Latest news with #JenniferGunderson
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Newsweek
'Shocking' Yellowstone Video Shows Child Approaching Bison
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video captured in Yellowstone National Park shows a toddler and accompanying adult approaching a grazing bison to within mere feet. Newsweek contacted Yellowstone National Park for comment via online form on Friday. Why It Matters In a previous statement to Newsweek, a Yellowstone National Park spokesperson said: "Visitors should never approach wildlife. The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be." What To Know Retired professional Ohio photographer Jennifer Gunderson posted the footage she had taken of the incident on her Instagram account, which has since had over 17,000 likes. Filmed near Pebble Creek, the video reveals a child walking with an adult towards the enormous animal. Gunderson captioned the video, dated June 2: "Never in a million years did we think we would witness such stupidity. EVERYONE INCLUDING US TOLD THEM TO GET BACK BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING. OTHERS CALLED PARK RANGER AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. WARNINGS ARE POSTED THROUGHOUT THE PARKS AND IN LITERATURE TO STAY BACK FROM WILDLIFE." Gunderson used the hashtag #touronsofyellowstone. Touron is a portmanteau of the words "tourist" and "moron" to describe tourists flirting with danger in pursuit of the perfect photo. Genetically pure bull American bison on March 2, 2025 in Yellowstone National Park. Genetically pure bull American bison on March 2, 2025 in Yellowstone National commented that the pair were "close enough to spit" on the bison. Speaking to the U.K. newspaper The Independent, which called the incident "shocking," Gunderson said: "I was shocked that people would get that close to a wild animal let alone bring small children with them." Gunderson and her husband, both experienced hunters, understand the importance of maintaining safe distances from large wild animals, as bison are unpredictable and capable of charging without warning. According to National Park Service (NPS) guidelines, visitors must keep at least 25 yards from bison. Violating this rule not only risks triggering a potentially deadly charge but may also lead to serious legal consequences. Although no one was injured in this instance, earlier this week, a man was gored by a bison at the park after a group of tourists encroached on its space, as reported by The Associated Press. The 30-year-old man from New Jersey sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene, the park reported. His name and condition were not released, and the incident remains under investigation. In May, a 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Florida, was also injured in a similar encounter near Lake Village. In 2024, at least two people were gored by bison in the park, including an 83-year-old woman from South Carolina who was seriously hurt. Another woman from Arizona was also gored in 2023. What People Are Saying Gunderson said she heard shouting as several parents with small children made their way towards the bison, telling The Independent: "We also shouted with the others, but none of these families responded and kept getting closer. The people next to me were on the phone with park services, so I decided to start recording in case of an incident and evidence was needed." Park guidelines state: "The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Touron' sparks outrage after walking toddler up to wild bison inside Yellowstone National Park: ‘I was shocked'
A tourist has sparked outrage after being filmed walking up to a wild bison in Yellowstone National Park and taking a small child with them. The shocking incident was captured on video, with users accusing the person of child endangerment. A woman wearing a pink hat walks alongside the toddler as they approach the enormous animal, which is grazing by the side of the road. The National Parks Service requires visitors to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from all wildlife, including bison, elk, and deer. The individuals reportedly had ignored the signs posted around the park and the warnings of multiple people. Jennifer Gunderson, a retired professional photographer from Northwood, Ohio, who filmed the incident, said the tourist and the child were 'close enough to spit' on the bison, adding that 'never in a million years' had she witnessed 'such stupidity.' She told The Independent that she and her husband had been having lunch at the Pebble Creek picnic area, when they heard shouting and saw a few parents with small children making their way towards a bison. 'We also shouted with the others but none of these families responded and kept getting closer,' she said. 'The people next to me were on the phone with park services so I decided to start recording in case of an incident and evidence was needed.' Gunderson and her husband are hunters, and so are familiar with the safe distances needed around larger wildlife. In addition, she said, they had planned their 20th anniversary vacation celebration for Yellowstone and had seen similar videos of tourists approaching bison. 'We have watched and followed the Tourons of Yellowstone Instagram account and shaken our heads at some of the things posted. Never in our wildest dreams would we witness it in person,' she told The Independent. 'I was shocked that people would get that close to a wild animal let alone bring small children with them.' The word 'touron' – combining tourist and moron – refers to someone who ignores the dangers around them while on vacation. According to the National Parks Service a fully grown male bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, while a female can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They can be aggressive, are agile and can run up to 30 miles an hour. Though neither the tourist or the child were hurt, cases of animal attacks are common in Yellowstone. On Tuesday tourist was gored after 'a large group of visitors approached it too closely,' park officials said. The 30-year-old man, from Randolph, New Jersey, sustained minor injuries and received treatment at the scene, according to park officials.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Toddler-wielding Yellowstone tourists do most idiotic thing imaginable upon seeing 1,000 pound BISON
A shocking video shows moms with toddlers recklessly approaching a 1,000-pound bison in Yellowstone, ignoring multiple warning signs. One mother is seen holding her toddler's hand as she casually strolls past a large 'Road Closed' sign and makes a beeline for the bison, apparently trying to give her child a closer look at the hulking beast. She's flanked by two other women, also with small children in tow—who hover dangerously close to the unpredictable animal. The alarming scene was filmed by Jennifer Gunderson, a photographer visiting the park with her husband Rob to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. 'Rob and I pulled into Pebble Creek picnic area—which was formerly a campground closed due to severe flooding in 2022. We were about to have our lunch when we heard shouting,' she told 'We looked over to the gate and saw a few parents with small children making their way towards a bison. We also shouted with the others, but none of these families responded and kept getting closer.' 'The people next to me were on the phone with park services, so I decided to start recording in case of an incident and evidence was needed.' Jennifer, who has been a professional photographer for over 40 years, said her background in nature and wildlife made the incident all the more jarring. 'To be honest, I was shocked that people would get that close to a wild animal—let alone bring small children with them,' she said. 'Since we started planning this trip three years ago, we researched safe distances from large wildlife. 'We've followed the 'Tourons of Yellowstone' Instagram account and shook our heads at some of the things posted. 'Never in our wildest dreams did we think we'd witness it in person.' Jennifer said she and Rob have always loved landscape and wildlife photography. 'We planned this trip as our anniversary celebration for Grand Tetons and Yellowstone,' she explained. 'Last time I was in Yellowstone was 1976.' Though no one was injured in the bison encounter, it could have ended very differently. The footage has sparked fresh calls for better education - and harsher penalties - for tourists who put their children, and Yellowstone's animals, at risk. This comes just after a New Jersey man was gored by a Yellowstone bison—the second person this year to feel the wrath of the massive beasts after getting too close. The 30-year-old, from Randolph, was attacked just before 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Upper Geyser Basin, not far from Old Faithful, after he and a group of tourists approached the animal. It charged and struck him, leaving him with minor injuries. He was transported by emergency personnel for treatment, and the incident remains under investigation. It marked the second goring of 2025. On May 4, a 47-year-old Florida man was also gored after approaching a bison. In 2024, two more people were injured by bison, including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was tossed into the air after getting caught in a bison's horns. There was one goring in 2023, and two in 2022—each a stark warning that Yellowstone's wildlife is anything but tame.
