It can be hard to believe that a safe distance is as much about the animal’s welfare as it is about yours, but it’s true. Getting too close, feeding, and touching are all things that can put you and your furry, feathered, or scaled counterpart in grave danger. While Rocky Mountain National Park is a conscientious partner for visitors, it also remains continuously committed to the protection and preservation of nature and wildlife.
Despite their good intentions, some visitors love park animals to death. As wildlife become used to humans and lose their natural fear, the animals become aggressive and may be destroyed. Although they may appear harmless and even curious about you, wildlife do injure visitors every year. That’s partly why approaching, harassing, or feeding any kind of wildlife, no matter how small or familiar, is illegal in all national parks.
We want all visitors to create lasting memories, so be safe and remember that distance always makes the heart grow fonder.
How close is too close?
What should you do if you meet a mountain lion?
What should you do if you meet a black bear?
What if I really want the perfect photo?
See our Wildlife Viewing and Photography page for tips on how to get a great photo or video from a safe distance.
What if I want to get an animal’s attention?
If there’s a group of people, is it safer to be near wildlife?
What if an animal approaches me?
Can I feed the animals?
Feeding wildlife is prohibited. Even feeding animals grass from the park or other food you think might be harmless is not allowed. This is for their safety as well as yours.
Wildlife will invade food left unattended, even those in bear-proof containers or coolers. Store food in your vehicle’s trunk, out of sight, with the windows completely closed, or in site-provided storage lockers. Use our wildlife-proof containers to dispose trash, and ensure you clean up all food particles.
Food, coolers, and dirty cookware left unattended, even for a short time, are subject to confiscation by park rangers and citations.
What if an animal begs for food?
Ah, but what harm could one person really do when they get too close or toss a piece of food to an animal? I’ve been up close to wildlife before!
Risks to you include:
Risks to wildlife include:
Last updated: September 11, 2017