Tourist interactions with wildlife at Yellowstone National Park have resulted in the death of a bison calf and included an elk calf being taken for a ride by another group, according to park officials.
The National Park Service shared the incidents in a notice reminding visitors of the famous park’s safety rules when it comes to observing the animals.
“Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in some cases, their survival,” NPS wrote late last week. “When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, on a road, or in a developed area, leave it alone and give it space.”
Visitors are supposed to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Those who don’t can be fined, NPS said, as well as severely injured or even killed by the animals.
One group of tourists found an elk calf during Memorial Day weekend and took it for a drive on U.S. Highway 191. Park officials said that the group brought the calf to the West Yellowstone Police Department in Montana, but the calf later ran off into the woods.
Further, a Hawaii man pleaded guilty last week to intentionally disturbing the park’s wildlife when he helped a bison calf that was struggling to cross the Lamar River on May 20.
The man moved the calf up to the roadway, but the animal began following cars and other people around the thoroughfare. Park officials weren’t able to reunite the calf with its herd, causing rangers to euthanize the young bison.
Park officials said there was no indication that the man acted maliciously.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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