Yellowstone National Park served up an unfortunate reminder of just how wild “the wild” can be when a bison took a wrong step and ended up in the scalding waters of Grand Prismatic Spring. Onlookers were stunned as the bull slipped into the 160-degree pool and couldn’t escape. Despite popular myths, the spring isn’t acidic enough to melt things—just hot enough to turn a bison into an unintentional stew.
It turns out, it’s not acid that gets you in Yellowstone—it’s the burn. Scientists say the pools cook like a slow-cooker, not a sci-fi death trap. It’s a sobering lesson for anyone tempted to wander too close. For more on the science (and the scary reality of a boiling hot spring buffet), check out the full story at Cowboy State Daily.
Photo credit: Louise Howard via Yellowstone Through the Lens
