'It never ends well': DWR shares tips for keeping distance from bison at Antelope Island
ANTELOPE ISLAND, Utah (ABC4) — With summer in full swing, Utahns are being warned to give Antelope Island’s iconic bison plenty of space.
Antelope Island is famed for holding one of the nation’s largest and oldest public bison herds. After their calves are born in the Spring, the total bison population on the island can exceed 700, bringing in visitors across the country.
However, there have been multiple instances of injury after visitors got too close and were charged by wildlife. While these cases are rare, the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is offering tips so people can avoid finding themselves in similar circumstances.
Photo Courtesy: Department of Wildlife Resources
“There is a common misconception that because big game animals like bison and moose aren’t predators, that they aren’t dangerous,” DWR Once-in-a-lifetime Species Coordinator Rusty Robinson said. “In reality, both of these species can be quite aggressive if you get too close.”
DWR advises that if a bison stops what it’s doing and starts paying attention to you, that is an indicator that you are too close. If you are on the trail, back away slowly and return the way you came. DWR added that it is okay to go off-trail if your safety is at risk.
If you come across a bison in the middle of a roadway, wait for it to pass. Do not get out of your vehicle. If it’s on the roadside, it’s okay to drive past slowly. However, it is important to note that bison require a wide berth.
“We’ve got trail restrictions on Antelope Island in the backcountry, but safety trumps those rules,” Pittz said. “If you are in the backcountry hiking and you come across any wildlife that’s in your path, we urge you to travel around it, even if that means leaving the trail. Whatever distance you think you should remain from the animal, double it. That’s how far away you should stay from bison.”
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