Yellowstone National Park is not a zoo or outdoor playground. The animals are wild and not trained. There are more dangers and risks in the park than most tourists are aware. Be aware or you may bleed.
We have all seen the dumb tourists dancing with buffaloes, getting attacked by bears, waltzing with moose, elk, and deer, and finding ways to ruin a perfectly good education.
Tourists need to assume the worst, learn the risks, and be prepared to deal with these potential dangers.
GEOTHERMAL FEATURES Geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and boiling waters will burn you. The signs are everywhere. Read them and follow the warnings. YNP is on top of a super volcano. If it blows, you will never know, but the risk is there.
BEARS WILL KILL AND EAT YOU! Grizzly bears weigh over 600 lbs. During the Fall, they only sleep 2-3 hours a day. The rest of the day they are looking for food, which could be you.
POISONOUS SNAKES There are only a few poisonous snakes around the Mammoth area. This area is a high-altitude desert and home of one kind of rattlesnake. Few are seen but the risk exists.
AVOID ALL CRITTERS Wildlife watching is fun and educational. Take the optics you need to observe from afar. You are in their living room so let them be. Wolverines are small but fierce, even ground hogs have sharp claws. Deer are smaller than moose and elk but care bigger than you. Mothers will always protect their young.
SELFIE FIXATION Your cell phone has a zoom feature. Stay back and use it. Tourists get so fixated with getting a prop picture that they fail to see an attack, step into danger, or get injured.
INSECTS are SMALL but… Brown recluse spiders, mosquitos, and ticks live in the park. They can cause injury and illness.
TRIPPING, FALLING, and CUTTING are 3 ways that tourists bleed. Axes and knives for camp use have sharp edges. Simple stumbling or not paying attention to trip features will make you bleed and be injured.
WIND, WEATHER Tornadoes, thunderstorms, snow, and extreme weather can cause dangerous situations. Pay attention and seek shelter. Hypothermia can be a concern. Fires have left standing dead trees which easily fall during winds or …
TRAFFIC WRECKS Collisions and fender benders are a common concern. Tourists see a critter or are too busy on their cellphones. There are more cars, campers, and motorhomes than ever. Stay alert and avoid a crash.
Touring Yellowstone Park is a great adventure. Just don’t make it a Tour of Duty. No one wants to be wounded in action. Relax, prepare, plan, and enjoy your trip without bleeding please!
Montana Grant
