Endangering Wildlife In Yellowstone Park? There’s A Fine For That
On May 25, we told you about an incident in Yellowstone National Park with a bison calf and tourists that lead to the euthanasia of that calf.
Bad Behavior In Yellowstone Leads To Death Of Bison Calf
A Reminder Of The Incident
A bison calf was having a hard time crossing a river. The calf was seen by park visitors calling to it's mother and the mother calling back. A tourist ran down to the river and helped the calf out, then he and other tourists proceeded to pet the calf.
The calf was rejected by the herd and eventually euthanized by the national park.
They Found The Tourist
According to NBC News, Clifford Walters of Hawaii pled guilty of one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. He's been ordered to pay around $1,000 fine and payment to Yellowstone National Park's wildlife fund.
I'm not sure how I feel about the fine. In one moment it seems like a good chunk of cash, and in the next, I wonder if they were higher, if it would curb this kind of behavior.
This Week Another Person Nearly Was Gored By A Bison
On May 22, a woman tried touching a bison she was standing near for a picture, and was nearly gored. Luckily for her, the bison was having lunch, and really just wanted her to get away. After he head-butted her in the stomach, he went back to eating. There were no reports of the tourist sustaining injury.
Warnings Are Everywhere In Yellowstone National Park
Staying a safe distance from the animals is general practice in ANY national park. These are natural habitats that we're invited to visit. There are warnings everywhere, but this just keeps happening. Here are tips on avoiding injury from bison while in Yellowstone.
Avoid Injury From Yellowstone Bison
Hopefully, with this tourist getting a fine, it will curb this kind of behavior in the future.
And ANOTHER one
Don't Miss the Old Faithful Inn on Your Yellowstone Adventure