[ad_1]
(Trends Wide) — Yellowstone National Park urged visitors to protect wildlife after a series of incidents that killed or endangered animals, including one in which tourists drove a newborn moose away.
The park issued a statement late last week asking visitors to drive carefully and follow safety regulations following several reports of fatal collisions between vehicles and wild animals.
“Over the past few days, some actions by visitors have endangered people and animals and caused their death,” the park stated in a news release. “The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively affect wildlife.”
On Memorial Day weekend, visitors loaded a newborn moose calf into their vehicle and took it to the West Yellowstone Police Department. The calf entered the forest and, so far, does not know its status, according to the park.
On May 28, two adult black bears, both dark chocolate brown, were struck and killed in separate collisions with vehicles in the park, according to Yellowstone.
Around 5 p.m., a vehicle struck an adult male black bear near the 14 kilometer point of Highway 191 in northwest Yellowstone.
That same afternoon, a second male black bear was struck and killed by a vehicle at the 29 kilometer point of Highway 191, according to the park.
A moose and a bison were also struck by separate vehicles in the days that followed, Yellowstone said.
speed control
The park said it would “significantly increase speed enforcement” on US Highway 191 that runs through the park, where the speed limit is 55 mph. On most park roads, the limit is 45 mph or less, Yellowstone said.
He also asked drivers to be careful at night, as the animals’ fur absorbs light and makes it difficult to detect.
Yellowstone also warned visitors to keep their distance from wildlife after several incidents.
On May 20, a man grabbed a newborn bison calf and pushed it from the river onto the road in the northeast area of the park.
The man pleaded guilty to the crime of intentionally feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or disturbing wildlife, the Wyoming prosecutor’s office reported May 31.
Last year, two visitors were gored by bison after getting too close to the animals, the park said.
The park said it is investigating other recent incidents involving the bison.
Yellowstone stressed that park rules require visitors to stay 25 meters away from all wild animals and at least 100 meters away from bears and wolves.
“Getting close to 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, highway, or built-up area, leave it at peace and give him space,” the park said in the statement.
[ad_2]