Yellowstone |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
|
Sunday, May 25, 1986 Gallatin NF (Sphynx Creek) - about 3 mi from park Two guys horn-hunting. Saw 2 cubs going up trees & immediately went for trees themselves. Think bear was grizzly. Each climbed Doug Firs w/ lots of limbs to the ground. Bear climbed one tree to 60' & yanked guy out - he fell to ground through limbs. (Question whether it was griz cuz of height climbed, but seems likely) She mauled guy when he hit ground. Other guy screamed, so she went after him. He held on to tree, but she mauled his feet. Original guy climbed back of tree, but sow went up again. Clawed on his shoulder, but he played dead. Bear left. Man injured worst carried out by other to road. Got out 2000. Drove to Livingston hospital. Injuries to #1: Severe abrasions, lacerations on chest, punctures in one foot & heel. #2: Fractured ankle, lacerated & punctured shoulder. Nothing life-threatening. Will later be able to determine whether griz of black bear. No action to be taken against bear. Both individuals had been arrested for poaching, horn-hunting & other felony violations. Got conviction on them 2 yrs ago.
Hiker near Craig Pass. Hiker ran. Bear chased and knocked him down, biting on the thigh. Four puncture wounds. Treated & released. No name. Bison goring. Victim hit under rib cage. May undergo surgery. Yellowstone location unknown. Three rapes in Yellowstone. Unrelated.
Yellowstone National Park officials report that a bear incident occurred in the Turbid take area of the park at approximately 12:30 p.m., Sunday, July 20. A.F., 29, of Bitche, France, was day hiking, alone, along Turbid Creek, just north of turbid Lake, when he noticed elk running towards him. Shortly after that, Mr. A.F. heard noise in the brush approximately 10 yards away. A.F. saw a bear he guessed to be a female grizzly with one cub of the year running at him. As the bear charged, Mr. A.F. crouched to the ground to protect himself. The bear produced several puncture wounds to Mr. A.F.'s upper and lower left leg, lower left back, punctures and lacerations to his upper left arm, and dislocated his left shoulder. Within a short time, the bears left the area. Mr. A.F. hiked out to the road where he was given a ride to the Lake Hospital. He was treated, hospitalized overnight for observation, and will be released sometime today. Pelican Valley and the area surrounding Turbid Lake has been closed to all hiking until further notice. Stock parties will continue to be allowed to travel through the area throughout the duration of the closure. Park officials report that in addition to this closure, the Indian Creek Campground is also temporarily closed until further notice. A female grizzly bear has frequently been observed in the campground and surrounding area. Park officials hope the temporary closure will allow the bear to leave the vicinity without exposure to human foods, as well as to ensure visitor's safety and prevent further incidence between the bear and visitors.
Location: Milepost 23, Hiway 191 Summary: Two car collision -- all three in one vehicle killed, single person in other vehicle not seriously injured. Latter vehicle crossed road and hit former head-on. Driver of vehicle who caused accident apparently fell asleep at wheel.
Location: Near Otter Creek Picnic Area Ranger(s) found an unattended vehicle near Otter Creek Picnic Area on the evening of October 4. Vehicle was still there on October 5, so check was conducted of backcountry permits - none were found that could be correlated with the car. A registry check was conducted and it was found that the car was owned by a man from Billings. On Monday a female friend was contacted and it was determined that the man went to Yellowstone to do some photography. On the evening of October 6, a hasty search was conducted but the man was not found. Plans were made to conduct a helicopter search today, but rangers first checked on Bear 59 when it was noticed that she was in the area and had been inactive lately. Rangers found the bear feeding on a body at the scene. The bear was shot, the scene was secured and an investigation is being conducted. Cause of death unknown. Confirmation of victim not yet made. Bear 59 is reported to be a "neutral" bear with no known prior confrontations; she had, however, been moved before.
Location: Big Game Ridge on Mt. Hancock Mr. H.K. was flying his Cessna 180 from Idaho Falls to Jackson when his plane went off course and disappeared during a storm. It was not possible to mount a search immediately due to weather conditions, but about 35 NPS (from Yellowstone and Grand Teton), Forest Service, BCD and Teton's Sheriffs Office personnel were eventually fielded on a search. Since H.K.'s plane was white and several feet of snow had fallen, it took until 9 am on the 5th before the wreckage was found. Mr. H.K. had died in or after the crash.
Location: Yellowstone Lake C.L.Q. was found floating face down in the water near where he had been fishing. It was estimated that he had been in the water for a short period of time. CPR was started, and he was evacuated by helicopter to Idaho Falls Hospital in Idaho Falls, ID. He never regained consciousness. C.L.Q. had been on medication to prevent seizures. His mother B.B., and his stepfather, J.B. are both Park Service employees at Yellowstone.
Location: Tower Junction The horses pulling the concessioner-operated stagecoach from Roosevelt Camp bolted for unknown reasons, and the stage slowly rolled over. There were 3 wranglers and 19 passengers on board. Of these, 12 were taken to the hospital; 4 were released without treatment, 5 were treated, and 3 were held overnight in the hospital. None of the injuries was serious. Note: The following occurred in the park over the three-day weekend: 70 citations were issued for various offenses, three DWI arrests were made, 26 people were transported to hospitals for a variety of reasons, 10 motor vehicle accidents occurred, 2 minor searches were conducted, and 7 structural fire alarms were recorded (but only 1 minor fire).
Location: West Yellowstone Entrance An unidentified individual came on foot to entrance station where a male MPS employee was on duty. Individual had a large caliber silver revolver, and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and ski mask. Described to be 61- 6' 2", medium build. He took $470 and ran into a wooded area. Approximately 10 or more rangers searched into the night with dogs. A search of the bars in West Yellowstone was also performed. Checkpoints were established with the help of several officers from the West Yellowstone Police Department. Investigation continuing.
Location: Mammoth/Tower Road A vehicle driven by K.M. flipped over a stone retaining wall and fell 200'. K.M. and S.M., who was a passenger, were thrown from the vehicle. Witnesses notified park rangers from the Tower district. S.M. was flown from the scene by Eannoc Life Flight to Eastern Idaho Medical Center where he died the following day due to multiple injuries. K.M. was treated and released. An investigation to determine the cause of the accident is continuing.
Location: Billings, Montana Two men who were arrested this week in Billings after an attempted bank robbery and shoot-out have been connected with the killing of six elk in Yellowstone on October 2nd this year. The two were on a ten-day crime spree that went from Montana to Denver to the west coast and back to Montana, and were caught while attempting to rob a bank that they had robbed ten days earlier. The two were in possession of weapons that they had stolen in Oregon. They have admitted to numerous incidents of shooting elk and deer, pointing weapons at people, and some "more serious crimes" that have not yet been explained.
Location: Shoshone Geyser Basin Mr. J.M.W., an employee with TW Recreational Services at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, was on a ski trip with friends. He was reportedly walking alone in the Shoshone Geyser Basin near his group's campsite when he apparently fell into one of the thermal pools and suffered second degree burns to approximately 60 - 70% of his body. When he returned to the campsite, his companions administered basic first aid, then two of them began skiing north towards the Old Faithful area to obtain further help. At about 4 a.m, park rangers were notified and began a ground rescue effort. Heavy falling snow, high winds, very poor visibility and about 2' of new snow greatly hindered rescue efforts and prevented use of aircraft. At about 10:30 am, J.M.W. apparently stopped breathing and his companions began CPR. Rangers who had skiied in arrived at the scene at 11:30 and continued CPR until 1 pm, when a Mammoth Clinic physician advised them to stop via radio. An attempt will be made to recover his body by helicopter this morning. CALL-OUT 2/9/88 (Shoshone Geyser Basin Fatality) 6:30 p.m. Yellowstone Park officials report a fatality occurred in the park Tuesday (yesterday) that appears to have been the result of complications from second degree burns received by a backcountry skier who apparently fell into a thermal pool in the Shoshone Geyser Basin in the southeast area of the park, appvoximacoly 11 miles south of the Old Faithful area. According to park officials, J.M.W., 24, of Weturapka, Alabama, a TW Recreational Services, winter employee at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, was reportedly walking alone in the Shoshone Geyser Basin, on the west side of Shoshone Lake near his group's campsite, when he apparently fell into one of the thermal pools and suffered second degree burns to approximately 60-70% of his body; primarily the lower 2/3 of his body. The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m., Monday night, February 8. When Mr. J.M.W. returned to the five-party tentsite, his companions administered basic first aid by removing his wet clothing, placing him in a sleeping bag, and elevating his feet in an effort to treat him for shock. Shortly after the incident occurred, two members of the party began skiing north towards the Old Faithful area to obtain further help. At approximately 4:00 a.m., park rangers were notified about the incident and began a ground rescue effort. Heavy falling snow, high winds, very poor visibility, and approximately two feet of newly fallen snow greatly hindered rescue efforts and in turn prevented use of aircraft in the park. Rangers were forced to ski south into the Shoshone Lake area via the Lone Star Geyser trail. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Mr. J.M.W. apparently stopped breathing and his companions attempted to perform CPR at that time. Rangers made contact with the backcountry party at approximately 11:30 a.m. CPR was continued until almost 1:00 p.m. when the rangers were advised to stop CPR after consultation with the Mammoth Clinic physician via park radio. More than 20 park rangers and other personnel were involved in the rescue effort. In view of this incident, park officials remind all park visitors of the extreme danger posed by approaching too closely to any thermal feature in Yellowstone. Surface crusts surrounding thermal features are very thin and fragile and water temperatures can often exceed 190° F. The incident is currently under investigation at this time.
Location: Hayden Valley A Piper Supercub which was under contract to the park, went down while conducting an eagle survey in the north end of Hayden Valley. Pilot Bill Chapman of Sagebrush Arrow Flight Service and NPS Biologist Terry McEneany were both treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released. The crash occurred as the plane was making low, tight turns to observe an eagle nest and the wing-tip struck the ground. QAS has been notified and is investigating.
Location: Highway 191 S.B., the driver, apparently fell asleep while driving. The vehicle left the roadway, rolling several times. B.H., a passenger, died due to injuries sustained in the accident.
Location: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone On August 6th, D.R., 7, of Scottsburgh, Indiana, fell 130' from the Uncle Tom Trail in Yellowstone. D.R. had been sitting on a bench along the trail and apparently slipped through the railing and fell into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. D.R. was alive at the time of his evacuation, but died while hospitalized on the 8th.
Location: Near Lake On August 5th, B.L., 41, of Los Angeles, California, was attempting photograph a bison near Lake in Yellowstone. B.L. approached too close to the animal and was butted. His injuries were limited to two fractures ribs.
On the night of February 6th, D.A., 48, of Geraldine, Montana, was snowmobiling on a park road with several friends when he collided with a bison and suffered a broken neck and head and chest injuries. CPR was begun by his friends and later continued by rangers, but without success. When last seen, the bison was still walking around. D.A.'s friends admitted that they had all been drinking heavily before the incident. (Dan Sholly, CR, YELL).
On the morning of August 16, 1988, a 20-year-old Job Corps member from Salt Lake City was sexually assaulted by a Utah State Prison inmate while both were in a fire camp for the North Fork Fire. The assailant, R.L., 33, of Layton, Utah, pleaded guilty to a charge of felony sexual abuse on January 27th. The victim has since filed a federal suit against R.L. and Utah corrections officials seeking unspecified damages, lost wages and medical and court costs. The suit charges that Utah officials were negligent for placing Lopez on the fire crew and for failing to properly guard him. (Denver Post, 2/9/89).
Just after 3 p.m. on the afternoon of Friday, June 9th, 18-year-old B.H. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, walked into the visitor center at Old Faithful, drew out a .30 caliber Ruger revolver, and ordered everyone inside to lie down. Women and children in the building were released within a few minutes, but B.H. held eight hostages for the next three hours. The hostages included an employee of the Yellowstone Natural History Association, two seasonal interpretive rangers and five male visitors. Park rangers responded, cordoned off the area and employed rangers trained in hostage negotiation to talk with B.H. via phone. Ranger Joe Evans served is incident commander. Ranger Bundy Phillips conducted telephone negotiations with B.H., who had his gun trained on the hostages much of the time. Although B.H. was calm while on the phone, a check with the Baton Rouge sheriff's office revealed that he was listed as a missing person who was suicidal and had threatened to take someone with him when he went. At 6 p.m., B.H. suddenly told everyone to leave, and the hostages quickly left the building. At 8 p.m., he put his gun down and walked out of the visitor center. B.H. was taken into custody and transported to Jackson, Wyoming, where he will undergo a psychiatric examination. B.H. told rangers that he had planned the incident, and that he had intended to carry it off at either Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. (John Chapman, RCR, RAD/RMRO, via phone report to RAD/WASO; supplemental information from 6/10 Associated Press story).
Some time during the night of June 10th or the early morning hours of June 11th, 38-year-old M.J.W. of Sumpter, Oregon, broke into the new water treatment plant at Old Faithful and began smashing gauges, lights, instruments and other equipment with a hammer. When the plant operator arrived around 8:15 a.m. on the 11th, he saw broken window glass and heard more glass breaking within the building. He summoned park rangers, who arrived and arrested M.J.W.. The park has since determined that about $25,000 in damage was done to the plant, but M.J.W. has so far refused to say anything about his motives. Since the possibility existed that M.J.W. might have put some substance in the water, the park put up signs discouraging visitors from drinking water in the Old Faithful area. Water samples were taken and sent to labs in Bozeman and Denver. Investigating rangers found that M.J.W. drove to the area in a vehicle, but that he had gone into Gardner and given it away, then hitchhiked into the park; when the vehicle was eventually located, rangers found that it had been totally destroyed, presumably by M.J.W.. M.J.W. was to appear before the magistrate at Mammoth on Monday morning. (Gary Brown, ACR, YELL, via telephone report to RAD/WASO).
Just before 2 p.m. on the afternoon of the 11th, TW Services employee K.K., 22, told friends that she was going to take a one or two-hour walk on a trail leading out of the Old Faithful area and that she'd be back in time for dinner at 5 p.m. K.K. failed to return, however, and rangers were notified that she was missing on the morning of the 12th. A search of area trails has been begun. (John Chapman, RCR, RMR, via telephone report to RAD/WASO).
Searchers have found TW Services employee K.K., 22, who failed to return from a walk in the Old Faithful area on the 11th. She had joined some other hikers and had not notified friends upon her return. (Telephone report from CRO, YELL).
On the afternoon of August 10th, three major mudslides and about a dozen moderate slides occurred in the park as a result of heavy rains. Because of the intensity of the rain and the fact that there had been several minor slides recently, rangers Rob Dana and Bonita Garrett were on patrol searching for such situations before the slides occurred. While returning from the patrol, they saw a camper which had been swept into the Gibbon River by a slide. Realizing that there were people trapped within the vehicle, Dana and Garrett jumped into the river, swam to the camper, extricated the family of three, and brought them to shore. The rangers then took that family and other people from eight vehicles trapped between various mudslides and walked them to safety. Heavy equipment was sent to remove the biggest slides between Gibbon Falls and Gibbon Meadow. (Associated Press, along with supplemental information telefaxed from RAD/RMRO).
Around 6 p.m on the evening of the 16th, M.A.E., 19, a Hamilton Stores concession employee from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was descending from the summit of Mount Holmes when he surprised a bear with her three cubs. The bear, thought to have been a grizzly, was about 20 yards away; she quickly shooed her cubs away, then charged M.A.E.. M.A.E. put up a brief fight, then decided to curl up in a ball and play dead. The bear pummeled and mauled him briefly, then left with her cubs. M.A.E. was able to hike out, and received medical assistance from another hiker on the trail. He arrived at the park clinic late last night, where he was treated for superficial wounds, abrasions, minor puncture wounds, claw scratches on his chest and a bite on one of his feet. (Telephone report from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL).
On July 28th, Grant Village ranger Kim Carry observed a woman walking off- road in the Back Basin of the West Thumb thermal area. The woman appeared to be spreading something on the ground. Concession employee Joyce Vonneida said she believed that the park could not recover from the fires, so she had "adopted" the Back Basin as a project. The plant species she possessed was Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens), one of the 100 or so exotic species listed in the park. She was charged with introducing non-native plants to the park; she received a $100 fine, which was suspended. (Courtesy of "The Buffalo Chip", resource management newsletter, YELL).
At 11 p.m. on the 3rd, H.T., 65, and his wife C.T., 75, of Bothos, Washington, were driving westbound on Canyon Road when their vehicle left the road and hit a tree. Both were killed. Park roads were reported to be extremely hazardous at the time due to ice and snow, despite park efforts to keep them cleared. (Tim Hudson, YELL, via telephone report to RAD through USPP dispatch).
On the afternoon of June 9th, 18-year-old B.H. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, took over the visitor center at Old Faithful and held eight people hostage for about three hours before surrendering to park rangers. On the 12th, U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer found B.H. innocent of kidnapping due to mental illness and ordered him held in a mental hospital until it can be shown that he is no longer a threat to himself or others. Brimmer issued the judgement after hearing testimony from three psychologists who said B.H. had a history of mental illness and that at the time he took the hostages his mental state had deteriorated further as a result of being diagnosed as suffering from skin cancer. (United Press report, 12/12/89).
At 3:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, a 27-year-old TW concession employee was skiing in the Biscuit Basin area near Old Faithful when he was attacked by a coyote. He was returning on a trail he'd made in the morning when he came upon a coyote sitting on the trail. The coyote ran towards him, he fell, and the coyote then began attacking him. He struck the coyote with a ski and was able to drive him away, but sustained lacerations and puncture wounds to his skull, forehead and both arms and hands. He is presently in a hospital in Bozeman, Montana. Over the past week, there have been a number of incidents in the Old Faithful area in which individuals have been charged by coyotes. At least four separate animals were involved in these incidents. Rangers were in the process of tracking one of the four when this attack occurred. Last night, two coyotes were tracked and killed, and rangers are looking for others this morning. The coyote involved in the attack has escaped, however. None of the animals showed any signs of rabies, and current speculation is that the coyotes, who have been fed by visitors and become habituated to them, may have attacked because they are not getting the handouts they've become accustomed to receiving. (Telephone report from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 8 a.m. EST, 1/4/90).
On November 28, 1989, D.W. and K.B. of Idaho Falls, Idaho, were sentenced in district court in Cheyenne to 30 days in jail and fined $1,210 each after pleading guilty to transporting illegally taken wildlife, a Lacey Act violation. D.W. and K.B. had shot a bull elk at Madison Junction, about 14 miles inside the park from the West Entrance, on October 11, 1988. They left the carcass in the Madison River after removing only the head and antlers. The elk was tagged with a valid Idaho hunting permit and entered into a large bull contest sponsored by a local Idaho bar, where it won first place. An anonymous telephone call to Yellowstone rangers resulted in an investigation into the incident by rangers and a USFWS agent, which in turn led to the arrest of D.W. and K,.B. During the sentencing, Chief District Judge Clarence Bremmer told the men that they had violated a national heritage and had decreased the public's enjoyment of the park by removing a magnificent animal for their personal gratification. On December 19, 1989, J.R., 35, and D.J., 56, plead guilty to state wildlife violations before the justice of the peace in West Yellowstone. H. was charged with the illegal sale of wild game and the illegal killing of two moose north of West Yellowstone; he was sentenced to two years in jail, fined a total of $6,070, and had his state hunting privileges suspended for ten years. D.J. was charged with illegally transporting and possessing both animals; he was sentenced to a year and a half in jail, fined $2,552.50 and had his hunting privileges suspended for three years. A local citizen had told a West Yellowstone police officer that H. and D.J. had illegally killed a moose calf north of town in mid- November and that they were selling the meat. Since it was not known whether or not the offense had occurred within the park, rangers were notified and assisted in the investigation. An undercover Montana state game warden was introduced to H. and D.J. by the informant, and H. offered to take the warden on another moose hunt on December 17th. H. also sold the warden some of the meat. On the 17th, H., the warden and the informant used snowmobiles to track a moose and calf from the park boundary to Rainbow Point campground in the Gallatin National Forest. H. shot the cow and offered to kill the calf, but the warden and informant told him that it would be enough trouble just to get the cow back to town. The moose was quartered and taken to H.'s house in a Park Service undercover vehicle. H. again sold some of the moose meat to the warden. On the evening of the 18th, state game wardens, park rangers and local police arrested J.R. at his residence; D.J. was later arrested at a local bar. Over 25 weapons were found inside the house. H. has served several terms in the Montana and South Dakota penitentiaries for burglary. ATF agents from Helena, Montana, will be charging him with illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon. (CompuServe message from Dan Shelly, CR, YELL, 4 p.m. EST, 1/5/90).
On January 22nd, park employees were removing a leaky oil tank from the ground near some residences in the lower Mammoth housing area when the tank broke apart and spilled 300 to 400 gallons of oil. Ground water in the area was affected. The park has been skimming the oil with a pump, and Wyoming authorities have been notified. The state may send in a recovery team to assist the park in removing the oil. (Terry Danforth, Emergency Services Coordinator, YELL, via telefax report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 2 p.m. EST, 1/23/90).
The park has sent further information correcting the report which appeared in the January 24th morning report. The oil spill in the lower Mammoth housing area resulted entirely from a slow leak in a fuel tank which had been occurring since Christmas, not from the removal of the tank. Only 150 gallons were spilled. (Tim Hudson, Chief of Maintenance, YELL, via telefax report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 5 p.m. EST, 1/29/90).
On the afternoon of February 25th, 11-year-old D.C.C. of Livingston, Montana, snowmobiled with his family and friends from Mammoth to Canyon. When the group stopped near the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, D.C.C. and a 13-year-old friend ran ahead of their families down a trail to a point which overlooked the falls. Snow and ice had piled up to the top of the railing at the overlook; when D.C.C. slipped, and fell, there was nothing to check him. from falling the 200 feet to the ice cone at the bottom of the falls. An emergency medical technician rappelled down 300 feet from a helicopter to retrieve D.C.C., who was pronounced dead of multiple injuries after being flown out. of the canyon. (Telephone report from. Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 2/26/90).
