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The author, Miles Mathis, June 2, 2023, discusses public reactions to a video of a woman taking a selfie with a bison. He notes that most people are condemning her for breaking rules and endangering herself, even wishing harm upon her. However, Mathis’s perspective is that the bison seemed calm, indicating it approached her and was not threatened. He suggests that the public’s outrage is fueled by a fear of everything and perhaps a dislike of “pretty white women.” He also posits that the online comments might be fabricated by Langley or bots for propaganda purposes.
He then references a reader’s observation that the video appears to be a composite, with signs of digital tampering. Regardless, Mathis argues that instead of punishing the woman, Yellowstone should implement better safety measures to protect visitors from their own naivete.
He presents another incident where Asian tourists on a walkway were approached by a bison. While acknowledging one tourist’s foolishness in reaching out a hand, Mathis questions why the park allows walkways so close to wildlife without protection. He believes the park itself is endangering visitors by not providing adequate preparation or protection, creating a dangerous environment between a zoo and a sanctuary. He suggests installing fences as a priority.
Mathis also recounts a story about a man fined for saving a bison calf from a creek, only for the calf to be killed by rangers. He doubts the official story of euthanization, suggesting it’s a fabricated tactic to deter public interaction, and argues that the calf would have been valuable as a food animal.
He concludes that these stories appear to be a manufactured propaganda campaign by Yellowstone to manage an overwhelming number of tourists, especially following 2022 flooding that reduced usable park areas. The park’s administration, he suggests, is prioritizing economic gain from tourism over visitor safety by avoiding costly measures like fences and instead opting for public service announcements that demonize tourists. He notes that Yellowstone saw around five million visitors in 2021, generating significant economic activity.
Finally, Mathis offers a personal public service announcement, recommending a Youtube video of red pandas eating snacks as a mood booster.