YELLOWSTONE, WY (KDVR) — Rob and Jennifer Gunderson were visiting Yellowstone National Park for their anniversary, and they couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw people walking right up to the 1,000-pound animal.

“We'd been watching the tourists of Yellowstone for the past couple of years and thought, there's just no way people do this in person. And sure enough, we were witnessing it as live as life could be,” Jennifer Gunderson said.

It's an alarming sight happening more and more often: tourists walking right up to adult bison and other large animals in Yellowstone National Park.

"Shocking. Honestly, it was shocking. I didn't i can understand if you want to go up and think you can get close to a bison, but to bring a small toddler," Jennifer Gunderson said.

Thankfully, that family walked away unharmed, but that's not always the case: on Tuesday, a tourist from New Jersey was gored by a bison after he and others got too close to the animal, a sad reminder of the very real dangers of getting too close to large wildlife.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bison can grow up to 1,000 pounds and 10 feet long. The national park recommends staying at least 25 yards away and taking in their beauty from a safe distance. 

“There are signs everywhere. But yet nobody pays attention to them, let alone, you know, like I said, I- I get it as an adult. You're thinking, 'oh, it won't happen to me,' but you're going to do it with your kids and all that. That's what really dumbfounded us on all of it,” Rob Gunderson said.