VIDEO: Vintage Footage of Bison Throwing Tourist Into Tree Shows Things Never Change

A snippet of old camcorder footage uploaded to the official YellowstoneNPS Youtube channel serves as a dramatic reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe distance from bison.  In addition, it's a reminder that the occasional, well, stupidity demonstrated by recent tourists to the park is nothing new. 

As the YellowstoneNPS channel points out, "this visitor got way too close to a bull bison. His vacation was seriously interrupted by a trip to the hospital. Stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk, and other wildlife, except bears. You must remain over 100 yards away from bears to be safe."

The video shows how effortlessly a bison can toss an adult man seven or eight feet in the air.  And while the man survived (though he had to go to the hospital), it was a decidedly less relaxing Yellowstone vacation than if he had stayed the requisite distance away from a short-tempered creature that weighs a ton and is armed with sharp horns.  

There's nothing wrong with photographing the bison - in fact, seeing some of North America's last pure-bred bison still living in their natural habitat is a great reason to take pictures.  But there's a reason why cameras and cell phones come with zoom functions - get that photo from a distance.  

See the whole video below, and be warned that though it is not graphic, some sensitive viewers may find it disturbing.