A man pictured trying to help a struggling newborn bison in Yellowstone National Park has been fined after authorities said the animal had to be euthanized because of his interference.
According to the US Department of Justice, Clifford Walters pushed the animal up a river’s embankment and onto a nearby roadway.
Although there was no evidence that Walters acted on malicious intent, park staff said his actions impacted the calf’s behaviour as it attempted to befriend humans and followed cars, which created ‘a hazardous situation’, the Park said in an official news release last month.
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When park rangers attempted to reunite the animal with its herd, the calf was rejected, likely because of human interference.
In the days after Walters intervened, park staff said they had to euthanize the bison.
Waters, from Hawaii, pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife on Wednesday (May 31).
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He’ll have to pay a $500 fine, a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, and $40 in other fees.
Yellowstone law enforcement officers released a picture of Walters attempting to help the bison and asked the public for information about the incident.
The park wrote in a news release that Walters ‘intentionally disturbed the calf’ which ‘resulted in the death of the calf’.
However the park’s actions triggered uproar on social media and among guests.
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A news release explained at the time: "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.
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“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."
After the park’s decision drew criticism on social media, Yellowstone released a lengthy statement on social media to defend its actions.
“This is a conversation that’s difficult to have on social media,” part of the statement reads. “But it’s important to understand that national parks are very different to animal sanctuaries and zoos.
"We made the choice we did not because we are lazy, uncaring, or inexpert in our understanding of bison biology.
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"We made the choice we did because national parks preserve the natural processes. By this we mean undomesticated wildlife and the ecosystems they both depend on and contribute to.”
People must stay at least 25 yards away from wildlife such as bison, elk and deer as per federal regulations and 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
Gregory Robinson