A man pleaded guilty to handling a Yellowstone bison calf, leading to its death.
The incident: Clifford Walters, a Hawaii resident, was charged with “one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife” and fined over $1,000.
* Walters attempted to help a separated calf by pushing it up the riverbank and onto the roadway.
The aftermath: Park rangers were unable to reunite the calf with the herd, leading to its euthanasia due to hazardous behavior approaching cars and people.
* The National Park Service stated that the decision was made to preserve natural processes and ensure the protection of other park inhabitants.
Yellowstone’s policy: The park does not rescue and rehabilitate animals, as it prioritizes preserving natural processes and the overall health of ecosystems.
* Transporting bison out of Yellowstone is illegal unless for scientific research or meat processing, due to potential impacts on the local livestock industry.
The bison population: There are around 5,900 bison in Yellowstone, and up to 25% of calves born this spring will die, providing sustenance for other animals in the park.
* The park encourages visitors to give wildlife space to roam to prevent such incidents in the future.
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