Naïve Yellowstone National Park tourists were slammed online after posting a video of a 'dancing' bison, as experts reveal the animal was getting ready to attack the unsuspecting onlookers.
The footage of the leaping horned beast, posted on Facebook by Jake Slater, went viral after the giggling tourists came face to face with the animal.
But the group were slammed for naively getting too close to the visibly irritated bison.
'That bison was not performing except to demonstrate his agitation. They are so fast, and these people were way too close,' ecologist, author and bison advocate George Wuerthner told Cowboy State Daily.
'This bison could have easily plowed into the tourists.'
Yellowstone sees around at least four million tourists every year, as park services repeatedly warn visitors to steer clear from wildlife.
In the viral footage of the 'dancing' bison, the only thing separating the tourists and the dangerous beast was a small wooden fence lining the boardwalk.
'If a bison's agitated, a road or boardwalk isn't going to stop it from charging,' Wuerthner said. 'Standing on a boardwalk is a false sense of security.'
Tourists who captured footage of a 'dancing' bison were slammed after experts revealed the bison was preparing to charge the unsuspecting group
So far this year, two people have been injured after getting too close to a bison in Yellowstone National Park
Video showed the bison running toward the group before he began snorting and tossing his head around while bouncing across the grass.
'It was getting ready to charge,' Wuerthner continued. 'That's the bull saying, "I'm trying to show you what a strong guy I am, and you better watch out."'
Many comments agreed with Wuerthner and blasted the tourists for getting so close and believing the wooden fence would keep the angry beast at bay.
'I think it's funny people say he'll jump the fence. He could just bulldozer it like a match stick house. No jumping needed. It's even funnier that people think they are safe behind it,' one commenter pointed out.
Others said the bison's behavior wasn't difficult to decode as aggressive and took the opportunity to remind others of the dangers of encountering wildlife in such a way.
'He's not being cute..... he's giving a warning to get to gettin gone or I am smashing through that little fence,' one wrote.
'He's mad and he's letting them know! Don't push him. This is no joke,' another warned.
'[I] saw someone tease a bull buffalo once, he was so mad, he tried to lift the gate off with his horns. Not funny! I headed for the van, I knew the repercussions had guy not stopped.'
Another recalled a story of how such an encounter can end disastrously, as they wrote: 'A few years ago a bison crashed through the fence and hit a woman who then had to be airlifted to a hospital! These amazing creatures are not something to be toyed with!!'
'That bison was not performing except to demonstrate his agitation. They are so fast, and these people were way too close,' ecologist, author and bison advocate George Wuerthner (pictured) said
Video showed the bison running toward the group before he began snorting and tossing his head around while bouncing across the grass
Many comments agreed with Wuerthner and blasted the tourists for getting so close and believing the wooden fence would keep the angry beast at bay
While they were originally laughing, the tourists in the video suddenly realized how the interaction with the beast presented very serious danger as the bison began to snort.
Their laughter and giddiness at the sight of the bison quickly descended into exclamations of wariness, as two could be heard saying, 'I'm not comfortable.'
'"I'm not comfortable" like he cares bro. You put yourself on his territory,' one commenter bluntly pointed out. 'You were fixin to get flattened the moment you decided to exit your vehicle.'
Wuerthner said environments such as Yellowstone often leaves tourists and visitors with the mistaken belief that they are in 'safe spaces.'
'People in Yellowstone will stay on the roads and act like it's human territory,' he told the outlet.
'They act like that bison and grizzlies know they're not supposed to go on the road, and there is an imaginary sense of safety.'
While there have only been two fatal bison accidents reported, according to Cowboy State Daily, there have been many instances of severe injuries after close encounters with the beast.
In May earlier this year, a 47-year-old Florida man was gored by a bison after he approached it too closely, according to the National Park Service.
The tourist's laughter and giddiness at the sight of the bison quickly descended into exclamations of wariness, as two could be heard saying, 'I'm not comfortable'
'People tend to look at the wildlife in Yellowstone like they would if they were at a zoo,' Wuerthner said
A tourist from New Jersey was also gored by a bison in June, marking the second incident so far this year.
'People tend to look at the wildlife in Yellowstone like they would if they were at a zoo,' Wuerthner added.
'Those animals are accustomed to people, but that doesn't negate their natural, wild tendencies. And in their wild conditions, Yellowstone's wildlife will react differently than an animal in the zoo.'
Some commenters theorized that one member of the group's hat, a white and grey furry trapper hat, resembled that of a wolfs fur and stirred the bison to feel threatened.
'[The bison] immediately started tracking the guy in the fur hat as soon as he passed him. Probably trying to figure out what kind of predator "wolf like creature that walks on two legs" and could it be a threat. I wouldn't trust the boardwalk regardless,' one commenter said.
Another suggested: 'I think I would've removed that hat that made you look like another animal!'
'The bison probably feels threatened by the guy with the fur hat he looks like another creature lol why did these people get so close do they not understand what the word wild means?' one added.
While the bison's hops and erratic behavior could be construed as playful, Wuerthner believes the clearest sign that the animal was unhappy was its tail.
Some commenters theorized that one member of the group's hat, a white and grey furry trapper hat, resembled that of a wolfs fur and stirred the bison to feel threatened
While the bison's hops and erratic behavior could be construed as playful, Wuerthner believes the clearest sign that the animal was unhappy was its rigid and raised tail
'When bison are agitated, their tails are held out straight,' he said. 'That's a sign that you've got to be careful. He was really upset.'
Wuerthner said that an incident such as this one is a stark reminder for tourists to be wary of wildlife, especially when such a large and muscular animal is showing clear signs of aggression.
'People have this sense that bison are like cows in a pasture, but more people get hurt from bison than from bears or any other animals in Yellowstone,' Wuerthner said.
'That's partly because people underestimate how bison will react when they approach and how quickly they can respond.'