Tourists Crowd Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Image: PHOTO: Yellowstone National Park. (photo via aphotostory/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (Photo Credit: aphotostory / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: Yellowstone National Park. (photo via aphotostory/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (Photo Credit: aphotostory / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 1:55 PM ET, Sun September 17, 2023

Some people will just never learn when it comes to interacting with wildlife. 

A group recently surrounded a mama grizzly bear and her cubs at Yellowstone National Park. 

There have been countless stories about humans interacting with wild animals, including bison and bears, and it usually ends in a bad way for either side. 

The encounter took place at one of the geysers at Yellowstone. 

A woman who posted a video of the incident wrote “I tried my best to get them away but man these people were clueless. We eventually had to bail but they were getting even closer as I left.” 

There are park guidelines about tourists distancing themselves from wildlife that are routinely ignored. These encounters often end in bodily harm for the tourists, or a case of the animal being shunned by the herd for smelling like a human after the interaction. 

Guests at the national parks are supposed to stay 100 yards away from predatory animals. While it might be cute to have a photo or video next to a deer, a grizzly bear is most definitely predatory. 

“Remember, it’s your responsibility to maintain that distance. If wildlife approaches you, then you need to move back,” the National Park Service website said. 

Comments on the original post by the woman were scathing. 

“I’m on the animal's side, let the humans learn the hard way. Darwin Awards for everyone,” one user wrote. 

Said another: “It is time for more funding to help have more rangers in place. I also support limiting visitation. Yellowstone will forever be damaged if we continue to allow ignorant groups to enter and ignore common sense precautions.”   

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