Bison, Elk and Bears Might Be Cute, But These Videos and Statistics From National Parks Suggest Caution

Go ahead, make my day. Run!!! NPS photo by R. Robinson

Ever consider a sprint with an elk or bison? Well, if you're not careful, you just might wind up in that predicament in Yellowstone National Park. And you won't win.

In national parks across the West bears are coming out of hibernation and elk, bison and other ungulates are trying to bulk up the pounds they lost through the winter months. In many parks wildlife is readily visible. And while that's great, you have to be careful out there.

As the videos you can find on this page attest, elk and bison in Yellowstone can be pretty territorial. For elk, you're most likely to run into problems in the fall when the rut arrives. As for bison, they're pretty cantankerous any time of year if you get to close to them. Speaking of closeness, park rules require that you stay at least 100 yards away from bears in Yellowstone, and at least 25 yards away from other wildlife.

The bottom line? Keep your distance from park wildlife.