A man who taunted a bison in Yellowstone National Park, beating his chest and waving his arms at the animal, was arrested in Glacier National Park for harassing wildlife.
Glacier rangers arrested Raymond Reinke, age 55, from Pendleton, Oregon shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, the two parks announced Friday. He was wanted after a video showing him approaching the bison on a Yellowstone park road went viral.
“We appreciate the collaboration of our fellow rangers in Glacier and Grand Teton national parks on this arrest. Harassing wildlife is illegal in any national park," said Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk on Friday.
According to park officials, Reinke had been traveling to multiple national parks over the last week. On July 28, he was first arrested by law enforcement rangers at Grand Teton National Park for a drunk and disorderly conduct incident, Yellowstone officials said, adding that he spent the night in the Teton County Jail, and was then released on bond.
Following his release, he traveled to Yellowstone National Park, where rangers stopped his vehicle for a traffic violation on July 31. Reinke appeared to be intoxicated and argumentative, they said. He was cited as a passenger for failure to wear a seat belt. It is believed that after that traffic stop, Reinke encountered the bison, the park release said.
Yellowstone rangers received several wildlife harassment reports from concerned visitors and found Reinke later that evening, issuing a citation requiring a court appearance. The video of the event surfaced after that citation had been issued.
On Thursday, August 2, Yellowstone rangers connected Reinke’s extensive history, and seeing the egregious nature of the wildlife violation, the Assistant U.S. Attorney requested his bond be revoked. The request was granted and on the night of August 2, a warrant was issued for Reinke’s arrest.
Reinke had told rangers that his plans were to travel to Glacier National Park, where rangers began looking for his vehicle. Simultaneous with that search, rangers responded to the Many Glacier Hotel because two guests were arguing and creating a disturbance in the hotel dining room. Rangers identified one of the individuals involved as Reinke.
Glacier rangers transported Reinke to Helena late Thursday, where they met Yellowstone rangers. Yellowstone rangers transported Reinke to Mammoth Hot Springs and booked him into the Yellowstone Jail. He was scheduled for a court appearance Friday.
Comments
Thankfully this isn't a normal national park traveler. Ban the people traveling with him too.
You are dumb enough to harrass the bison or any other wildlife you deserve what the animals give you.You got caught aba fined, consider yourself lucky. You could have been killed by the buffalo. They can move faster than you can blink & turn on a dime with lightening speed. You should be banned from all parks and natural reserves. However, you keep pushing it and the Darwin law will take effect. Survival of the fittest.
the guy has no respect for nothing. such a behavior ensures that you can not leave the cars in the parks soon.
I was rooting for the bison. Look up the word "idiot" in the dictionary, and this video and his mug shot will be there. The person who said "you have to show him who is boss". I am sure there is room for two mug shots.
Me too!!
Great job Rangers! Continue to protect our National Parks and wildlife! Great job to the video taker and thank you for posting!!!!!!!
Not only should this idiot be banned from all National parks, he should be banned from access to all animals and lose his drivers license so he can't do this again.
One a them thar jackets with the reely long sleeves oughta fit this bozo just fine!