Video from Yellowstone National Park posted over the weekend shows tourists running from a black bear and her cubs after getting too close to the animals. None of the tourists were hurt, but the video serves as an example of why giving wildlife their space is important.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks service posted the video on Facebook Friday. It shows tourists walking along a bridge in the Montana part of Yellowstone, with a black bear and her three cubs behind them. The mother begins running, pushing the tourists forward. They all start running away, with some getting in their cars.
“It serves as a reminder that wildlife can be unpredictable,” the park service wrote. “For your safety and theirs, respect wildlife and give them room to roam.”
The tourists were “very much in danger,” Bob Gibson, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Communication and Education Program Manager, told USA Today Sunday. “The most dangerous place is between a mom and her cubs.”
If the cubs were younger, the situation would have been much more dangerous. They are around 13 months old, so the mother wasn’t as protective of their safety.
The National Park Service requires visitors to be at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
screenshot from MontanaFWP YouTube video