Why do people like to visit U.S. national parks? Some enjoy long hikes to marvel at beautiful landscapes, while others do so to spend a night in nature in one of the many campgrounds scattered across the country. Yet, many choose to visit U.S. parks to observe the majestic animals living in these protected areas in their natural habitat.

However, while some respect these creatures, others don't. People need to follow plenty of rules when encountering animals, such as keeping the recommended safe distance and avoiding all kinds of interactions. Unfortunately, many simply ignore these regulations. This is exactly what happened in Yellowstone National Park when a family caused a scene just to observe one of the many bears living in the area.

Visitors Get Stuck After Pulling Off The Road To See A Bear

Yellowstone National Park is the natural habitat of various animals, from bears to bison and wolves. Plenty of people visit this park to observe one of these wonderful creatures up close, yet this is against the park's rules.

A recent post on the popular Instagram page Tourons Of Yellowstone shows a car being stuck near a road and getting towed out in Lamar Valley. The post reads:

Some tourons getting towed out of Lamar Valley. They pulled off the road like that on purpose to see a bear.

The family decided to drive away from the main road and park their car in the middle of unspoiled nature just to observe a bear. As a result, a tow truck had to reach the vehicle to remove it, blocking part of the road, and leading to temporary congestion. Obviously, the irresponsible behavior was harshly criticized by plenty of people online.

What Did Users Say?

Thousands of people liked the post, and many left a comment. Some simply asked themselves how someone might think this is acceptable, while others suggested the towing bill will probably be very expensive.

Several users also pointed out that whoever was in the car should receive a high fine on top of the towing bill, while others shared similar situations they had witnessed in the past. For instance, user picky_traveler pointed out:

I saw people jumping out of their vehicles in Rocky Mountain National Park to see a mama bear and her twin cubs and chasing them to "get better pictures". I was shocked the mama didn't attack any of them. It's like people have ZERO clue that there's a reason for the saying a woman is a "mama bear" when it comes to their kid(s).

Unfortunately, these sorts of behaviors are very common at Yellowstone National Park. For instance, last month, a visitor was caught tasting the thermal water, while a person who was responsible for flying a drone into an osprey nest, allegedly returned to break more rules.

Yellowstone National Park Vehicle Rules

First and foremost, it's important to remember that visitors are asked to keep a safe distance from all wildlife. According to Yellowstone National Park's official website, this should be 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 yards from all other animals, including bison and elk.

The park also has rules concerning vehicles. According to regulation 36 CFR §4.10(a), traveling off-road by vehicle is prohibited. The same can be said for bikes and people visiting the area on foot. Don't leave the road or boardwalk if you want to ensure you aren't breaking any law.

This is crucial for the safety of all visitors, since some animals can be very dangerous when disturbed, and thermal waters can lead to severe burns, sometimes leading to death. In addition, it's important to remember that U.S. national parks are now dealing with a severe staffing shortage. According to official data, the NPS now has slightly more than half its usual seasonal staff. This means that rangers and park workers are often overworked, so visitors should try their best to avoid causing unnecessary problems.

Everyone heading to Yellowstone or any other U.S. national park is advised to check all the park's rules before visiting.