Yellowstone National Park – Wilderness Camping

Publication date: 08/21/2010

Camping in Yellowstone National Park can be a very exciting way to see nature up close. It can also be a safe adventure if you follow some fairly simple guidelines. Bears aren’t the only camp visitors to prepare for. Many people don’t realize that the 2,000-pound behemoths we call bison are also dangerous. American bison The sight of an American bison or buffalo grazing within sight of a steam vent is one of the most amazing natural sights to witness. These creatures, along with other ungulates including deer, elk, moose, and pronghorn, are abundant in many areas of the Northern Rockies, including Yellowstone. Seeing a bison with its primal furry appearance and huge head with horns on top seems to transport you back to a time before European explorers, when perhaps tens of millions of these creatures ruled the plains.

When you see a bison at your campsite or anywhere people frequent, they seem pretty harmless. They usually move through these areas quite slowly and are often lying down. The natural human reaction is to want a closer look, especially if you have your camera. I have witnessed people send their children walking to a resting buffalo for a photo shoot. This is a dangerously bad idea. Once a bison gets to its feet, you can’t outrun it and when it catches you, it will throw you off or gore you. A bison’s hooves are as deadly as its horns. The danger of being gored or trampled is terribly greater than most people realize. The best thing you can do is keep your distance. Never approach a bison if the animal appears agitated (pounding hooves or bobbing its head up and down) or backs away with quick movements. Generally, if we leave the bison alone, they will give us the same courtesy.

Bears

It’s a very rare and desperate situation when a bear purposefully chases a human, but in light of the recent fatal bear attacks near Yellowstone, a little extra caution wouldn’t hurt. Bears generally stay away from people unless they have been exposed to human food. Each campground in Yellowstone has specific, well-posted rules about food storage. All food and food products must be locked up in a hard-walled vehicle, in one of the lock boxes provided, or hung at least ten feet from a tree branch. Toiletries, toothpaste, water, dog food, soap, and just about anything else that came out of the car needs to be put back in the car when not in use. As an added precaution, seal these items in a plastic zipper bag before putting them back in the vehicle—the more layers between the item and the teddy, the better. Campers should be vigilant when cleaning up after dinner and checking for debris of any kind that may have fallen on the ground. Of course, nothing goes with you in the store except bedding. Even water bottles, which can come into contact with other food products, must remain in the car. Bears are not attracted to our food because they are bears, bears are attracted to our food because of how it smells. Bears have a highly developed sense of smell, and a camp full of human food is like ringing the dinner bell for a hungry bear. Think about how strong the smell of fried bacon is. Now imagine how a bear, with a nose more sensitive than a dog’s, would react to that smell, especially a sow with hungry cubs.

bear spray

One of the most important precautions to take in bear country is carrying bear pepper spray. Regular pepper spray is not enough; it will only aggravate the bear. Take bear spray with you to the store at night and make sure you know how to use it.

Visiting the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, or any of the other parks where wild creatures reside can be an exciting and memorable journey. It is up to us as humans to ensure our own safety in wild places and to ensure that animals stay safe and wild. This is our responsibility as guardian species of the earth. If we treat wilderness with care and respect, it will remain for future generations to enjoy for years to come.