Yellowstone National Park officials say a bison calf tourists put inside their car over concerns it was too cold has died.
“Last week in Yellowstone National Park, visitors were cited for placing a newborn bison calf in their vehicle and transporting it to a park facility because of their misplaced concern for the animal’s welfare,” National Park Service officials said on their Facebook page. “In terms of human safety, this was a dangerous activity because adult animals are very protective of their young and will act aggressively to defend them. In addition, interference by people can cause mothers to reject their offspring.
“In this case, park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the newborn bison calf with the herd. These efforts failed. The bison calf was later euthanized because it was abandoned and causing a dangerous situation by continually approaching people and cars along the roadway.”
Last week, a witness said a father and son pulled up at a ranger station with the baby bison in the back of their SUV.
“They were demanding to speak with a ranger,” a witness told EastIdahoNews.com. “They were seriously worried that the calf was freezing and dying.”
Even though others warned the father-son tourists, who were visiting from another country, that they should release the animal, witnesses said: “They didn’t care.”
A ranger later ticketed the father-son tourists and made them release the calf where they found it. Unfortunately, the animal was rejected by its mother and the herd, and had to be euthanized.
Park regulations require tourists to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from other large animals, including bison, according to the National Park Service.
“Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival,” said park officials. “The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules.”
