A man at Yellowstone National Park kicked a bison, which then retaliated by injuring him, leading to his arrest on alcohol-related charges, park officials reported.
Clarence Yoder, 40, was arrested and detained after receiving treatment for minor injuries sustained from the bison encounter. The incident occurred approximately seven miles inside the park’s west entrance on April 21.
Park rangers responded to reports of Yoder harassing a bison herd and kicking one of the animals. Details on how the bison injured him were not disclosed by officials.
Yoder was apprehended by rangers in a vehicle near West Yellowstone, Montana, accompanied by McKenna Bass, 37, who was charged with driving under the influence and other offenses.
Both individuals, hailing from Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on April 22.
Bison, North America’s largest land mammal, can reach speeds of up to 40 mph despite their immense size. Yellowstone officials emphasize the importance of maintaining a distance of at least 25 yards from large wildlife within the park.
While some Yellowstone facilities have begun reopening for the summer season, visitors are reminded to exercise caution around wildlife.
This incident marks the first reported visitor injury by a bison in 2024, with the previous incident occurring on July 17, 2023, resulting in significant injuries to a woman. Yellowstone remains the only place in the U.S. where bison have continuously inhabited since prehistoric times.