Tourist season in Yellowstone...OUCH!

[Bwana]

An "Oh shit, oh dear!" video and story.

On a side note, that is a BISON, not a Buffalo, CNN.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/stat...cc4c03286.html

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed

I had no idea! I've had bufflao burgers and buffalo jerky before, but never any bison burgers or jerky. Aren't bison good to eat, too?

yes

[Sofa King]

well, bitch. stay away from wild animals in their territory then. Especially huge ones that could kill you in an instant if you **** up.

[Bwana]

Heh, it looks like a bunch of these nasty things paid Cooke City a visit this week. I will be up there in two weeks. It's very rare to see one directly in Cooke, much less 150 of them.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/stat...cc4c03286.html

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by FAX

Since I have both family and friends that live in Cody, I've spent quite a bit of time in Yellowstone (Cody sits on the Eastern Entrance of the park). One spring we were on a day trip in the park when we spotted a small herd (approximately 8 or 10) of mooses grazing in an open, grassy area (not too far from the lake, as I recall). We watched them from the road for awhile, then I decided to get a better picture so I slowly worked my way closer to the herd by staying in the tree line, well hidden, and downwind. Meanwhile though, a family of about 6 or so Japanese people stopped their little blue car by the side of the road and the Japanese dad guy grabbed his camera and just took off walking straight through the real tall grass toward the herd. He had made it about 80 yards or so when the bull moose decided he was a problem. Over the course of the following few minutes, I learned many things about life and death in the wilderness.

First, I learned that a pissed-off, giant, bull moose can run fast as hell through tall grass (about waist high). In fact, it was absolutely incredible how quickly he closed the distance between him and the Japanese dad guy.

Second, I learned that, not only are they stupid as hell, but Japanese guys are scared to freaking death of charging, pissed-off, giant, bull mooses. (And for good reason, I might add.)

Third, I learned that stupid-ass, Japanese guys can't run worth a tinker's damn through tall grass. Forget about it.

Fourth, after falling on their faces, I learned that Japanese guys can crab walk on all fours pretty damn fast, all things considered. They can't outrace a pissed-off, super-fast, charging, giant, bull moose, but they can crab walk impressively fast all the same.

Fifth, I learned that charging, pissed-off, giant, bull mooses can actually take pity on slow-ass, stupid, Japanese dad guys and they will veer off at the last possible moment to avoid trampling stupid, Japanese dad guys who are trying to crab walk on all fours as fast as possible to get the hell away from a pissed-off, super-fast, charging, giant, bull moose.

Sixth, I learned that Japanese families can scream in ear-splitting, falsetto tones like frightened, panic-stricken babies and real damn loud, too. That applies to all Japanese people; the women, the children, and the men. In fact, the men can scream real damn loud in ear-splitting, falsetto tones like frightened, panic-stricken babies even while crab walking on all fours at top speed.

Seventh, I learned that once a Japanese guy has barely escaped a charging, pissed-off, super-fast, giant, bull moose attack, they will get in their car and drive away from the area real damn fast, too ... and leaving their camera somewhere in the tall grass if necessary.

It's amazing how much you can learn at Yellowstone. It's an educational experience that's second-to-none, really.

FAX

Mr Fax, I agree 100% about moose. When I go way the hell back in the mountains to swing some fly line, I worry more about moose than I do about grizzly bears. Bears can be a problem if you're walking along a creek, or river in the brush and you run into one, but if they hear an ATV or a horse coming, they will take off 95% of the time. I saw one last weekend cutting the trail when I was riding my atv. It saw me it and busted up off the trail and over the top of the ridge. It didn't want anything to do with me.

Moose on the other hand, will sit there and look at you. It doesn't matter if you're on an atv, horse, or on foot, a lot of the time they don't give up any ground. I always try to give them a lot of room when I see them. Much like bison, or bears, most of the time they will leave you alone if you give them their space, but they can kill you quickly, if provoked and they feel threatened.

You don't want to be close to a mother moose with her calf, or a bull in rut. I have run into a mother and her calf in the past at about 35 yards, and she was not happy to see me. I came out of a clearing when elk hunting, and she was right there. She saw me, her ears folded back, she lowered her head and started pawing the ground. All three are signs that she's getting ready to charge. I SLOWLY backed up and got out of the area and she didn't charge. At that time, I had my .300 untra mag rifle and a .44 magnum with me, but I didn't want to have to shoot her.

As you stated, they look dumb and slow, but they can flat out move out when they want to, much like a bison, or a bear. They can and will close ground on a human very quickly and when they get there, it will get ugly fast, if they decide to bring it.