Yellowstone National Park has confirmed it killed a newborn bison after a visitor intentionally touched it.
The baby bison, who was under the care of the of the well-known national park in the U.S. State of Wyoming, had become separated from its mother, according to the park.
The park has said that a visitor attempted to help the calf rejoin its herd. After repeated attempts by park rangers to reunite the young bison with its heard, it was rejected.
The park said the calf had to be killed because it was abandoned by the herd and was approaching cars and people passing by on the road which led to ‘a hazardous situation,’ the Park said in an official news release on Tuesday (23 May).
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Yellowstone law enforcement officers are now asking the public for information about the incident, which occurred on the evening of 20 May, 2023, in the park’s northeast corner.
The park said the that the man ‘intentionally disturbed the calf’ which ‘resulted in the death of the calf’.
“An unidentified white male in his 40-50's, wearing a blue shirt and black pants, approached a newborn bison calf in Lamar Valley near the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek,” the park said on Tuesday.
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“The calf had been separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River. As the calf struggled, the man pushed the calf up from the river and onto the roadway. Visitors later observed the calf walk up to and follow cars and people.
Interfering with wildlife can lead to them being rejected by their parents," the park explains.
“Interference by people can cause wildlife to reject their offspring. In this case, park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd. These efforts failed."
The calf was later killed by park staff because it was abandoned by the herd and causing a hazardous situation by approaching cars and people along the roadway.
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The park’s regulations state that people must stay 25 yards (23m) away from all wildlife – including bison, elk and deer – and 100 yards (91m) away from bears and wolves.
Yellowstone is now investigating the incident.
“Disregarding these regulations can result in 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.”
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If you have any information about the incident, contact Yellowstone National Park tip line at 307-344-2132 or [email protected].
Gregory Robinson