Yellowstone elk has perfect response to taunts from a tourist

Footage has surfaced showing a Yellowstone National Park tourist taunting a bull elk from his vehicle, and the elk popping his tire with its antlers.

Wyoming’s K2 Radio on Monday shared footage showing a Yellowstone National Park tourist taunting a bull elk from his vehicle, and the elk popping one of the man’s tires.

“Watch out buddy,” the tourist grumbles through an open window, as he approaches the elk on a highway. “You wanna fight?”

The elk holds its ground but is clearly agitated by the boldness of the intruders (there’s also a woman in the vehicle). “You want go, bud?” The man continues, while inching closer.

Finally, the elk lowers its head and plows its antlers into the left front tire, which hisses and deflates.

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The woman issues a profane response and the footage ends.

While the footage is at least 11 months old, the K2 Radio post is circulating via social media and was shared Tuesday by Deby Dixon, a photographer who specializes in Yellowstone wildlife.

“I see so many park visitors taunting the wildlife with their vehicles, whether following the animals or stopping right next to them,” Dixon wrote on Facebook. “The man driving this car was verbally challenging the bull, not that his words made any difference, it was his actions by stopping the animal’s path. But, the bull gets the last word!”

On a serious note, Dixon added: “I think that most people are just so excited to see wildlife up close that they don’t realize how they might be upsetting or challenging and animal.

“So, I encourage you to think about how it would feel if someone pulled up next to you, blocked your path and put a camera in your face.”

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Watch: Yellowstone bison has no patience for law-breaking tourist

Sneaking up to a bison in Yellowstone National Park is asking for trouble in more ways than one. It could lead to serious injury – or worse – and it’s illegal.

Sneaking up to a bison in Yellowstone National Park is asking for trouble on multiple levels. It could lead to serious injury or death, for example, and it’s illegal.

Thankfully, the man in the accompanying images and video link was not injured after walking to within inches of a bison on a trail, prompting a threatening response from the massive animal. (Click here to watch the video.)

It’s not clear why the man would so foolishly risk his safety, but it seems as though he hoped to persuade the bison to make way for him and his wife.

Photo: Sean Swetter

Sean Swetter, who posted the footage to a Facebook group page entitled, “Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of the Idiots!” explained in his description: “Not joking either, his wife asked for my bear spray to get the bison away from the trail so they could get back to their car.”

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The top Facebook comment was from Jennifer Young: “His wife was considering spraying it with bear spray cause the human got too close? That’s harassing the wildlife. It gave him warnings and I wish it had tossed him. They should be escorted out of the park with a fine.”

Reached Tuesday, Linda Veres, a Yellowstone public information specialist, did not disclose whether the park planned to take acton against the man, but said the video link had been sent to rangers.

Veres also provided the following statement to FTW Outdoors:

“It is illegal, as well as dangerous, to approach wildlife. Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be.

Bison, the largest land-dwelling mammals in North America,  can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. They can run at speeds up to 35 mph.

The statement continued: “The safest view of wildlife is from inside a car. Always stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including bison and elk.”

Swetter did not respond to messages asking for a more detailed description of the incident.