WILDLIFE -- Show offs? Selfish wildlife watchers? Or just stupid? What are we?

Visitors from Washington state gave the Associated Press plenty of perspective on the growing problems Yellowstone National Park officials are having with the public's insensitivity to wildlife.

A story published in The Spokesman-Review and across the country Monday reported that record visitor numbers at the nation’s first national park have transformed its annual summer rush into a sometimes dangerous frenzy, with selfie-taking tourists routinely breaking park rules and getting too close to Yellowstone’s storied elk, grizzly bears, wolves and bison.

John Gleason of Walla Walla, who described himself as a hunter familiar with the ways of elk, was photographed leading kids up to a bull elk. Others followed and soon the animal fled. How many times was that animal harassed that day, week, season?

The incident helped make the point for park officials who are worried about the cumulative impacts of breaking rules designed to give park animals a break from millions of tourists -- and protect the tourists from a growing number of aggressive animal encounters.

Gleason was photographed apparently breaking park rules that prohibit approaching wildlife. 

But what really stunk was the in-your-face attitude of a woman in his party as she was interviewed by a reporter along the national park roadway.

Washington state resident Lisa Morrow’s son was among the children Gleason led toward the elk. Despite safety advisories – and numerous examples of visitors getting gored by bison, mauled by bears and chased by elk – Morrow declared herself unafraid of the park’s wildlife. She said she was eager to see a grizzly up close.

“I want to see one right there,” Morrow said, pointing to a spot just feet away. “I’d throw it a cookie.”