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Global Newsphere > Travel > What to Do If You See Wildlife in National Parks
What to Do If You See Wildlife in National Parks
Travel

What to Do If You See Wildlife in National Parks

July 19, 2025 10 Min Read
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Summer was the busiest season for many of the US 433 National Park Service, which welcomed a record 332 million visitors in 2024, running, hiking, paddle and circulating over 85 million acres of wild and scenic landscapes.

Most of these visitors’ wish lists offer glimpses of grizzly bears, bison, bald eagles, crocodiles, mousse, or other iconic species. Research published in May 2025 edition Conservation and science practice The journal found that 77% of visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park cited seeing wildlife as the main reason for their trip.

Wildlife watching has always been a major motivation for national park visits, but it has grown in popularity in part due to social media trends and constantly reasonable camera technology. Its growth also brings more opportunities for conflict between humans and animals, and sometimes tragic results.

Two Yellowstone people were injured by bison in two separate incidents this summer.

The Yellowstone black bear was euthanized by park officials on July 11 after a series of unusual incidents at a backcountry campground in the north of the park. The bear crushed the unopened tent, and after four days he climbed the pole, ripped a properly stored food bag to reach human food.

“We go very long to protect bears and to prevent human food from being accessible in every part of the park,” says Kelly Gunther, Bear Management Biologist at Yellowstone. “But sometimes, bears either cover us or overcome our defense. When that happens, we sometimes have to make the difficult decision to remove the bear from the population to protect people and property.”

Knowing what to do (or not) is key to staying safe around wildlife and ensuring that your actions do not harm the very animals you travel to to see. There are a few mistakes to avoid.

Do not induce animals for better viewing angles or photo reactions

Mouthing, screaming, or waving can look aggressive, causing the animal to escape or recharge.

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Don’t assume you can escape from animals or overtake wildlife that appear slow, slow, or indifferent

Running can trigger a hunting response, and predators will chase you. What’s more, it’s very unlikely to overtake most wild mammals, predators, or anything else.

“The bison will be more threatened than other animals, including the Grizzly Bears, and protect their space when more people are injured in Yellowstone,” says Yellowstone spokesperson Linda Veles. “They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”

“One thing visitors don’t realize is that whenever bison or other animals are approaching them, they have to stay away to maintain these safe viewing distances,” Veress said. Slowly leave the animal, avoiding direct eye contact.

Don’t get too close (or too long)

Some people often get too close to a better view of wildlife to capture selfies. Or they remain in the same place as the animal approaches, or they stand with their backs facing a selfie. All of these are mistakes that could end up with a violent clash with an angry elk, an annoyed bison, or a Mad Moose.

Yellowstone regulations require you to stay at least 75 feet from large wildlife and 300 feet from wolves, cougars and bears. “Zoom with your lens, not your feet” is a common advice in national parks across the country.

Do not treat or touch wildlife, even if the animal appears to be approaching you or “friendly”

They also need to keep their distance even if the animal appears to be “suffering.” For example, the Mojave Desert turtle (described as endangered by California) spends most of the year underground in places like Joshua Tree National Park. However, in spring or fall, people may move between humans while they are searching for food, water or companions, says Kelly Herbinson, executive director of the non-profit Mojave Desert Land Trust.

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“They’re curious and even get closer to people, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel stressed out about your presence,” says Harbinson.

Don’t be surprised by the wildlife

Unexpected interaction with wildlife can be a disaster recipe. Even seemingly submissive animals like elk and moose can go wild, especially if they feel threatened with food and offspring.

“These majestic animals are wild, live in the wild, and are not aware of your presence or ti disease,” says Mike Keller, general manager of Yellowstone at Xanterra Travel Collection, the country’s largest state and national park concession.

“A simple “nudge” from bison, elk, moose, or other animals can have devastating consequences for humans,” he says.

Some hikers rock the jingle as they walk, informing the animals of their presence. Others smack or scream “Hey, bear” or “Oops, moose” when they enter thick forests or round their blind corners. The key is to recognize your surroundings, see where you go, and not wear headphones that block sounds around you.

Do not let your pets go from the chains or get away from wildlife

Your Chihuahuas may look like coyote prey, but your Rottweiler may terrorize a yellow-bellied marmot. Allowing pets to run freely is generally in violation of national park regulations and can result in dead pets, dead wildlife, fines and citations.

Do not feed wildlife or leave food or trash in places that are accessible to animals

The National Park Service has a long history of complex messages about wildlife feeding. A century ago, they either fed or tolerated black bears in parks such as Crater Lake and Yosemite. By 1944, however, agents were circulating guidance through pop culture, including Donald Duck comic strips against these practices.

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Ashley Hobbs, a biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Board, says Black Bears around Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Asheville are at risk for vehicles and other hazards when digging for garbage or when people feed them.

These bears “start searching for these foods as more frequent, accessible and high-calorie food sources,” says Hobbs. “This brings bears close to humans, and interacts with more humans, and once again puts humans, pets and bears at risk.”

Hobbs said black bear research on the Great Smokies shows that human food can alter the bear’s reproductive cycle, gut microbiome, and other biological processes. Therefore, make sure your food and trash are fixed and out of reach of animals.

All unattended food and aromatic items, including cosmetics, toothpaste and other toiletries, should be removed from the tent and trapped in a car or in a canister or food locker that can withstand the bears offered at the campsite. Backcountry campers should hang food at least 15 feet from the ground and 10 feet from the tree trunks and support poles.

But it’s not just bears and food that park visitors need to notice. To keep an extra distance, consider protecting something with a strong scent from curious animals. In June, Grand Teton officials issued warnings that the fox suspected of stealing 19 shoes and boots from a far-flung campsite. Campers were warned against leaving their footwear outside their tents to avoid accustoming the foxes to humans.

It may all seem like a lot of hassle, but remember, it’s for everyone’s safety and happiness. If that’s not a good reason, consider that marshmallows, mozzarella cheese sticks and macarons are just as unhealthy as humans, at least for black bears, beavers and bobcats.

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