On March 16th, D.E. of Elko, Nevada, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a four-day jury trial in district court in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The conviction resulted from an automotive fatality which occurred in the park on the night of October 23, 1988. On that evening, D.E. and his girl friend, D.K., got into an argument in a bar in West Yellowstone. After they left the bar, they headed into the park on the west entrance road. D.E. was driving the truck at a speed estimated at 90 m.p.h. when he lost control of the vehicle, went off the road, and travelled over 400 feet through a dense lodgepole forest. The vehicle was totally destroyed, and D.K. was apparently killed instantly when the truck hit the first of six trees. Neither D.E. nor D.K. was wearing seatbelts. Two rangers on their way to Old Faithful saw a spare tire and pieces of wood on the road; when they searched the area with lights, they saw the wrecked truck in the woods with D.E.'s head leaning out the driver's window. His feet were pinned under the pedals and he had suffered a broken left femur, broken right ankle and steering wheel injuries to the abdomen. As soon as one of the ranger's touched him, D.E. became alert and immediately stated that D.K. had been driving. After the two were extricated from the vehicle, tests were taken to determine their blood alcohol levels. D.K.'s was determined to have been 0.29% at the time of the accident; D.E.'s was 0.15%. During subsequent interviews, D.E. stated that D.K. would not let him drive the truck, and that he pulled her from behind the wheel when he felt the truck leave the road, got his feet on the pedals and attempted to stop the vehicle. During the trial, however, D.E. testified that he did not remember anything about the accident except that he was a passenger in the truck. Two witnesses testified that they saw the two leave the bar together, and that D.E. drove away at a high rate of speed. Based on these statements and the position of the victims in the vehicle, the jury determined that D.E. was the operator. He has not yet been sentenced, but will face a maximum of five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. (Bob Mihan, LES, YELL, via CompuServe report to RAD/WASO, 4/2/90).
As a result of an investigation concluded in March, P.D.C. of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, will be charged with the illegal killing and transportation of a large bull elk from Norris Junction on the night of September 26, 1989. The incident began on September 27th, when Grant Village rangers contacted P.D.C., who was camped illegally at the Riddle Lake trailhead. The rangers found elk parts scattered in the parking lot and woods next to his vehicle, but P.D.C. claimed that the elk had been killed during archery season in northern Montana. Although P.D.C. had a valid Montana hunting license, the antlers were not tagged. He was issued violation notices for improper food storage and transporting the carcass through the park without a permit. The elk was taken to Mammoth, where a Montana state game warden interviewed P.D.C. and issued him another citation for failure to tag the animal. The next day, a visitor reported finding the carcass of an illegally killed elk in the Norris area. Rangers examined and photographed the animal and collected the skull and remaining cape. Further investigation revealed that the elk had been killed by a high-powered rifle and that an arrow had been forced into the wound. A special agent for the USFWS was notified and took over the investigation. Another FWS agent interviewed P.D.C. in Tennessee last month and seized a large elk rack from him. The skull plate on the rack matched the skull from the Norris elk. If convicted of the Lacey Act violation, P.D.C. could forfeit his vehicle and weapons and be fined $10,000 and/or sentenced to ten years in prison. (Bob Mihan, LES, YELL, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO, 4/2/90).
On May 22nd, G.S.B., 40, of Livingston, Montana, pleased guilty to charges of illegally possessing wildlife parts and violating a condition of his probation for his 1987 conviction of collecting antlers inside the park. G.S.B. was arrested by park rangers on April 14, 1980, on the Stevens Creek road in the north park of the park for removing and possessing 14 elk antlers and a mule deer skull and rack from the Reese Creek area. G.S.B. had been convicted in magistrate's court for the same offense on April 14, 1987, and had been banned from entering the park for three years. Under the terms of a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, G.S.B. was fined $500 for illegally possessing the wildlife parts, $200 for violating his probation, assessed the cost of his court-appointed attorney, and sentenced to 90 days in jail with 88 suspended. He was also placed on five year's probation under the condition that he pay his fines and court costs and stay out of Yellowstone until May 22, 1995. (CompuServe message from CRO, YELL, 10:30 a.m. EDT, 5/24/90).
According to an Associated Press story this morning, 71-year-old H.K. received bruises and a gash on her right side after being butted by a bison near Old Faithful on the 21st. H.K. was reported to have been photographing an eruption when a large bison slowly ambled toward her, knocked her down, then walked away. This was the second reported bison injury in the park this year. Earlier, a West German man was bruised when he was butted by a bison. (AP story, 6/22).
On the morning of May 10th, two visitors advised a ranger in Upper Geyser Basin that they'd seen a man walk off the boardwalk, take a large white object out of his backpack, and throw it into Giantess Geyser's vent. They also said that the water in Giantess, a fountain geyser, had immediately become agitated. The ranger confirmed that the geyser had became active. its first eruption this year - and contacted the man, later identified as R.P., 44, of Billings, Montana. R.P. was subsequently arrested by another ranger and brought before the park's magistrate. R.P., who'd been a volunteer "geyser gazer" in the park for almost ten years, said in court that he was aware that foreign substances thrown into same geysers could induce an abnormal eruption, but said that he didn't think his actions would threaten Giantess or any other thermal feature to which it was corrected. The park's geologist, however, testified that there was a distinct possibility that the geyser was damaged and that an induced eruption not only disturbed the geyser's natural cycle but also contaminated historical records and behavioral patters of features throughout the basin. The magistrate fined Paperiello $525, with $300 suspended on the condition that he not enter the park for a year. (Extracted from "The Buffalo Chip", Yellowstone's resource management newsletter, 6/90).
On September 15th, ranger Tarn Betts contacted hunters K.M. and D.F., both of Jackson, Wyoming, in their camp in Fox Park just outside of Yellowstone's south boundary. The hunters said that they routinely hunted elk near the boundary, and that they were after a trophy animal. Betts again checked their camp the following morning and found a large six by six elk rack and an elk cape. K.M. and D.F. said that they had shot this elk south of the park and were planning to return later to the kill site and remove the carcass. On that same day, ranger Bob Jackson began following horse tracks in a bear closure area; on the 18th, Jackson found a bull elk carcass about two miles north of the park's southern boundary. The antlers, cape and ivories had been removed, but the rest of the animal had been left at the kill site. Jackson later found a .270 cartridge case at the scene and a .270 slug in the carcass. Betts and Jackson interviewed other hunters and developed sufficient probable cause to obtain search warrants for the two hunters' residences in Jackson. US Fish and Wildlife Service agents and Wyoming game wardens joined rangers in executing the warrants on the evening of the 28th and recovered a .270 rifle and other incriminating evidence. The antlers and cape were seized from a taxidermist in Sheridan. The state crime lab identified the cartridge found at the scene as having been fired by the rifle seized at K.M.'s house. Charges will be filed by the US Attorney in Cheyenne, and the horses, rifles and vehicles may be forfeited under 16 USC 26. (CompuServe message from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 10/2).
Rangers Steve Niles and John Beaver were patrolling in an isolated backcountry area near the park's east boundary on October 1st when they heard shots from inside the park. About an hour later, they saw three men with six horses inside the park heading toward the boundary. A quartered elk and a six by six rack were packed on one of the animals. The men - G., J. and M.M., all of Gilette, Wyoming - admitted that they knew they were inside the park, and showed the rangers where they had killed the animal. After quartering the elk and removing the antlers and skull plate, they had buried the remainder of the carcass and were en route to their vehicles, which were parked in Sunlight Basin. Upon instructions from an Assistant US Attorney in Cheyenne, the six horses, tack and weapons were seized. Charges will be filed and the horses, weapons and vehicles may be forfeited. (CompuServe message from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 10/2).
On September 12th, M.J.L., 24, and S.C., 28, both of West Yellowstone, Montana, plead guilty to 16 USC 26 charges brought against them for killing two elk in the park en the morning of the 11th. They were each fined $500, sentenced to 90 days in jail, and placed on three years probation. The jail time was suspended on the condition that they pay the fines and not enter the park for three years. M.J.L. and S.C. also forfeited a rifle, compound bow, and other equipment used to kill and dress the animals. Investigation into the incident began when a Montana road maintenance crewman found the head and front quarters of a bull elk at a trailhead in the northwest part of the park early on the morning of the 11th. Following the receipt of a tip from a concerned citizen and additional investigation, rangers, a Montana game warden and local police officers obtained and executed a search warrant for M.J.L. and S.C.'s residence and vehicle. The hind Quarters were found in a car M.J.L. had rented on the 10th; other evidence linking them to the poaching was found in the residence. (CompuServe message from Dan Shelly, CR, YELL, 10/12).
On October 17th, park geologist Rick Hutchinson found that six geysers and hot springs in the Rustic Group of the Heart Lake geyser basin had been seriously vandalized. The vent to Rustic Geyser was blocked with a large enough boulder to stop it from erupting. Large pieces of sod, tree trunks, sticks, a snake and other debris were thrown into the other features. A large section of an unnamed geyser's crater rim was broken, which has caused a major modification in the geyser's behavior and general appearance. It is believed that the boulder in Rustic Geyser can not be safely removed. The vandalism probably occurred within the last two or three weeks. Rangers are investigating, but have no suspects at this time. (CompuServe message from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 10/23).
On December 17th, P.C., 47, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to charges of illegally killing a bull elk (16 USC 26) at Norris Junction on September 26, 1989. He was ordered to pay the NPS $2,200, forfeit his Weatherby .300 magnum Mark V rifle to the park, and not enter either Yellowstone or Grand Teton for three years. His supervised three-year probation includes provisions that he not hunt, accompany hunters, or possess firearms or bow hunting or archery equipment of any kind anywhere in the nation. (CompuServe message from Pat Ozment, CI, YELL, 12/28).
On January 11th, M.M., 30, G.M., 33, and J.M., 46, all of Gillette, Wyoming, pled guilty in federal court in Cheyenne to the illegal killing of a bull elk inside the park's east boundary north of the east entrance on October 1, 1990. The men forfeited three horses and tack to the park, paid a total fine and restitution of $1,263 each, and were placed on three years probation. While under probation, the three are barred from entering the park, possessing firearms or other weapons (including bow hunting equipment), or hunting, trapping, guiding or accompanying anyone engaged in these activities. [CompuServe message from Pat Ozment, CI, YELL, 2/6]
On March 13th, J.G.B., 20, of Manhattan, Montana, pled guilty in magistrate's court to the illegal killing of a bull elk (16 USC 26) near Highway 191 in the northwest corner of the park last fall. His codefendant, J.M., 28, of Belgrade, Montana, failed to appear for the hearing, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. J.G.B. and J.M. shot and killed a five-point bull elk about five miles south of the north boundary on the morning of November 11, 1990. Although both men are long-time Montana residents and the boundary is prominently marked with large signs, J.G.B. claimed that he did not know that they were in the park. J.G.B. was fined $1,000, barred from entering the park for three years, required to forfeit his Remington .270 rifle to the park, and ordered to pay $1,500 restitution to the park in lieu of forfeiture of the truck used in the incident. [CompuServe message from Pat Ozment, CI, YELL, 3/18]
The park is preparing for the possible onset of a measles outbreak which is now spreading through the state of Idaho. Up to 40 cases a day are being reported there, and cases are also being reported in adjacent states. The measles is said to be virulent and making people very ill. The park is concerned because a number of concession and park seasonal employees come from Idaho. Because of the number of international groups that come to thepark, it would be possible for Yellowstone to become the center of a worldwide outbreak. It might also require closing the park for two or more weeks as a quarantine measure to control the spread of the disease. The state of Wyoming has made vaccine available and park doctors and nurses immunized all interested employees on June 11th and 12th. The park expects to immunize a total of about 1,000 people. Grand Teton has talked with the county health department; although they are on alert, they will not institute a mass immunization program for the Jackson area until a confirmed measles case is identified in that area. If such a situation develops, the park will try to bring vaccine to the park clinic and conduct an immunization program there. [Telefax from Homer Rouse, RMRO, 6/13]
Early on the morning of July 4th, D.J., 43, and his 15-year-old son, K.J., both of Tucson, Arizona, left West Yellowstone in their homemade, two-seat, tandem-design airplane and headed for Casper, Wyoming. The aircraft apparently experienced trouble shortly after takeoff. D.J., the pilot, attempted to make an emergency landing near Moose Meadows on the southeast shore of Shoshone Lake, but something caught the plane's front wheel and tipped it over into shallow water. K.J. escaped the crash with minor injuries. He tried unsuccessfully to rescue his father, who was trapped in the plane and apparently drowned. K.J. sat on the plane waiting for help, then jumped into the water, waded to shore, and contacted some people who notified rangers. K.J. was transported to Grant Village and later taken to his aunt's home in West Yellowstone, where his mother was to meet him. The NTSB was notified and D.J.'s body was recovered later in the day. The park has also learned that Wyoming Aeronautics received a may day prior to the crash. [Steve Frye, YELL, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 7/5]
On the evening of July 9th, M.Z., seven, of San Diego, California, was reported missing from the Indian Creek campground. The boy had been fishing with his uncle, L.Z., near the campground earlier in the evening. L.Z. left M.Z. around 5:30 p.m. to return to the campsite for warmer clothing and insect repellant and instructed M.Z. to remain where he was and not cross the creek. When he came back 20 minutes later, the boy was gone. L.Z. and the campground hosts looked for him for about an hour, then called rangers for assistance. A major search was begun at 7:30 p.m. and included the park helicopter, search dogs and teams of ground searchers. They were unable to locate M.Z. that night. On the morning of the 10th, two fire-fighting crews from the Pelican Fire were temporarily diverted to aid in the search. M.Z. was spotted by the crew of the helicopter at 9:00 a.m. about two and a half miles southwest of the campground near the Panther Creek trail. He was in good condition except for minor abrasions to an arm. [Press release, YELL, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 7/10]
A bull bison gored 76-year-old E.T., a Hamilton Store employee, as she exited some stairs from a dormitory in the Lake developed area on July 9th. She was gored in the left hip and received a large, deep puncture wound and lacerations and injury to her right shoulder. Rangers transported her to the Lake Hospital, where she is currently listed in stable condition. E.T. was carrying a basket of laundry and soap and did not see the bison. She was the fourth individual to be gored by a bison in the park this summer. [Press release, YELL, via telefax from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 7/10]
Old Faithful rangers concluded a monthlong undercover drug investigation on July 10th with the arrests of J.B., 19, and N.G., 18, for misdemeanor sale and distribution of controlled substances. A third suspect, S.K., 19, fled the park but was subsequently arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the same charges. All three are TWRS concession employees in the park. J.B. and N.G. are from New York; S.K. is from Washington. An undercover officer posing as a concession employee was able to purchase marijuana, LSD and mushrooms from the three men. Officers from the adjacent Gallatin County sheriff's department and Bozeman police department assisted with the operation. Followup investigations are continuing and more arrests are possible. [CompuServe message from Bob Love, CI, YELL, 8/8]
During the month of November, 1991, 14 hunters were charged with illegally killing elk inside the park under provisions of 16 USC 26. As of this date, twelve of them have pled guilty before the U.S. magistrate judge in Mammoth, Wyoming; they have been fined a total of $5,870 and forfeited nine rifles to the park. Two other hunters have requested that their cases be transferred to the district court in Cheyenne, where each man will face fines of $5,000 and/or six months in jail and forfeiture of two rifles and a Chevrolet pickup truck. The incidents occurred during the scheduled Montana elk hunting season. Cold weather and heavy snow in October and November forced a large number of trophy-sized elk across the park's north boundary near Gardiner, Montana, and the hunters followed. Although the park boundary is marked by posts topped with orange markers and NPS boundary signs, each of the hunters claimed that he didn't know he was hunting in the park. [CompuServe message from Pat Ozment, CI, YELL, 1/28]
On February 22nd, G.F., 26, a contract researcher from Western Research Institute, headed out to the Soda Butte area of the park in an attempt to locate a mountain lion and observe his feeding habits. He failed to return that evening, and the park began a hasty search for him the following morning. Fresh snow and wind had obliterated all tracks, but a helicopter was able to locate the mountain lion that G.F. was monitoring. Ground searchers, including a companion of G.F.'s who'd been assisting in the research and knew the area, began searching the surrounding terrain. Early that afternoon, they came upon a gully filled with a recent snow slide which measured 30 feet wide by 100 feet long by five feet deep. The avalanche had started 100 feet above on a 60 degree slope and had cascaded over two ten-foot drops on the way down. The searchers found some tracks going into the upper part of the slide area, and soon spotted the top of G.F.'s pack in the slide. G.F. was found face down five inches under the snow. His body was subsequently lifted out by helicopter. An autopsy was to be conducted yesterday to determine the exact cause of death. G.F. had worked for the park's research division either as a seasonal employee or on contract for the last five years. The avalanche danger in the Soda Butte area was from high to extreme on Saturday and has been at that level ever since. [Telephone report from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, and telefax report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, both on 2/24]
A.S., Jr. 31, of Helena, Montana, died from multiple trauma injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident just south of the park's north entrance late on the afternoon of August 10th. Preliminary investigation indicates that A.S. was traveling south on the park roadway when the motorcycle he was riding crossed the center line on a blind curve and collided head-on with a medium-sized recreational vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Although rangers and the Mammoth Hot Springs physician responded immediately, they were unable to save A.S., who was pronounced dead at the scene. A.S. suffered a broken neck, major chest trauma, and several fractures. Excessive speed and alcohol were contributing factors. [Pat Ozment, LES, YELL, 8/11]
On May 26th, J.J.J., 41, of Junction City, Oregon, was sentenced in Federal court in Cheyenne to 15 months in prison following his conviction for interstate transportation of a motor vehicle and check forgery, both of which occurred within the park. J.J.J. was also placed on supervised probation for three years after his release; prohibited from possession or use of firearms, illegal drugs or controlled substances; ordered to submit to urinalysis testing; required to participate in drug and mental health treatment programs and programs for sex offenders; and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 to the court and $300 restitution for the forged check. The incident occurred on August 10, 1992, when a Hamilton Store employee in the Lake area advised rangers Rick Fey and Richard Gale that J.J.J., who was working for TWRS at the Lake Hotel, had not returned her pickup, which she had loaned him several days earlier. She also found that J.J.J. had forged a personal check belonging to her father for $300 a few days before he disappeared. The vehicle was entered as stolen in NCIC and was recovered at a lumber mill in Lakeview, Oregon, on December 2, 1992. J.J.J. had been arrested by the FBI near Bend, Oregon, in November for forgery and had been incarcerated in Roseburg, Oregon. A friend of his had been using the truck. J.J.J. was extradited to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in January, and the sentence was the result of a plea agreement. [CRO, YELL, 6/14]
On Mary 31st, K.G., 32, of Jacksonville, Florida, was found guilty on one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault and two counts of attempted sexual assault for an incident which occurred in the Mammoth Hotel on July 3, 1991. K.G. was sentenced on May 26th to ten years in federal prison, five years of supervised probation and a $5,000 fine. K.G. had been employed by TWRS, the main park concessioner, as a desk clerk at the hotel, which is at Mammoth Hot Springs. On the evening of July 2, 1991, a 29-year- old visitor from Sacramento, California, checked into the hotel. K.G. believed that she was willing to meet him later that evening and went to her room about midnight. She told him that she didn't want to have anything to do with him, so he departed. Shortly before 1 a.m., K.G. returned to her room and let himself in with a key he'd taken from the front desk. Although the victim repeatedly asked him to leave, he refused; after drinking a pint of tequila, he physically abused her and attempted to sexually assault her until about 5:30 a.m., when she was able to get him out of her room. Visitors in the adjoining room notified the hotel security guard, who contacted rangers. K.G. told rangers John Donaldson, Paul Miller and Pat Ozment that the woman had received her injuries as the result of consensual sexual activity that night, but was unable to explain why he was not injured. K.G. was ordered to stay away from the victim and several other women he'd been harassing. Following a sexual assault examination at the Mammoth Clinic, he was released pending further investigation. Later that morning, Miller arrested K.G. in a concession dormitory in Mammoth as he attempted to contact one of the women he'd been ordered to stay away from. On July 3rd, he was convicted of failing to obey a lawful order in magistrate's court in Mammoth and expelled from the park. Following an extensive investigation by Miller, Ozment and a Montana FBI agent, K.G. was indicted by a federal grand jury in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on December 2, 1992. He was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, on December 10th and held in Cheyenne until the trial in March. K.G. refused a court-appointed counsel and defended himself in the eight-day trial. He has appealed his conviction to the circuit court. [CRO, YELL, 6/13]
On the evening of June 20th, a 19-year-old woman was gored by a bison in the Old Faithful area of the park. The woman startled the bison when she approached within ten feet and received a small wound to the right upper thigh and some minor abrasions. Rangers responded immediately and provided emergency medical care. The victim was transported by private vehicle to the Lake Hospital, where she was treated and released. She was then taken to West Park Hospital in Cody for additional care. She was the first person to be gored by a bison in Yellowstone this season. [CRO, YELL, 6/23]
Several park concession employees wandered off a designated trail in the Old Faithful Fountain Paint Pots thermal area around midnight on June 21st; one of the members of the group, a 20-year-old woman, subsequently broke through a thin crust area and received second degree burns to her left foot and ankle. She was driven 42 miles back to her dormitory in the Canyon Subdistrict before a request for assistance was made to NPS personnel. Park medic Dennis Lojko responded and administered medical treatment. The woman was then taken to Lake Hospital. Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident, which is still under investigation. [CRO, YELL, 6/23]
Eight vehicles in the Bridge Bay campground were broken into some time before 5 a.m. on June 20th. Most of the vehicles were found with passenger side windows down and items such as cash, video cameras and some jewelry missing. The total value of merchandise taken has been placed at about $2,000. The vehicles were either slim-jimmed or had their windows pushed down in some manner, possibly with a mechanic's claw. Tool marks were found along the molding on the upper part of the passenger side front doors on most of the vehicles. The marks were in pairs and were spaced about three inches apart. Most vehicles had wallets, purses, backpacks or belt pouches in plain view on their front floors or between their seats. Except for a 1993 Dodge Dynasty, most were two to three years old. New American vehicles nearby that are notably hard to slim-jim were not entered. Possible suspects are three white males between 25 and 30 years old; at least two of them have southern accents, have dark hair pulled back into pony tails, and are about 5'9" tall. The two pony-tailed males were wearing windbreakers - one maroon, the other blue - and tan shorts. They claimed that they were art school students on an art tour. The third male was about 5'9" tall, wore dark clothing and possibly a baseball cap, and introduced himself as "W.". It's believed that the trio moved through the campground on foot sometime between midnight and 5 a.m. [CRO, YELL, 6/22]
