You saved the calf with good intentions, but ended up causing the calf to be euthanized?

In Yellowstone National Park in the United States, it is common to encounter North American bison (Bison bison).

Last month, a man encountered a calf that fell into the water here. He immediately "heroically" rescued the calf, but unexpectedly, this caused the calf to be euthanized and he was fined more than $1,000 .

A male tourist and the calf he rescued｜Hellen Jack / National Park Service

Good intentions kill the cow

Yellowstone National Park is a sanctuary for bison . Due to habitat loss and hunting, the once millions of bison were close to extinction. Through breeding, protection and migration, the bison population has gradually recovered. In 2022, the number of bison in Yellowstone Park is estimated to be 5,900. Today, the bison population has long returned to a healthy state and no longer needs additional breeding and protection from humans.

Yellowstone Bison Herd | National Park Service

The unfortunate bison calf was separated from its mother while following the herd across the Lamar River in northeastern Yellowstone Park. A man passing by found the calf struggling in the water, rescued it and pushed it onto the road. However, when the ranger tried to return the bison calf to the herd, the herd refused to accept it .

After many failed attempts, the park had to euthanize the bison - after all, a lone calf running around is a potential danger to tourists . At the same time, after being locked up by the park, the kind-hearted man was convicted of disturbing wildlife and fined a total of more than $1,000.

In fact, this is not the first time that tourists have been "helpful but unhelpful" in Yellowstone National Park. In 2016, two tourists put a bison calf in their car because they thought the animal looked cold and uncomfortable . The outcome was similar to this time - the calf was rejected by the herd and the park had to euthanize it .

Baby bison in a car will only make it more uncomfortable | Karen Richardson

Why did the park have to kill the calf?

Yellowstone National Park explained in a statement that euthanasia may sound cruel, but it is the most appropriate and almost the only way to deal with it. Human intervention in wild animal cubs will cause them to be rejected by the animal group , which may be because the cubs have been away from their families for too long . Food shortages may also exacerbate the rejection of strange cubs. Not only will unaccepted cubs have difficulty surviving, but they will also pose a danger to visitors in the national park.

Wagyu Mama Sticky｜Rich Keen, DPRA

So why can't the calf be sent to an animal sanctuary? First, according to regulations from Wyoming and Montana, bison cannot be transported out of Yellowstone Park unless they need to be sent to meat processing or scientific research institutions. Second, most of the North American bison living in Yellowstone Park carry Brucella , a bacteria that does not affect the survival of bison but can be transmitted to livestock, causing infertility and low milk production in domestic dairy cows . Therefore, bison must be quarantined for Brucella before being sent to a protected group outside the park. However, months of quarantine are not suitable for this calf that cannot take care of itself.

Animal death is a natural law and a necessary part of maintaining the food chain . Now, the calf's carcass has returned to the land of Yellowstone Park , just like the newborn calves that did not survive. Yellowstone Park said, "These deaths provide food for a variety of animals, including bears, wolves, birds and insects. It is our management responsibility to allow this cycle of life to occur."

Therefore, what seems to be an act of goodwill is actually meddling in nature's "business" and a lack of understanding of park regulations and wildlife protection methods.

Keep your distance from wild animals

Approaching wild animals can affect their survival and well-being . A struggling bison calf in a national park may not need human help, and a lone fawn in the forest may just be its mother waiting to be hunted. Yellowstone Park intervenes with animals only in certain circumstances , such as when human life and property are threatened, when necessary to protect other park resources and facilities, or to restore natural ecosystems that have been damaged by humans.

Let me take a closer look at the park's rules. Oh, "Back off and let nature take its course." | National Park Service

National parks and zoos have different purposes . National parks provide a free living space for wild animals, while also creating conditions for the symbiosis of humans and nature. Artificial feeding and rehabilitation of wild animals are inconsistent with the mission of national parks. These behaviors not only disrupt natural selection, but also create an atmosphere in which wild animals need help or protection from people to survive.

In Yellowstone National Park, feeding, touching, teasing, scaring or intentionally disturbing wild animals are all criminal acts and will be subject to fines; the park also stipulates that visitors need to keep a safe distance of at least 23 meters from wild animals. In fact, whether considering the possible disturbance of animals caused by human approach or the harm and germs that animals may bring to humans, it is better to keep a distance from animals - whether in national parks, protected areas or zoos.

Yellowstone Park stipulates that visitors need to keep a distance of more than 23 meters from wild animals and at least 91 meters from bears and wolves｜National Park Service

So, what should we do when we encounter wild animals in the wild that may need help? The answer is - don't rush to help blindly ! We may not know the relevant rescue knowledge, we don't know whether the animal is sick, and we don't know whether the animal will attack.

We can call the local wildlife rescue center or forestry department and ask professionals to help . After all, finding animals in need and seeking professional help for them is the first step in rescue.

If you want to learn more about how ordinary people can help animals, you can also read the following articles:

What should you do if you encounter a stranded whale?

How to help a baby bird in distress?

Don’t rescue little animals easily!

References

[1] https://phys.org/news/2023-05-yellowstone-baby-bison-death-visitor.html

[2]https://www.npr.org/2023/06/01/1179397029/yellowstone-bison-calf-clifford-walters-guilty

[3] White, PJ, Wallen, RL, Geremia, C., Treanor, JJ, & Blanton, DW (2011). Management of Yellowstone bison and brucellosis transmission risk–Implications for conservation and restoration. Biological Conservation, 144(5), 1322-1334.

[4] https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

[5] Regulations on Sanjiangyuan National Park (Trial Implementation)

[6]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/how-to-safely-help-wild-baby-animals

Author: Bowl

Editor: Mai Mai

Image credit: Rich Keen, DPRA

This article comes from GuokrNature (ID: GuokrNature)

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