From the National Park Service
Bison are wild animals and can be dangerous if provoked. They can run up to 35 miles per hour and spin around faster than a horse.
- Always view them at a distance and give them the right-of-way if encountered on a trail or the road
- When bison are in the road, be patient, stay in your vehicle, and observe them quietly.
- On trails, make a big detour around them, move slowly, and avoid making loud noises.
- Keep dogs under control at all times; wild animals are often nervous when dogs are nearby and bison may charge if dogs are too noisy or too close.
- If a bison raises its tail, especially if the tail is straight up in the air, a charge may be imminent.
The video above is the perfect example of what NOT TO DO when around a bison. Notice the bison’s tail just before it attacks – the tail will rise straight up in the air like a flag. When you see a bison tail straight up in the air be warned – a charge is imminent.
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