A man accused of kicking a bison in the leg at Yellowstone National Park while under the influence of alcohol was injured by the animal and later arrested, park officials said Monday.
Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached the bison “too closely (within 25 yards)” on the afternoon of Sunday, April 21, on a road about seven miles east of the park’s West Entrance, according to a National Park Service news release.
The release said that park rangers went to the area after getting “a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg.
The park did not have further details on the encounter or the nature of Yoder’s injury.
Two arrests in the incident Yoder faces four charges stemming from his arrest, the release said.
First bison incident in 2024 National parks can pose dangers to visitors, especially those who don’t heed warnings about wildlife and natural hazards.
Yellowstone said this has been the first reported incident of a visitor being injured by a bison in 2024.
The park issues cautionary advice, telling visitor to remember that its animals “are wild and can be dangerous when approached.
Yellowstone National Park officials said on Monday that a man who is suspected of having kicked a bison in the leg while intoxicated was hurt by the animal and subsequently taken into custody.
According to a news release from the National Park Service, on Sunday, April 21, in the afternoon, Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached the bison “too closely (within 25 yards)” on a road approximately seven miles east of the park’s West Entrance.
A report of “a person who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg” prompted park rangers to respond, according to the release. The suspect’s car was found close to the West Entrance, and it was stopped in the Montana town of West Yellowstone. “.
In a nearby medical facility, Yoder, forty, was taken by Rangers and subsequently “evaluated, treated, and released from medical care,” according to the press release. Following that, he was brought to the Gallatin County Detention Center located in Bozeman, Montana.
No other information about the incident or Yoder’s injury was available to the park.
The event resulted in two arrests.
According to the release, Yoder was arrested and is now facing four charges. They are as follows:.
• Having consumed alcohol to the point where it could put oneself in danger.
• Unruly behavior intended to establish or preserve a dangerous situation.
• Making contact with animals.
• Upsetting the wildlife.
According to the press release, McKenna Bass, 37, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was the driver of the car that Yoder was riding in. Bass is accused of the following:.
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
• Interference caused by ignoring the activation of an emergency light.
• Upsetting natural habitats.
On April 22, Yoder and Bass both entered not guilty pleas and waived their right to legal representation, according to US District Court documents that CNN was able to obtain.
According to the NPS statement, the case is still being looked into and each infraction carries a potential $5,000 fine and six months in jail.
In 2024, there will be the first bison incident.
Tourists to national parks may be in danger, particularly if they disregard the warnings regarding wildlife and potential natural hazards.
According to Yellowstone, this is the first known instance of a visitor being hurt by a bison in 2024. According to the park, three incidents were reported in 2022 and one in 2023.
Note that the park’s animals “are wild and can be dangerous when approached,” the warning sign warns visitors.
Give an animal room when it’s in a developed area, close to a boardwalk, campsite, or trail. All large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes, should be kept at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from you. “.
