Bison Charges Boy in Yellowstone, Parents Laugh

Parents seem to think it's funny
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 10, 2012 1:16 AM CDT
Updated Sep 10, 2012 1:31 AM CDT

It wasn't a grizzly, but it could have been as deadly. A seemingly placid bison suddenly charged a young boy after a group of children—encouraged by their videotaping parents—got too close to the beast during a walk in Yellowstone National Park. The bison, which can reach speeds of 30mph, can be seen snorting as the children snap photos. Then just as the kids walk away he charges the smallest boy, who, fortunately, is fleet enough to outrun the animal until the creature loses interest.

Visitors to Yellowstone, where people have been gored by buffalo, are required to stay at least 25 yards away from the animals (and 100 yards from wolves or bears). A man was killed last month in Alaska's Denali National Park when he ignored regulations and got too close to a grizzly in order to get better snapshots. The bison video was originally posted on YouTube, the Daily Mail notes, but also now appears on the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce Facebook page along with a warning: "This group has no idea how incredibly lucky they were that no one was injured or killed." (More Yellowstone National Park stories.)

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