During the afternoon of June 24th, an elderly park visitor and his wife were traveling east on the West Entrance Road near Madison Junction when they turned across on-coming traffic and struck a vehicle traveling west on the road at a high rate of speed. Rangers from neighboring subdistricts and EMS personnel from the community of West Yellowstone responded to assist Madison rangers on the incident. The two occupants of the eastbound vehicle were pinned inside the vehicle and required a "Jaws of Life" extrication. Three of the four people in the two vehicles were critically injured and were transported to area hospitals by both helicopter and ambulance. Existing mutual aid relationships and pre-planning were instrumental in the efficient resolution of the incident. [CRO, YELL, 6/25]
Just after noon on June 29th, a pickup truck being driven by S.H., 38, an employee at Old Faithful Lodge, crossed the center line at the intersection just north of Old Faithful and collided with a tour van containing 14 people. S.H. was killed; all 14 people in the van were injured. Four ambulances and two medevac helicopters responded and transported the victims to three medical facilities - one to a regional center in Idaho, seven to Lake Hospital, and six to the clinic at Old Faithful. At the time of the report, it appeared that none of the injuries was life-threatening. [Terry Danforth, YELL, and Erny Kuncl, RMRO, 6/29]
An intensive search is currently underway in the park for D.D., 20, of Selma, Indiana. D.D. was last seen on the afternoon of July 4th by friends in Cooke City, Montana. A park visitor advised rangers the next day that he'd seen a vehicle parked overnight in a pullout area near the Lamar River Canyon. A registration check indicated that the vehicle belonged to D.D., but no further investigation was warranted at that time. When D.D. failed to return to his vehicle by Monday evening, rangers initiated a preliminary investigation and ground search. Search efforts expanded on Tuesday. Rangers inventoried his vehicle and found his wallet and other personal items, but none of his fishing gear. An extensive ground and air search of the Lamar, Yellowstone and Slough Creek drainages was underway at the time of the report yesterday. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL, 7/7]
On the afternoon of July 6th, G.B., 50, of Jacksonville, Florida, was gored by a bison near the Madison off-ramp at the Old Faithful interchange. G.B. had approached to within two feet of the bison, then turned away from it. When he turned back, the bison charged and gored G.B. in the left shoulder and the right upper thigh. A companion drove G.B. to the Old Faithful clinic, where he received initial medical treatment. G.B. was then taken by ambulance to a hospital in Jackson, where he was treated and released. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL, 7/7]
C.G., 35, of Plainsville, Massachusetts, was struck in the head and seriously injured by the mirror of a passing recreational vehicle while standing on the shoulder of the road at Frying Pan Springs on the evening of July 13th. Rangers and Lake Hospital medical staff responded immediately and provided emergency medical care. C.G. was taken by ambulance to the Canyon area, then evacuated by Lifeflight to the Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls where she died the following evening. C.G. and her sister were visiting the park at the time and had stopped to view the springs. C.G. was standing on the road shoulder. The driver of a southbound recreational vehicle saw the two women, but was unable to veer around them because of oncoming traffic. The driver had slowed to about 15 mph when the incident occurred. An investigation to determine C.G.'s exact location at the time of the incident is underway. [CRO, YELL, 7/15]
T.C., 21, of Lubbock, Texas, received second degree burns over approximately a third of his body after being sprayed during a geyser eruption in the Midway Geyser Basin near Old Faithful around 2:30 p.m. on July 28th. T.C. was visiting the park with companions and had stopped to view the geyser features in the basin. He and a friend were standing in front of Flood Geyser having their picture taken when the geyser erupted and T.C. was burned on his backside and lower arms. T.C.'s companion was able to move away from the geyser and was not injured. A park concession employee reported the incident, and rangers responded immediately. They provided emergency medical care and evacuated T.C. by helicopter to West Yellowstone. T.C. was then flown to the Intermountain Burn Center at University Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he is currently listed in critical but stable condition. [CRO, YELL, 7/30]
R.H., 21, of Ammon, Idaho, received serious head injuries when he fell over 100 feet while climbing off-trail in a hazardous area near Tower Fall at 6 p.m. on July 31st. Park personnel evacuated him by ground to the Tower Fall parking lot, where he was picked up by Air Idaho Life Flight and transported to a hospital in Idaho Falls. R.H. is listed in critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit. [CRO, YELL, 8/2]
On Friday, August 13th, Yellowstone rangers served arrest warrants on 12 concession employees who were charged with misdemeanor counts of possession or delivery of a controlled substance. All those arrested were employed by TW Services in the Old Faithful area. The arrests stemmed from a six-week- long undercover investigation which was supported by special drug enforcement funding. Fourteen rangers participated in the arrests; they were assisted by a drug dog and deputy from the Gallatin County (Montana) sheriff's office. [CRO, YELL, 8/13]
On the night of Friday, August 13th, rangers conducted a successful search in the Lewis Lake campground area for a 15-month-old child who'd walked away from his tent. The child's parents discovered him missing around 10:15 p.m. Due to a number of natural hazards in the area and the age of the child, an intensive and rapidly escalating search effort was initiated which eventually put 59 searchers in the field. The toddler was located in good condition over 175 yards from his tent around 2:50 a.m. the following morning. [CRO, YELL, 8/18]
A motor vehicle accident with one fatality and three injuries occurred on the Grand Loop Road near Arnica Creek in the West Thumb area around 3:30 p.m. on August 18th. A northbound motorcycle being driven by a 48-year-old male from Melvern, Kansas, struck or was struck head-on by a southbound vehicle with three occupants. The operator of the motorcycle, who was reportedly wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful resuscitation efforts by NPS emergency response personnel. The three occupants of the car - a middle-aged couple and their 19-year-old daughter, all from King City, California - were taken by ambulance to Lake Hospital; they were in stable condition at the time of the report. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [CRO, YELL, 8/18]
On August 13th, two Alabama men - D.E.L. and A.S. - pleaded guilty in federal district court in Cheyenne to killing elk in Yellowstone while filming their hunting activities for a how-to-hunt-elk video. The incident occurred in September, 1991, and the successful prosecution was the result of a cooperative, multi-agency investigation involving the NPS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Late in 1991, Utah game wardens arrested D.E.L., a nationally known archery hunter, for game violations in Utah. During the arrest, the wardens seized a number of videotapes from D.E.L.'s vehicle, including one that documented D.E.L. and A.S. shooting a number of bull elk with bow and arrow in a lodgepole pine forest that had apparently been burned recently by a forest fire. Notified of the tapes by a wildlife law enforcement alert, Yellowstone rangers followed up and determined that D.E.L. and A.S. had obtained a backcountry permit and signed a trailhead register in the Indian Creek area during September, 1991. A careful analysis of background scenery in the videotape by park staff verified that the hunting activities documented on the tape had occurred in the park, and investigators were able to locate the approximate site of the violations. Through a plea agreement, D.E.L. and A.S. pleaded guilty to three counts each of taking wildlife in Yellowstone (16 USC 26). They were fined $15,000 each, sentenced to 18 months in prison, and placed on probation for five years. During the probation, D.E.L. and A.S. are barred from hunting or fishing anywhere in the United States and prohibited from entering any NPS area. A.S.'s sentence was suspended; most of D.E.L.' sentence was suspended, except for 30 days which he'll serve concurrently with a 50-day sentence in Utah for state game violations. [CRO, YELL, 8/25]
Rangers are investigating the illegal killing of a large, eight-by-six point bull elk, which was shot in Elk Park sometime after dark on the night of September 19th. The bull was frequently photographed and filmed by commercial and private photographers as he collected his harem and withstood challenges from other bulls during the days preceding his death. The poacher or poachers shot the animal with a rifle at least two times, then sawed off its distinctive antlers and base plate and left the carcass behind. The estimated value of the antlers, when professionally mounted, has been placed at several thousand dollars. Rangers are evaluating videotape and photographs provided by photographers, following up on a number of leads from witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting, and coordinating investigate information with neighboring state wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Several good leads have been developed, but no suspects have yet been identified. [CRO, YELL, 9/22]
J.L.D. was arrested last week for a series of car clouts which occurred in Yellowstone and Grand Teton on September 18th. J.L.D. had entered the vehicles with a prying tool or by breaking out a window with some type of blunt instrument, then stolen personal property and several license plates. He was arrested in Chubbuck, Idaho, the following day when he attempted to purchase a set of tires with a credit card taken in one of the clouts. Rangers obtained and executed a search warrant for J.L.D.'s vehicle. Evidence seized connects him with nine separate burglaries in four national parks and one national forest. J.L.D. typically targeted vehicles parked at trail heads and preferred stealing CDs, video cameras, cellular phones and credit cards. His car remains impounded at the police department in Chubbuck and still contains a good deal of property. Any parks with information on or seeking missing property from car clouts with similar MOs are asked to fax the report to Grand Teton's law enforcement office or contact Colin Campbell, the park's law enforcement specialist, at 307-733- 2880 (commercial) or 700-328-4219 (FTS). [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 9/24]
A.T., 38, of Longmont, Colorado, suffered severe injuries when his '86 Honda Civic struck a bison on Highway 191 around 8 p.m. on the evening of Sunday, October 3rd. A.T. and his wife, R., were driving north to Big Sky, Montana, after a day touring the park when they hit the bison, which was standing broadside in the road. The bison fell onto the vehicle and came through the windshield on the driver's side. Rangers and local officers and EMS personnel responded. A.T. was extricated from the vehicle, transported by ambulance to West Yellowstone, then flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls. He was pronounced dead prior to the planned air transport. R.T. received first aid treatment at the scene for a minor facial injury. The bison was destroyed because of its injuries. There is no indication that excessive speed was a factor in the accident. Both T.s were wearing their seatbelts. [CRO, YELL, 10/4]
Around 10:30 p.m. on November 3rd, Mammoth ranger Keith Young spotted a car in Gardiner, Montana, which matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen in Bozeman earlier in the day. When Young turned to follow the vehicle, which was occupied by three males who were reported to be armed, the car took off into the park. A controlled pursuit ensued in which Young unsuccessfully attempted to maintain visual contact with the stolen Q45 Infinity, which at times hit speeds over 80 mph. Rangers prepared to intercept the vehicle at Norris junction and force it toward a roadblock at Madison junction, but the driver of the Infinity turned the car around when he saw their cruisers and headed back north toward Mammoth. It was eventually found abandoned near Apollinaris Spring. A ground search was begun which employed over 20 Yellowstone rangers and a police dog team and negotiator from the Gallatin County sheriff's office. One suspect, a 15- year-old boy, walked out to the road and was captured without incident. Just before 3 a.m., the dog team located the other two suspects, aged 14 and 18, in a wooded area not far from the road. Although initially unresponsive to demands to surrender, the pair gave up when confronted by the barking dog and the armed rangers. State charges for grand theft auto are pending. [CRO, YELL, 11/3]
Park rangers arrested R.F., 35, and E.F., 64, of Whitefish, Montana, on December 31st for poaching two elk near milepost 27 on the Gallatin Highway. Concerned witnesses reported seeing two men dragging a dead elk near U.S. 191 in the park and provided rangers with a description of the suspect vehicle. The F.'s vehicle was stopped near the park boundary and a freshly killed cow elk was found in their possession. During the investigation, rangers discovered that the men had killed and abandoned a second cow elk. The two men claim they were unaware that they were within the park when they killed the elk. Both were charged with illegal hunting under 16 USC 26. Their rifles and the elk were confiscated. The two men are scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate in Mammoth Hot Springs some time in January. [CRO, YELL, 1/6]
Around 7 a.m. on Monday, January 17th, Robert Ernst Mahn, Jr., 51, the park's East Area ranger, left the east entrance on a snowmobile patrol west toward Sylvan Pass. About five miles north and west of the entrance, Mahn went off the road and down a 40- to 70-foot embankment. A fellow ranger looking for him about an hour later found him under his snowmobile and summoned assistance. Responding personnel, including his wife, Grace Nutting, conducted CPR on him during the evacuation and ambulance trip, but were unable to revive him. The accident occurred during a period of low visibility due to high winds and blowing snow, and park investigators believe he may have struck a low-hanging tree branch. Mahn joined the Service in 1973 and worked at National Capital Parks, Canyonlands and Golden Spike before going to Yellowstone in 1976. He'd been the East Area ranger since 1982. No details are available regarding his funeral. An incident stress debriefing will be conducted for all those involved in the incident. [J.T. Reynolds, RCR, RAD/RMRO, 1/17]
On December 30th, J.D. pled guilty to three felony counts of theft (18 USC 661) in federal district court in Wyoming. J.D. had been charged with committing a series of auto burglaries in Yellowstone and Grand Teton last September. As part of J.D.'s sentence, he is required to give full disclosure regarding these thefts and his activities elsewhere in the district of Wyoming. J.D. will also be required to cooperate with other jurisdictions for the purpose of closing other cases. J.D.'s MO was to break out vehicle windows with a blunt instrument, remove packs and high value items, then flee the area by vehicle. J.D. is a suspect in numerous residential burglaries in Grand Canyon, at least one burglary in Yosemite, and another in Sequoia NF. Any park wanting to conduct in-custody interviews with J.D. should contact Colin Campbell in Grand Teton's law enforcement office (307-739-3327) to coordinate interviews with J.D.'s attorney. J.D. will be sentenced some time during the next three to four weeks, depending on the results of these interviews. [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 1/18]
A memorial service was held for ranger Bob Mahn in the park yesterday. His funeral will take place at the Ballard Funeral Home in Cody, Wyoming, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 24th. Messages of sympathy may be sent to his wife, Grace Nutting, at East Entrance, Wapiti, WY 82450. [Vickie Carson, PIO, RMRO, 1/20]
Further information has been received regarding the death of Bob Mahn, the park's East Entrance subdistrict ranger. Mahn left the East Entrance around 7:15 a.m. on January 17th to check the Sylvan Pass area for avalanches and travel conditions and to undertake other visitor protection activities. No one had made the patrol to Sylvan Pass more often - he'd been patrolling the road almost daily since 1982. The road was open to the public at the time, but weather conditions were marginal with blowing and drifting snow and poor visibility. The East Entrance road has many places along a five-mile stretch where the south edge of the road drops off over 500 feet; in most places, the north side of the road is semi-vertical and up to 2,000 feet high. Preliminary investigation indicates that Mahn apparently encountered whiteout conditions in a curvy area of the road about five miles from the East Entrance. Mahn probably hit the snow berm on the north edge of the road, but thought it was a snow drift. In order to get through a drift, an operator must accelerate the snowmobile or otherwise stand the chance of getting seriously stuck. Mahn, who was one of the most experienced snowmobilers in the park, had been stuck many times before. Investigators speculate that he accelerated to get through, but couldn't tell exactly where he was because of the poor visibility. After going through the berm, he traveled about 40 feet through unpacked snow and drifts until he came to a 30-foot, semi-vertical drop-off that went into a gully on the north side of the road. He apparently rode the snowmobile down the drop; although wearing a helmet, he was knocked unconscious when his head hit a hard object. About four feet of wet, heavy snow filled in on top of him. Another patrol ranger found Mahn about an hour later. CPR was administered for five hours. He was evacuated to the Cody Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 1 p.m. The preliminary autopsy report indicates that there was a blow to the head that would have rendered him unconscious and that he died of asphyxiation. The funeral is scheduled for 10:30 this morning at the Ballard Funeral Home in Cody, Wyoming. Donations should be sent to Cody Search and Rescue, Bob Mahn Memorial Fund, 1131 Eleventh Street, Cody, WY 82414; cards and letters may be sent to Grace Nutting, East Entrance, Wapiti, WY 82450. [Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 1/21]
A fire totally destroyed the East Entrance subdistrict ranger's residence on the afternoon of Sunday, January 30th. The building was the home of Bob Mahn, the ranger who was killed while on patrol on January 17th. All personal belongings were lost as well. There were no injuries. Replacement costs for the personal items and the residence are estimated to be in excess of $200,000. [Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 1/31]
M.B., 17, of Downing, Wisconsin, was injured when his snowmobile struck a bison about four miles south of Madison Junction around 8:30 p.m. on February 11th. At the time of the accident, M.B. was traveling northbound at about 50 mph with a group of other snowmobilers after spending the day touring the park. The first snowmobiler in the group saw the bison in the road and swerved to avoid it; M.B., who was second in line, struck the animal and was ejected from his machine. He suffered a broken jaw and bruised chest, and his snowmobile came to rest in the Firehole River. The bison, which apparently was not seriously injured, left the scene. Rangers responded and transported M.B. to West Yellowstone in the Old Faithful oversnow ambulance, a Type I ambulance with a track conversion for travel on snow. M.B. was then taken to a hospital in Bozeman by conventional ambulance. During the winter, bison tend to travel along the groomed road system, particularly at night, in order to save energy. [CRO, YELL, 2/14]
Late on the afternoon of March 24th, a Virginia couple on a rented snowmobile left the groomed roadway near Lewis Lake and struck a tree. Both were killed. Although there were other snowmobilers in the area, the incident was not witnessed. The female driver was 51 years old; her husband was 55. Their two daughters, ages 17 and 11, were nearby on a separate snowmobile. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Next of kin had not yet been located at the time of the report. [CRO, YELL, 3/26]
On April 15th, ranger Les Brunton stopped a vehicle with Alabama plates for speeding on U.S. Highway 191 in the park. Computer checks revealed that the operator, A.B.C., 22, was wanted on a felony warrant for violation of conditions of release related to an arson charge in Alabama. A.B.C. was taken into custody without incident and was held without bail pending pickup by Alabama authorities. Rangers learned that Alabama police also suspected A.B.C. of being involved in the disappearance of the registered owner of the vehicle. The park's law enforcement office helped the Headland, Alabama, police department acquire a local federal search warrant to process the vehicle for evidence related to a suspected kidnapping and/or murder. On April 18th, rangers secured the warrant and conducted a search with the assistance of Headland officers and a state of Montana mobile crime lab. Evidence found in the vehicle included a variety of credit cards belonging to the victim, credit card receipts signed by A.B.C., and blood samples. Also recovered from the car was a video camera with a video made by the suspect showing himself driving over 100 mph on U.S. 191 in the park. Based on this evidence, a Gallatin county search warrant was obtained to secure a blood sample from A.B.C.. Headland officers returned to Alabama with A.B.C. on the 19th. Yesterday, A.B.C. voluntarily lead police investigators to the spot where he had buried the body of the missing person. Formal charges are pending. [CRO, YELL, 4/20]
Early on May 2nd, rangers stopped a pickup truck occupied by C.H., 22, and J.W., 24, near Mammoth Hot Springs. In plain view in the truck were a large number of elk antlers; the two men were therefore arrested for illegal possession of antlers inside the park. C.H. and J.W., both college basketball players from Billings, Montana, had been suspected (along with others) of collecting and caching antlers in the park and had been under periodic surveillance by rangers in the Mammoth subdistrict. Elk antlers are valued on the Asian market for alleged medicinal qualities. The seized antlers, which weighed over 200 pounds, had a local value of over $2,000. The park is working with the U.S. attorney's office on felony Lacey Act charges. [CRO, YELL, 5/2]
On the afternoon of May 22nd, park visitor T.M., 43, of Marietta, Georgia, was gored and seriously injured by a large male bison adjacent to the Lake Hotel. T.M. and a friend had approached to within ten or fifteen feet of the bison to have their pictures taken. While they were standing with their backs to the animal, it charged. T.M.'s companion was able to escape, but T.M. received a severed puncture wound in the right thigh. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Jackson for treatment. [CRO, YELL, 5/25]
Around 4:30 p.m. on May 30th, J.B., 23, of Livingston, Montana, received first and second degree burns over approximately 13 percent of her body after being sprayed during a geyser eruption near Midway Geyser Basin. J.B. was visiting the park with two companions when they noticed activity starting at Flood Geyser. They hiked off-trail to the site and were standing on its rim when it erupted. J.B., who was wearing shorts, was burned on her legs. One of her companions was not splashed; the other, who had been fishing and was wearing waders, was splashed but not injured. The group drove to Madison for assistance. Rangers there transported J.B. by ambulance to the Old Faithful Clinic, where she was treated and released. [CRO, YELL, 5/31]
On June 1st, R.M., 18, of Gardiner, Montana, and R.C., 18, of Pray, Montana, were convicted of aiding and abetting each other in the killing of a pronghorn antelope in the park last fall. On October 20, 1993, two park visitors reported seeing a man, later identified as R.M., dragging a dead antelope out of sight of the Stevens Creek Road, while another man, identified as R.C., waited in a vehicle on the highway. The visitors recorded the vehicle license plate number and notified rangers. Park investigators recovered the carcass, which had been shot with a broadhead arrow, and eventually identified the two suspects. During the trial, one of the witnesses positively identified the two men as being involved in the incident. R.M. and R.C. were each fined $1,500, placed on three years' probation, and prohibited from entering the park for three years. [Mike Murray, YELL, 6/10]
On the morning of June 15th, Glen Lacey, 39, an off-duty park maintenance worker, was hiking alone on the abandoned Dry Creek service road, now an unmarked trail, when he rounded a curve and came upon a sow grizzly bear and two yearling cubs about 60 feet away. He moved toward a nearby tree, but the sow charged and overtook him, bit him on the right forearm, then continued past him. Lacey used the tree to shield himself from the bear, and she returned to her cubs. He then hiked out to his car and drove himself to Lake Hospital, where he was treated for puncture wounds on his right forearm and released. Following established procedures, rangers closed the trail and will monitor bear activity in the area for a period of time before reopening the trail. No management action is planned against the bear. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/16]
TW Recreational Services employee R.I., 37, of Gardiner, Montana, was hiking alone off-trail near Chaw Pass while off-duty on the afternoon of June 20th when he came over a knoll and surprised an adult female grizzly bear with her two yearling cubs. R.I. was listening to a walkman with headphones at the time of the encounter. The bears were about 20 feet away at the time. They started to leave, but the sow turned and charged when R.I. ran for a tree. She pulled him from the tree and mauled him as he screamed and yelled, but quit the assault and left the area with the yearlings when he played dead. R.I. suffered a fracture of the left shoulder, a laceration of his forehead, and multiple puncture wounds. He walked out to the trailhead, where he was picked up by visitors and taken to the Lamar ranger station. Rangers provided emergency medical treatment, then transported him to Lake Hospital. He was later taken to Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman, Montana, for further treatment. The trail is closed pending monitoring of the area for bear activity. No other management action is planned at this time. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/21]
Twelve-year-old C.J. of Salt Lake City was injured on the morning of June 24th when she was butted by a bison at Bridge Bay campground. The large bull, whose weight was estimated at about a ton, was grazing peacefully near the campground's G loop when C.J. approached to within less than ten feet to take a photograph. In doing so, she inadvertently "cornered" the bison; as she moved to change the angle of light for the photograph, the bison began to move toward her. She turned to move away, but he followed, accelerating as she did until her overtook her, butted her from behind, and lifted her into the air. Rangers responded, immobilized her, and transported her by ambulance to Lake Hospital. C.J. was treated for abrasions and bruises, observed for indications of internal injuries, then released. Rangers will monitor the bison, who, along with many other bulls, is displaying early signs of rutting behavior. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/25]
