Park rangers have been extremely busy lately. Not only are many parks experiencing a peak in visitors, but due to a staffing shortage affecting almost all protected areas, working for the NPS has become quite challenging. Crater Lake National Park is now operating with just over half its staff, and Fort Barrancas at Naval Air Station Pensacola is currently only open one day a month.
This is why visitors must avoid giving park rangers even more work. Yet, despite this, people continue to break parks’ rules, putting themselves and wildlife in danger. An Instagram post showing a man approaching bison recently went viral. Luckily, this time, park rangers decided to take action.
Yellowstone Visitors Enjoy Moment Tourist Is Handcuffed After Approaching Bison
Unfortunately, visitors approaching wildlife are quite common. A few months ago, a man flew a drone over an osprey nest and then allegedly returned to Yellowstone National Park to break more rules. Videos of people approaching wildlife are now incredibly common on Instagram. Yet, users rarely get to see the consequences for those who decide to break the park’s rules.
This is probably why the recent video shared on the popular Instagram page Tourons of Yellowstone became so viral. The video shows a man approaching a bison herd and was filmed by other visitors who decided to stay in their vehicles.
View this post on Instagram
First, the man is shown boldly walking towards the animals. Soon after, however, we can see a bison attacking the visitor. The man falls to the ground and then walks away. At the end of the video, park rangers can be seen handcuffing the visitor. The Instagram post reads:
Another touron off his rocker…. The walk of shame back to his car and then the (arrest). Always keep at least a 25 yard distance from bison in Yellowstone! They are WILD animals. The bison watching the touron return to his car just took me out!!!
For once, people could finally see someone paying the consequences for harassing wildlife. So, what did users say?
What Did Users Say?
The post quickly went viral, gathering thousands of likes and plenty of comments. The vast majority of people shared their joy at seeing someone arrested after breaking the park’s rules. For instance, user m.mwanderlust wrote, ‘He got what he deserved.’
Others simply commented, ‘I love a happy ending,’ while some pointed out that it is a pleasure to see animals finally standing their ground. Some people also used this as an opportunity to remind visitors who are soon heading to Yellowstone National Park to stay in their cars. So, what are the exact regulations when it comes to wildlife?
Wildlife Regulations At Yellowstone National Park
Wild animals can be dangerous to humans, as they can attack when feeling threatened. When visiting natural areas such as Yellowstone National Park, it’s important to remember that we are in the animals’ habitats and should, therefore, respect their space.
Yellowstone National Park’s official website urges visitors not to approach wildlife. The website states that the best way to see animals is always from your car. The exact distance to keep from wildlife depends on the animal, and is between 25 and 100 yards.
If an animal approaches you, start to back away and do your best to maintain a safe distance from it. The website also clearly states that it is illegal to willfully remain near wildlife or approach it directly. This includes not only mammals but also other animals, such as birds.
Those visiting these parks to observe animals in their natural habitat can consider purchasing binoculars and telephoto lenses to get a better view of these majestic creatures from a distance. Of course, people are also asked to never feed animals, avoid leaving food unattended, and always report conflicts with an animal to a park ranger, no matter how minor.
This article by Cristina Miceli was first published by The Travel on 23 August 2025.
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