Time and time again, we hear about irresponsible tourists at National Parks getting too close to the native wildlife. Sometimes these ignorant visitors get hurt, and sometimes they get away with a good scare or just a public shaming. The National Park Service has made an art out of poking fun at these people in a tasteful way. In a recent post, the created a fictitious scenario involving unicorns and dragons. The conversation goes like this:
"When will you tell us where you keep the unicorns?" the imaginary park guest asked. "As soon as visitors stop feeding squirrels and taking dangerous selfies with bison, we'll let you know where the horses with giant spikes on their heads roam," NPS replied. It seems silly, but then again, so does trying to pet an animal the size of a Toyota Rav 4 with anger issues.
While the photo text is just a joke, the caption text offers a real-life tip about keeping a safe distance from the wildlife, offered up in that signature cheeky NPS style.
"In the meantime, when you're out in the wild and you see an animal, be it real or mythical, you might wonder if you're far enough away to keep from engaging said animal," the caption reads. "(They really don't care for small talk.) The "rule of thumb" is an easy way to determine what is a safe distance. You can do this with your coworkers, but be prepared for a quick convo with the supervisor about causing a scene as you walk around blocking everyone with your thumb as you exclaim "not today!"
NPS then explains how to implement this tip at the park.
"We digress. Hold up your thumb at arm's length. If the animal bites it off don't panic, wait, that's not right. You need to hold your thumb up from a distance. Does your thumb cover the entire animal in question? If you answered yes, then you're far enough away. If you answered no, then good luck. If you can see the animal around the sides of your thumb, you are too close. This is a great rule that applies to any animal in the wild, from bears to chipmunks to unicorns. Wait, we've said too much."
