Tourists were filmed walking towards a female bear and her cubs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming last Saturday.
According to Global News, South Carolina resident William Brice Spencer filmed the scene while vacationing in the area. The man was far from the animals, but the tourists didn’t match him.
Tourists ran towards the bear and her cubs at full speed. A man carried a child in his arms and ran towards the animal. The three bears fled as the runners approached.
A parking attendant immediately intervened and told visitors to return to their vehicles. Yellowstone National Park requires visitors to keep a distance of 23 meters from wildlife.
According to Parks Canada, you should never walk towards a bear or the animal may decide to target you. It is all the more dangerous for a female and her young to do this as they may be motivated by a protective maternal instinct.
According to ABC News, Yellowstone park officials last June urged visitors to refrain from approaching wild animals because tourists became too comfortable with the species. In May, a video of a woman trying to take a selfie near an adult bison.