Man injured after kicking bison in the leg while under the influence of alcohol in Yellowstone

(NEW YORK) – A 40-year-old man who allegedly kicked a bison in the leg while under the influence of alcohol in Yellowstone National Park was injured by the animal and arrested, officials say.

Clarence Yoder, a 40-year-old man from Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached a bison in Yellowstone National Park on the afternoon of April 21 and was injured by the animal on the West Entrance Road near the Seven Mile Bridge, seven miles away. east of the park’s western entrance, according to a statement from the National Park Service.

“Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual harassing a herd of bison and kicking a bison in the leg,” officials said in a statement describing the altercation. “They located the suspect’s vehicle near the west entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.”

Yoder was arrested and charged with being under the influence of alcohol to a degree likely to endanger self, disorderly conduct creating or maintaining a dangerous condition, approaching wildlife and disturbing wildlife.

The driver of the vehicle Yoder was driving, 37-year-old McKenna Bass, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was also arrested and cited for driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield emergency lights and disturbing wildlife.

Yoder and Bass appeared in court on April 22 and pleaded not guilty to the charges, authorities said. Each violation can result in fines of up to $5,000 and six months in prison.

Yoder, who suffered minor injuries from the encounter with the bison, was taken to a nearby medical facility following the incident, where he was medically evaluated, treated and released from medical care. He was then taken to the Gallatin County Detention Center.

“It is your responsibility to follow safety regulations and view wildlife from a safe distance,” the National Park Service said. “The animals in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous if you approach them. When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a built-up area, give it space. Stay more than 75 feet away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and coyotes – and at least 300 feet away from bears and wolves. If necessary, turn around and go the other way to avoid coming into contact with a nearby wild animal.

This is the first reported incident of a visitor being injured by a bison in 2024. The last reported incident occurred on July 17, 2023. There was one reported incident in 2023 and three in 2022, park officials said.

The incident remains under investigation and no further details about the altercation are expected anytime soon.