Actually the image is very deceiving. It was taken with a telephoto which compressed the relative distance between the snow mobiles and the Bison. The Bison in Yellowstone like to walk along the road since it is much easier than walking through the deep snow. The snow mobiles are currently restricted from off road usage. So occasionally, they meet. The person in from is the guide. He turned off his machine as to not startle the bison. He's facing his group to insure they are all off to the far right on the road and to make sure they don't make any sudden movements.
In this image, the bison glanced to the left since we were in a vehicle behind it and it can't see behind it unless it turns it's head. We had just shut down our snow coach and I was hanging out the passenger side door to take this image. The herd cleared the snow mobiles about a minute later without passing closer than the width of the road from any snow mobile.
Guest
01-May-2006 11:21
Man and machine versus Bison--not smart, for many reasons. At least the second guy appears ready to move quickly. This kind of photo gives others the false impression that these animals are safe to be near. Not true.
