Yesterday, while showing some out-of-town friends around Antelope Island, we came upon this cyclist who had left his bike on the road and walked up to within a few feet of this bison in order to photograph it.
At first he was much closer to the animal than you see here but when the bison began to show signs of irritation the cyclist backed off a few feet and continued to take photos. I stopped my vehicle and grabbed my “other” camera because I figured that something unpleasant might go down but in the excitement I bumped the control wheel on the camera and skewed my settings so the resulting photos are of poor quality and for documentation only. I’ve disguised the face of the cyclist.
Before I could get off any shots of the cyclist photographing the bison the massive animal charged.
This guys reactions were pretty quick.
Here the cyclist doesn’t yet know that the bison’s charge was apparently a bluff…
but he does now.
This guy didn’t even have a vehicle to run to for protection – only his bike. And incredibly, after the charge, he turned around and approached the bison again.
This kind of stupidity puts both humans and animals at risk. If the cyclist had been killed or injured I suspect the bison would have been destroyed.
Similar unthinking behaviors from island visitors occur regularly on the island as I’ve documented before. The “Darwin Awards” in action…
Ron
Ron, I remember the previous post on this subject. I can’t believe you witnessed something similar again. I mean, I believe it — witnessing similar bone-headed behavior too often. But I’m disappointed it occurred again. Thank you, as always, for documenting these things. It’s important, in more ways than one.
Thanks Ingrid. I see humans approaching too close to bison for photos all too often. Usually the animal doesn’t charge but you just never know when they will. And sometimes the folks who do this are elderly and not too spry. I shudder to think what is likely to eventually happen to one(or more) if them…
Ditto to all… And thanks for sharing these images; hopefully this will serve to educate those who are equally ignorant.
Above all else, regardless of their ignorance: These individuals must learn that WILDlife is the cause of blame when their misdeeds and inane actions put them in harm’s way, and that they alone are the cause of innocent animals’ deaths. I’ve witnessed too many STUPID, cruel actions on the part of so-called “nature photographers” — chasing animals and birds to get shots, baiting, etc. The development of digital photography has opened many doors, but it has also spawned a certain degree of disrespect for the natural kingdom for those who can afford the biggest and the best. But on the plus side, it has fostered a respect of the natural world and its inhabitants among those who wish to find it.
Christina – I agree that the digital revolution in photography has been a two-edged sword for wildlife.
You have a wonderful and intelligent bunch of followers Ron! What happens when this type of person is confronted by the park ranger? Does the fellow tell the ranger to “shove off”?
URk. Too many darn humans… Uneducated, unwise, definitely a candidate for the Darwin award… If only he would learn someone fom the experience????
Nicky, most of these types of encounters are never witnessed by authorities – the island is just too big and park employees are spread out too thin (especially with all the recent budget cuts). But when they witness (or are made aware of) such incidents it’s been my experience that they aggressively enforce the regulations.
Tana is close to the mark. I also agree with Elephant’s Child that this behavior is disappointingly endemic. While the Darwin Award is right-on, at which the behavior is punished is too low to impact the frequency.
Tourists try to get shots that professionals achieve. They see an amazing Mangelsen or Dudley shot and believe they too can get it.
Many tourists (of any nationality – from Japan to Jersey) are awed by our West but treat it like an amusement park. We often encourage that attitude though our state tourism initiatives.
Then they make bad decisions. Language barriers, cynical disbelief, ignorance, bravado, testosterone and alcohol all lead the same way. I don’t think there is a public service announcement that will prevent this.
These people most often get away with their poor judgement and some achieve a better-than-average shot, which fuels the problem. In my experience they are often (not exclusively) middle-aged males in the full flush of their patriarchy. Over decades I have seen increasing numbers of tyros with cannon-sized Canons trying to get a close shot of the nose hairs on a bull elk.
Years ago, my wife and I watched in fascination through our spotting scope while a man from a tour bus sought to ford the Yellowstone River for a better shot of a sow grizzly on a bison carcass in the Lamar Valley. Had the shore not been such an impassable wallow, I imagine we’d have seen something I’d rather not.
This is a great reminder that horrifically poor judgement is always possible. And sometimes the tourists can bring chaos right down on you.
Thanks very much for the well-reasoned, logical and thoughtful comment Robert. I’ve read it several times and agree with virtually all of it. The only part where my experience has differed from yours is the “middle-aged males” part. Usually when I’ve seen this type of behavior it has been from relatively young folks of either sex – but the size of my statistical sample is too small to draw any conclusions from.
But if you narrow the scope of the sample to those with long, expensive lenses, then I agree – middle aged males (and older) form the core of the problem. But I suspect that’s largely (though not exclusively) a matter of economics, due to the expense of the big glass.
Elephant’s Child–actually, the story didn’t end that way at all. Binky the polar bear at the Anchorage Zoo had already chewed up one supremely stupid tourist who climbed two fences for a better photo. She admitted her error and recovered from her injuries, but not her public shaming. Later, one of two inebriated young men who snuck into the zoo climbed into Binky’s cage for a swim. He was also mauled but survived. Binky’s claws, however, did put an end to the kid’s reproductive abilities. The zoo actually sued him for trespassing and won. Binky lived several more years as an Alaska hero before succumbing to a parasitic disease.
Nancy, thanks for jogging my memory. I now remember hearing something about this unfortunate incident. Perhaps “the kid’s” loss of reproductive abilities will prevent further deterioration of our gene pool…
Sometimes it is difficult to find any pride in belonging to the human race. I suspect that you were right and that if he had been injured or killed the bison would have been destroyed. Which makes me angry. Some years back a pair of young idiots climbed into a zoo well after closing time. They went for a swim in the polar bear enclosure. They didn’t survive. And, to my absolute fury, neither did the bears.
Elephant’s Child – I do think the bison would have been destroyed if this guy had been killed or seriously injured. And more restrictions may have been put on the rest of us when we visit the island or efforts made to physically isolate visitors from wildlife – all because of this kind of behavior from a very few visitors to the island.
At least he was wearing a Helmet.
Based on his actions Gary, I’m not sure he had anything under that helmet to protect…
The important thing is that you took the time to photograph him and then call him an idiot on the internet.
I have no words…
I can only agree with you and Tara. Nothing more to say.
I would like to say that he is an idiot, but uneducated is more likely. Lack of science education, lack of a respect for nature, and too many video games where the consequences are not really injurious!
Probably all of the above, Tana.