2 people were seen 'harassing' a bison calf at Grand Teton National Park, officials say. Now authorities are trying to find them.
- Grand Teton National Park says two people were seen touching a bison calf on June 4.
- Rangers are investigating the incident and are looking for the two people involved.
Grand Teton National Park says two people were seen "harassing" a bison calf earlier this month, and now rangers are looking for information about them.
Officials from the Wyoming park said in a press release on Saturday that on June 4 at 1 p.m., two people were seen "approaching and touching a bison calf" in Grand Teton's Elk Ranch Flats.
"Interference by people can cause wildlife to reject their offspring," park officials said. "In this case, fortunately, the calf was successfully reunited with its herd, but often these interactions result in euthanizing the animal. Approaching wildlife can drastically affect their well-being and survival."
The park said the incident is under investigation and asked anyone who was in the Elk Ranch Flats area on June 4 who may have information to call the park's tip line at 307-739-3367.
Grand Teton did not immediately respond to Insider's request for updates or further information on the incident.
"It's important to view wildlife safely, responsibly and ethically. Treat all wildlife with caution and respect as they are wild, unpredictable and can be dangerous," park officials said in the press release. "The safety of visitors and wildlife depends on everyone playing a critical role in being a steward for wildlife by giving them the space they need to thrive — their lives depend on it."
Park officials urged visitors to keep a safe distance from wildlife and not to "tease, touch, frighten, or intentionally disturb" or feed any animals.
The incident at Grand Teton comes less than a month after a man pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife at Yellowstone National Park in an incident in which he picked up a struggling newborn bison calf who later had to be euthanized when its herd rejected it.
Morgan Warthin, chief of public affairs at Yellowstone, told Insider last week that visitors "get inappropriately close to wildlife" at the park "every day."
"Yellowstone provides millions of visitors one of the greatest wildlife viewing displays in North America," Warthin added in a press release. "In recent days, some actions by visitors have led to the endangerment of people and wildlife and resulted in the death of wildlife. The park calls on visitors to protect wildlife by understanding how their actions can negatively impact wildlife."