The incident occurred on Sunday, April 21, when Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls, Idaho, approached the bison too closely on a road near the park's West Entrance.

According to a National Park Service news release, park rangers received a report of an individual harassing a herd of bison and kicking one of them in the leg. Rangers located Yoder's vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Following the incident, Yoder was taken to a nearby medical facility where he was evaluated, treated, and later released. However, his encounter with the bison resulted in an unspecified injury. He was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center in Bozeman, Montana.

Yoder now faces multiple charges, including being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that may endanger oneself, disorderly conduct creating a hazardous condition, approaching wildlife, and disturbing wildlife. His travel companion, McKenna Bass of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was also arrested and charged with driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation, and disturbing wildlife.

Court documents obtained by CNN revealed that both Yoder and Bass pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived their rights to be represented by attorneys on April 22.

The penalties for each violation could amount to fines of up to $5,000 and six months in jail. The case is still under investigation, as stated in the National Park Service release.

Yellowstone National Park authorities caution visitors about the potential dangers posed by wildlife and natural hazards. They emphasize that animals in the park are wild and can be dangerous when approached. The park advises maintaining a minimum distance of 25 yards (23 meters) from large animals such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) from bears and wolves.

The park highlighted that this incident marked the first reported visitor injury caused by a bison in 2024, with one reported incident in 2023 and three in 2022. Yellowstone National Park is home to fully grown male bison that can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) and boast impressive agility, with the ability to run up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) and leap over objects up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) high. These animals can also display aggressive behavior.

Officials at Yellowstone urge visitors to exercise caution and respect the wildlife, reminding them to keep a safe distance and follow the park's guidelines. It serves as a stark reminder that ignoring these precautions can have serious consequences.