Bison calf in Yellowstone is euthanized after human intervention

A bison calf in Yellowstone National Park had to be euthanized after a man apparently tried to help it, causing the herd to reject it, park officials said this week.

The newborn calf began following cars and people, officials said, and was killed because it posed a danger to visitors.

The episode began on Saturday night, when the calf was separated from its mother as their herd crossed the Lamar River in Wyoming, in the northeast corner of the park. When the calf struggled to reach the group, a middle-aged man “intentionally” disturbed it by pushing it off the river onto the road near the river’s confluence with Soda Butte Creek, the National Park Service said in a statement on Tuesday. It is not clear where the herd was at that time.

“Human interference can cause wildlife to reject their offspring,” according to the Park Service. “In this case, rangers have repeatedly tried to reunite the calf with the herd. These attempts have failed.”

Law enforcement officers attempted to identify the man, who wore a blue shirt and black pants when interacting with the animal. Anyone with information is urged to contact the park’s tip line at 307-344-2132 or YELL_Tip@nps.gov.

Park regulations require visitors to stay 25 yards from wildlife such as bison, elk, and deer and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Approaching animals can drastically affect their well-being and survival, according to the Park Service.

“Ignoring these rules can lead to fines, injury and even death,” according to the Park Service. “The safety of these animals, as well as the safety of humans, depends on using common sense and following these simple rules.”

Yellowstone regularly reminds visitors not to interact with animals in the park. In 2018, a man was arrested after he challenged a bison in Yellowstone National Park. In 2016, a bison calf was euthanized after being placed in the back of an SUV and rejected by its herd. And in 2015, a woman was injured when she tried to take a selfie near a bison.