Just before 4 p.m. on June 26th, a vehicle heading southbound on a park road two miles north of Norris went off the road and hit some trees. Four adults and four children were injured in the accident. All the adults were wearing seatbelts; a three-year-old was in a child restraint seat, but the other children were not wearing belts. Rangers from three districts and staff from Lake Hospital responded to the incident. Five ambulances were employed to transport all eight victims to the Lake Hospital for initial care. Two patients in critical condition were subsequently flown to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls and two patients in serious condition were taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyoming. The remaining four victims were treated and released. The cause of the accident is under investigation. but it appears that the driver may have fallen asleep. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/28]
Seasonal park ranger R.W., 23, of Andover, Minnesota, apparently drowned while on patrol on Shoshone Lake on Sunday, July 3rd. R.W., who had worked previously in the park's backcountry permit office, was in his first season as a ranger and had been assigned to the lake, where he'd headed out on patrol in a kayak on Sunday morning. When R.W. failed to make two scheduled radio check-ins, one that evening and the other the following morning, rangers were dispatched to determine his whereabouts. A visitor in the Shoshone Lake area reported that he'd seen an overturned kayak on the lake, and a helicopter was summoned to search the lake's waters for R.W.. His body was found offshore shortly thereafter. No further details are available at present. [Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 7/4]
Although an investigation into the death of backcountry ranger Ryan Weltman, 22, is still underway, investigators believe that he capsized in rough conditions caused by high winds and died from hypothermia-related drowning despite wearing a life jacket. A memorial service attended by 150 friends was held for him at the Lake ranger station on July 7th. Ryan was remembered by the chief ranger as the epitome of "a bright-eyed, bushy- tailed young ranger who was eager to learn and improve", and by a former supervisor as "my brightest shining star." Yellowstone rangers and Ryan's family greatly appreciate the expressions of support and sympathy received from around the Service, and particularly appreciate the assistance of Grand Teton rangers Don Coelho and Martha Lyon, who conducted a series of critical incident stress debriefings for park personnel involved in the incident. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/8]
R.O., 32, and Brian Moore, 31, were riding mules off-trail in the Sulphur Mountain area in Hayden Valley on July 17th. Following a short break, R.O. opted to walk and lead his mule, while Moore remained mounted. As they were moving up the side of a hill away from some grazing bison, Moore heard R.O. yell "Bear, bear!" just before he was struck, knocked down and mauled by a bear. Moore charged twice with his mule before the bear finally discontinued its attack and moved off. R.O. received lacerations to the back of his head, hands and legs, but was able to remount his mule and ride out to a road. He was picked up by park visitors and taken to Lake Hospital, where he was treated before being taken to Wyoming Medical Center in Cody for additional care. R.O. is currently listed in stable condition. All areas on the south side of Hayden Valley are temporarily closed to all hiking. The closure includes the Mary Mountain Trail, Trout Creek, and the area above Nez Perce Creek. This is the third bear mauling in Yellowstone this season. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL, 7/19]
A search was begun early on the morning of July 19th when N.V., 25, an independent researcher, was reported overdue from a day hike to retrieve project data from a register on the top of The Thunderer. A ground search was begun before daylight; the park's contract Lama helicopter was brought in after sunup, and located N.V. about 200 feet below the summit of the peak on the Cache Creek Side of the mountain. He had fallen about 20 vertical feet while scrambling in steep terrain the previous afternoon and had injured his left femur and elbow. Because of the steep, unstable terrain where he was located, helitack/rescuer Scott Beatty was dropped off at the location by helicopter short-haul. After Beatty packaged the patient in a litter, both he and N.V. were short-hauled to the nearest landing zone, where N.V. was moved to an ambulance and taken to a hospital in Bozeman. He is currently being treated there for a suspected femur fracture. N.V. is the son of Yellowstone employees J.V. and A.V. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/20]
Just before 4 p.m. on August 16th, J.P., 46, walked into the Mammoth Family Clinic, a park concession, placed a two-foot-long cardboard cylinder on the receptionist's counter, and said "I have a bomb and I'm gonna blow the place up." J.P., who appeared to be intoxicated, is an ex-Yellowstone concession employee who is currently residing in Gardiner, Montana. After making his threat, he left the area on a bicycle. A clinic employee moved the package away from the counter and notified the park dispatcher. Responding rangers evacuated and secured the building. The package was inspected; it appeared to be a cardboard mailing tube with some rolled up paper in it. X-rays revealed that it was not a bomb. J.P. was found just inside the park's boundary near Gardiner and arrested by a ranger and a Park County deputy. Under Wyoming law, representing an object to be an explosive device and using it to threaten or intimidate another person is a felony. The exact nature of criminal charge(s) to be filed, however, is pending consultation with the U.S. Attorney's Office. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/17]
Following his arrest on Tuesday, J.P. refused to tell investigating rangers his motive for making the bomb threat at the Mammoth Family Clinic. Investigators were able to determine, however, that J.P. had entered the Federal Credit Union at Mammoth Hot Springs the day before and had said to the manager: "This is a stick up. Give me all your money." The manager knew J.P., who had an account there; he believed that J.P. was intoxicated but unarmed, so refused. J.P. backed off on his robbery threat, closed out his account, and departed. Rangers also learned that J.P. had entered the clinic earlier on Tuesday, that he appeared intoxicated at that time, and that he made a statement to a clinic employee to the effect that he wanted to be committed for psychiatric evaluation. After consultation with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the case was prosecuted as a petty offense, in part because J.P. was known to the clinic staff and they did not feel threatened or intimidated by the bomb threat. J.P. appeared before the U.S. magistrate on August 17th and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He was fined $510 and sentenced to 90 days in jail. The jail sentence was suspended contingent upon J.P. paying the fine and staying out of the park for three years. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/18]
Early on the morning of August 21st, the Park County sheriff's office asked for assistance from Yellowstone's special operations team in a confrontation with an armed, barricaded suspect in Cooke City, Montana. L.W., 46, the owner of a bar and motel in Cooke City, apparently had a clash with a patron, went home to his second-floor apartment, and fired a number of shots out the window of the apartment. L.W., who has a history of violence and excessive alcohol use and was known to be heavily armed with assault-type weapons, refused a deputy's order to come out, so the park team was summoned. Five members of the special operations team responded and established a perimeter and observation posts around the apartment. About five hours later, L.W. walked out of his apartment into the street, where he was apprehended by team members and turned over to the sheriff's office. He is being held in protective custody for psychological evaluation. The sheriff's office obtained a search warrant for the apartment, which was being executed at the time of this report. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/21]
Three different elk antler collecting cases which came before the park magistrate last week resulted in convictions. On August 23rd, A.C., 39, of Bozeman, Montana, pled guilty to entering a closed area and collecting elk antlers inside the park; he was fined $25 for the first charge and $1,500 for the latter, placed on probation for three years, and prohibited from entering the park during that time. A.C. and an accomplice were apprehended by Gallatin Subdistrict rangers in May while carrying a 42- pound bundle of elk antlers in a closed grizzly bear management area. The accomplice is currently in jail on a state probation violation and will appear before the magistrate at a later date. On August 25th, J.H., 36, of Gardiner, Montana, pled not guilty to the charge of disturbing a natural feature - an elk antler - inside the park. He was tried, found guilty, fined $500, and prohibited from entering the park for three years. On Mary 30th, North District rangers conducting surveillance near the park's north boundary saw J.M. pick up an antler and hide it near the trail. The observation was made through a spotting scope from about three miles away. The antler cache was monitored for a while; when J.M. failed to return to pick it up, rangers recovered the antler and filed the charge against him. Three other men - Ma.Y., 25, of Pray, Montana, and Mi.Y., 21, and D.A., 22, both of Livingston, Montana - also appeared before the magistrate on the 25th. All three pled not guilty to collecting antlers and disobeying the lawful orders of rangers. Following a four-hour trial, the three were all found guilty on both charges. This was Ma.Y.'s third conviction for collecting antlers in the park and he was fined $2,500, sentenced to 30 days in jail, and prohibited from entering the park for five years. Mi.Y. and D.A. were each fined $1,500 and prohibited from entering the park for three years. Rangers had observed the three men collecting and carrying 56 pounds of antlers in the Hellroaring drainage on April 1st. The rangers were conducting a backcountry surveillance field exercise at the time as part of the park's spring law enforcement refresher. When the rangers contacted the suspects, they fled in different directions. Mi.Y. was captured a short time later; the other two were apprehended when they returned to the trailhead late in the day. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/27]
On August 8th, rangers stopped a motorcycle being driven by D.M., 25, after it went through a stop sign at the South Entrance. D.M. almost immediately took off again on the motorcycle; a prolonged pursuit ensured which involved numerous U-turns and speeds of up to 80 mph. D.M. eventually turned toward Lake at West Thumb junction, and was blocked by a patrol vehicle when he attempted another U-turn. The bike struck the patrol car at slow speed, puncturing its front tire. D.M. then attempted to flee through the woods on the motorcycle with the flat tire, which proved difficult due to downed trees. He was finally apprehended at gun point and identified. Rangers discovered that he was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service in Florida on a drug-related felony warrant and had him taken to the park jail pending extradition. Late that same evening, D.M. attempted to hang himself with a sheet in his jail cell. He was treated by park medics, then taken to Lake Hospital for evaluation. He was to be released last Friday, then taken to another facility to await pickup by the marshals. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 9/9]
During the seven-month period from May to November of 1993, M.D.E. and J.A.S.-E. are believed to have committed numerous car larcenies, check and credit card frauds, thefts from tents in campgrounds, and thefts of fees from campground pipe safes and association donation boxes on NPS, Forest Service, BLM, state park and private lands in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. On August 25th, they were indicted in Salt Lake City on from 10 to 13 counts of five 18 USC violations, including conspiracy, theft and property damage. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, earlier this week. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. The investigation into their activities continues. Many NPS rangers contributed information leading to these arrests. M.D.E. is being held on without bond due to the risk of flight; J.A.S.-E. may be released on a $25,000 surety bond with house arrest and electronic monitoring. They will be brought to Salt Lake City and likely tried there. [Erny Kuncl, SA, RMRO, 9/21]
K.V.M., 40, of Corona Del Mar, California, was hiking alone on the Fairy Falls trail when he heard a noise off the trail, turned, and saw a bear, probably a sub-adult grizzly, charging toward him from a distance of 40 to 50 feet. K.V.M. ran about 15 to 20 feet and hid behind a tree, but the bear came around the side of the tree, knocked him down, and attacked him. K.V.M. suffered four minor puncture wounds and a minor laceration to his left hand, a minor puncture wound to the back of his head, and a minor abrasion to his back. When he fell to the ground, the bear ran off. K.V.M. was able to hike out to the trailhead on his own, where he was met by rangers responding to the incident, which had been reported by other hikers. K.V.M. received basic first aid treatment from the rangers, who cleansed and bandaged the wounds, before leaving the area. This is the fourth grizzly-bear-related human injury in the park this year. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 9/22]
In late September, C.B., 24, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts associated with the killing of a large elk on the night of September 18, 1993. The poaching incident was highly publicized by regional and national news media, in part because the large bull elk had been readily visible from the road during rut and had been the center of attention for numerous wildlife photographers and cinematographers. The elk was shot during the night and its antlers were removed. The indictment followed a year-long cooperative investigation involving Yellowstone rangers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming State Crime Lab, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office. C.B. was arrested by FBI agents in Salt Lake City on Sunday, September 25th. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 10/6]
Rangers in the Lamar subdistrict received a report from a concerned citizen on September 21st regarding an elk poaching incident that had occurred in the park north of Sliver Gate two days previously. The citizen identified H.S., 67, of West Yellowstone, as a possible suspect. Investigating rangers found the remains of a cow elk covered with branches and debris about a half mile inside the park boundary about two miles north of the northeast entrance. They also discovered a travois which had been made from trees freshly cut near the road at Silver Gate and had apparently been used in the incident. Rangers interviewed H.S., who admitted killing the elk, but said that he thought he was outside the park when he shot the animal. H.S. was charged with illegally killing the elk and with destroying and removing plants. He pleaded not guilty before the U.S. magistrate at his initial appearance, and is scheduled to go on trial in early November. [Mike Murray, ACT, YELL, 10/6]
R.C., 27, of Salt Lake City, was killed in a snowmobile accident near Fountain Paint Pots on the Grand Loop Road around 4 a.m. on December 16th. R.C. was traveling by himself on a snowmobile ahead of two companions on another machine. His companions did not witness the accident, but found R.C. off his machine, lying on the edge of the groomed snowmobile trail with serious head and face injuries and without signs of life. The accident was reported at Old Faithful and responding rangers found R.C. dead at the scene. The investigation has determined that the victim's snowmobile struck an elk and that speed was likely a factor in the accident. R.C. was not wearing a helmet. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 12/18]
April is typically a busy month for illegal elk antler gathering in the park. Antler gathering is generally legal on the Forest Service lands that surround the park, and antlers collected illegally in the park are easily sold in nearby markets, where they bring as much as $8 to $10 per pound. Rangers in the north end of the park made a total of five arrests this year in four separate cases. One of the suspects, who is from northern Montana, acknowledged that he was a commercial antler dealer who handles an estimated six tons of antlers annually, but contends that none of them come from the park. Most of the cases involved monitoring and surveillance of suspicious activities in high probability areas; one involved electronic tracking of an antler removed from the park to a motel room in Gardiner, Montana. Three of the violators have so far pled guilty before the local federal magistrate; two have pending court appearances. A violator who was convicted in early April paid a $750 fine and was prohibited from entering the park for three years. Following that case, the park established the Yellowstone Wildlife Protection Fund, and the other two convicted violators were each ordered to pay $850 in restitution to the fund. One was prohibited from entering the park for 18 months, the other for three years. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 5/8]
G.M., 41, an employee of TW Recreational Services from West Linn, Oregon, was jogging near the Morning Glory pool trail just after noon on May 14th when she surprised a cow bison with a newborn calf. The bison charged G.M., knocked her down and trampled her. G.M. suffered a severe head laceration and other injuries. Rangers transported her to the park clinic by ambulance; she was then air evacuated to a hospital in Idaho Falls. At last report, she was in stable condition. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 5/16]
Cousins L.K. and R.K., ages 9 and 10 respectively, were reported missing from the Canyon campground just after noon on June 22nd. An aggressive search effort was initiated which continued through the night. Few clues were found in the search area, which consisted of rolling terrain covered by dense lodgepole forest and many downed trees. Afternoon showers and below freezing nighttime temperatures contributed to the urgency of the search; by mid-day on June 23rd, about 170 personnel from nine agencies and nine search dog teams had been deployed. A team comprised of a dog, its handler and a ranger found the two girls that afternoon while rechecking a segment of the search area about three miles north of the campground. They were cold, wet, tired, hungry and thirsty, but otherwise in good condition. Although they'd travelled a considerable distance from the campground, considering terrain and elevation gain, they'd remained in the same location since the previous afternoon. When they realized that they were lost, they occasionally walked across patches of snow to try and leave tracks. During the night, they covered themselves with branches to keep warm. This happy ending would not have been possible without the responsiveness and considerable assistance provided by the park's neighboring federal, state and county agencies and volunteer organizations. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/24]
A single-engine airplane crashed in rugged terrain about two miles from Sylvan Pass around noon on July 4th, killing the pilot and lone occupant. The plane apparently lost power as it approached the area. The pilot was K.W., 58, a deputy sheriff from Denton, Texas, who had departed the airport in Cody, Wyoming, earlier that day. K.W. was traveling with two companions, each in their own planes; both witnessed the accident. By the time rangers arrived at the scene about an hour after the crash, the plane had burned and was almost totally destroyed. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the NTSB. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
Early on the morning of July 2nd, a Ford Tempo sedan crossed the center line of the Grand Loop Road near Craig Pass and hit a Colorado Charter Lines tour bus with 27 passengers head on. The driver and lone occupant of the sedan, M.D., 66, a park concession employee from Salina, Kansas, received serious injuries and was taken to Lake Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Three tour bus passengers were also taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released. The remaining passengers were either uninjured or received minor injuries that were treated at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
President Clinton and his family made a Founder's Day visit to Yellowstone on August 25th. They flew to the park, then traveled by motorcade to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River for a hike along the canyon rim and visits to several overlooks. The family then flew to the Old Faithful area, where they visited the historic Old Faithful Inn, took a guided walk along the Geyser Hill boardwalk trail, and watched Old Faithful erupt. While at the latter location, President Clinton made remarks to the White House press pool about the significance of national parks and about issues which threaten the park system. After leaving the area, the Clintons flew over the site of the proposed New World gold mine near Henderson Mountain, just east of the park's northeast boundary, then landed at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, where they hiked to the Rose Creek wolf pen site. The alpha female and her pups are being retained in the acclimation pen there until the pups are large enough to hold their own against coyotes and other predators (the pack's alpha male was illegally shot outside the park last spring). The Clintons entered the pen with NPS wildlife biologist Mike Phillips to assist with the biweekly feeding of road-killed wildlife to the wolves. The visit to the pen was accentuated by an impressive afternoon thunderstorm. The family took shelter at the Buffalo Ranch, where the President met with representatives from a variety of conservation groups. About 150 Yellowstone personnel and 13 personnel from the IMT were involved with security and public safety operations for these visits. [Mike Murray, ACT, YELL]
During a seven-month period in 1993, M.E. and J.S.-E., his now ex-wife, stole money from donation pipe safes at NPS, USFS and BLM sites, passed fraudulent checks to agencies and businesses, and employed stolen credit cards and checks taken from cars and tents in campgrounds throughout the West. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, last September. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. They subsequently pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft of government money. Under a plea agreement, M.E. was sentenced earlier this summer to six months in federal prison and three years' supervised probation; ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the NPS and a $1,000 fine; and required to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation. J.S.-E. is expected to receive similar sentencing. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IFAO]
On August 22nd, M.B., 23, of Whitehall, Montana, pled guilty before the park magistrate on charges of conspiring to illegally remove elk antlers from the park and providing false information to rangers. On June 15th, rangers assisted M.B. and three companions across Slough Creek after the party became stranded without camping gear. About a month later, rangers discovered 118 pounds of elk antlers on frame packs cached near the Slough Creek campground. Investigation revealed that M.B. and his companions had collected the antlers and stashed them at that location. M.B. was sentenced to 14 days in jail, ordered to pay $3,500 in restitution (and a small victim/witness fund assessment), placed on probation for five years, prohibited from entering the park while on probation, and barred from hunting or fishing anywhere in the U.S. for the next two years. M.B. was convicted for collecting antlers in the park in 1993. His companions will appear before the court within the next two weeks. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
Around 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of September 8th, G.B., 43, of Maplewood, Minnesota, fell to his death while scrambling on rocks at Tuff Cliff north of Madison Junction. G.B. was apparently free-climbing on the steep, unstable volcanic rock when he fell at least 100 vertical feet. G.B. sustained massive injuries and was in cardiac and respiratory arrest when rescue personnel arrived on scene about 20 minutes after the fall. He did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
On the afternoon of September 17th, three Slovakians visiting the park with an American friend were dropped off at Grandview Point for a walk to Lookout Point, both sites located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. They were walking between the two points when one of the trio, a 50-year-old male, stepped over a constructed log barrier and walked past a warning sign, apparently to get a better view for videotaping (the man was reportedly fluent in English, which suggests that he was able to read the sign). As he stepped over the barrier, he lost his balance and tumbled down steep to vertical terrain for about 400 feet. Two park fire and rescue personnel were transported by short haul to the victim's location in steep terrain at the base of the canyon. He was brought to the south rim, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being held pending notification of next of kin. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
On October 25th, a jury found C.M. guilty on three misdemeanor counts of killing, possessing and transporting a wolf he shot near Red Lodge, Montana, on April 24th. The wolf was from the Rose Creek group, introduced into the park this year. C.M. never denied shooting the wolf, but contended that he thought it was a wild dog. Witnesses testified that C.M. knew the animal was a wolf before he killed it. C.M. will be sentenced within the next 90 days. He could receive six months in prison and a $25,000 fine on the charges of killing and possessing the wolf, both violations of the Endangered Species Act. The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor could be a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. [Cheryl Matthews, YELL]
Additional reports regarding the impacts of the three-week shutdown have been received; more are pending: * Yellowstone - The shutdown had a serious impact on the communities surrounding the park. The town of West Yellowstone, known as "the snowmobile capitol of the world," estimates that its businesses lost about a third of their revenue and operated at about two-thirds of capacity during the period. TW Recreational Services, which operates the hotels and restaurants in the park, lost about $750,000 in revenues, 20% of which would have gone into the park's capital improvement fund. The concessioner also had a difficult time keeping its employees - 130 at Old Faithful and 150 at Mammoth Hot Springs - on standby during the period. In an effort to keep them on board, they waived charges for room and board throughout the closure. The park would have served about 30,000 visitors in December if it had been open. Nightly interpretive programs at the two hotels would have reached about 200 people each evening; they and other visitors would have also been contacted at visitor centers and warming huts. The Yellowstone Association lost between $40,000 and $50,000 in revenues, which also equated to a loss to the park. About 50 to 70 employees maintained emergency operations during the period, and the remaining 350 were furloughed. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL; Larry Steeler, Deputy Superintendent, STLI]
