While most of us appreciate watching wild animals at Yellowstone National Park from the safety of our vehicles, it still remains unclear why anyone thinks it’s necessary to annoy wildlife – much less pester them while the animals are minding their own business and simply going about their day to raise their families, eat and rest in a natural environment.
There are estimated to be 4.5 million tourists annually visiting Yellowstone. Visitors are told to stay in their vehicles except in protected areas – at least 25 yards away from moose, elk, deer and bison and stay as far away as 100 yards from bears and wolves.
If wildlife could “frown, stick out their tongues and roll their eyes” the gestures would be directed at moronic tourists who find it fun to hit a bison; mind you North America’s largest land mammal in the head or just approach one to take a selfie or two. Why?
So, in a summarily one size fits all definition – arose the term “touron”. Because of their bad behavior, thus the Tourons of Yellowstone Instagram account has 605,000 followers.
Late last week, another prime example of “Touron” made headlines. The brief video showed an older woman taking photos of an approaching bison. The woman didn’t seem concerned at all, even as the huge bison got very close to her. Somehow she seemed oblivious to the entire danger she had been in. Fortunately, the bison was having a chill afternoon and sauntered right past her. Perhaps had it been a bit later in the year when bison mate, the ending could have been different and yes, extremely tragic.
Near the end of the video, an onlooker yelled out:
A literal death wish. The old gal sure got lucky!
Now just in case you don’t know much about bison, these sturdy animals can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (male). They are incredibly fast and can run as fast as 35 mph in a short burst. According to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Yellowstone National Park bison now consist of a single large interbreeding population originating from the historic bison herds.
In the early 1900s, American bison had been reduced by 99.9% across North America; only 23 bison were known to have survived poaching in Yellowstone. In order to help increase the population, domestic bison from Montana and Texas were brought into Yellowstone, and as time passed, the herds now maintain the healthy population between 4,000 and 6,000 animals.
Check it out. One commenter asked?
“Why would anyone, much less an elderly one who needs to walk with a cane, get that close to a giant wild animal? Where is her brain, and where are her loved ones?”
Who was supposed to keep an eye on Grama?
The bison herd at Yellowstone National Park is the most important in the U.S. and the country’s “last truly wild herd.” Let’s all promise not to be TOURONS and appreciate wildlife from appropriated distances and with respect. They don’t owe us anything; it’s too bad some people treat wildlife so badly.
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Wow, just wow…….. I see it but can’t understand WHY anyone would think this is ok???