Frightening video shows tourist trip, fall while fleeing charging bison in Yellowstone
A frightening video shows a woman "playing dead" in order to protect herself from a pair of charging bison in Yellowstone National Park.
The video, which was shared July 17 on YouTube, has gained over 800,000 views as of Tuesday afternoon. The woman can be seen falling to the ground while her companion continues to run. While one bison pulls back, the other speeds up and then stops abruptly above her after she falls in the grass.
Onlookers repeatedly scream to "play dead" while the bison charges the woman and smells her as she lies on the ground for a few moments. A bystander is seen in the foreground attempting to grab a large stick, presumably to wield as a weapon against the animal.
The bison eventually runs away on its own and the woman's companion approaches and helps her up. The two of them then walk calmly away from the scene. She did not appear to be injured.
The woman who recorded the video said the incident happened near Nez Perce Creek, according to MTN News.
The National Park Service regularly warns visitors to stay away from bison.
"Bison are wild animals that respond to threats by displaying aggressive behaviors," the NPS said in a statement. "To be safe around bison, stay at least 25 yards away, move away if they approach, and run away or find cover if they charge."
Bison, the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America, can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and run as fast as 35 miles per hour, according to the NPS.
In June, a 72-year-old woman was injured by a bison at Yellowstone National Park while attempting to take photos of the animal.
