You can't fix stupid

Oh, I think that bison was getting ready to fix stupid.

There's a scary book called "Death in Yellowstone" that, among other things, tells about scary ways clueless people do themselves in while visiting. A similar one called "Over the Edge" tells similar tales from the Grand Canyon.

We'll be reading about her one day over at the Darwin Awards.

These folks make it hard on everyone else. In South Dakota, we were watching a herd of bison from a distance. Rangers were trying to get them to move in our direction for photos. Then a Japanese family drove past the no drive sign and got closer to the herd and then began moving on foot closer. That caused the herd to move in a different direction. We finally for the shots we wanted, but it took longer than necessary. The Japanese family never realized the danger they were placing themselves in by getting too close.

When I was in Yellowstone about four years ago we came up on a herd of Buffalo and stopped to take pictures. A Japanese tourist walked up to one and it started pawing the ground and snorting. I left. I didn't want to get blood on my truck.

What about the irresponsible parents who put their children on or next to a bear or bison? Park rangers have seen it all. As volunteers they tell their stories to us. There is nothing they have not seen.

People like that is what makes it hard for others. Animals are beautiful, but as the ranges says, enjoy them from a distance.

That is a disturbing thought.:E A friend worked at Yoho National Park. One day he observed a tourist trying to get a close up of a bear cub who wasn't being very cooperative. He yelled "Hey, what kind of flowers do you want for your funeral"? The guy turned to see momma gaining ground on him, he sprinted to his car and left. My friend later retrieved a very nice camera.

Even if he didn't survive, he's probably old enough to have reproduced already.

Too bad Darwin let this one survive.