Drunk Man Decides to Kick a Bison in Yellowstone, Learns About Consequences

In Montana's Yellowstone National Park, Clarence Yoder, 40, of Idaho Falls is accused of kicking a bison in the leg while intoxicated, according to officials. This dubious act resulted in the impaired man being injured and subsequently arrested on April 21 near the park's West Entrance.

In a statement, the National Park Service said:

Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg. They located the suspect's vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.

The suspect was arrested on four charges, two related to his conduct while using alcohol and two for his treatment of wildlife.

NPS said:

Yoder was arrested and charged with 1) being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that may endanger oneself, 2) disorderly conduct as to create or maintain a hazardous condition, 3) approaching wildlife, and 4) disturbing wildlife.

But, Yoder wasn't the only park attendee who earned themselves a stay in jail, the driver of the vehicle McKenna Bass, 37, of Idaho Falls, was also arrested and charged with driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation, and disturbing wildlife.

Their charges can result in fines of up to $5,000 and six months in jail. During the arraignment hearing on April 22, Yoder and Bass pleaded not guilty.

Yoder also gets to claim the repercussion of being the first person this year to be injured by a bison in the park, NPS reports he "sustained minor injuries from the encounter with the bison" and was taken to a facility for medical attention before being transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center.

The last person to be injured by a bison at Yellowstone was in July of last year, and three incidents occurred in 2022 before that, according to officials.

Of course, the scenario causes the NPS to have to issue warnings for stupid people about how far to stay away from dangerous wild animals, telling the public:

When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, give it space. Stay more than 25 yards away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes – and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.

On Tuesday the NPS took to social media to offer more advice on how to not encroach on a bison, writing:

Bison may look friend-shaped, but they already have all the friends they want. Keep your distance and don't make it awkward.

Bison may look friend-shaped, but they already have all the friends they want. Keep your distance and don't make it awkward.
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 30, 2024

Earlier this month the NPS warned against taking selfies with wildlife, a new-age yet seemingly persistent problem.

NPS wrote:

Living your life to the fullest does not have to involve selfies with bison.

Living your life to the fullest does not have to involve selfies with bison.
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 10, 2024

It seems to me that the drunk man kicking the bison is an outlier, and most cases of wildlife disruption are caused by not understanding the animals' spatial requirements for their innate sense of territory. Bison need much more distance than the public assumes to feel not encroached upon... because they are wild animals that roam across hundreds of miles, and are primed to keep their herd safe. Our all-knowing creator somehow omitted 'selfie-friendly' from the design of these majestic beings.

As for the man who kicked a bison? Well, that's downright stupid and he deserved all the ramifications of his actions.