If you encounter a wild animal, do not approach, feed, or touch it. Keep your distance, leave it room to move away, and back off if it comes closer. Then respond according to the species and what it is doing: advice for a bear, mountain lion, and bison is not interchangeable. This is a U.S. park-based guide; follow the current directions of local park staff or wildlife authorities.
What should you do first?
- Stop moving toward the animal. Do not try to touch it, feed it, or get closer for a photo.
- Give it space and an exit route. Move away calmly if it approaches, and do not block its path.
- Keep your group together. Keep children close, and do not get between an adult animal and its young.
- Notice what is happening. The right response depends on the species, whether it has noticed you, whether it is approaching or showing warning signs, and whether young or food may be nearby.
Wild animals can be dangerous even when they appear calm. Yellowstone National Park’s National Park Service Safety Press Kit puts it plainly: “The animals in Yellowstone are wild and dangerous, no matter how docile they may appear to be.”
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How much distance should you keep?
Follow the rules for the place you are visiting. Yellowstone’s published minimum distances are at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 yards (23 m) from other animals, including bison and elk. These are Yellowstone distances, not a universal rule for every park or species. If an animal comes closer, back away rather than trying to hold your ground at the minimum.
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If you are near a carcass, do not approach it. North Cascades National Park Service guidance specifically warns visitors to avoid recently killed or partially covered deer and elk.
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What should you do if you encounter a bear?
If the bear has not noticed you
Leave the area quietly without drawing its attention.
If you meet a bear at close range
Stay calm, speak in a calm, confident voice, and slowly back away. Do not run, make sudden movements, or throw food or belongings to distract it. Keep children close. Bear behavior varies by situation, so follow local bear-country instructions.
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If a bear charges or makes contact
In Yellowstone, the National Park Service advises visitors to keep their group together, back away slowly, and have accessible bear spray ready. Its guidance says to deploy the spray when a charging bear is 30–60 feet (9–18 m) away. Bear spray is for bear-country preparation; it is not an all-purpose response to wildlife.
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What should you do if you encounter a mountain lion?
Do not approach or run. Face the lion, stay standing, make yourself appear larger, and back away slowly. Keep children close; if possible, pick up a small child without crouching or turning away.
If the lion approaches aggressively, wave your arms, speak loudly, and throw objects within reach. If it attacks, fight back and try to remain standing.
What should you do if you encounter a bison?
Give the bison space; never approach it for a photograph. Yellowstone identifies head bobbing while staring, pawing, bellowing, and a raised tail as warning signs that a bison is too close and a charge may be imminent. Move away if you see these signs. If the bison follows, seek nearby cover, such as trees or cars.
What if you see wildlife while driving?
Do not stop in the roadway to watch. Yellowstone advises continuing to a safe paved pullout and viewing from inside the vehicle when appropriate. Follow staff directions.
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What should you do after a dangerous encounter?
Report a conflict or dangerous encounter to park staff or the responsible local authority. Yellowstone asks visitors to report bear conflicts promptly. Use the agency’s instructions for the location, since wildlife rules and recommended responses vary by species and place.
As a narrowly scoped example of risk, the National Park Service reported that bears injure an average of one person each year within Yellowstone National Park in its 2025 wildlife chapter. That figure applies to Yellowstone and bears there; it does not estimate the risk from a particular encounter or from wildlife in general.
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