Social media captures of droves of animals fleeing Yellowstone National Park have sparked a frenzy of worry, but officials say it’s ‘misinformation’
Animals ‘running away’ from Yellowstone National Park has sparked fears of a potential volcanic eruption (Image: AP / Hannah Schoenbaum)
One of America’s most incredible national parks is a place of amazing beauty and thousands visit every year, but social media has gone crazy with videos of packs of animals running away from Yellowstone.
It’s sparked fears of a pending volcano eruption as people question whether the animals know something that humans don’t.
Yellowstone National Park has a huge and varied range of animal life, mammals roam the park, hundreds of bird species soar over it – and the rivers support several fish species.
National and international visitors flock to the area in hope of spotting some of the amazing creatures that live there.
However, in recent days the natural habit seems to have gone a little off balance with animals high tailing it out of the zone – with some concerned that the super volcano within Yellowstone could be set to erupt.
One TikToker said buffalo were ‘leaving Yellowstone in huge numbers’ a comment response said ‘a major eruption of the Yellowstone volcano is anticipated’.
The north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the wild place has become busier as visitors flock to see where the TV series was filmed (Image: AP)
Footage has been captured at Yellowstone, appearing to show animals leaving the park in packs and herds.
Bison, elks, bears and other mammals seem to be desperately driven away, by an as yet unknown reason, appearing desperate to get away from the national park, but officials have now said that social media is spreading misinformation.
This had led to much speculation the massive volcano under the Yellowstone national park could be set to erupt – something that hasn’t happened for thousands of years, but would be catastrophic.
It comes as reports of geological changes at Yellowstone National Park are recorded. In one of the park’s basins, a hole has formed creating a thermal blue water spring.
The new hole is a result of a hydrothermal explosion, according to the United States Geological Survey – and would come about due to pressure changes that have changed liquid water to steam.
Yellowstone National Park’s extensive underground volcanic system includes a large magma chamber, the area is thoroughly monitored by the United States Geological Survey along with the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Experts suggest that animals leaving the park in their droves are simply following their seasonal migration pattern, but not everyone is convinced.
Other theories suggest mass human activity in the area could be making the animals move away – and of course the TV show Yellowstone will have prompted further tourism to the wild land.
A Facebook video share claims to show a group of mountain lions fleeing Yellowstone – and the national park is only home to about 40 of these wild cats.
However, the National Park Service has squashed the theory that animals are fleeing the park – speaking to ABC news, a spokesperson said ‘wildlife is not leaving Yellowstone National Park in large numbers’ adding that the rumour, and social media frenzy was inaccurate and untrue.