Tourists in Yellowstone National Park are supposed to remain at least 100 yards from bears whenever they’re out of their vehicles.
While lots of people violate this rule, few do so as blatantly as the group caught on camera this month sprinting toward three bears as though they were long-lost buddies.
The accompanying footage, captured by Will Spencer, shows several vehicles stopped on a road near the momma black bear and her two cubs.
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The bears are ignoring the traffic until several occupants of one vehicle, including a man carrying an infant, begin running toward the animals.
The lead man is in a full sprint when momma bear begins to move out of frame. As the tourists approach, the cubs become spooked and trot after mom.
The man carrying the child is also sprinting on pavement, a dangerous act on its own.
Carrie Dent, Will’s mother, told FTW Outdoors that the encounter occurred Aug. 8, not far from the park’s North Entrance.
A ranger or bear management specialist eventually arrived and ordered everyone back to their vehicles, but the men apparently were not cited.
“I haven’t checked yet but I might have dash cam video that shows the ranger coming through and turning around, but I don’t believe he personally talked to or did anything with those crazy people,” Dent said.
In Yellowstone, tourists are responsible for their own safety. But they’re sometimes cited and prosecuted if their actions are determined to represent animal harassment.
