As Yellowstone National Park attracts tourists eager to soak in its majestic scenery, it also sees an unfortunate trend: visitors often overlook safety guidelines when encountering wildlife, earning themselves the moniker ‘tourons’—a blend of ‘tourists’ and ‘morons’ as coined by some Facebook users.
Phillipa Osborne, a recent visitor from the United Kingdom, shared her firsthand experiences witnessing such behavior during her trips to Yellowstone. Despite encountering wolves and grizzlies, Osborne emphasizes the importance of respecting the park’s rules and laws.
However, not all visitors share Osborne’s respect. She captured a photo showing tourists recklessly posing near a herd of elk, earning them the title of ‘tourons’ within the Facebook group ‘Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of the Idiots!’
Jen Minard, the group’s founder, stresses the importance of following park regulations and avoiding risky behavior like taking selfies with bison or attempting to transport wild animals.
The group, created in 2016, aims to raise awareness and provide a platform for sharing humorous anecdotes about tourist misadventures. Recent incidents, such as an intoxicated man kicking a bison shortly after the park reopened, highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring visitor safety and wildlife preservation.
Ralee Plunkett, a frequent park visitor, recalls witnessing tourists dangerously close to bison, emphasizing the need for responsible behavior.
Ultimately, posts like these serve as a lighthearted yet crucial reminder to respect the park’s rules, wildlife, and fellow visitors—a simple message summed up in one phrase: don’t be a touron.