On May 13th, park visitors reported two individuals hunting for antlers near the Lamar River in the northeast portion of the park. Rangers investigated and subsequently stopped a vehicle occupied by S.B., 24, and C.G., 21, both of Livingston, Montana. Sixty-seven pounds of elk antlers were found within the vehicle. The pair pled guilty to conspiring to illegally remove elk antlers from the park in magistrate's court the following day. They were each sentenced to three years' probation, barred from entering the park during that time, and ordered to pay just over $1,000 in restitution. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
Old Faithful ranger/EMTs Joe Bueter and Rick Delappe responded to a report of a woman having a stroke at Old Faithful Lodge on the morning of June 10th. They found a 67-year-old woman in full cardiac arrest, and began CPR with the aid of two lodge security guards. The rangers then employed advanced cardiac life support measures, including defibrillation, and were able to restore the victim's pulse. She was then flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls for further treatment. [C. Patterson, YELL]
A.A., 5, of Murray, Utah, was seriously injured on the afternoon of July 16th when she fell into a geothermal run-off channel in the West Thumb geyser basin. The girl was walking along a boardwalk near Black Pool with her family when she apparently stepped backward off the boardwalk and fell into hot water and mud (there were no witnesses). A.A. was treated by rangers and taken by ambulance to Lake Hospital, then flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City. She received second degree burns to the back of her legs and back and to her lower arm and hand, and is currently in stable condition. She is the third individual to receive geothermal burns in the park this summer. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
A wind storm which struck the park on August 5th knocked down almost 600 trees along roads and in frontcountry areas and caused 16 motor vehicle accidents, 13 other property damage incidents, four personal injuries and an estimated $54,000 in property damage. The fire lookout at Mt. Washburn reported gusts in excess of 90 mph. It's expected that the storm probably knocked down thousands of other trees along the park's 1,200 miles of backcountry trails. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
President Clinton and his family arrived in Jackson, Wyoming, on Friday, August 9th, for a nine-day vacation in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the Bridger-Teton National Forest - his second vacation to the area in as many years. The National Park Service's Type I all-risk incident management team (Jim Northup, IC) is providing coordination, oversight and overall support for the visit. Involved in the multi-agency effort are the NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Secret Service, county sheriff's office and city police. On Sunday, team members provided security for President Clinton's residence and assisted the Secret Service in providing communications, logistical support, perimeter security, motorcade operations, and traffic control for the family's trip to church services. On Monday, they continued to provide security for his residence and also assisted during his trip to Yellowstone. A total of 99 people - 84 from the NPS - are currently committed to the incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. On Monday, the family visited Yellowstone for a full day of activities. The day began with a formal event at a remote location near Baronette Peak. On short notice, the park's maintenance division set up a stage and seating for over 250 invited guests and media. A major challenge was to provide an effective mass transportation system to bring all participants to the site, which has no parking. The focus of the event was President Clinton's formal announcement of an exchange of federal lands which will effectively end the proposed New World Mine on Forest Service land near the park's boundary. Following the event, the First Family flew to the Tower Falls area, then motorcaded to the fire lookout on top of Mt. Washburn for lunch. From the lookout, they could see an impressive smoke column from a new prescribed natural fire in Pelican Valley. After lunch, the Clintons went on an eight-and-a-half mile backcountry hike from the top of Mt. Washburn to Inspiration Point near Canyon. Despite the warmth of the afternoon and the altitude (over 8,000 feet), the Clintons demonstrated both enthusiasm and fitness throughout the hike; two media representatives, however, had to be evacuated by horseback due to heat exhaustion. The Clintons then motorcaded back to their helicopters, flew to Mammoth Hot Springs for a brief visit, then flew back to Jackson. Yellowstone park staff managed the visit under ICS; about 170 employees from all divisions were involved. The Rocky Mountain SET team also assisted. On Tuesday, Type I team members supported White House staff in the coordination of the signing ceremony for the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 at the Teton Science School, which is within park boundaries. About 75 journalists and 250 invited guests attended. Upcoming recreational activities by the First Family include horseback riding and whitewater rafting on the Snake River. A total of 70 people - 56 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Roberta D'Amico/Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE; Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. Yesterday's operations focused on providing security for motorcades and on the perimeter around the First Family's quarters. Logistical support was also provided for a whitewater raft trip which was subsequently canceled. A total of 69 people - 59 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. Yesterday's operations focused on providing logistical support and security for a hike Mrs. Clinton took in Grand Teton and Chelsea Clinton's rock climb. A total of 69 people - 59 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team was charged on Sunday with the management of the initial response and investigation of the crash of the Air Force C-130 which went down late Saturday evening in the Gros Ventre wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The plane, which had just departed from the Jackson Hole airport, was flying in support of President Clinton's vacation visit to the area. Incident personnel traveled to the site, determined that there were no survivors, secured the area, and managed the immense national media interest in the accident. None of the plane's nine occupants - the crew of eight and a Secret Service employee - survived the crash. The team was charged with management of the initial response under a delegation of authority from the county sheriff and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Team members met with Air Force personnel on Sunday afternoon and began transition of incident management to them. Prior to the accident, the team focused its efforts on providing logistical support for the First Family's final day of vacation. Following a horseback ride at their temporary residence, President Clinton and his family enjoyed a two- hour whitewater rafting trip on the Snake River in the Bridger-Teton. Put-in for the eight-and-a-half mile float trip occurred at East Table and take-out occurred at Sheep Gulch. Considered an intermediate float, this portion required negotiation of the Kahuna, Lunch Counter and Rope rapids, along with log jams and shallow, rocky channels. A total of eleven rafts were in the flotilla; eight were provided by local outfitters and three by the incident management team. A total of 147 incident personnel (71 from the NPS) were committed to the day's events, providing logistical support, perimeter security, river rescue capability, rafts for U.S. Secrete Service personnel, motorcade operation support, and media support. This was the third attempt at a river trip and it went well. Incident demobilization will be completed today. [Jim Northup, IC, and Roberta D'Amico, IO, NPS Type I IMT, GRTE]
Cyril "Cy" Berrier, 65, a long-time park seasonal maintenance employee, died of a heart attack in West Yellowstone on September 14th. Cy had worked over ten seasons with the park in both the Canyon and Lake areas, and had worked previously for Hamilton Stores. A memorial service was held at the Lamar Station on September 17th and was well attended by park staff, who remembered Cy's ability to make others laugh and work together as a team, regardless of job description or division. Memorial contributions can be made to the Yellowstone Association. [Gary Moses, GLAC]
A 43-year-old California woman was taking a walk near the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel around 9 p.m. on September 29th when she inadvertently came between a bull elk and a group of cow elks. The woman did not have a flashlight and was unaware that wildlife were in the area. The bull charged her, but she escaped by climbing over a fence surrounding a sinkhole that actively vents geothermal steam. The woman, who didn't see the vertically-sided sinkhole, stepped backwards after entering the enclosure and fell about 15 feet to the bottom of the hole, sustaining chest and back injuries. Rangers and emergency service personnel extricated her and transported her to a local hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries and released. Later that night, a large bull elk died as a result of injuries sustained in a battle with a smaller bull at the Mammoth school field. During the struggle, the larger bull's antlers became entangled in the school yard jungle gym, and the smaller bull took the opportunity to repeatedly gore the larger elk. Rangers were subsequently able to free it. The bull was bleeding but appeared to have a reasonable chance of surviving. It died of its injuries later that night. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
On the evening of October 16th, L.M., 39, of Las Vegas, was driving southbound on Highway 191 when he lost control of his 1995 Ford Explorer. The vehicle ran off the road, rolled, and came to rest upside down and partially submerged in the Gallatin River. Emergency personnel from the park and nearby agencies found L.M. still seatbelted in the water-filled passenger compartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no apparent death-causing injuries, and it appears that L.M. drowned. No witnesses have been located. Investigators believe that L.M. lost control due to prevailing slick, black ice conditions and a snowstorm that was on- going at the time. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
The park was closed to all oversnow vehicles on the afternoon of January 3rd because conditions had deteriorated to the point of being unsafe for travellers. Warm weather had caused snow to melt and what was left on the park's roads had been deeply rutted by snowcoaches. The closure will be lifted this morning. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL]
A backcountry search is in progress in the Heart Lake area for an overdue park employee and a visiting scientist. Park research geologist Roderick "Rick" Hutchinson and a visiting scientist whose name is currently being withheld were in the Heart Lake area monitoring geothermal features earlier this week and intended to ski out on Tuesday, March 4th. Rangers who skied in to the Heart Lake patrol cabin on Tuesday afternoon failed to encounter the party along the trail, but they observed several avalanche areas at the base of Factory Hill northwest of Mt. Sheridan and found personal belongings that they'd left in the patrol cabin. That evening, the rangers returned to the avalanche site and found ski tracks entering and exiting one avalanche, then entering but not exiting a second, larger avalanche. A hasty search of the site was conducted without finding any further clues. A more extensive search was conducted on Wednesday by personnel from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and from neighboring volunteer SAR teams. Avalanche control experts were flown in from the Jackson Hole Ski Corporation to use explosives to help reduce the danger of additional avalanches in the primary search area. Four dog teams and a total of 23 personnel on the ground searched the area Tuesday afternoon without success. A more intensive search effort is planned for Wednesday. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 3/5]
The search for a missing park employee and a visiting scientist in an avalanche area near Heart Lake led to the discovery yesterday afternoon of the body of Roderick "Rick" Hutchinson, park research geologist, in the primary search area on the northeast flank of Factory Hill under about four feet of snow. Geologist Diane Dustman, 37, of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, who had been monitoring geothermal features in the area with Hutchinson, is still missing. Search efforts were discontinued at dusk in deteriorating weather and will resume this morning. Rick Hutchinson began working for the National Park Service in Yellowstone as a seasonal interpretive specialist in 1970. He received a career-conditional appointment as a geothermal specialist in 1973, and was promoted to geologist in 1976. Rick was a Yellowstone institution, one of those rare, authentic experts who could be counted on to assist visitors and researchers alike, and who was totally devoted to the study and protection of Yellowstone's geothermal resources. Rick was known by scientists throughout the world for his keen familiarity with the park's geothermal features, and was the author of many publications, reports, and papers on the park's unique geologic wonders. His wife, Jennifer J. Whipple, is also an employee of the park. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later time. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 3/6]
The search of the avalanche area near Heart Lake for scientist Diane Dustman, 37, continued on Friday, March 7th. At about 12:50 p.m. a probe line team located her body under seven feet of snow approximately 50 feet upslope of the point where the body of park research geologist Rick Hutchinson was found on Thursday. Hutchinson and Dustman had begun a backcountry trip on to monitor geothermal features in the Heart Lake area on Saturday, March 1st, and planned to ski out on the following Tuesday. A search was begun that evening when rangers skiing into Heart Lake failed to encounter them along the trail and found some of their belongings in the patrol cabin. Dustman worked for Boston Dynamics, a computer software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She had worked with Hutchinson on several computer projects involving geothermal monitoring. A memorial service for Rick is planned at Old Faithful on Friday, March 14th. The park has established the Rick Hutchinson Geothermal Research Fund at the request of J.W., Rick's wife and a park employee. Contributions to the fund may be sent to the Public Affairs Office, Yellowstone NP, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone, Wyoming 82190. Letters of condolence may be sent to J.W. or to Rick's family in care of the same address. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 3/9]
On the morning of June 12th, the captain of an Amfac (park concession) boat radioed that an overturned canoe had been found about a quarter mile from the west shore of Yellowstone Lake near Rock Point and that he'd begun a search of the area for its occupants. Rangers and other Amfac boats joined the search shortly thereafter. The bodies of the canoe's occupants - two men from Ohio, ages 41 and 49 - were found within 20 minutes. Both were wearing life jackets. The water temperature at the location was 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It appears that the two men had been in the water for an extended period of time and died of hypothermia. Investigation revealed that they had a backcountry permit for an extended camping trip on the lake, which had begun on June 9th and was to end on June 19th. Circumstances suggest that they were attempting to end their trip early on June 11th, and that they capsized sometime during the afternoon, perhaps during a thunderstorm. Family notifications and a follow-up investigation are underway. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 6/12]
On the evening of June 27th, a park volunteer exiting the backcountry at a trailhead parking area observed an unknown man standing at the open door of a co-worker's vehicle. As the volunteer approached, the man and a female companion left the scene quickly in a car. The volunteer radioed ahead to rangers, who stopped the vehicle about 30 minutes later. The two individuals were identified as D.W., 39, and R.D., 34, of Billings, Montana. They were subsequently arrested for theft of property (a case of compact discs) from the parked vehicle. Upon interrogation, D.W. confessed to stealing the CDs. A search warrant obtained for the impounded vehicle led to the recovery of the case of compact discs, as well as numerous payroll checks, personal checkbooks, and other property belonging to individuals in Billings, paraphernalia for manufacturing false identification, two false identifications, and stolen electronic equipment. D.W. is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history in Montana for robbery, burglary, and forgery; he was wanted on a bench warrant in Wyoming for failure to appear on a DUI charge. R.D. is on parole in Montana for check forgery. Park investigators are working with the U.S. attorney's office and authorities from Montana and Wyoming, on possible charges. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/1]
"A Prairie Home Companion," the national radio show featuring Garrison Keillor, was broadcast live from the Old Faithful Lodge recreation hall on Saturday, July 5th. Three hundred tickets to the show were issued through a lottery held several weeks ago and 60 tickets were issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the morning of the 5th. Over 100 people lined up for the 60 tickets, but all were eventually accommodated in the lodge for the show. About 550 people attended the program. Approximately 40 park staff were on duty to assist with crowd control, parking, seating and any incidents that might occur. Everything went smoothly. [Marsha Karle, PIO, YELL, 7/8]
On July 6th, rangers responded to a one-vehicle accident at Rustic Falls on the Grand Loop road. A 1995 Ford Explorer with four occupants had run off the road and into a 50-foot-deep ravine below the falls. One adult and two children with minor injuries were taken to a hospital in Livingston; a second adult with neurological problems was short-hauled from the bottom of the ravine to an emergency landing zone at Swan Lake Flat by the park contract helicopter, then flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls, where she was treated for a cervical fracture. Approximately 14 park personnel participated in the rescue, including members of the wildland fire crew, the Mammoth fire department, and rangers from several subdistricts. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/9]
A search was begun on the afternoon of July 23rd for concession employee M.L., 19, who was overdue from a July 22nd day hike to the Specimen Ridge area. Approximately 50 park staff, two helicopters and three dog teams were deployed in the search, which encompassed an area of almost 100,000 acres. M.L. was spotted from a helicopter near the confluence of Calfee Creek and the Lamar River shortly before 7 p.m. on the 24th and airlifted out of the backcountry. He was tired, hungry and sunburned, but otherwise in good condition. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/25]
On the morning of July 24th, a West Yellowstone police officer spotted a man and vehicle matching descriptions that had been recently transmitted in an all-points bulletin for a convicted felon wanted in a recent arson case in Idaho. The officer followed the vehicle up U.S. 191 into the park. The driver, J.M., 24, became aware that he was being followed, stopped the vehicle, got out and fled into the woods. Rangers arrived on scene to assist and heard two shots fired, presumably by J.M., who was believed to be armed with a handgun. It is not clear whether the shots were fired at the rangers or officers. The search was delayed until additional resources could be brought on scene. An aerial recon of the area was then conducted by park special operations team members in a park contract helicopter; a ground search was conducted by a county canine unit and other members of the team. No sign of J.M. was found, and the search was suspended at 3 p.m. On the morning of the 25th, a park visitor reported a suspicious pedestrian along U.S. 191 near the Black Butte Ranch. Gallatin subdistrict rangers responded and arrested J.M.. No firearm was recovered. J.M. faces several federal charges for offenses committed in the park. It's not yet certain if he will be charged with any crimes by the originating agency in Idaho. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 7/24-25]
A head-on motor vehicle accident north of Sheepeater Cliff on the Grand Loop road on the afternoon of August 1st claimed the life of motorcyclist from Ann Arbor, Michigan. A northbound pickup truck towing a camper trailer pulled into the opposite lane at a slow speed to pass several vehicles stopped in the road. The truck almost immediately struck a southbound Harley-Davidson being driven by B.T., 40. B.T. was traveling about 45 mph and wearing a helmet. Although the headlight of her motorcycle was functioning, it was raining heavily at the time and visibility was reduced. B.T. sustained massive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene after efforts to resuscitate her by bystanders and emergency response personnel failed. The accident is under investigation, and the U.S. attorney's office will be consulted about possible charges. Motorcycle traffic in the park typically increases just before and after the major annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. There were four MVAs involving motorcycles - two others with serious injuries - during the period from Wednesday to Friday last week. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/3]
Maintenance employee Rory Perkins, 38, died of injuries sustained in an accident at the maintenance garage at Mammoth Hot Springs yesterday morning. Perkins, a heavy equipment mechanic, was testing a snowmobile using a gasohol fuel, which is being considered by the park for use in snow machines next year to reduce air pollution. The snowmobile had an air-cooled engine, so the test was being conducted with it in operation. The snowmobile's front skis had been replaced with solid rubber tires for better steering while traveling over bare pavement. Perkins, who was working alone, apparently lost control of the snowmobile, which struck the side of the garage building. He sustained massive, multiple injuries, including internal and head injuries and an apparent broken arm and leg. The accident was unwitnessed. Park emergency services personnel were in a training session nearby and responded immediately. Perkins was transported by ambulance to the clinic at Mammoth, where a physician came aboard to assist with patient treatment en route to a rendezvous with a life flight helicopter. Shortly after leaving the clinic, Perkins' condition deteriorated and the ambulance returned to the clinic pending the arrival of the life flight. He went into cardiac arrest at the clinic and did not respond to resuscitation efforts. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The machine has received a preliminary inspection and has been secured for further evaluation by a Polaris representative and possibly an independent automotive engineer. An OSHA investigator will arrive in the park today. Rory had been a heavy equipment maintenance mechanic at the park since 1991. Before that, he'd worked for the Wyoming highway department in Lander. Rory was an active member in the park community and had been very active in the Mammoth volunteer fire department, including service as fire chief since April, 1996. He is survived by his wife, S., the chief rangers' secretary (currently on detail to the finance office), and by his son, B., daughter, M.G., son-in-law, Ma.G., and grandson, Mar.G. A memorial service has been tentatively scheduled for August 10th at the Mammoth Hot Springs chapel. A critical incident stress debriefing will be held for park staff today. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/6]
A memorial service for Rory Perkins will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 10th, at the chapel at Mammoth Hot Springs. Cards or donations in Rory's memory may be sent directly to S.P., P.O. Box 6, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. S.P. plans to distribute any donations received to the park and Lander (Wyoming) fire departments in memory of Rory's active participation in both departments. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/6]
The park communications center received a 911 call at 7 p.m. on August 6th reporting a propane explosion at a house trailer in the Old Faithful employee trailer court. B.L., 69, an Amfac concession employee, was attempting to relight the pilot light on a propane kitchen stove with a match when the vapor exploded. The force of the explosion blew out the walls of the trailer and spread fire to a back bedroom. Neighbors responded and put out the fire with fire extinguishers before the Old Faithful fire department arrived on scene. B.L., his wife, and two neighborhood children who were visiting them sustained minor burns and lacerations. They were transported by ambulance to the Old Faithful clinic for evaluation. B.L. was transferred to Lake Hospital for observation and treatment of chest pain. The other three patients were treated and released. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/7]
On the morning of July 17th, a park visitor accidentally left her purse in her room at Canyon Lodge after checking out. The purse was turned in to the area housekeeping office by a room inspector. By the time the purse reached lost and found, $150 and two diamond rings with an appraised value of $15,000 were missing. Through interviews, park investigators identified a possible suspect - an Amfac employee working as a night porter at Canyon Village. They were able to obtain a confession from the porter and recover the missing rings. Charges are pending with the U.S. attorney. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/4]
On July 28th, an Amfac concession employee from the park reported alleged drug activity at Canyon Village to a drug hotline in Mesa County, Colorado. The hotline referred the caller to the park communications center, where it was reported that another Amfac employee had just gone to Grand Junction, Colorado, to pick up a shipment of illegal drugs. Park investigators conducted a consent search of the suspect's room at Canyon, where they found and seized 76 sugar cubes believed to contain LSD, eight grams of a drug called "monkey's blood," 55 grams of marijuana, paraphernalia, and $305 in cash. The suspect admitted that this had been his second trip to obtain drugs for distribution. Prosecution by the U.S. attorney's office is pending completion of drug analysis by the state crime lab. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/4]
