A moose almost mowed down this visitor at a National Park.
Respect wildlife, or pay the price — some people find out the hard way.
On Instagram, Tourons of Yellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone) shared a shocking video of a tourist on the run after disturbing a mother moose and her calf.
“I caught some tourons on Antelope Flats Road in GTNP. A mama moose and her baby were chasing people getting too close,” a caption read.
The video shows a visitor sprinting through a field in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
A mother moose and her baby were not far behind, and they chased the tourist back to their car as other tourists stood around and took photos.
National park rules recommend that guests stay at least 75 feet away from moose and exercise extra caution when spotting a baby, as moose are extremely defensive of their calves.
Ignoring this rule puts visitors and the animal at risk of injury or death. Moose, which can weigh over 1,000 pounds, will charge when agitated and can easily trample anyone in their way.
Unfortunately, some people view wildlife as something to exploit for a photo, rather than beautiful creatures with which we coexist.
It’s important to remember that our national parks are a privilege, not a right. Although the parks are a fantastic form of recreation, their main functions are conservation, preservation, and education.
If we cannot learn to leave no trace, there may come a point where there’s nothing left of our parks and forests to enjoy.
Commenters couldn’t believe the tourist’s reckless behavior.
“What is wrong with just looking at the animals from a car window? The animals are beautiful, but I’m afraid of what they can do,” one user wrote.
“Don’t mess with Mama Moose,” another said.
“Yeah, you better run,” a third commented.
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