I wrote a post last week that got published this week because I could have sworn that I published it last week but when I went to write another post this week I realized I hadn't published it last week. Got all that?
In the post published this week that should have been posted last week, I made mention of skirting around a bison to get on with our hike to Storm Point. We were careful to stay out of his sight but knew we were on his radar, as they are quite keen.
We couldn't have believed how fortunate we were that he just let us be. In front of the Lake Lodge, which is about a quarter of a mile from where we work, a woman and her husband were walking through the meadow and although quite some distance from a pair of bison, one of the beasts took offense and charged. The husband did his best to get the animal to attack him but he went for the female, resulting in her being flung approximately 15 feet in the air. The end result was several punctures to the chest and abdomen, seven broken vertebrae, and both lungs partially collapsed. The most incredible part of this incident is that she will not require surgery in her recovery.
These incidents are somewhat uncommon since the last attack here was in 2022 and these magnificent animals are quite docile when left alone. However, it would seem that mating season is upon us and the fellas of the breed can misunderstand our presence and defend their territory as any bison would.
Also it's surprising, either through sheer luck or divine intervention, this doesn't happen on a more regular basis because of the tourists that continue to invade the bisons space and think that this leftover from the last few ice ages is just a big, fluffy cow and is just as docile as the barnyard cousins seem.
It's not just the bison that get an overt amount of close interactions, but every animal here seems to be regarded as just another exhibit in the worlds largest petting zoo. Today, hundreds of even thousands of people will come through the gates not realizing that Yellowstone is much like Australia in that everything here wants to kill you.
The elk just gave birth and if you're randomly wandering through the forest and come upon momma and baby, you need but to turn and go back the way you came. On a recent trip to Gardiner, MT we were caught in a bear jam and as the snail paced traffic let us pass, we saw a grizzly cub not but 20 yards from the road with people standing...with their children...just a few short yards away without the basic understanding that where there's a baby grizzly, there's going to be a momma grizzly.
A grim reminder of the consequences came via the news yesterday and, although outside the park, a woman was killed by a grizzly while hiking near the town of West Yellowstone. A not so subtle indicator that those woods belong to the wildlife and not us.
Even the landscape here wants you dead. With all of the geyser basins around and the random steam vents that can be found, there's always a risk. The steam and the acids from the magma several miles below the park continually wear away the rock from the depths up to the surface and make what looks like solid rock paper thin. Walking on this ground can make it collapse under foot with predictable results such as severe third degree burns to exposed skin, acid burns, etc. If you fall through the ground into a deep enough vent, death will come and it will not be quick and painless.
Yet, there are still fools that think they are smarter than nature and test their luck such as this fellow who decided that a close up view of Old Faithful was a good idea.
As with all others that defy the signs saying stay away, this gentleman was escorted out of the park rather unceremoniously.
I know I talk about this a lot and I should move on to other subjects but I stand in awe of how many people don't have even a basic knowledge of where they are. Before we came here, we made sure to look up where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. With every article and source of information came the warning or either wildlife and land features that were a threat and one would assume that others do this as well. We would assume wrong.
Just a basic understanding of where you're going and what animals you could encounter can make for a more enjoyable Yellowstone experience for yourself and your family...and it might even help keep you alive.
As for us, life goes on here in the park and we are finding a new balance of work and life but as I performed my weekly inventory, I sadly noticed that I am halfway through my inventory book and realized that our time here will start growing short and, with that, it's time to pack in as many adventures as possible.
To state it simply, this amazing place Does Not Suck.