Drunk man arrested for kicking bison at Yellowstone National Park in US

Park rangers responded to reports of a man harassing a herd of bison. (Representational)

The Yellowstone National Park in the US witnessed a bizarre and dangerous incident when an inebriated man decided to confront a bison. According to officials from the National Park Service (NPS), the man’s encounter with the bison took a violent turn when he kicked the animal, resulting in an injury to himself.

Clarence Yoder, 40, from Idaho, decided to go through with his daring act near the Seven Mile Bridge, located about seven miles east of the park's West Entrance.

Park rangers responded to reports of a man harassing a herd of bison. The situation escalated when Yoder kicked one of the bison, causing injury to his own leg during the reckless encounter, as confirmed by NPS officials. The incident occurred on April 21 and led to immediate actions by authorities to address the behaviour.

Yoder was traveling in a vehicle with McKenna Bass, 37, who was later arrested alongside Yoder. Bass faced charges of driving under the influence, failure to yield, and disturbing wildlife. Yoder was charged with being under the influence of alcohol to an extent that endangered himself, disorderly conduct creating hazardous conditions, and approaching and disturbing wildlife.

Following the incident, Yoder received medical treatment at a nearby facility before being transferred to the Gallatin County Detention Center. Both Yoder and Bass entered pleas of not guilty to the charges on April 22, highlighting the seriousness of the legal repercussions they face. Each charge carries potential fines of up to $5,000 and a jail term of up to six months.

This incident marks the first report of a person being injured by a bison in 2024 at Yellowstone National Park, according to NPS records. In a similar occurrence last year in July, a 47-year-old visitor was gored by a bison while on a proposal trip with her boyfriend. Another incident occurred in November when a Utah man suffered severe injuries while attempting to interact with bison along the roadside.

In response to these incidents, NPS officials have reiterated safety guidelines for visitors. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe distance of at least 25 yards from bison and other large animals within the park. Additionally, visitors are advised to keep a distance of at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.