(Grand Teton National Park) – Luckily this tourist at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was not injured, gored or arrested. However, this man still got way too close to a moose foraging near a roadway in early May 2025.
In a short video posted by a passerby on the “Tourons of National Parks” Facebook page, you can hear a family discussing the man’s actions when the sound of a young child inquires, “is he too close?” A woman in the vehicle replies, “Yeah, you wanna stay at least 25 yards away.”
The reply was spot on, according to the Grand Teton National Park website a minimum distance of 25 yards is required. “In Grand Teton National Park, it’s recommended to maintain a safe distance of at least 25 yards from moose, as well as other wildlife like elk, to protect both yourself and the animals. This distance helps prevent any surprise encounters and allows the animals to feel comfortable in their natural habitat.”
While a charging moose is fairly rare, it is still very possible. Since 2017, Colorado has reported that 21 people were injured by “moose attacks.” In March of 2023, a woman was trampled by a moose while walking her dog in Teton Village. She sustained multiple rib fractures and a concussion. In 2022 an 89-year-old man was knocked down by a moose in Jackson causing a head injury. And in 2021, another dog-walker was surprised by a charging moose in Wilson, Wyoming. The man was treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries.
And while 25 yards is a good, MINIMAL, rule of thumb… the more the better when it comes to space for wild animals. One commenter on the Tourons of National Parks page noted, “An Alaska State Patrolman said he doesn’t get within 100 yards of a moose unless absolutely necessary. They’re very quick!.”
Finally to inject a quick writer of this article quip – if you’re putting yourself in a situation where you may have to get back into a car at rapid speed, flip flops might not be the best footwear choice.
Grand Teton National Park averages over 3 million visitors a year. The busiest year being 2021, when 3.9 million people came through one of America’s prettiest areas.
Some great tips for safe wildlife viewing at the park are provided by the GTNP folks here.