On the morning of July 11th, rangers attempted to contact an out-of-bounds camper in a Ford F-150 pickup truck at Frog Rock, about seven miles south of Mammoth. Although it was difficult to see through the heavily tinted camper shell windows, it appeared that there were two bodies underneath a blanket. The bodies of N.J.R., 69, and her son, R.R., both of Blackfoot, Idaho, were found, along with the remains of a dead cat. Preliminary results of the autopsies and scene investigation indicate that Ronald Reimann shot his mother twice in the head with a .357 magnum, killed the family cat, then shot himself once in the head. The R.s were eluding Idaho law enforcement authorities who were seeking them for grand theft. Both reportedly had extensive credit problems as well. Other information revealed that the R.s were involved in check fraud in several Pacific Northwest states. The trucks Idaho plates had been altered. [Brian O'Dea, YELL, 8/14]
J.B., 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was injured during an encounter with a grizzly bear at a remote backcountry location on August 21st. J.B. had established camp at Broad Creek that day, then taken an off-trail day hike in the Tern Lake area. He was hiking along quietly in mid-afternoon when he startled two grizzly bears - possibly a sow with a yearling - that were about 25 yards away. The larger bear charged to within five yards of J.B., went around behind him, cuffed him, and bit him once on the shoulder and once on the thigh. J.B. remained passive throughout the attack, which he recalled as the recommended action from the backcountry permit orientation film he'd seen, and the bears left the area. He returned to his camp for the night, then hiked out of the backcountry on the 22nd and 23rd. He reported the encounter to rangers at Canyon, and was taken to Lake Hospital for treatment of his injuries. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/26]
A two-vehicle accident which occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. on August 26th at Shoshone Point on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb killed one visitor and injured six others. G.J. (age unavailable at time of report) of France was driving westbound in an Oldsmobile sedan with two passengers, his wife Simone G.J., 77, and another man, 82, also from France. G.J. apparently fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an eastbound pickup truck containing a family of four from Oregon. All seven occupants of both vehicles were injured and transported to medical facilities. More than 15 park staff, three park ambulances, a Lake Hospital ambulance, a fire engine and an extrication unit responded to the accident. S.J. was transported from the scene by a life flight to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where she died from her injuries. The other six patients were taken by ambulance to Lake Hospital, where two were treated and released, one was admitted for observation, and three were transferred by life flight or ambulance to larger hospitals outside the park. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/27]
On the afternoon of August 27th, B.V., 44, of Evanston, Wyoming suffered a geothermal burn while at Beryl Spring, which is located along the Grand Loop Road between Madison and Norris Junctions. B.V., who was barefoot, left the walkway to get a closer look at the hot springs. He broke through the crust and suffered a second degree burn to his right foot. B.V. was transported by private vehicle to the Canyon visitor center, where he reported the incident. He was then transported by park ambulance to Lake Hospital for treatment. For safety reasons, travel in geothermal areas is restricted to designated trails, walkways, and boardwalks. This information is provided to every incoming vehicle and is posted in roadside geothermal areas. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 8/28]
K.H., 21, an Amfac employee at Mammoth Hot Springs, suffered a geothermal burn while hiking in the Seven-Mile Hole area of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on the morning of August 28th. K.H. and a companion had obtained a backcountry permit for a campsite at Seven-Mile Hole and had spent the previous night there. While hiking out, K.H. apparently followed a faint switchback cutoff, stepped in a small hole created by a geothermal feature, and burned her right foot. She received first aid at the scene, hiked five miles to the trailhead, then reported the incident at the Canyon visitor center. After being evaluated by ranger EMTs at Canyon, K.H. was transported by private vehicle to Lake Hospital, where she was treated for first and second degree burns to her right foot and ankle. [Mike Murray, ACR, YELL, 9/1]
During the month of August, the park held two commemorative/celebratory events in honor of the park's 125th anniversary. On August 17th, an event was held at Mammoth Hot Springs to honor the "protectors of Yellowstone" - the agencies, groups and corporations that have contributed to the national park idea and the protection of the park over its 125-year history. Vice president Gore, Department of Army assistant secretary Robert Walker, Department of Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt and director Robert Stanton attended and spoke. The ceremony concluded with the dedication of a new self-guided walking trail through historic Fort Yellowstone. On August 25th, a program was held at Old Faithful to take a retrospective look at the park's first 125 years and a contemplative look forward to its next 125 years. Invited speakers presented their thoughts on the value of Yellowstone and the importance of the national park idea. Speaking were senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, the governors of Wyoming and Montana, the regional director and others. During both events, special interpretive programs, including programs and activities for children, were available throughout the day at the event location. [Cheryl Matthews, YELL, 9/8]
On October 14th, Old Faithful rangers received information from Amfac, the park concessioner, regarding thefts that were occurring at the Old Faithful Inn. Two night auditors, D.P., 20, of Lewistown, Montana, and K.I., 19, of Columbus, Montana, were allegedly taking property from the gift shop after it was closed and selling the stolen merchandise to other Amfac employees. An investigation led to the arrests of the two men after surveillance of the gift shop and interviews with the suspects clearly implicated them in the thefts. The two pled guilty to charges of theft before a federal magistrate on the 15th. Each was fined $750, placed on probation for two years, and prohibited from entering the park for a period of two years. Five others were charged with possession of stolen property. Four of them - T.B., 19, of Cheney, Washington, E.C., 18, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, T.M., 22, of Oxnard, California, and K.U, 18, of Potlatch, Idaho - appeared before the magistrate and pled guilty. Each was fined $200 and placed on a year's probation. The fifth individual is awaiting a court appearance. [Mona Divine, ACR, YELL, 10/30]
On May 2nd, a 43-year-old woman was walking near a bison in the Old Faithful area when the animal false-charged her at a distance of less than 30 feet. The woman froze, then attempted to turn away as the bison struck her from the rear, tossing her into the air. The bison continued to circle her while she was lying on the ground. A quick-thinking visitor drove his vehicle between the bison and the injured woman, permitting her to leave the area safely. The woman suffered minor bruising and a slight horn laceration to her thigh and was taken to the hospital. [Allison Robb, Assistant SDR, Old Faithful Subdistrict, YELL, 5/5]
On the morning of May 18th, the park received a 911 call reporting that a 10- year-old boy had been injured when he came into contact with a downed power line on the Artist Paint Pots trail between Norris and Madison. The boy had been hiking the trail with his family. On the way to the paint pots, they noted a wire above the trail and an elk carcass about 50 feet off to the right. A power line that had been stretched toward the ground by a fallen tree had electrocuted the elk. Visitors were able to walk under the line, however, as it was more than eight feet above the trail. When the family returned from the hike, the father left the trail to investigate the elk carcass. The boy followed; as he approached the elk, he grabbed the power line, which had been pulled to just over five feet off the ground at this point by the fallen tree. Another visitor witnessed the incident, helped the family to move the boy back from the wire, then contacted the park. Rangers arrived and provided emergency medical treatment. They were assisted by maintenance employees and a park volunteer. The boy was taken to a life flight helicopter, flown to a hospital in Idaho, then flown to the Salt Lake City Burn Center for additional treatment. It appears that he will lose one arm and parts of his feet. The boy also sustained burns to his face. [Mona Divine, YELL, 5/20]
B.B., 49, of Manhattan, Montana, was killed in a two-vehicle accident that occurred just west of the West Thumb Geyser Basin junction near Duck Lake on the afternoon of July 6th. A park truck with two Old Faithful maintenance employees - driver Jim Knoelke and passenger Scott Hope - was heading west toward Old Faithful when they saw an eastbound Acura Integra hit the guardrail, then veer into the westbound lane. Knoelke immediately pulled as far to the right as possible and had almost come to a complete stop when the Acura hit the truck head-on. Knoelke was able to contact dispatch and call in the accident. Rangers and Lake Hospital medical staff responded immediately. The driver of the Acura, Thomas B.B., 49, received multiple minor injuries, but his spouse succumbed at the scene. Knoelke and Hape suffered only minor abrasions and bruises. Both airbags in the Acura deployed, but Barbara B.B. was reclining and sleeping at the time of the accident. [Cheryl Matthews, PIO, YELL, 7/8]
A bull bison gored a 50-year-old woman in the Canyon cabin area around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of July 7th. F.C. of Taipei, Taiwan, was visiting the park with a tour group and staying in the cabins. She left her cabin that morning and evidently walked close by a bison, which charged, threw F.C. in the air, and gored her in the left upper thigh. F.C. landed on her head and shoulder and lost consciousness for a short period of time. Rangers were notified by concession employees. Since the bison was still near F.C. when they arrived, she was placed in the patrol car for emergency medical treatment, then taken to Lake Hospital. She was later transferred to West Park Hospital in Cody for additional care. This is the second bison encounter this summer. On May 2nd, a bison butted a woman in the Old Faithful area when she approached the animal too closely (98-182). [Cheryl Matthews, PIO, YELL, 7/8]
On the evening of July 19th, ranger Dino Nicholau came upon an RV parked in the Sand Point picnic area along Yellowstone Lake. The engine was turned off, but a generator was running in the left rear quarter section of the vehicle. All windows and doors were shut tight, with the exception of a two- inch gap in the left rear quarter panel window located directly above the generator. Nicholau was able to see a hand in the vehicle while looking through a rear window. When several knocks on the side door went unanswered, Nicholau entered the vehicle. He was immediately aware of heat and strong fumes. He saw E.R., 60, of Columbia, Mississippi, lying unconscious and face down in her own vomit. He carried her from the RV and returned to find two other unconscious victims, her five-year-old granddaughter, S.R., and her husband C.R., 68. Nicholau was able to carry the granddaughter to safety, then summoned another visitor to help him carry out C.R. All three victims were exhibiting severe signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from fumes that had entered through the rear window. S.R. was most critical, having been closest to the window. Additional rangers were on scene within minutes of Nicholau's call for assistance. An incident command system was established and emergency rescue operations were begun in an attempt to revive the three. All three were taken to Lake hospital, then flown to a hospital in Billings, Montana. Both adults have since been discharged from the hospital; S.R. is also expected to recover fully and should be discharged in two days. Over 20 NPS personnel, three ambulances, a helicopter, and an aircraft were utilized during the incident. Investigation revealed that the three had been sleeping in the RV for approximately two hours before Nicholau discovered them. The generator was on in order to run the vehicle's air conditioning. Attending physicians confirmed that all three would have died within minutes if they had not been removed from the RV. [Keith McAuliffe, Shift Supervisor, Lake Area, YELL, 7/20]
Shortly after midnight on July 9th, ranger Keith Young responded to a report of a disorderly person - later identified as M.A. - at the concession dormitory in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. When Young arrived at M.A.'s dorm room, he was met by a concession manager in the hallway. They both heard glass breaking and other loud noises coming from the room. Young announced his presence several times, but M.A. did not respond. Young then opened the unlocked door and again announced his presence. M.A. almost immediately lunged at Young with a large, bowie-type knife and a large wooden walking staff. M.A. pursued Young into the hallway, attempting to strike him with both the knife and the stick. Young did not fire at him because several residents of the dorm were in the hallway, but instead attempted to defuse the situation by talking to M.A. M.A. again rushed at Young, who retreated down the hallway and exited to the parking lot. M.A. came out into the lot and began running through a guest cabin area, striking several parked cars with the knife and stick. Young kept him in sight until back-up units could arrive. Ranger Lane Baker soon arrived; Young and Baker then pursued M.A. onto a hillside behind the cabins. They ordered him to drop his knife. He said he'd thrown it away, but they could see it in his right hand. The rangers attempted to control M.A., including spraying him with pepper spray. The spray had no apparent effect and he ran back into the cabin area. The rangers pursued and found him attempting to crawl under a van. Baker heard the knife fall to the pavement, and was able to spray M.A. one more time. Other rangers then arrived and helped drag M.A. from under the van and place him in custody. During the course of the incident, M.A. never spoke or complied with any commands given by the rangers. The pepper spray had no perceptible effect until after M.A. was in custody, when his eyes began to water and redden. M.A. was indicted for assault on a federal officer in federal grand jury on July 22nd. [Chris Hansen, CI, YELL, 7/24]
Rangers responded to a single-vehicle rollover accident about three miles east of the park's west entrance on the evening of July 25th. The pickup truck left the roadway, traveled 560 feet and rolled several times before coming to rest upright. Three of the five occupants were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected. Two needle thoracostomies were performed on one of the seriously injured patients. All five were taken to Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman, Montana, for additional care. The driver was issued citations for careless driving and unsafe operation, passing in a no passing zone, and failure to wear seatbelts. Alcohol was a probable factor. [John Piastuck, Cheryl Matthews, YELL, 7/29]
A young boy and an adult woman received thermal burns in two separate incidents in the park in early August. On the afternoon of August 3rd, S.B., 12, of Conifer, Colorado, was visiting the thermal features in the Upper Geyser Basin with his family. As the boy and his father approached an unnamed thermal pool that is partially surrounded by a fence, the boy left the trail, went around it, and stuck his right hand into the cooler part of the pool. He was therefore not burned. He then kicked a rock into the hotter section of the pool, though, and was splashed on the lower left leg. He was taken to Old Faithful clinic, where he was treated for minor first degree burns. On August 11th, M.D., 23, of Wichita, Kansas, was swimming in a section of the Little Firehole River in which swimming is permitted. The group decided to try another swimming area; as they climbed on nearby rocks, M.D. slipped and fell into a hotter area of the river, receiving first and second degree burns to her left ear, cheek, hand and shin and lacerations to her left calf. She was also treated and released. They were the third and fourth visitors to be burned this summer. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/17]
A head-on collision near Grant Village on September 9th killed one visitor and injured five others. Three were treated and released; the remaining two are in a hospital in Idaho Falls, one in guarded condition, the other in satisfactory condition. The driver of one of the two vehicles was arrested for driving under the influence. Additional details to follow. [Rick Obernesser, CR, YELL, 9/10]
In early August, a 50-year-old woman from South Bloomington, Minnesota, stole a car and a set of license plates, forged several prescriptions for painkillers, and set out on a vacation crime spree in Grand Teton and Yellowstone NPs. Grand Teton rangers who arrested her for possession of the stolen car and license plates discovered that she had between $5,000 and $7,000 worth of stolen merchandise in the car which had been taken from gift stores in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson, Wyoming. Due to a couple of legal technicalities, the assistant U.S. attorney declined to prosecute her for possession of the stolen car and plates. Bob Maguire, the law enforcement specialist for Grand Teton, helped her acquire a rented car in Jackson and learned that she was headed for Glacier NP. He called the park with a heads-up that she was en route, and continued to work with a suburban Minneapolis police department on filing felony charges for the false prescriptions. Several days later, Glacier assistant law enforcement specialist Steve Dodd spotted the woman near Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Surveillance was begun, and she was arrested shortly thereafter when she stole several items from Apgar Village stores and gift shops. She was charged shortly thereafter with possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and falsely obtaining a Golden Access Passport. She also returned $279 in cash taken in a theft from a former friend's residence in Billings, Montana, which she took while traveling from Grand Teton to Glacier. She forfeited bond on all three Glacier charges a week later in U.S. magistrate's court and returned to Minnesota. [Fred Vanhorn, GLAC, 9/20]
Park visitors from England left a travel bag behind them after having dinner at Old Faithful Inn around 11:30 p.m. on October 6th. The bag contained about $1,500 in cash and 890 pounds in British sterling. They did not report the incident until the following morning. Ranger Dave Tyroler took the report and advised banks in communities surrounding the park. On the afternoon of October 7th, a bank in West Yellowstone reported that a woman had come there to exchange a large sum of sterling. Rangers Rick Bennett, Eric Sperling and Bonnie Gafney responded along with West Yellowstone police and contacted concession employee T.V.-N., who was the cashier working in the dining room on the night of the theft. An interview with her led to the recovery of the travel bag, all of the sterling, $625 in cash, and about $800 in store receipts posted that day. Rangers also found marijuana, syringes with methamphetamine, and other drug paraphernalia. The case will be presented to the grand jury and is being handled by the assistant U.S. attorney's office. [Dave Tyroler, YELL, 10/14]
P.V.D.A., 31, and his wife, A.R., 27, both from Belgium, were on a day hike on a spur of the Mount Holmes trail on September 5th when Van Der Auwera surprised a grizzly bear sow and her yearling. The bears were no more than 15 yards away. The sow charged P.V.D.A., threw him in the air, then bit him in the right thigh. It took three hours for A.R. to hike out for assistance. P.V.D.A. was short-hauled from the scene by helicopter, brought to an ambulance, taken to Mammoth Hot Springs for initial treatment, then flown to a hospital in Billings. Both the Mount Holmes and Grizzly Lake trailheads were closed until September 9th. ["The Buffalo Chip," RM Newsletter, YELL]
L.H., 80, of Newport, Kentucky, was gored by a bull bison in the Canyon cabin area around 9 p.m. on July 15th. L.H. was visiting the park with his daughter and other friends and staying in one of the cabins. As they were returning to their cabin that evening, they saw a bison next to the cabin's stairs. The bison became very agitated when they approached. L.H.'s daughter and other visitors quickly moved back, but L.H. was not able to retreat as quickly. The bison charged, struck him, and threw him 15 feet into the air. His injuries included a broken right elbow and a deep laceration to his left thigh. He was taken to a hospital in Cody for treatment. This was the third such bison encounter of the summer. ["The Buffalo Chip," RM Newsletter, YELL]
L.H., 22, a native of Prachatice in the Czech Republic, was killed in a snowmobile accident about five miles east of the West Entrance on the afternoon of January 11th. L.H. and C.W., 22, of Aspen, Colorado, were riding double on a snowmobile at the time, with L.H. driving. Witnesses say that the snowmobile kept drifting to the left; L.H. failed to correct the drift, and the machine went up over the snowpacked road berm, down a steep embankment, and into a group of trees. She died of massive head injuries. C.W. sustained a fractured femur and jaw in the accident. He was stabilized and flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls. Both L.H. and C.W. were members of the University of Colorado's ski team, which has been residing and training in West Yellowstone. The two were visiting the park with other team members. Park roads were in good condition at the time of the accident, and the stretch of road where the accident occurred was straight and open. The preliminary investigation indicates that neither speed nor alcohol was a factor. Both were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. [PIO, YELL, 1/12]
Old Faithful rangers were dispatched to a reported heart attack a mile from the road on the Lone Star ski trail on the afternoon of February 3rd. They found a 46-year-old man with chest pain and shortness of breath. EMS actions included an EKG, pulse oximetry monitoring, and administration of medications and oxygen. Additional staff, including off-duty rangers, joined the rescue effort; maintenance workers secured and prepared the helispot. The patient was taken to the trailhead by snowmobile, transported to the ranger station by oversnow ambulance, and flown by helicopter to a hospital in Idaho Falls. Doctors confirmed that he'd suffered a heart attack. [Alison Robb, Assistant SDR, Old Faithful Subdistrict, YELL, 2/11]
On the afternoon of March 7th, Gallatin subdistrict ranger Rick Bennett stopped a 1986 Jeep Cherokee for a speeding violation on highway 191. During the contact with the driver, Bennett observed drug paraphernalia between the driver's and passenger's seats. Bennett and a state officer conducted a search of the vehicle which turned up additional evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia - and suspected counterfeit travelers checks. The suspects, D.F. and K.D., both from Oregon, were arrested for the drug violations. The Secret Service was notified of the suspected counterfeit securities and both of their agents in Montana came to the park. A joint investigation by the Secret Service agents and NPS criminal investigators at Yellowstone revealed that D.F. and K.D. have been involved in an extensive scheme for manufacturing and using counterfeit travelers checks in at least four states and possibly Canada over the past several months. They were found to be in possession of substantial amounts of genuine U.S. currency and counterfeit travelers checks, as well as various forms of counterfeit identification and equipment used to manufacture counterfeit travelers checks and identification. The joint investigation is continuing; both suspects face numerous felony charges. K.D., who originally identified himself as D.H., has an extensive criminal history including drug charges, escapes, and a prior homicide charge. He is currently wanted in two states for parole violations. [Chris Hansen, CI, YELL, 3/10]
Two investigations into fee fraud in the park were recently concluded. The first began late in the summer of 1998 and involved Karst Stages, Inc, a regional commercial tour bus company. Bus drivers on four occasions used a seven-day entrance permit from a prior trip to gain re-entry into the park. The company was charged with four counts of illegally transferring single visit permits (36 CFR 71.8). Following consultation with the United States attorney and discussion with counsel for Karst Stages, the park accepted the company's offer to pay the $1,200 owed for the four visits and waived prosecution. Karst Stages' misunderstanding of what constituted a single visit and their cooperation in the investigation were mitigating considerations. The second case involved a three-month investigation of a commercial photography business from Grand Junction, Colorado. The business - Dramatic Light Nature Photography - is owned and operated by J.L. and B.L. The company was charged with misuse of a Golden Eagle passport (36 CFR 71.5(b)), failure to pay required fees and obtain permits (36 CFR 2.23(b)), and knowingly giving a false report (36 CFR 2.32(a)(4)). Following interviews with J.L. and information received from 15 other Western NPS areas, a fourth charge was added - engaging in a business in a park except in accordance with the provisions of a permit (36 CFR 5.3). The business failed to obtain commercial use licenses (CULs) and incidental business permits (IBPs) for photography workshops conducted in various western parks between 1991 and 1998. When working under an issued CUL or IBP, the business commonly used a Golden Eagle pass at park entrances to avoid paying entrance fees for clients. They specifically targeted uninformed and/or new entrance personnel who were unfamiliar with business operations in NPS. The total sum for past obligations to NPS units for unpermitted activities is estimated at around $3,000, with another $1,000 for unpaid entrance fees. The investigator consulted with each park's concession manager, law enforcement program manager and U.S. attorney on appropriate actions. Since J.L. cooperated fully and agreed to pay his past obligations, the park again waived prosection. [CRO, YELL, 3/17]
Three Montana men were recently found guilty of illegal theft of natural features in the park - specifically, elk antlers. On April 30th, R.P., 29, of Hamilton, Montana, pled guilty in magistrate's court to illegal possession of 75 pounds of elk antlers. He was fined $1,400 and banned from the park for three years. On May 3rd, G.B., 30, and S.L., 28, both of Butte, Montana, were found guilty of the same charge. Rangers caught them with 108 pounds of elk antlers and discovered that they had previously collected and cached another 150 pounds of antlers. G.B. was fined $1,750 and banned from Yellowstone for five years. S.L. was fined $800 and banned for three years. Regular elk antlers are being purchased locally for about $7 per pound; "furniture grade" antlers go for about $12 per pound. In both these cases, most of the antlers were furniture grade. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 5/5]
