There’s been a wave of rumors online suggesting animals are exiting Yellowstone National Park because of potential volcano eruptions. However, park officials are setting the record straight.
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have been buzzing with claims of wildlife—or what some are calling an “exodus”—from the park recently. One viral TikTok video shows manipulated clips of animals like grizzly bears, mountain lions, and elk roaming in groups with a dramatic caption about an “exodus in Yellowstone.”
Comments on these posts suggest some people believed the animals were sensing some danger, like a volcano ready to blow.
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According to the National Park Service (NPS), these rumors are completely baseless. They clarified in a statement that there is no scientific backing to the claim that wildlife can predict earthquakes or volcanic activity.
“Animals aren’t leaving Yellowstone in mass,” stated Linda Veress, a spokesperson for the NPS, in remarks to USA TODAY on July 21. “This rumor is unfounded, and the circulating video appears to be a satirical take using AI-generated footage,” she added.
Ongoing Monitoring of Yellowstone’s Volcanic Activity
Yellowstone is home to almost 300 bird species, 16 fish species, five amphibians, six reptiles, and 67 Mammals, according to NPS.
The park’s geothermal and seismic activity is under the watchful eye of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, which is a cooperation of nine state and federal organizations that keep track of volcanic and earthquake movements in the area.
On July 21, Veress confirmed that scientists at the observatory are monitoring the Yellowstone volcano closely. She explained, “Our monitors are designed to detect strong earthquakes, ground shifts, or volcanic gases—all indications of heightened activity. At this point, there’s no such evidence.”
Veress further emphasized that while a volcanic eruption is theoretically possible, it is incredibly unlikely to occur within the next thousand years or even ten thousand years.
Last Eruption at Yellowstone
As per the NPS, Yellowstone has experienced three significant eruptions throughout its history.
The last major event took place approximately 174,000 years ago, leading to the formation of the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake. The park has also seen around 80 smaller eruptions since the massive eruption 631,000 years ago.
For those looking for trustworthy and updated information about Yellowstone, park officials recommend visiting www.nps.gov.
Saleen Martin reports for USA TODAY from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Feel free to drop her an email at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This piece was originally published on USA TODAY: Yellowstone Officials Dismiss Myths About Animals Fleeing Due to Volcano Fears
