OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
A Yellowstone National Park tourist learned an expensive lesson after taunting a bull elk from his vehicle. The elk rammed the vehicle and popped one of his tires.
“You wanna fight?” the tourist is heard saying to the elk. “Watch out buddy,” he continued, egging on the animal.
“You want go, bud?” the man says.
The elk lowers its head and plows its antlers. The tire hisses and deflates.
Warning: There is vulgar language toward the end of the video.
From USA Today:
While the footage is at least 11 months old, the K2 Radio post is circulating via social media and was shared Tuesday by Deby Dixon, a photographer who specializes in Yellowstone wildlife.
“I see so many park visitors taunting the wildlife with their vehicles, whether following the animals or stopping right next to them,” Dixon wrote on Facebook. “The man driving this car was verbally challenging the bull, not that his words made any difference, it was his actions by stopping the animal’s path. But, the bull gets the last word!”
On a serious note, Dixon added: “I think that most people are just so excited to see wildlife up close that they don’t realize how they might be upsetting or challenging and animal.
“So, I encourage you to think about how it would feel if someone pulled up next to you, blocked your path and put a camera in your face.”