The body of P.H., 66, of Orlando, Florida, was found on May 27th after an extensive search that began the previous evening at the Artist Point trail in the Canyon area. P.H. had been hiking the trail with his wife, Phyllis, when they became separated. She was a short distance ahead of her husband and noted that he stopped to talk with other park visitors. She slowed her pace to allow him to catch up with her, but he was no longer behind her when she arrived at the parking area. She accordingly returned to look for him, and was assisted by other visitors. They were unsuccessful and called 911 from a tour bus operator's cell phone. Park staff responded and began a search. Three dog teams - one from Grand Teton NP, one from Absaroka Search Dogs, and one from the park - joined park staff and volunteers in ground searches of the area until midnight. The search resumed at daylight on Thursday morning. P.H.'s body was located by one of the dog teams around 8:30 a.m. about a mile-and-a-half east of Artist Point and very close to Point Sublime. Preliminary indications are that he died from hypothermia. [PIO, YELL, 5/27]
A fatal motor vehicle accident occurred near West Thumb junction on the afternoon of September 9, 1998. A Dodge pickup driven by R.I., 30, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, crossed the center line and struck a Lincoln Continental head-on. F.H., 75 of Pardeeville, Wisconsin, was killed, and H.C., 60, also of Pardeeville, was seriously injured. H.C. died of his injuries several weeks after the accident. R.I. was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after the investigation revealed that he'd been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the accident. R.I. and his attorney changed his plea to guilty days before his trial was to begin this past March. On June 12th, the district judge sentenced R.I. to twelve months and a day in prison on each charge, to be served concurrently. Upon release from prison, he will be subject to supervised probation for three years. R.I. has also been ordered to pay almost $205,000 in restitution. [Chris Hansen, CI, YELL, 6/22]
Ranger Joe Bueter followed-up on numerous hearsay reports of drug dealing and employed aggressive interview techniques to obtain information that lead to a consent search of a concession employee room at Old Faithful. A gram of black tar heroin and 6.5 grams of cocaine packaged into bindles were found in the room along with $990 in assorted bills. S.G. and G.G. were each charged with three felony counts of drug possession. S.G. is an employee with the concessioner at Old Faithful; G.G. supplied drugs from Salt Lake City. G.G. provided false information about his identity for two days, but was eventually identified through the FBI's classification service. He is wanted on three warrants in Canada and a fourth from Salt Lake City. S.G. is currently on probation out of Salt Lake City. Future charges of obstruction will be considered for G.G., who also faces deportation by INS upon conviction for any offense and for his outstanding warrants. A number of other concession employees are being charged with possession of controlled substances received from S.G. and G.G. [Dick Divine, CI, YELL, 7/1]
Park staff discovered a broken sewage line spilling raw sewage into a meadow between Chittenden Bridge and Upper Falls on July 2nd. Several thousand gallons spilled before the line could be shut down. The break occurred in a section of the line located in an unstable, geologic slump area that has been slowly giving away. Restroom facilities in the Uncle Tom's parking area have been closed until the pipe can be repaired. Next week, park staff will replace the damaged pipe, constructed in the early 1970s, with a pipe that will better handle and adjust to the shifting and movement of the slump. Temporary restroom facilities have been placed near the parking area until the line can be repaired. None of the sewage reached any water courses. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/2]
Five people were injured and one killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred around 9:30 p.m. on July 16th near Tower Fall in the northern portion of the park. All but one worked for park concessioners. It appears that the driver was going too fast, went off the road on a curve, then overcorrected, causing the car to leave the road, go over a cliff, and fall about 100 feet to Tower Creek. A.D., 22, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who worked for Amfac Parks and Resorts at Roosevelt Lodge, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other five occupants were taken to Lake Hospital with a variety of minor injuries, such as scrapes and bruises. One was then transferred to West Park Hospital in Cody because of a possible head injury. Park personnel responded from Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower, Lamar, Northeast, Canyon, Norris and Madison. Technical rescue and water rescue techniques were required to remove the victims from the scene. The accident is currently under investigation. None of the occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/17]
L.-H.H., 31, of Auckland, New Zealand, was hiking with a companion around the Heart Lake Geyser Basin on the evening of July 30th when the two became separated. L.-H.H.'s companion attempted to find her, but was unsuccessful. He then hiked out about six miles and notified rangers at 8:30 p.m. A search was immediately begun, employing dogs, aircraft and several ground search teams. HL.-H.H.o was spotted from the helicopter two miles north of the Heart Lake cabin at 1:50 p.m. the following afternoon. She told park staff that she'd become disoriented and had wandered around for a while, then had slept under a fallen log, using tree branches to keep her warm. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/31]
The park received a report that a visitor had fallen over the edge of the overlook near Firehole Falls at 11:40 a.m. on July 20th. Rangers found D.S., 47, of Oak Park, California, on a small ledge about 60 feet down a steep, rocky embankment above the Firehole River. She was suffering from head injuries and possible fractures. D.S. had been leaning over the edge to photograph the falls when she lost her balance and fell. Park medics Bonnie Gafney and John Piastuck were able to reach her via a difficult but non-technical route. Rangers opted to evacuate D.S. via a technical litter raising due to the loose, rocky terrain. She was then taken by ambulance to a clinic in West Yellowstone. Advanced technical rescue team members from Madison and Old Faithful were assisted by volunteers and park employees who, by lucky coincidence, had been attending a basic technical rescue class nearby. Ranger Richard Moore was IC. [Richard Moore, YELL, 8/6]
Rangers and motor carrier troopers from the Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted commercial vehicle inspections in the Old Faithful area on July 21st and 22nd. A variety of violations were discovered in the 53 vehicles inspected. Driver violations resulted in 14 warnings and ten citations; vehicle violations resulted in 48 warnings and five citations; fines totaled $1,920. Eight buses, three delivery trucks and seven drivers were taken out of service for violations. Members of the public made several favorable comments regarding the inspections. [Dick Divine, CI, YELL, 8/1]
Backcountry rangers have dealt with several weapons violations this month. On August 5th, a group of Boy Scouts from Idaho on a camping trip to Shoshone Lake were cited for a weapons violation and several food storage violations. During a routine contact, a backcountry ranger discovered food improperly stored at the scouts' two campsites near Shoshone Lake. While investigating the obvious food violations, the ranger also discovered a 40-caliber Glock handgun and ammunition in a backpack. The group was assisted from the backcountry and issued several citations. On August 8th, a group of four campers from Utah was discovered camping illegally at Shoshone Lake (backcountry camping is allowed in designated campsites only). During the contact, the ranger discovered that the group had improperly stored food, had planned to use wheeled carts to move their canoes, were in violation of their boating permit because of unsafe boating practices, and were carrying two weapons (a hunting-type compound bow and a Marlin .30-.30 rifle). They will be required to appear in court for the violations. In the third incident, rangers were notified by hikers that they had seen a group hiking on the DeLacey Creek Trail to Shoshone Lake with a 12-gauge shotgun. Rangers found the group from Utah camped illegally on the beach of the lake. Shawn Whiting, 21, of West Jordan, Utah, appeared in federal district court on August 25th and pled guilty to carrying a weapon, camping without a backcountry permit, improper food storage, possession of an illegal firearm, and disorderly conduct. Whiting was fined $275 and placed on one year's probation. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/27]
A park visitor was injured by a bear on the Skyrim Trail to Bighorn Peak in the northwest area of the park on Friday, August 27th. A friend of the visitor notified park officials of the encounter earlier this week. A man from Switzerland and a woman from New York were hiking towards Bighorn Peak when they heard a moaning noise. Unsure what the sound was and thinking that the noise was farther away, they continued with their hike. They had only taken a few steps when they saw a bear (by their description, probably a grizzly) approximately 10 yards away on a slope to the left of the trail. The woman stepped away from the bear and quickly dropped down on her lower legs into a ball position; the bear charged the woman, huffed a few times, but did not touch or harm her. At the same time, the male hiker stepped uphill in the direction the bear was first spotted. He was approached, but not touched, by two yearlings. The male hiker employed his pepper spray (he was unsure whether the spray hit the young bears) and the adult bear immediately turned away from the woman and charged toward him. He continued to spray, falling on his back in the process, but the bear did not touch him. Thinking the adult bear was going to attack, the man raised his leg for protection. The bear swatted the leg, inflicting two gashes and other minor injuries. The adult bear sniffed at the cloud of spray, retreated, then immediately returned. The two hikers - now out of pepper spray - remained on the ground, lying very still, until all three bears left the area. Although the hikers had met a ranger patrolling the area on horseback shortly before their incident, they chose to return to the trailhead where their vehicle was parked and drive to Bozeman for medical treatment. Skyrim Trail has been posted with bear warning signs, but has not been closed; rangers will continue to monitor the area for bear activity. This was the first bear incident in the park this season. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/3]
On September 4th, N.V., 74, died from injuries sustained when she fell approximately 80 feet, then rolled another 420 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River at Grandview Point overlook. The victim and her husband, Calvin, both of Billings, Montana, had visited the park many times in the past. When they arrived at Grandview Point on Saturday afternoon, Mr. V. remained in their vehicle to look at a map. Mrs. V. got out of the car to look at the view; she apparently walked directly from the vehicle toward the canyon, passed a warning sign, and slipped on the loose rock and dirt at the edge of the canyon. There were apparently no witnesses to her fall. When Mr. V. went to the overlook a few minutes later, he was unable to locate her. He searched the area for about 45 minutes, then contacted a park ranger for assistance. A search was begun immediately; dog teams, a helicopter and additional search teams were called in to assist. An observer in the helicopter spotted her about 500 feet below the overlook. There was no sign of life and she was pronounced dead of massive trauma at the scene. Recovery of her body was delayed until Sunday morning due to the lateness of the hour and high winds above the canyon rim late Saturday afternoon. A technical recovery operation involving about 20 park staff took place early on Sunday morning. Both the North and South Canyon Rim Drives were closed to the public before and during most of the operation. All areas were reopened by noon on Sunday. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/5]
G.L., 32, of Seattle, Washington, was hiking alone on the Black Butte trail early on the afternoon of September 22nd when he was attacked and mauled by a female grizzly bear. G.L. was on his way to a campsite when he encountered and came between the grizzly and her two cubs. The bear charged, knocked him down, and bit him several times. G.L. received injuries to the back of his scalp, the left side of his face, and his right ribs. When the bear departed, he got up and walked the four miles back to the trailhead on his own. Passing motorists provided assistance and notified the park. G.L. was flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls for treatment. He is currently listed in stable condition. No management action will be taken against the bear, as she was displaying natural protective behavior. The trail has been closed and will likely remain closed for the remainder of the season. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/23]
On September 21st, rangers received a bulletin reporting that two armed men who were wanted for suspicion of auto theft and unlawful discharge of a firearm in a residence in Idaho might be in the park. Only minutes later, at 12:30 a.m., ranger Keith Young spotted two men - J.M., 19, and a 16-year-old companion - setting up a camp in an undesignated camping area near Mammoth Hot Springs; both the men and their car matched the descriptions in the bulletin. The pair fled in the car. A high-speed pursuit ensued northbound into Gardiner, Montana, then into Yankee Jim Canyon on Montana Highway 89, where they abandoned the vehicle and ran into the woods. A multi-agency search was begun by rangers and federal, state and county officers. About 40 searchers, two police dogs, and two helicopters participated in the effort. J.M. and his companion were captured just north of the canyon around noon. They were taken to the park jail at Mammoth Hot Springs and pled guilty the next day to federal charges of unlawful possession and fleeing or attempting to elude officers. They will also face charges from the county and state of Idaho. [Lane Baker/Public Affairs, YELL, 9/22]
On the evening of September 25th, an off-duty ranger came upon D.J., 23, of Ketchum, Idaho, with a bow and quiver of arrows in the woods near Norris Junction. When they returned to D.J.'s vehicle, he jumped into it and fled from the area. Dispatch was notified and D.J. was apprehended and arrested by other rangers. His bow, arrows and other hunting equipment were confiscated. Investigation revealed that D.J. had killed a bull elk near the spot where he'd initially been contacted. The elk appeared to have been shot by four arrows. D.J. pled guilty in magistrate's court the next day to charges of illegal hunting and killing of a wild animal, possession of an illegal weapon, and interference with a law enforcement officer. D.J. was sentenced to 90 days in jail with 60 suspended, ordered to pay $3,260 restitution, and placed on three years' supervised probation, during which time he's banned from entering the park. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/28]
Park dispatch received an "attempt to locate" bulletin on September 30th for a dangerous and suicidal man from Idaho who was headed for the park. The man reportedly thought that the world was coming to an end on October 2nd and planned to take at least nine other people with him when he left. His vehicle was found at Old Faithful. Investigators determined that he'd checked into Snow Lodge with three of his children, and that he was hoping that other family and church members would join him the next day. Interviews with the man's wife and friends revealed that he'd recently been in a mental institution, that he was a manic depressive, and that he wasn't properly medicated. Surveillance was maintained for about four hours before the man was taken into custody without incident. Two Bozeman, Montana, police hostage negotiators assisted at the scene. Bob Seibert was the IC. [Alison Robb, ASDR, Old Faithful Subdistrict, YELL, 10/4]
On October 8th, rangers received two reports from visitors of two men and one woman digging in the ground with a screwdriver on the slope above a petrified tree about three miles west of Tower Junction. A park ranger responded and saw two of the people digging in the area. The ranger contacted the third person at one of the two vehicles the group was travelling in. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of one bag of about 100 small pieces of petrified wood in one of the vehicles and a large number of pieces of petrified wood in a small backpack. Several other mineral specimens and fossils were also found in the car. One of the men said he had taken pieces of travertine and geyserite from one of the thermal areas earlier in the day, but denied finding the fossils and other minerals in the park. On October 13th, T.B., 21, and K.U., 19 of Upton, Massachusetts, and A.T., 19, of Beaver Creek, Ohio, pled guilty in magistrate's court to the charge of removing natural features from the park. Each was fined $750, placed on three years' probation, and prohibited from entering the park for three years. All of the specimens were seized and will be returned to their natural state if possible. [Public Affairs, YELL, 10/20]
M.H. of Pulse Communications contacted the park this fall to obtain a permit to film grizzly collaring and bison helicopter net-gunning operations in the park for a documentary. After careful consideration, the permit was denied due to safety concerns and potential detriment to these research projects. Park staff agreed, however, to allow M.H. to mount a remote camera on the helicopter during the net-gunning operations and to film the ground darting of bison that was also taking place at the same time. Although M.H. was told the specifics of these provisions on several occasions prior to the company's arrival in the park, M.H. ignored them and chartered a helicopter with the intent of filming the net-gunning operations. This was discovered and prevented when the helicopter pilot contacted the park to ensure that he had the proper permits. When M.H. arrived with members of his crew, he met with public affairs staff to obtain the filming permit and acted surprised when informed that he wouldn't be allowed access to the helicopter net-gunning operations. M.H. proved to be very difficult to deal with during the application process, refusing to accept the terms and conditions established in the permit. He was again expressly told that neither he nor his crew members were to fly over or enter any areas on foot or by any other means where bison helicopter operations were taking place. This was all specified in the addendum to the company's filming permit, which also contained a map of the restricted area. On October 20th, a law enforcement ranger spotted the crew about a half mile off-road in the restricted area where bison helicopter operations were taking place. M.H. was fined and his filming permit was revoked for violation of its terms and conditions. The park will deny all future filming permits to Pulse Communications, or any representative thereof, for a probationary period of three years. Parks wishing additional information can contact the park's public affairs staff by phone at 307-344-2013 or via cc:Mail at YELL Public Affairs. [Public Affairs, YELL, 11/8]
A rock slide occurred on the road in Gardner River Canyon about two miles south of Gardner, Montana, on December 4th. Park staff were in the area when the slide occurred and immediately closed the road. The slide covered both traffic lanes; it's about 40 feet long and ranges in depth from five to seven feet. A large, fractured slab of rock weighing an estimated 400 tons separated and is leaning away from the cliff face close to the point where the slide occurred; the slab and surrounding area appear to be very unstable. The road will remain closed indefinitely. [Public Affairs, YELL, 12/6]
Park staff have begun clearing rock and debris off the North Entrance Road south of Gardiner, Montana. Following consultation with geologists and other experts, explosives were employed to remove a large, fractured slab of rock hanging over the road. It will probably be several days before all the slide debris has been cleaned from the road. Only local residents and employees are being allowed to use that section of the road at present; all others are using Old Gardiner Road. [Public Affairs, YELL, 12/6]
The North Entrance Road has been cleared of all debris from last Saturday's rock slide and has been reopened to the public. [Public Affairs, YELL, 12/7]
On November 27th, rangers found the carcass of an elk near milepost 24 on US 191 within the park on November 27th. Evidence indicates that it had been killed several days earlier, probably from the highway during the night. A reward of $500 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the killing. The number to call is 307-344-2120. [Public Affairs, YELL, 12/8]
F.B., 57, of Putnam Valley, New York, was killed late on the afternoon of December 30th when the snowmobile she was riding tipped to one side while crossing the parking area at the winter warming hut at Mammoth Hot Springs. She jumped or fell off, landed in a rocky area, and sustained major traumatic and internal injuries. CPR was begun immediately. She was taken to Mammoth Clinic, where she was pronounced dead about 40 minutes after the accident occurred. F.B. was nearing the end of a trip from Flagg Ranch to Mammoth Hot Springs with her husband and two other couples when the accident occurred. She was wearing a helmet. It was her first snowmobile trip. [Public Affairs, YELL, 1/1]
A blockage between the Old Faithful lift station line and an overflow tank caused approximately 500 gallons of raw sewage to back up through a manhole cover near the Old Faithful Inn on May 14th. The blockage happened after a tree branch became lodged in the line, obstructing the flow of grease. The spill was reported to the park at around 10:30 p.m.; the line was cleared by 4:30 a.m. the next morning. A new overflow system was installed last spring on the Old Faithful system, and new grease traps were added last fall. The grease from the spill was old grease that had remained in the line since last fall and had become dislodged. Park officials suspect that the spill was caused by vandals, since it would not have been possible for the branch to have naturally found its way into the line. It is unclear how or when the branch was placed in the line. Similar items (sagebrush, balls, rocks) have been found in other sewage spills. None of the sewage spill reached any watercourse. The incident was reported to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. [Public Affairs, YELL, 5/15]
A sewage blockage occurred in the lines outside the Albright Visitor Center at Mammoth Springs on Tuesday, May 23rd, closing restroom facilities for a short time and partially flooding the basement where the park archives are located. Raw sewage entered through a basement drain located in the archive storage area. The sewage was discovered by an employee almost immediately and quick action by park staff assured that none of the documents in the archives was damaged. Investigation revealed that the sewage line leading from the building had been blocked by a pair of men's shorts and a diaper, causing the backup. The line was cleared and returned to normal operations by Thursday afternoon. [Public Affairs, YELL, 5/26]
While returning from a medical incident at 4:15 a.m. on June 25th, ranger Curt Dimmick saw a vehicle being driven erratically in the park's residential area. Just prior to this, ranger Pete Webster investigated a break-in at Hamilton's store at Old Faithful. Webster notified Dimmick that numerous cases of Natural Ice beer and a box of potatoes had been stolen, and that the thieves had gained entry through a broken window. Dimmick stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, who had fresh blood stains on his clothes and hands. Both the driver and passenger were intoxicated and were arrested. The rangers found and recovered 221 bottles and cans of beer from the vehicle's trunk. [Alison Robb, Assistant SDR, Old Faithful Subdistrict, YELL, 6/27]
On June 25th, a park researcher saw two men carrying elk antlers near the Slough Creek campground. Rangers contacted T.B., 30, R.B., 19, and J.K., 35, all of Oakley, Utah. The trio had 34 pounds of antlers in their possession and had cached over 300 pounds for future removal. They'd also captured and removed a mule deer fawn, which was found concealed within their vehicle. All three cooperated with rangers during the investigation and admitted to their actions. On June 26th, they pled guilty in magistrate's court. Each was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the park and placed on probation for three years. During their probation, they're prohibited from entering the park. The fawn was in their possession for about 20 hours before rangers released it into the area from which it was captured. It's not expected to survive. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 6/27]
V.S., 74, and his wife, C.J.S., 64, both of Palmyra, Illinois, died in a motorcycle accident just south of Tower Fall Junction around 1 p.m. on July 5th. According to witnesses, the S.s were heading south near Rainy Lake when he swerved to miss a mule deer near the road and lost control of the motorcycle. It then went down an embankment and hit a tree. Both of the S.s were wearing helmets and he was driving at or near the speed limit. Park personnel from Tower, Canyon and Mammoth responded immediately and provided emergency medical care, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/6]
A bull bison gored a 67-year-old man in the Old Faithful area on the morning of Sunday, July 9th. A.P., of Sidney, Australia, was visiting the park with a bus tour group. He was standing with a group of people, including his wife, on the sidewalk about halfway between the Old Faithful Visitor Center and the Old Faithful Inn when a bison began running along the sidewalk. The other people were able to climb or jump a log fence to get out of the path of the animal, but A.P. was unable to move as quickly and the bison gored him in the upper inner thigh. The injury was very deep and may have cracked a bone and nicked an artery. Rangers responded immediately, providing initial emergency medical care. The victim was prepared for evacuation and taken by air ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center of Idaho Falls, Idaho, for additional treatment. A.P. is currently listed in stable condition. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/10]
A section of sewage pipe broke at Fishing Bridge on July 18th, spilling about 30,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Yellowstone River. HK Construction has been doing restoration work on the road approaching Fishing Bridge. They were compacting soil with heavy equipment about 100 feet from the bridge when they crushed and broke the pipe, part of the main sewage line handling all effluent for the Lake and Bridge Bay area. Park staff were immediately notified and rerouted sewage to a standby storage tank. The damaged pipe was repaired within three hours and cleanup operations are underway. No visitor services were affected by the incident. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/18]
