The Buffalo Song Could Be Wyoming’s Song Of The Summer

It's been an active year for tourism in Wyoming's National and State Parks, as well as National Monuments, National Forests, and other places where large animals live. With all of that tourism, there are bound to be accidents.

Some of those could've been avoided; others, not so much.

Either way, the warning is that these animals can be dangerous because they're wild, and you're in their house. If you get too close or mess with them and they react, you're probably going to make it into the headlines and possibly go viral, whether you like it or not.

If only there were rules in place to keep the public and the animals safe. Oh, wait, there are. The rules aren't to steal your fun away; they're there to keep you from looking like one of the infamous 'Tourons' that you hear so much about.

Honestly, the key rules are pretty simple to remember.

Keep your distance: Stay at least 25 yards away from most wildlife like bison and elk, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. If an animal changes its behavior, you are too close.

Do not feed or touch: Feeding or disturbing wild animals is illegal and dangerous. It ruins their natural habits and attracts them to roads or camps.

Use a zoom lens: View and photograph animals safely from afar using binoculars or a telephoto camera lens instead of approaching them.

I know bison look like cuddly, sweet, and sensitive creatures, but they're amazingly large beasts, which are currently in heat and looking for a mate to make sweet bison love with. Stay away.

I think I've found the 2026 song of the summer, from our friends in Texas at the Casprock Canyons State Park. Play it, put it on repeat, and share with your friends who are going to be visiting places where the mighty buffalo roam.