual being mauled by it.
With bison weighing up to 2,000 pounds, the potential dangers to humans are obvious. However, these types of negative encounters are just as dangerous for animals. Whether provoked or not, a human encounter with a wild animal can result in the animal being tranquilized, removed from its home and family, or even euthanized.
The National Park Service lays out easy-to-follow rules for seeing wildlife. “Stay a minimum distance of 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from predators,” the NPS writes.
Commenters on the alarming video of the animal encounter TikTok shared their shock at the man’s behavior, and sympathy for the bison.
“They will take it down if something happens. Not cool at all,” said one user.
Another person suggested legal action, adding, “Good evidence for a federal crime.”
As exemplified by climate-focused organizations and advocacy groups, protecting our environment begins with respecting it. By learning about climate issues and ensuring that your actions only help, rather than hurt, the planet, you can be part of positive change.
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