Bison's surprise charge at couple's car during Yellowstone visit makes for a frightful holiday memory

The couple certainly had some alarming moments when, during their drive through Yellowstone National Park, their journey was interrupted by two bison that abruptly stepped onto the roadway.

Unfazed by the traffic – multiple cars and a bus – the animals confidently strolled down the middle of the road, weaving their way around vehicles. In a video of the incident, viewable on YouTube, a bison can be seen breaking into a run directly towards the couple in their car before abruptly halting in front of their vehicle.

The bewildered tourists were unsure of how to react.

"Oh my God, good day," the man mutters amidst his nervous laughter.

The bewildered couple can be heard deliberating whether they should reverse or stay put. Deciding on the latter, they chose to wait.

"Don't look at him, I don't want him to charge us," the woman advises on the recording. This tactic proved successful, with the final moments of the video showing the bison moving around their car and walking calmly to the roadside. "Okay, thanks, goodbye," the tourist comments in relief.

Although this episode ended up as merely a fright, it's not the first time bison have unsettled Yellowstone Park visitors.

A similar interaction in July resulted in a 47-year-old Arizona resident being gored and severely injured by one of the animals. However, not every incident involving bison happens through no fault of the tourists. For instance, in June, a bison attacked a visitor who had attempted to get near and touch it.

Home to roughly 6,000 bison, Yellowstone Park authorities continually caution visitors to maintain a safe distance of at least 82 feet (approximately 25 meters) from the animals, and certainly never to touch them.