If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you might have come across a post that Yellowstone National Park is selling “Petting Tags” this season—licenses that let you legally pet a bison, elk, or even a grizzly bear (if you’re daring enough to get close to one–which we have seen that many people are) in the park. Prices reportedly start at $129.99, with a deluxe “Dream Petting Tag” inviting visitors to “go hug a bear, if you dare.”
This post appeared on the Casper Planet Facebook page, known for “delivering the Snews that doesn’t matter, directly to your snews feed.” With 90,000 followers, the person who runs this page knows how to get attention with their satirical posts.
Of course, if you’re still unsure about the validity of these tags, maybe that is a sign you probably shouldn’t visit Yellowstone National Park–or even leave your house; nor should you trust everything you read on the internet. Just remember that petting wildlife (with or without one of these make-believe tags) may result in being launched by a buffalo or clawed by a grizzly faster than you can say “do not pet the animals.” And no, safety helmets are not included.
Stay safe out there!
