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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInternet is laughing at reporters reaction to approaching bison. Yellowstone said he did right thing
https://mobile.twitter.com/DeionNBCMT/status/1242910540105576450Mariana
(14,861 posts)Aquaria
(1,076 posts)I was at Yellowstone when an elk was chilling by the main road. All these idiots were running up to get close to him and take pictures. Meanwhile, some dude with a pro-quality camera setup was about 50 yards back and getting exasperated at all the idiots disrupting his chance to get a premiere shot, with good reason: He was a pro photographer who sold most of his work to National Geographic. I mean, I had to ask why he had such an awesome setup, and we got to chatting. Then I mentioned that he was quite a bit back from the elk, rather than getting up close, was it for a better shot with the big ass lens he had?
"Are you kidding? These people are stupid to be getting so close to him. If that elk gets riled, he can trample us all to death in minutes, and those antlers of his are no joke. They could tear you open if he got close enough to touch you with them. I'm always far enough away that I have a chance to outrun something that thinks I'm a nuisance. Or dinner."
I just about died laughing, but he had a point: These majestic beings at national parks and wildlife preserves aren't stuffed toys or photo ops. They're wild animals, and they don't mess around if they get hungry or pissed off. Hell, cheetahs weigh about what an average woman does, and they can have us for dinner before we know they're on us.
Keeping a respectful distance is the smart thing to do. If you do that, most of them will respect your space in return. But if you violate that space--Well, you deserve to be eaten first.
hunter
(38,337 posts)Warning: Graphic content
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/07/29/bison-attack-teen-injured-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/1855539001/
These animals are best avoided.
Leith
(7,813 posts)Maybe trying to hurry him up. He lost precious seconds by looking at them!