Baby Animals Venture Out at Yellowstone: A Cautionary Tale for Visitors

YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. (
KTVX
— When spring arrives at Yellowstone National Park, it signifies one thing: Newborn baby animals are beginning to explore and play outside.

Earlier this week, at Yellowstone National Park,
posted on social media
, welcoming its new inhabitants with multiple charming images of a young bison calf, an elk calf, marmot pups, and pronghorn fawns.

(Courtesy of: National Park Service)

However, despite the adorableness of the newborn animals, park authorities cautioned against letting
cuteness aggression
” take over.

Yellowstone National Park advised, “Make sure to provide space for wild creatures and utilize a telephoto lens.” They emphasized keeping a minimum distance of 100 yards from bears, wolves, and mountain lions, as well as maintaining at least 25 yards from all other animals like bison and elk. To get a better view, consider using binoculars, a spotting scope, or a zoom lens instead.”

Yellowstone, renowned for its iconic geysers, hosts a rich variety of wildlife within its boundaries. According to the national park’s webpage, approximately 300 bird species, 16 types of fish, five kinds of amphibians, six distinct reptilian species, and 67 mammalian species inhabit this area.

Every year, countless people visit Yellowstone to admire the animals amidst the park’s natural splendor. However, an annual occurrence sees several visitors getting hurt due to encounters with wild creatures.

Earlier this week,
A 30-year-old male from New Jersey sustained injuries due to an incident with a bison.
At Yellowstone National Park within the Upper Geyser Basin near Old Faithful, park authorities reported in a press statement that a crowd got excessively close to a bison, leading to an attack on a man. The individual suffered slight injuries and received treatment from healthcare providers.

Yellowstone mentioned that this was the second instance of a human being hurt by a bison in 2025. There were two similar occurrences documented in 2024 and one in 2023.

Yellowstone park authorities caution that wild creatures, particularly mothers accompanied by their offspring, can be highly erratic and perilous. They advise maintaining a secure gap between yourself and these animals at all times. “Being mindful of its requirements allows for greater observation of the creature’s typical actions,” they explain. Additionally, they emphasize that if your presence prompts an animal to relocate, this indicates you have approached too closely.”

Yellowstone warns guests that it is prohibited to deliberately stay close to or get nearer than a safe distance to wildlife, such as birds, which might disturb or displace the animals.

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