Yellowstone National Park authorities are investigating an incident that resulted in the death of a newborn bison calf in northwestern Wyoming over the weekend, according to park officials. said.
The incident occurred Saturday, when an unidentified park visitor “intentionally disturbed” a bison calf in the Lamar Valley near the intersection of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek, according to the National Park Service.
The visitor, a man estimated to be in his 40s or 50s, appeared to lift the calf from the river and land it on the ground in a photo released by the agency on Tuesday. In it, the man is seen wearing sunglasses, dark pants and a blue shirt. He apparently tried to help the calf after noticing that the animal had been separated from the rest of the herd while crossing the river.
As the calf struggled, the man pushed it out of the water and onto the surrounding roadway, the park service said. Other visitors later reported seeing the calf approaching cars and people along the road.
Hellen Jack through the National Park Service
Although park rangers tried “repeatedly” to reunite the calf with its herd, “these efforts failed,” officials said, noting that any form of human interference can, in some cases, lead to life savage rejects his offspring. Because the calf had been abandoned and because it then posed a danger to cars and people on the road, park staff killed the animal, park officials said.
Yellowstone National Park requires all visitors to stay at least 25 meters away from most wildlife, such as bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 meters away from bears and wolves.
“Getting close to wild animals can dramatically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival,” the National Park Service said in a news release. “Ignoring these regulations can lead to fines, injury and even death. The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules.”
Anyone with information about the incident in Lamar Valley is asked to contact the Yellowstone National Park tip line at 307-344-2132 or YELL_Tip@nps.gov.
