Yellowstone Encourages Wildlife Protection Following Tourists' Disturbing Actions

Yellowstone National Park is urging visitors to protect wildlife following a series of incidents in which animals were killed or endangered.

One incident involved tourists who gave a baby elk in their vehicle a ride.

After several reports of collisions between vehicles, and wildlife, the park asked visitors to drive cautiously and adhere to safety regulations.

"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 stated.

"The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively impact wildlife."

Visitors brought a newborn elk to the West Yellowstone Police Department on Memorial Day Weekend. Later, the calf ran off into the forest. The park stated that it is not known what condition the calf is in.

Yellowstone reported that on May 28, two adult brown bears of dark chocolate color were killed by separate collisions with vehicles in the park.

A vehicle struck a male adult black bear at about 5 pm near milepost 14, on U.S. Highway 191 north of Yellowstone.

The park reported that a second adult black bear male was killed later in the evening by a vehicle near milepost 29 of U.S. Highway 191.

Yellowstone reported that separate vehicles also struck an elk, and a bison in the days following.

Yellowstone said that they will "significantly increase speed enforcement" along U.S. Highway 191, where the speed limit in the park is 55 mph. Yellowstone stated that the speed limit on most park roads is 45 mph.

The park reminded drivers to drive carefully at night because animal fur absorbs the light and makes them harder to see.

Yellowstone warned its visitors to stay away from wildlife following a series of reported incidents.

On May 20, a man grabbed and pushed a newborn bison calf from the river onto the road in the northeastern part of the park.

The US Attorney's Office for Wyoming announced on May 31 that the calf was euthanized, and the man had pleaded guilty to a single count of feeding or disturbing wildlife by touching, teasing or frightening it.

The park reported that two visitors were harmed by bison last year after getting too near the animals.

The park has said that they are looking into a number of recent incidents involving bisons.

Yellowstone has stressed that visitors must stay at least 25 yards from wildlife, and 100 yards from bears and wolves.

"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 stated.

Source: cnn.com