Yellowstone National Park is still doing a booming tourist business, with May of 2017 checking in as the second busiest May on record. This year, the park saw 419,627 visits down 5.6 percent from May 2016 of last year with a visit count of 444,630.  Park managers say May road closures due to snow and the end of the National Park Service Centennial year may have influenced visits, but many other factors may have played a part as well.

So far in 2017, the park has hosted 550,413 visits. That's down 7.3 percent from the same period in 2016, which was the highest on record. Still, the year-to-date visitation this year is some 28.7 percent higher than five years ago, in five years ago in 2013.

Officials say the high numbers of visitors underscores the importance for people planning to come to the park to plan ahead. They say visitors should also anticipate delays popular attractions check road conditions on the park’s website.

In addition, there have already been incidents of tourists being wounded by approaching the wild-life at close range. Visitors are required to remain at least 100 yards from bears or wolves, and at least 25 yards from all other wildlife.

You can find more safety information, as well as the "Yellowstone Pledge", on the park's website. 

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