An Oregon man was arrested in Glacier National Park for taunting a bison in Yellowstone earlier in the week/Lindsey Jones video
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
I hope this guy is banned from all National Parks. What a jerk.
He needs to serve time and be banned forever from any parks. He is on a crash course with the end.
This guy seems like he's on a suicide trip... needs help big time.
I'm with Debbie's post. Time, AND permanent ban.
Let the wildlife alone.
This guy should be banned for life.
He's an out-of-control alcoholic and needs help. In the meantime, jail. Fines.
Should be ban from all nation parks, heavily fined and sit in federal prison for a time
People like this think they are above the rules. All three incidents where he encountered officers and then the bison indicate that he needs to be put away for a long time.