California Tourist in Yellowstone Hospitalized After Taking Selfie With Porcupine

As Yellowstone’s tourist season kicks off, so does the number of incidents involving what we call “tourons” — tourists who aren’t quite in tune with the reality of wild North American animals.

This season has started off with a bang — literally! Lee Bangbang, a visitor from San Diego, was touring the park when he spotted what appeared to be “a lovable giant ball of fur.” Mistaking the slow-moving creature for a “sweet little yellow bear,” Lee handed his iPad to his wife and approached the animal from behind, intending to snap a photo of him hugging it. Unfortunately for Lee, the “cuddly fur baby” turned out to be a full-sized North American porcupine.

Lee’s wife described the incident: “Lee told me, ‘Take picture, I get good angle.’ Then he grabbed the spiky bear from behind. He hugged it with such enthusiasm that it stuck to him! Lee ran off with the spiky bear attached. I had to catch up, grab the porcupine’s feet, and pull it off! Lee was in pain and embarrassed. He’s almost finished with surgery to remove all the quills.”

Lee had most of the porcupine’s quills removed at a nearby ranger