A Yellowstone National Park visitor who tried to ‘save’ a baby bison which was later rejected by its herd because it had come into human contact has been fined $1,040.
Clifford Walters, from Hawaii, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick.
The incident happened on May 20 when the calf’s herd was in the process of crossing the Lamar River in Wyoming, in the northeast section of the park.
As the herd crossed the river, the calf became separated from its mother – so Walters intervened to try to help the struggling bison up the bank.
A man was pictured moving a bison calf up from the bank of the Lamar River on May 20. It was later put down after its herd rejected it. Yellowstone National Park staff are now trying to identify the man
The calf’s herd was in the process of crossing the Lamar River (pictured) in Wyoming, in the northeast section of Yellowstone National Park
Rangers repeatedly tried to reunite the calf with the herd, but said it was rejected due to human contact.
The calf was also causing hazards on the road by approaching cars and people, so park staff decided to euthanize it after just a few hours.
Yellowstone National Park said there is no suggestion that Walters acted maliciously, but they reminded the public not to approach wild animals.
They recommended visitors stay at least 25 yards away from all wildlife including bison, elk, and deer, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
Walters was charged a $500 fine, a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, a $30 special assessment, and a $10 processing fee.
Linda Veress, a spokesperson for Yellowstone National Park, told DailyMail.com the animal was put down just hours after it was handled by Walters.
‘After multiple attempts by park rangers to reunite the calf with the herd, the bison calf was euthanized Saturday night, May 20,’ she wrote.
In 2015 Yellowstone National Park officials issued a graphic pamphlet drawing of a man being gored by bison in a bid for tourists to avoid the creatures
Several people took to Twitter to suggest the animal should not have been put down but instead transferred to a sanctuary, prompting an explanation from the park.
The park released a statement saying that ‘federal and state regulations prohibit the transport of bison out of Yellowstone’ unless they are going to ‘meat processing or scientific research facilities’.
‘Unfortunately, the calf’s behavior on the roads and around people was hazardous, so rangers had to intervene: but the calf’s body was left on the landscape,’ the park said.
This is not the first time visitors of the park have made contact with bison to similar effect.
In 2016, a father and son turned in a baby bison to the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, which is just two miles to the northwest of where this weekend’s incident happened near the meeting of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek.
At the time Karen Richardson of Victor, Idaho, was at the ranch when the father and son showed up with the bison in the back of their SUV.
‘They were demanding to speak with a ranger,’ she told EastIdahoNews.com in 2016. ‘They were seriously worried that the calf was freezing and dying.’
Rob Heusevelet, who was also present, told the men to remove the bison from the car and told them they could be in trouble for having the animal.
‘They didn’t care,’ Heusevelet says. ‘They sincerely thought they were doing a service and helping that calf by trying to save it from the cold.’
Pictured is an unrelated herd of bison stopping traffic in the Hayden Valley in September 2022
In 2016 a father and son put a different bison calf (pictured) in their car in Yellowstone National Park. It was also later put down
Park staff warned after Saturday’s incident that disregarding park regulations requiring guests to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk and deer and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves can result in fines.
On its website, the National Parks Service warns of the dangers posed by large wildlife. ‘Bison can run three times faster than humans can sprint and are unpredictable and dangerous,’ it reads.
‘Visitors must give the animals enough space and alter their own behavior to avoid interacting with an animal in close proximity. Do not approach wildlife, no matter how tame or calm they appear. Always obey instructions from park staff on scene.’
In 2015 Yellowstone National Park officials issued a graphic pamphlet drawing of a man being gored by bison in a bid for tourists to avoid the creatures.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk