Watch Two Bison Running Wild Down a Yellowstone Highway and Right At a Parked Car

Want to see amazing wildlife? A visit to Yellowstone National Park is just the place to witness the splendor of American wildlife in person. The video below was captured by a couple of tourists who got a closer view than they expected of massive bison in the park.

See the Action-Packed Footage Below!

The footage begins with two bison running down a paved road in the park. There are a few cars stopped ahead of the videographer, who continues filming as the large animals continue running. As they get closer, the bison slow down but still don’t stop. One veers off to the shoulder. The other bison continues right for the car with the cameraman.

“Oh my gosh,” he says as the bison heads straight for the front of the car. Fortunately, the animal slows and stops before actually charging. He doesn’t seem threatened by the cars. Instead, the bison looks like he just wants to get through. He turns and viewers are treated to a profile view of one of the most iconic animals in Yellowstone National Park.

The man wisely stays in the car as the bison walks by. “Okay, thank you,” he says to the animal. What an amazing animal encounter! We’re guessing it was one of the highlights of the trip.

How Many Bison Live in Yellowstone National Park?

Since it was opened in 1872, Yellowstone has been famous for its wildlife, especially bison. The herd in the park is known as the Yellowstone bison herd and includes just under 6,000 animals. They have two main breeding areas in the park. Bison have been living in this area since prehistoric times, although their numbers dwindled at one point. Current conservation efforts focus on maintaining the herd as well as ensuring that they have the right habitat and conditions to continue their natural behaviors.

According to the National Park Service, 68 different species of mammals live within the boundaries of Yellowstone Park. This is the largest concentration of mammals within the 48 states in the continental U.S. Black bears, grizzlies, mountain lions, and wolves are some of the top predators. Elk, moose, deer, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep are ungulates similar to bison (although not typically as large). Beavers, squirrels, bats, and river otters are some of the smaller mammals.

Some roads in Yellowstone are only open in the summer and fall due to weather conditions. Snow and ice can cause road closures, so it’s important to check current conditions before you plan your visit. This video was captured when the roads and surrounding areas were clear.