When entering Yellowstone National Park, a park ranger hands visitors a pamphlet full of helpful information.
This guide instructs tourists to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk and other wildlife, and to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
I won’t be as polite as the pamphlet: LEAVE THE ANIMALS ALONE!
Year after year, the warning is ignored, resulting in life-and-death encounters for animals and humans.
Already this year in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley − known as the Serengeti of the West because of its diverse wildlife − a man “pushed (a bison) calf up from the river and onto the roadway. Visitors later observed the calf walk up to and follow cars and people. Park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The calf was later euthanized by park staff because it was abandoned by the herd and causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway,” according to Yellowstone officials.
The man pled guilty to “feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife.”
During Memorial Day weekend − and I can’t even believe I’m writing this − “visitors placed an elk calf in their car while likely driving on U.S. Highway 191 in the park and brought the newborn to the West Yellowstone, Montana, Police Department,” Yellowstone officials said in a news release.
At this stage of life, I’m not surprised by much, but it doesn’t make it any less infuriating when humans disrupt nature like this.
It’s time for tourists to start crowding America’s national parks — Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, Zion, Grand Teton, Arches, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah and hundreds more — on spring and summer vacations. There are not many better places to connect with nature. Filmmaker Ken Burns has it right: The park system is among America’s greatest ideas.
Covering the NBA playoffs the past few weeks, I’ve been through the Denver airport multiple times. I see the backpackers, campers, hikers and fly-fisherfolk exploring the outdoors in Colorado or using the airport as a layover to visit other parks, forests and wilderness areas in the West.
Later in the summer, I will head to Yellowstone, mostly to fly-fish but to hike and hopefully see a wolf, and except for handling trout, which is allowed while fishing, I will keep my distance from wildlife. Five summers ago while fishing a river near the Lamar Valley, I came around a bend in the river and saw a bison in the water. I was about 20 yards away but retreated and gave the massive animal its space.
Close-up encounters happen, and that’s why my first stop after I land in Bozeman, Montana, is an outdoors store for bear spray. There’s a reason park officials advise visitors to remain at least 25 yards away. It’s mostly for the animals’ well-being but also for the safety of humans.
A bison, elk and of course a grizzly bear will mess you up. Nature is awe-inspiring and unforgiving. You can see these animals at a safe distance with your eyes, cameras and scopes.
No selfies. No touching. No chasing.
While we’re at it: Use caution near dangerous waterfalls. And please don’t get into the geothermal pools where the water temperature can reach 200 degrees or more.
This is wild country with wild animals who don’t want people in their business. It’s a privilege to see them in that environment. We’ve encroached on their home. Treat it with the respect it deserves.
In other words, don’t be an idiot. It’s really not that difficult. There are social media sites that highlight the idiocy of people who get too close to wild animals. ”Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of the Idiots” is a real Facebook group. Recently, a young man was caught on video harassing black bears in Yellowstone, running and screaming at them. He could be charged with a federal crime, and the knucklehead will be identified.
The Yellowstone Pledge is basic yet everlasting. “I pledge to protect Yellowstone National Park. I will act responsibly and safely, set a good example for others, and share my love of the park and all the things that make it special.”
If you can’t do that, stay away.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
