After nearly three decades as a journalist, I should have developed a healthy level of cynicism.

But color me surprised over this one. Color me surprised by the stupidity.

A bison gored a 47-year-old man visiting Yellowstone National Park after he got too close.

Bison don't like that; they want their space.

Will humans ever learn? There have been enough instances of these man vs. wildlife encounters, and park rangers at Yellowstone request that you stay at least 25 yards away from a bison.

Little hint: an arm's length is not 25 yards.

This isn't a docile Great Dane at home; this is a bison in the wild.

Fortunately, the man suffered only minor injuries, but that's not the point.

The point is that this is wildlife, and you don't try to pet a bison. The park suggests a modest distance be kept, and that increases to 100 yards for bears and wolves.

These are not arbitrary figures. In fact, they are designed to save your life.

Some people are just stupid, going as far as picking up a baby bison. Another little hint: it's not a puppy.

There should be a healthy respect for these magnificent creatures. To see them outside of the confines of a zoo is a genuine treat, joy, and privilege. Call the 25 yards a suggestion or a warning; it's just a matter of semantics.

Put it this way: how would you feel if somebody that you don't know broke into your house and got close to you, your family and your possessions?

There is an inherent fight or flight response, and mostly, it's a natural instinct to defend.

This was the first act of stupidity at Yellowstone, and it's not even summer yet.

Let's hope it's the last.

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