TouronsOfYellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone), an Instagram community devoted to highlighting bothersome tourist behavior in Yellowstone National Park ("Tourist + Moron = Touron"), posted a video of a man ignoring the rules and certain danger by entering a restricted area at a hot spring to take photos.
One Instagrammer thought he "should be arrested and banned from the parks."
Not only was the tourist in question putting himself in danger, but he could have put the ecosystem in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, visitors to U.S. National Parks are frequently caught on camera entering restricted areas or attempting to interact with wild animals with no regard for rules, safety, or the protected environments and creatures.
People who choose to ignore the rules can cause significant harm to the park's delicate ecosystems. National parks are protected areas in part because they contain vulnerable habitats, historical sites, or endangered wildlife that, if not preserved, may cease to exist.
Straying from designated pathways can lead to habitat destruction that can threaten the plants and animals that call the area home. These violations can also cause damage to historical sites that often cannot be repaired to their original state.
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When wild animals are directly involved, incidents can quickly become dire. Tourists are sometimes so determined to get a picture with wildlife that they come too close and violate the animals' space. If the animal feels threatened, it can attack the visitor and cause injury or even death. Provoked or unprovoked, animals that injure humans are often euthanized.
When one visitor ignores park rules, it can encourage others to follow by example, potentially leading to further risk and damage.
When visiting national parks and other protected areas, it is important to stay on designated pathways and observe nature from a respectful distance. This helps protect us and the animals and environments we are fortunate enough to visit and enjoy. Following the rules helps preserve these magnificent places for future visitors.
TouronsOfYellowstone followers had a lot to say about the man who invaded the hot spring.
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Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Definitely 👍 "Why can't people just follow simple instructions?" wondered one. "Stay out! Stay off! Do not enter!"
Another Instagrammer simply stated, "Yellowstone is being ruined."
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