Tourists Haphazardly Park To View Grizzly Bear @ Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park attracts millions of visitors every year with the hope of experiencing 2.2 million acres of near unaltered wilderness, unique geothermal features, stunning geological wonders, and plenty of wildlife. Among the most alluring attractions of the park is its robust grizzly bear population with around 965 living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

As incredible as they can be, grizzly bears must be respected as dangerous animals rather than tourist attractions. They can move up to 35 miles per hour, much faster than the fastest humans, and should be given plenty of space to prevent harmful interactions. Unfortunately cases where tourists fail to respect the animals like the one below aren’t uncommon.

Yellowstone National Park takes safety very seriously and tourists who are caught harassing animals or breaking the rules can face fines and jail time. All animals should be given at least 25 yards (75 feet) of space, but bears and wolves need to be given at least 100 yards (300 feet).

Yellowstone also asks drivers to utilize roadside pullouts to avoid creating congestion on the roads. The tourists in the above video appear to be in clear violation of both of these policies. You can learn more about bear safety in Yellowstone National Park below.

Yellowstone National Park Bear Safety Guidelines:

All of Yellowstone is bear country, from the trails in the park’s backcountry to the boardwalks and parking lots around Old Faithful. Your safety cannot be guaranteed, but you can play an active role in protecting yourself and the bears people come here to enjoy.

• Give bears space. Keep at least 100 yards (93 meters) from bears at all times and never approach a bear to take a photo.
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it. We recommend each person carry one can of bear spray in a readily accessible location like a quick-draw holster (not stowed away in your backpack).
• Hike in groups and make noise. Since 1970,91% of the people injured by bears in Yellowstone were hiking alone or with only one hiking partner. Only 9% of the people injured by bears were in groups of three or more people. While hiking on a trail, periodically yell “Hey bear!” to alert bears of your presence. Learn more about backcountry safety.
• Respect closures. Do not travel in areas closed for bear management.
• Never feed bears. Bears that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and will be killed.
• Stay with your stuff. Do not leave packs or bags containing food unattended, even for a few minutes, as bears learn new food sources quickly.
• If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away. We want to discourage this behavior for the bears’ safety and yours.
• Help us spread the word! Share posters from our “A Bear Doesn’t Care” campaign.

If you’re involved in a conflict with a bear, regardless of how minor, contact us or report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. If cell service is available, dial 911. The lives of other people, and the bear, may depend on it.