The Instagram Filter That’s Saving You from Becoming Bison Bait

Ever wondered if your quest for the perfect Instagram wildlife selfie was going to turn you into a human chew toy for a grizzly? Well, Wyoming has got your back—sort of. The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board has teamed up with Instagram to create a tool that’s equal parts cool and life-saving: a filter called "Selfie Control."

Here’s the lowdown: As visitors flood Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, everyone from conservationists to rangers is increasingly worried about the sheer number of people snapping pictures way too close to wildlife. Let’s face it—no one wants to end up as a bison's chew toy or a bear's afternoon entertainment.

Enter the Selfie Control filter, which lets you take those epic wildlife shots while keeping a safe distance. You choose one of five animals (bison, moose, elk, and both black and grizzly bears), and the filter adds an icon to your camera frame. If the real animal is bigger than the icon on your screen, guess what? You’re too close, buddy! Time to step back and let nature do its thing—from a safer distance.

Crista Valentino, the executive director of Jackson Hole’s tourism board, said it best: “We’re not telling people to stay away from these animals; we’re just trying to give them tools to do it more responsibly.” Translation: You can still get that once-in-a-lifetime shot without becoming a headline in the next "Touron" account on Instagram.

Apparently, Yellowstone had over 4.5 million visitors last year, and based on social media, many of them thought it was a bright idea to get cozy with a bison or tease a bear for likes. Spoiler alert: The animals weren’t fans. In some cases, park rangers had to step in, and sadly, animals ended up being euthanized because people couldn’t respect their space. Not cool.

And while close encounters might seem harmless, they can stress out wildlife in a big way—disrupting their feeding, mating, and migration. Long story short: Your selfie could actually throw a bear’s entire week off. Just think about that.

So if you're headed to Wyoming, consider downloading this filter. It might save your life—or at least save you from becoming the next viral “what-not-to-do” on Instagram. And hey, if Australia catches on, you might be using it to avoid overly friendly kangaroos next!