Custer State Park Buffalo

[avalen]

saw this video from back in 2010, makes me think twice about safety.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo33YUVM ... ture=share

[grammynmaggie]

Wonderful!!!

[retiredhappy]

Okay, let me see; you're driving something that is really, really loud and you don't expect it to upset or frighten any animal let alone a buffalo especially when you're within about ten feet of the animal??????

I still wouldn't be afraid in my car.

[Redwahine]

What a great tour!! Thanks for sharing.

[dpf]

I agree with Karen. Even though buffalo in the Black Hills reside in a highly traveled tourist area they are still wild animals. It is ridiculous that people tend to swarm their turf with cars and loud motorcycles or try to get too close to them to take a picture and not expect them to react. They are protective of their herd. The incident in the video happens frequently during the Sturgis Rally which also falls during mating season when the bulls are a little randy and many of the cows have young calves they protect. While buffalo are huge and appear to be cumbersome animals, they are extremely fast and can run for miles without tiring. Another thing that seems to amaze tourists is that the begging jackasses in Custer State Park will bite! They’re used to hand outs and when they don’t get one sometimes they will become a little aggressive. Our friends had teeth marks in the steering wheel to prove it.

[cpatinjones]

Nice area.

[retiredhappy]

Yep, I love the donkeys, too. They do expect to be fed. I get out of my car to feed them rather than have them put their heads inside the car. If one gets too pushy I just push it away but then I've had a horse and been around a herd out in pasture while trying to catch mine. I posted a picture a long time ago of me appearing to be kissing one of the donkeys. Actually I was blowing in its nose to get it used to my scent. Usually calms them down.

[JudyJB]

I was told the cows are much more aggressive than the bulls because of their calves. I would never approach one on foot or in my own vehicle.

Also, even the little animals are dangerous. At Grand Canyon there are tons of signs about not feeding squirrels, but people do it anyway. I was sitting on a stone wall and was looking to my right when one climbed up my left leg and onto my lap. It was heading for my face when I threw it off. And I did not even have any food on me!

Many years ago I was bitten by a tame squirrel (long story), and I can confirm that their very sharp and long teeth can go down to bone. I was trying to put it back in its cage and it chomped down on the second knuckles of both hands. It was very painful and took along while to heal. Luckily, it had been in captivity long enough not to have any symptoms of rabies.