SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – During Memorial Day weekend, a group of tourists visiting Yellowstone National Park allegedly picked up a newborn elk off the side of the road and gave it a ride in their car.
Now, the park is asking drivers and visitors to protect wildlife by using caution while at the park, as a number of recent incidents have left several animals killed or endangered.
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“In recent days, some actions by visitors have led to the endangerment of people and wildlife and resulted in the death of wildlife,” the park said in a press release.
Yellowstone National Park is asking visitors to follow all safety regulations while at the park, including keeping safe distances from animals for everyone’s safety.
The incident with the elk followed the actions of a Hawaii man who disturbed a bison calf after it was separated from its mother and herd, which were crossing the Lamar River, a news release said.
“As the calf struggled, the man pushed the calf up from the river and onto the roadway,” NPS said in the news release. The animal was later euthanized.
The man has since come forward and pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife.
The man was forced to pay “a $500 fine, a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, a $30 special assessment, and a $10 processing fee.”
Less than two weeks later, a group of visitors picked up the newborn elk calf and put it in their car, bringing it to the West Yellowstone Police Department. From there, it ran into the forest, and its condition is unknown.
That same weekend, two adult black bears were struck and killed in separate vehicle collisions in the park, the press release said.
In the days since the bears were killed, the park shared that one elk and one bison were also hit by cars in separate incidents.
In its press release the park urged visitors to decrease their speed while traveling through the park, noting that it will be “significantly increasing speed enforcement.”
“The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively impact wildlife,” the press release said.
Park regulations require people to stay at least 25 yards from bison, elk, and most other wildlife at all times. For bears and wolves, park-goers are required to stay 100 yards away.
“Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in some cases, their survival. When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, on a road, or in a developed area, leave it alone and give it space,” the park said in the release.
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