‘I don’t feel bad, not one bit’
One of the most notable examples of what can go wrong when visitors get too close to wildlife is the resurfacing of the 2023 Yellowstone National Park bison attack.
New York Post reported About the July 2023 incident after a 47-year-old woman visiting from Arizona was injured in the chest and abdomen by a bison near Lake Lodge Cabins on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.
The woman and her friend were walking in a field when they encountered two bison, according to the National Park Service.
They reportedly turned back to walk away, but one of the animals attacked, leaving the woman with “significant” injuries that required her to be flown by helicopter to a regional medical centre.
Although the incident occurred in 2023, it sparked strong reactions at the time in the comment section of the article, where readers discussed accountability. tourism cultureand the risks of getting too close to wildlife.
“I don’t feel bad at all every time I see a story like this,” one commenter wrote in response to the report. “I went to Yellowstone years ago and there were thousands of signs around the park warning people.”
Yellowstone officials have long persistently Visitors must stay at least 25 meters away from bison and similar animals.
The timing of the event is also important: mid-July marks the beginning of bison mating season, when the animals can become more unpredictable and aggressive. Bison It can weigh up to 2000 pounds and run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour; This is much faster than most people expect.
The debate has resurfaced amid more recent wildlife incidents in Yellowstone.
In 2024 and 2025, park officials reported multiple injuries involving bison and elk were often linked to visitors approaching the animals to take photos or video.
Each year, Yellowstone reminds visitors that wildlife encounters are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the park.
Beyond the risk to humans, these encounters can have devastating consequences for wildlife. Whether provoked or not, animals that harm humans may be euthanized, and healthy animals may be removed from protected ecosystems due to human behavior.
Commentators with firsthand experience also voiced these concerns.
“I worked in Yellowstone NP for two summer and winter seasons. The crazy things I saw tourists do to take photos were crazy.” wrote. “Leave the wild animals alone!”
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