There is an important item to keep in mind when you are visiting National Parks, the wildlife that you will encounter there is truly "wild life." What this means is that the animals, fish and birds that inhabit these areas are not tame and have not been placed there for safe interactions with human beings. The animals have not been domesticated in any way, and do pose a threat to your personal safety if you do not take logical preventative steps to insure you are not injured. Recently, a 62 year old Australian man visiting Yellowstone National Park came within five feet of a bison in an attempt to take a close-up picture. As a result of this mistake he was charged by the animal who gored him and threw in several times into the air. Although he was treated and released from the hospital that day, the injuries he sustained could have been far greater. This is the second injury of this type that has occurred within the last few weeks. In May, a 16 year old Taiwanese student was gored while attempting to take a photo. The recent incidents took place in the area around Old Faithful, an area which commonly sees bison activity. Bison have freedom to travel anywhere in Yellowstone National Park that they please, however, so it is unlikely that the area of the incident had anything to do with the gorings themselves. The bison are typically sought-after photographic subjects for tourists due to their sheer size and beauty, but park officials warn not to come within 25 yards of the animals as they are quite unpredictable and have the ability to run more than three times faster than humans. Park official Amy Bartlett said that the man was too close to the bison and became the
There is an important item to keep in mind when you are visiting National Parks, the wildlife that you will encounter there is truly “wild