After nearly three decades as a
journalist, I should have developed a healthy level of cynicism.
But color me surprised over this one. Color me
surprised by the stupidity.
A bison gored a 47-year-old man visiting Yellowstone
National Park after he got too close.
Bison don't like that; they want their space.
Will humans ever learn? There have been enough
instances of these man vs. wildlife encounters, and park rangers at Yellowstone
request that you stay at least 25 yards away from a bison.
Little hint: an arm's length is not 25 yards.
This isn't a docile Great Dane at home; this is a bison
in the wild.
Fortunately, the man suffered only minor injuries, but
that's not the point.
The point is that this is wildlife, and you don't try
to pet a bison. The park suggests a modest distance be kept, and that increases
to 100 yards for bears and wolves.
These are not arbitrary figures. In fact, they are
designed to save your life.
Some people are just stupid, going as far as picking up
a baby bison. Another little hint: it's not a puppy.
There should be a healthy respect for these magnificent
creatures. To see them outside of the confines of a zoo is a genuine treat,
joy, and privilege. Call the 25 yards a suggestion or a warning; it's just a
matter of semantics.
Put it this way: how would you feel if somebody that
you don't know broke into your house and got close to you, your family and your
possessions?
There is an inherent fight or flight response, and
mostly, it's a natural instinct to defend.
This was the first act of stupidity at Yellowstone, and
it's not even summer yet.
Let's hope it's the last.
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