Yellowstone National Park Calls on Visitors to Respect Wildlife After a Spike in Dangerous Incidents

Yellowstone National Park has issued an urgent call for visitors to protect wildlife and respect safety regulations, the park's most aggressive action yet following a month of concerning incidents.

"Yellowstone provides millions of visitors one of the greatest wildlife viewing displays in North America. In recent days, some actions by visitors have led to the endangerment of people and wildlife and resulted in the death of wildlife," states an official press release, dated June 1. "The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively impact wildlife."

"Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in some cases, their survival," the statement continues. "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."

Last month, park rangers were forced to euthanize a bison calf after a visitor from Hawai'i intervened and picked up the animal, which led to the herd rejecting it. The man, 78-year-old Clifford Walters, pled guilty to feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife, and was slapped with a $1,040 fine. (Walters told the New York Times that it had been an "act of compassion" to save the drowning calf, but that's neither here nor there.)

Additional disturbing encounters between visitors and wildlife have since gone viral. In one incident, a woman was filmed taking a selfie just inches from a resting bison. Thankfully, the animal did not react, as the woman would have almost certainly have been gored and the bison would have been euthanized.

In another viral incident, a woman nearly did get gored after a grazing bison she was attempting to pet charged at her, catching her sweater in the process. The photographer filming said that for about 10 minutes, they witnessed "person after person" approach the bison to take selfies with it.

In the notice, officials served a reminder that park regulations require all visitors to keep a minimum distance of at least 25 yards from all wildlife including bison, elk and deer; and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

"Disregarding these regulations can result in fines, injury, and even death, the statement adds. "The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules."

This story has been updated.