Bison have been trampling through the spotlight at Yellowstone National Park, headlining stories of tourist attacks and aggressive displays during mating season. One bison, however, kept his frustrations less violent but far louder.
A video shared by T. Lyn Neufeld Photography shows a single bison pacing down a foggy road. The scene itself is far calmer than the latest incidents coming out of Yellowstone; however, his sounds more than make up for it.
The caption urges viewers to have “Sound UPPPP for this video,’ and that is how much of the story is told. Every few steps, as the bison stomps down the road, he can be heard letting out a strong huff that is short but a stark contrast to the otherwise quiet scene.
“Those snorts of breath mean he’s on his last nerve,” the caption adds, “but wait until he gives that road sign a piece of his mind.”
One Bison’s Loud Huffing Has Gained Attention
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Halfway through the video, the bison encounters a fallen “BUMP” sign. Sure enough, the bison shows little patience for it, and his huff becomes particularly intense.
Part of this aggressive display may be explained by the bison’s rutting season, which runs throughout the summer, according to A-Z Animals. During this mating season, bulls will experience a surge in testosterone levels.
Additionally, during this season, bison also tend to group together, causing a single herd to increase to a thousand members or more, the outlet writes. So, not only do bulls become more aggressive—during mating season, there are even more of them in a herd.
Other Contributing Factors Influencing Bison Behavior
The National Park Service has outlined safety measures to keep guests from harm all year. It urges visitors to maintain at least 25 yards between them and bison. That number becomes 100 yards from wolves, cougars, and bears. For additional protection, visitors are told to never feed wildlife, with zero exception.
Mating season is not the only influence acting on a bison; human behavior can greatly shape how an encounter goes. Science Direct writes that when humans draw too close to a bison, the bison may feel threatened.
Earlier in July, The Guardian reported on a 65-year-old man who was tossed eight feet into the air by a bison. The resulting encounter caused the man, Carl McDaniel, to require surgery to fix his femur, which had been broken in four places. McDaniel asserts that he and his grandson, who had not been injured that day, were “about 100 yards away.”
Stories such as these are not uncommon, and impress upon Yellowstone visitors the importance of awareness and an overabundance of caution for everyone’s safety—human and animal alike.