It turns out, people aren’t the only things you want to avoid during the coronavirus outbreak. That’s just what Montana television reporter Deion Broxton reminded us in a video he posted on Twitter that went viral.
While filming a news piece on the closure of Yellowstone National Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Broxton witnessed another immediate threat heading his way, and fast. If you can picture how wild it would be coming face to face with an animal that weighs a literal ton, and stands two to three feet taller than the average person, imagine Broxton’s surprise when a whole herd of the largest animal in North America came running straight toward him at about 40 miles per hour.
Thanks to Broxton’s camera, which was rolling during the encounter, you can see his reaction for yourself. While the bison are not visible in the video clip, Broxton’s commentary brings the quickly developing drama to life.
As he looked back and forth from the camera to the Bison, Broxton began to panic, saying “Oh my God. Oh my God.” As the Bison moved closer, Broxton exclaimed, “Oh no, I ain’t messing with you!” and then he exited the frame, continuing to speak, “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no, I’m not messing with you.”
With his camera still recording, Broxton grabs it and gets the heck out of there. Footage that he captured a little later, from a safe distance, gives a glimpse of the enormous animals that the reporter was wise enough to avoid.
Broxton’s viral video is a great reminder for all of us to show respect for all of mother nature, whether the threat is as big as a bison, or as microscopic as a novel virus. “I’m not messing with you” not only makes for a versatile meme, it’s the perfect example of how to handle any avoidable threat.