Yellowstone Tourist Put Bison Calf in Car Because They’re Worried It’s Cold

[MechAg94]

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2016/05/yellowstone-tourists-worried-bison-calf-is-cold-so-they-put-it-in-their-car/

Another story of clueless people who visit our parks.  I curious where the Bison's momma was.  I thought they were a bit protective.  

I guess they didn't realize the animal had it's own buffalo robe to help with the cold.

Richardson says on Monday, as students were being taught at Lamar Buffalo Ranch, a father and son pulled up at the ranger station with a bison calf in their SUV.

“They were demanding to speak with a ranger,” Richardson tells EastIdahoNews.com. “They were seriously worried that the calf was freezing and dying.”

Heusevelet says the rangers followed the pair back to where they had picked up the bison, and the animal was released.

Maybe the Rangers should have showed them a bear cub that looked cold.  

[K Frame]

 

[roo_ster]

Nope, nope, nopity-nope.

[Hawkmoon]

Words fail me ...

The worst part is that people like this breed.

[MechAg94]

The interesting thing to me is how clean the inside of that vehicle is.  If I tried to grab the average calf and put it into the back of an SUV, there would likely be a bit of a mess as they tend to relieve themselves when stressed. 

[Perd Hapley]

The interesting thing to me is how clean the inside of that vehicle is.  If I tried to grab the average calf and put it into the back of an SUV, there would likely be a bit of a mess as they tend to relieve themselves when stressed. 

I noticed that. I'm hoping it left the morons a gift, on its way out.

[makattak]

I noticed that. I'm hoping it left the morons a gift, on its way out.

Law enforcement rangers were called and the father-and-son tourists, who were from another country, were ticketed.

So, rental car, most likely.

Also, what other country could this be? My money says it has to be a European one. I suppose it could also be Japan, given the large numbers of people there without any experience outside an urban setting, but I'm still leaning towards Western Europe.

[TechMan]

I noticed that. I'm hoping it left the morons a gift, on its way out.

When I worked in Yellowstone in college, we preferred the term touron

[KD5NRH]

Never had bison veal.  Anybody tried it?

[BlueStarLizzard]

UPDATE: The National Park Service says the bison calf was rejected by its herd and had to be euthanized. Read more here. 

I hope the rangers sent a picture of the dead calf to the asshats who essentially killed it. 

[Perd Hapley]

Never had bison veal.  Anybody tried it?

I tried once. It didn't taste that great, because it was - wait for it - cold.


OK. Just saw the update about the late calf. That's terrible. I hope the tourons are still in country, or if not, that they end up paying a healthy fine, in any case.

[mtnbkr]

Is it possible they thought the calf was cold because it had already been rejected and was isolated?  The article wasn't clear on what made them think it was cold.

Chris

[BlueStarLizzard]

Is it possible they thought the calf was cold because it had already been rejected and was isolated?  The article wasn't clear on what made them think it was cold.

Chris

It really doesn't matter. If they thought something was wrong (and who knows, could have been) the thing to do would be to contact the rangers and let them handle it, not go willy nilly picking it up and sticking it in the back of their SUV.

[Perd Hapley]

It really doesn't matter. If they thought something was wrong (and who knows, could have been) the thing to do would be to contact the rangers and let them handle it, not go willy nilly picking it up and sticking it in the back of their SUV.

Or, just let it die. Because it's a wild animal.

[mtnbkr]

It really doesn't matter. If they thought something was wrong (and who knows, could have been) the thing to do would be to contact the rangers and let them handle it, not go willy nilly picking it up and sticking it in the back of their SUV.

I'm not excusing their action, just questioning if the death is fully on their hands.  If the animal had been rejected prior to them picking it up, then the death was unavoidable and not their responsibility.

Chris

[Perd Hapley]

I'm not excusing their action, just questioning if the death is fully on their hands.  If the animal had been rejected prior to them picking it up, then the death was unavoidable and not their responsibility.

Chris

That might help explain why the herd was not there to protect it from idjits.

[K Frame]

Words fail me ...

The worst part is that people like this breed.

Personally I love the damned things..

Season them right and the steaks and burgers are fantastic.

But as a back seat passenger?

NOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPE!

[Firethorn]

That might help explain why the herd was not there to protect it from idjits.

That's just what I was thinking.  If it hadn't been rejected Momma would have been around to say no to their little plan. 

Would also maybe explain why it let them put it in the SUV and not mess it up - it was probably already half-dead, and might actually have been cold, but more from starvation/dehydration because it hadn't nursed in way too long.

Which might explain why it was approaching people.  They were at least doing SOME physical things other than chase it off.

[wmenorr67]

The only question I have is why euthanize the calf?  I know it had been rejected but why couldn't it have been placed in a sanctuary and allowed to live?

[Balog]

The only question I have is why euthanize the calf?  I know it had been rejected but why couldn't it have been placed in a sanctuary and allowed to live?

Might have been sick and killing it was a quarantine measure? Just guessing.

[KD5NRH]

The only question I have is why euthanize the calf?  I know it had been rejected but why couldn't it have been placed in a sanctuary and allowed to live?

Considering the price of a bison, I'm sure someone would have been willing to come pick it up for free.

Might have been sick and killing it was a quarantine measure? Just guessing.

Not that hard to isolate it in a pen for a bit and see.  I mean, it let itself be loaded into an SUV, so it can't be that flighty.

[Firethorn]

Not that hard to isolate it in a pen for a bit and see.  I mean, it let itself be loaded into an SUV, so it can't be that flighty.

Probably very, very sick then.

[Boomhauer]

Damn it's nice not having to deal with tourists anymore...

[MechAg94]

Personally I love the damned things..

Season them right and the steaks and burgers are fantastic.

But as a back seat passenger?

NOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPE!

Based on what you quoted, I am not sure if you were talking about the Bison calf or the morons.   

[KD5NRH]

Probably very, very sick then.

Moderate hypothermia or hypoglycemia from simple lack of food would cause that, and both are pretty easy to fix.