YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – An incident involving a man who picked up a newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park has led to its euthanasia after attempts to reunite it with its herd failed. Visitors to the park witnessed the man, as yet unidentified, push the struggling calf up from the Lamar River and onto a roadway when it had become separated from its mother. The herd would not take it back, resulting in park rangers undertaking several failed attempts to reunite the calf. Concerns for the calf approaching cars and people created a dangerous situation, leading park staff to euthanize the calf. Park rules require visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from most wildlife and 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
The National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park prioritizes “sustaining viable populations of native wildlife species, rather than protecting individual animals” and maintains that the death of animals is a “necessary part of sustaining our populations of predators, scavengers, decomposers and, eventually, herbivores.” The park service also notes that it only intervenes in natural processes when instructed by Congress, when necessary to protect park resources, facilities, human health and safety, or to restore a disrupted ecosystem. Yellowstone staff do not intervene to help injured or sick wildlife unless it affects human life and property and other park resources. Actions like feeding, husbandry, and rehabilitation would contradict its mission by creating a “zoo-like atmosphere.”
Yellowstone is no stranger to these kinds of situations. In 2016, officials euthanized a newborn bison after a Canadian man and his son placed the calf in their car in an attempt to help it. Yellowstone rules prohibit visitors from approaching large wildlife, including bison, elk, and deer, to within 25 yards. The minimum distance required for bears and wolves is 100 yards.
“Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild,” the park service said in a statement. “When an animal is separated from its mother, it is strongly rejected by the herd and will not be accepted back, no matter how much evidence there is that a baby is abandoned.”
Bison can weigh up to 2,000 lbs in adulthood and can run at speeds of up to 35 mph, posing a significant danger to park visitors. However, these creatures are just a few of the wildlife species that inhabit this natural ecosystem, where visitors can also encounter bears and wolves. Park officials have reminded visitors to observe park regulations, citing the danger that could occur if visitors do not maintain a reasonable distance.
Yellowstone National Park officials are presently searching for information regarding the man who approached and picked up the calf. They are urging the public to contact the Yellowstone National Park Tip Line if they have any information.
In conclusion, Yellowstone National Park officials were forced to euthanize a newborn bison calf after a man put the animal in danger, causing it to be rejected by its mother. The man’s actions stirred the calf’s herd to reject it, compelling the park rangers to undertake several failed attempts to reunite the calf with the herd. The park staff consequently decided to euthanize the calf, fearing that the calf’s proximity to people and cars would cause harm. Visitors have been reminded of the park rules, which require them to maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and their natural environment, particularly within a national park setting.
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