Park dispatch received a 911 call at 10:45 p.m. on August 1st reporting that lightning had hit a large lodgepole pine between two campsites at Bridge Bay and that 13 campers had been injured. A ranger in the area was on scene within minutes. Three of eight people in tents at the campsite located closest to the lightning strike were transported to Lake Hospital and treated for minor injuries; two of five campers who had been sitting by their campfire at a second site were treated at the scene and refused additional medical attention. One said that he was knocked off his feet by the strike. All 13 reported that they felt electricity from the lightning run through their bodies. The entire rear and side windows of a vehicle parked near one of the campsites were blown out, and a 40-foot section of the tree landed inches away from a tent occupied by three visitors. Additional debris from the strike was scattered in a 50-foot radius around the point where the lightning hit. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/2]
On the evening of August 5th, Bruce Sefton, 48, the maintenance supervisor for Lake District, fell approximately 15 feet from a roof top and sustained serious injuries. Sefton and co-worker Earl McKinney had been called out to fix the roof on the Hamilton store at Bridge Bay Marina, which began leaking after a heavy rainfall. At the time of the accident, they were stapling down plastic sheeting on the building's primary roof, which is about 25 feet high. Although Sefton was wearing a safety harness and was tied in with fall protection, he had to unclip in order to step down to a lower roof, which was about 15 feet off the ground. He was in the process of cutting off the excess plastic sheeting when a gust of wind blew the sheeting around his body, causing him to lose balance and flip head over heels onto the cement below. McKinney found Sefton lying on his back and left side, unconscious and bleeding severely from the back of his head. McKinney, an EMT, opened Sefton's airway, maintained cervical spine alignment, and attempted to stop the bleeding. He then put out an emergency message on the radio requesting assistance. Within minutes, rangers, emergency personnel, and the Lake Hospital ambulance were on scene and a life flight helicopter had been ordered. Sefton was taken to Lake Hospital, then flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls for further examination. Doctors determined that he was suffering from micro-hemorrhaging in the brain, a pulmonary contusion, multiple thoracic spinal fractures, and a deformity to one of his fingers. Updates on his condition will be provided as they become available. [Keith McAuliffe, Shift Supervisor, Lake Area, YELL, 8/5]
On July 26th and 27th, rangers and four troopers from Wyoming Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Division conducted commercial inspections in the Old Faithful area. Seventy vehicles were inspected and a variety of violations were discovered. Five vehicles were taken out of service for temporary repairs; six vehicles and drivers were placed out of service for at least eight hours. Only a fifth of the vehicles and drivers passed the inspection with no violations. The remainder had an average of three violations. Twenty-two citations were issued with a total of $3,050 in fines ($315 for 36 CFR violations). Several favorable comments were made by the public regarding the inspection operation. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 8/13]
A park visitor received minor injuries during an encounter with a grizzly bear on the Avalanche Peak trail in the eastern portion of the park on the morning of Sunday, July 30th. The encounter occurred when M.O., 18, and his companion, M.R., both of Webster Groves, Missouri, had hiked approximately two-thirds of the way up the trail. They had stopped briefly to remove some of their clothing layers when they heard the two bears - probably an adult female grizzly bear with a sub-adult - approaching them. Both men immediately dropped to the ground and curled up, face down, with their hands protecting their necks. The men were approached by the adult grizzly bear, who bit and sniffed M.O. and then approached M.R. and sniffed at him. M.O. received a minor puncture wound on his wrist and other minor abrasions to his hand; M.R. was not injured. The two hikers were able to hike down to the trailhead. About ten minutes after the first encounter, they came upon the same two bears. They again dropped to the ground and protected their necks while the adult bear sniffed at them. The bear eventually left them alone, and the two were able to make their way down to the trailhead, where they reported the two incidents to park staff. M.O. received initial emergency medial treatment by park staff and was then driven to the Lake Hospital by M.R. for additional care. He was treated and released. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/31]
Three Amfac Parks and Resorts employees were seriously burned after falling into a thermal pool in the Lower Geyser Basin in the Old Faithful area between 10 and 11 p.m. on August 21st. S.H., 20, of Oroville, Washington, T.M., 18, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and L.B., 18, also of Salt Lake City, had walked into the basin to swim in the Firehole River with a group of four or five friends. After swimming, members of the group split up and headed back to their vehicles. Cries for help were heard from the three, and their companions ran back to help. The three evidently fell into a large thermal feature, possibly Cavern Springs. T.M. and L.B. were able to get out of the pool on their own; they were helped to their vehicles and taken to Old Faithful, where they received emergency medical treatment from park staff. Friend helped S.H. from the pool and remained with her until help arrived about a half-hour later. Ambulances transported all three to West Yellowstone airport, where they were flown by helicopter to Idaho Falls, then transferred to an airplane and flown to Salt Lake City Burn Center. S.H. received third degree burns over her entire body; T.M. has second and third degree burns over 70% of his body; L.B. has third degree burns over 90 percent of his body. All three are currently listed in critical condition. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/22]
Amfac Parks and Resorts employee S.H., 20, of Oroville, Washington, has died from burns suffered when she and two other employees - T.M., 18, and L.B., 18, both of Salt Lake City - fell into a thermal feature in Lower Geyser Basin. A memorial service will be held for her at Oroville High School at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 28th. A scholarship has been set up in her name; donations should be sent to S.H. Scholarship, Oroville Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 1530, Oroville, WA 98844. T.M. and L.B. remain in critical but stable condition. S.H. sustained third degree burns over her entire body. T.M. has second and third degree burns over 90% of his body; L.B. has third degree burns over 90% of his body. A preliminary investigation of the accident has been conducted. It appears that the three employees attempted to jump over what they thought was a small creek. It was between 10 and 11 p.m. and dark at the time; the moon was not up, and they didn't have a flashlight. The three were a short distance behind the five others in the group when they fell into Cavern Spring, a large, 187-degree thermal feature. There is no evidence that alcohol was a factor. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/23-24]
A park visitor received minor injuries during an encounter with a grizzly bear in the Black Butte/Daly Creek area in the northwestern portion of the park on the afternoon of Friday, September 1st. The encounter occurred when R.R. of Belgrade, Montana, rode his horse into the area and stopped along the trail near Black Butte Creek along the cutoff between Daly Creek and Black Butte Trails for a lunch break. R.R.'s horse snorted, alerting him that something was wrong. When he turned to look, a grizzly bear was directly behind him. The bear swatted him in the face and chest, knocking him into a tree. At that point, R.R., who was face down, pulled out his bear spray, rolled over, and gave the bear a full shot of spray in the mouth. The bear reacted to the spray by rolling off R.R. and coughing. R.R. caught his horse and immediately left the area via Black Butte Trail and returned to his vehicle. R.R. received lacerations to the right side of his face and forehead. He was transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, where he was treated and released. R.R. said that the bear was definitely a grizzly and that it appeared to weigh about 300 pounds. He saw no other bears in the area. The bear did manage to make off with R.R.'s sandwich. The Daly Creek/Black Butte trails, including the Skyrim loop, have been closed, and Skyrim trail is closed beyond Shelf Lake. The lake itself and associated campsites are still open and accessible. This closure will remain in effect for approximately ten days, at which time the area will again be checked for bear activity and evaluated for possible reopening. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/2]
A fund has been set up for contributions to defray the medical expenses of T.M. and L.B., the two Amfac concession employees who were severely burned when they fell into a thermal pool in Lower Geyser Basin on August 21st. The accounts are at the Mid-Valley Branch of the Cyprus Credit Union in Salt Lake City. The account number for L.B. is 123834; the account number for T.M. is 123835. The credit union's address is 5750 South Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123. [Cheryl Matthews, YELL, 8/30]
An intensive search is currently underway for a 22-year-old man who has been missing since yesterday afternoon. Z.B. and his parents, all from Wallingford, Connecticut, were touring the Canyon area when his parents decided to take a short hike near Artist Point. Z.B. did not want to accompany the family and strongly insisted on remaining behind. Z.B.'s parents left him near Artist Point while they took a short, half-hour hike. When they returned, Z.B. was no longer there. The parents did an initial search of the area before requesting ranger assistance around 3 p.m. Park staff immediately organized an air and ground search. An area with a radius of nine miles was searched yesterday, but no sign of Z.B. was found. The search continued through the night, with temperatures dropping into the mid-20s. It's possible that he left the area, since he was upset with his parents. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/15]
Z.B., who was reported missing on the afternoon of September 14th, was found around 11:30 p.m. that night by his parents in a restroom at the Uncle Tom's parking area, about a mile west of the point where he'd last been seen. He was in good condition. Z.B. had been touring the Canyon area with his parents when they decided to take a short hike near Artist Point. Z.B. declined to go, and was missing when his parents returned. Z.B. explained to park rangers that he had gone into the woods and fallen asleep. When he awoke, he looked for his parents but was unable to find them. He was cold, so started walking along the South Rim trail. He reached the restroom area at 7:30 p.m. and remained there until found by his parents. Rangers had searched the area shortly before Z.B. was found, but saw no sign of him. Approximately 20 park staff and volunteers participated in the search operation. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/4]
A backcountry ranger discovered evidence of three men hunting in the park near Reese Creek drainage along the north boundary last November 19th. The men crossed into the park and at one point were a mile or more inside the boundary. One of the men shot three to four times and killed a big bull elk. Unknown to him, he also hit a cow elk with one of his shots. The cow ran about 400 yards before it died. A second man in the group shot at another bull, but missed. The third man was not hunting, but just along for the experience. The men dragged two elk halves by horse to the trailhead. NPS agents traveled to Billings, Montana, interviewed the men, and seized the bull elk. Plea agreements were subsequently reached whereby CFR charges were filed against two of the men for possession of weapons and hunting in the park. The third man was not charged. Plea agreements specify that the guilty parties pay $3,500 in restitution to the park. The men are also on probation for two years, during which time they are prohibited from entering Yellowstone. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 2/1]
On February 27th, a 30-minute episode entitled "A Winter in Yellowstone" was broadcast in the Seattle area on a weekly TV show. The show had a segment in which the host walked off the boardwalk in a thermal basin, dug a hole, and placed a piece of chicken in it. He later was shown to be digging up what appeared to be a cooked piece of chicken. Although the production company maintained that this was done to demonstrate the hot and dangerous temperatures in geyser basins, the park viewed it as demonstrating the old practice of attempting to cook food in thermal areas. Most of the filming in January occurred with an NPS monitor present, but this stunt was not originally scripted and was conducted at a time when the monitor was absent. The law enforcement office and public affairs contacted the company and came to an agreement with them. The company has apologized publicly, and has emphasized the safety and resource damage aspects of the stunt in a statement on their web site and on a short segment that will appear in an upcoming edition of the weekly show. The company was cited under 36 CFR for violating the terms of their filming permit and for digging up mineral resources. They've been placed on a "full monitoring" probation for any filming they conduct in the park over the next two years. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 3/15]
Grant Village subdistrict ranger Donald Unser died at his home in Grant Village on April 6th. He was 47. Don is survived by his wife, S., and daughter, A., both of Bozeman, Montana. Don loved the outdoors - fishing, road cycling and skiing - and was a member of the Bridger Ski Foundation. He was very involved in his daughter's activities, from sports to music. During his career with the National Park Service, Don worked at Natchez Trace, Channel Islands, Fire Island, Joshua Tree, and Lassen, and had worked in Yellowstone since 1989. A memorial service was held on Thursday, April 12th, in Bozeman. Memorials in Don's name may be made to the Bridger Ski Foundation/Nordic Division, P.O. Box 1243, Bozeman, MT 59771. [Marsha Karle, Public Affairs, YELL, 4/12]
The park and Bear Creek Council, a local conservation group, hosted the semi-annual community potluck to welcome the park's affiliated tribes in late April. Levi Holt of the Nez Perce Tribe reported on the gray wolf reintroduction project in Idaho, detailing successes and struggles and adding that the project is doing better than expected. Kerry Murphy, a wolf project biologist for the NPS, reported on the continuing successful wolf reintroduction program at Yellowstone. Tribal representatives then told ancestral wolf stories and talked about the relationship between Native Americans and wolves and other wildlife. Community members contributed their own stories about encounters with wolves in Yellowstone. This cultural and social event has proven to be an effective way to bring folks together to better understand each other and improve their ability to work together. [John Uhler, Web Coordinator, YELL, 4/24]
A vehicle was found parked in an area known to rangers for "horn hunting" activity on April 26th. The vehicle was stopped near dark as it was heading towards the park's north entrance. The occupants, a couple from northern Montana, had 65 pounds of mixed-size elk antlers under a blanket in their SUV and were arrested. They told rangers that they intended to obtain a permit at the entrance authorizing them to possess and remove the antlers, and also said that they were unaware of regulations prohibiting collection. A special agent conducted the follow-up investigation. The man and woman subsequently admitted that they knew collecting was prohibited in the park and said that they intended to remove the antlers without permission in order to make a chandelier for the lobby in the building where their business was located. Since they have no prior offenses, a plea agreement is being worked out in which they will pay $900 in restitution to the park and serve a year's probation. During that time, they will be banned from entering Yellowstone. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 5/10]
On June 5th, park staff discovered a broken sewage line serving the Lake government housing area. Approximately 10,000 gallons of raw sewage had soaked into the ground, then came to the surface and emptied into a ditch that flows into a spawning stream. Some of the liquid may have reached the spawning stream near Yellowstone Lake before the sewage line could be shut down. The break was discovered on a routine check of the Lake Lodge lift station. The line was found to be blocked, and the cracked pipe was discovered after it was cleared. The pipe, placed in the late 1960s or early 1970s, can be susceptible to breakage when settling or shifting occurs, which apparently happened in this instance. Park staff have replaced the damaged pipe with new pipe that can more appropriately handle and adjust to shifting and settling. The area has been cleaned up. No visitor services were affected by the breakage. The incident has been reported to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. [PIO, YELL, 6/6]
On June 15th, a visitor notified the park that water was flowing from a pipe in the Bridge Bay area at Yellowstone Lake. Park staff immediately checked the Bridge Bay lift station and found that an outside valve to a drain line had been partially opened and was leaking raw sewage onto the beach. They closed the valve and began cleaning up the area. It appears that very little sewage leaked from the line, and that it was caused by vandalism. The valve, which is easily accessible to the public, had been closed last fall and had not yet been reopened. [PIO, YELL, 6/20]
A tour guide and a park visitor saved the life of a 12-year-old boy who had fallen into the canyon at Artist Point lookout around 8 p.m. on June 25th. A.F., 12, was visiting the park with his family and had stopped at Artist Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to view the Lower Falls. After viewing the falls, the family began walking back to their vehicle. According to the parents, their two young boys were off-trail, throwing stones. The parents had walked about 30 to 40 feet ahead of the boys in an effort to encourage them to move along when they heard cries for help. Andrew had slipped on some loose gravel into a chute; he fell 10 to 15 feet before he was able to grab onto a rock, then slipped another 10 feet before he was able to grab onto a quarter-inch root and hold on. His calls for help attracted other park visitors, who tried tying T-shirts together in an effort to reach him. The boy's cries for help also attracted the attention of tour guide M.D., 30, of Eaton, Ohio, who assessed the situation, then asked a nearby RV owner for a rope. The RV owner was able to provide a long extension cord. An unknown park visitor volunteered to climb down the extension cord to the boy. The visitor climbed down and tied the cord around Andrew to secure him; M.D. and other visitors then pulled the two of them up. Rangers were notified of the incident, but the rescue had been completed and the unknown rescuer had departed by the time they arrived on scene. An emergency medical evaluation was completed on Andrew, who was found to be fine. If Andrew had been unable to hold on, he would have slipped over an edge just 30 feet away, then fallen another 100 to 200 feet onto some rocks. [Public Affairs, YELL, 6/26]
Over the four-day period from June 19th to June 22nd, the park hosted an official delegation of 29 representatives from the Lower Brule Sioux tribe of South Dakota. In what is likely an historic moment for the Service, the full contingent of the Lower Brule - including the chairperson, tribal council, and the elder resource advisory committee - visited the park to see wolves, tour geyser basins, and meet with park managers. Acting superintendent Frank Walker, most division chiefs, and other staff met with the group and with the tribe's cultural resources staff. They discussed the joint management plan for bison, the reintroduction of wolves, sacred sites, fee waivers for religious and other traditional purposes, and employment opportunities. An end-of-the-week dinner honored the guests. Among the attendees were park staff and external partners. The tribe's director of cultural resources, Scott Jones, said that they had come with trepidation: "It's a little like getting on a broncing bull to come to a place where people don't quite understand why and how it's sacred to us." In summarizing the visit, chairperson Jandreau told dinner guests that this was the first time that the Lower Brule Sioux tribe had "met with such responsive and caring federal employees" in his 30 years of working with federal people (21 of which have been in the role of tribal leader). [Rosemary Sucec, YELL, 6/27]
A bull bison butted a 19-year-old woman on the morning of Wednesday, July 11th. Hyun Jung of Los Angeles and a group of four or five friends had just left Lake Lodge when they spotted the bison grazing in an open meadow directly in front of the lodge. The group jogged to within a few feet of the bison and surrounded it on three sides. Over the next five minutes, the bison continued to graze and move in Jung's direction. As the bison neared her, she turned to run, but the bison butted her and knocked her to the ground. The bison then moved a short distance from the group and resumed grazing. Rangers provided emergency medical care. Jung's friends drove her to Lake Hospital for further medical assessment. The park has advisories posted that note that bison can weigh up to a ton and sprint up to 30 miles per hour, and that it's against the law to approach within 100 yards of bears or within 25 yards of all other wildlife. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/11]
D.H., 39, of Shoreline, Washington, was burned when he tried to rescue his dog from an unnamed thermal pool in Lower Geyser Basin in the Old Faithful area on the afternoon of July 26th. D.H. and his family were touring the park and had stopped to view a thermal area along the Firehole River from a pullout on Fountain Flats Drive. Their family pet, a chocolate Labrador, jumped out of their motor home and ran unrestrained toward the river and a thermal pool. The dog ignored D.H.'s calls and jumped into the thermal pool, the waters of which were between 192 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. D.H. knelt beside the pool and grabbed the dog, but the hot temperatures prevented him from pulling it out of the water. During his rescue efforts, D.H. received first and second degree burns to portions of both arms from the elbow down and first degree burns to his knees. D.H.'s family drove him to the Old Faithful Inn to seek medical attention. Park EMS staff immediately responded, stabilized D.H.'s injuries, and took him to the Old Faithful Clinic for additional care. D.H. was subsequently transported to the West Yellowstone airport, where he was taken by air ambulance to the Salt Lake City Burn Center. He is scheduled to be released from the hospital today. Rangers returned to the pool and recovered the dog, but its injuries proved fatal. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/27]
A six year-old girl from Ocala, Florida, was injured while playing with her brother near an unnamed thermal feature located in the Lower Geyser Basin in the Old Faithful area on the afternoon of July 31st. The girl was visiting Yellowstone with her mother and brother and had spent the previous night camping in Madison Campground. They stopped to view a thermal area from a pullout on Fountain Flats Drive. The children ran ahead of their mother towards the thermal feature. The nine-year-old boy successfully crossed the narrow geyserite brim of the thermal pool that separates the hot (192°F - 200°F) thermal waters of the pool and the cooler river. The girl tried to follow her brother, but slipped off the narrow ledge and submerged her lower right leg in the thermal waters, receiving second and third degree burns. She was able to stop her fall before completely becoming immersed in the pool. Her mother assisted her at the edge of the pool, then took her to the Madison Campground to seek medical attention. Park staff immediately responded to the area and stabilized her injuries. She was transported by ambulance to the airport in West Yellowstone, Montana, then flown by air ambulance to the Salt Lake City Burn Center. She is the second visitor to receive a thermal burn this summer. The park has again reminded visitors of the importance of staying on boardwalks and designated trails while visiting thermal features, and that it is unsafe to run or play around them. Scalding water underlies thin, breakable crusts; many geyser eruptions are unpredictable, and thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures. Boardwalks and trails help to protect park visitors and prevent damage to delicate formations. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/1]
On July 31st and August 1st, rangers conducted commercial vehicle inspections in the Old Faithful area with assistance from the Wyoming Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Division and the U.S. Department of Transportation. A variety of 49 CFR violations were encountered. A total of 95 warnings and 20 violations notices were issued for both driver and vehicle violations for the 67 vehicles that were inspected. Fines levied totaled about $2,800. Six vehicles were taken out of service until repaired (minimal delay) and two were placed out of service overnight. Three drivers were placed out of service and a fourth indefinitely due to inadequate driver training requirements. Many favorable comments were received from visitors regarding the operation. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 8/7]
Visitor R.L., 53, of Crestline, California, received second degree burns to his left foot, ankle, and lower leg while hiking in a backcountry thermal area in the Old Faithful area on the morning of August 19th. R.L., his wife, and their grandchildren were walking in Pocket Basin, a backcountry thermal area in the Lower Geyser Basin along the Firehole River. About a quarter of a mile into the walk, R.L. left the established trail to walk to a small pond, stepping into a muddy area near the pond. The muddy area was actually a steam vent that had become covered with organic debris after it was exposed because of low water levels (the vent is usually covered by the pond). The temperature measured in R.L.'s footprint was 192°F. R.L. was able to walk out of the area on his own and was taken by his family to the Old Faithful Clinic, where he was treated for second degree burns and released. He returned to the clinic the following day for additional treatment. He was referred to the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital in Montana for additional care. [Public Affairs, YELL, 8/24]
Around 5:40 a.m. on September 6th, ranger Keith Gad noted that a pickup truck was parked out of bounds (camping outside a designated campground) in a pullout in Hayden Valley and stopped and contacted the three occupants - T.O., P.E. and a female juvenile. While in the midst of the contact, he received word that a vehicle check done on the 1996 Black Chevy pickup showed that it was stolen and associated with a "home invasion" incident in Minnesota. Gad decided to back off and follow them while backup was summoned and responded. He followed the truck to the Fishing Bridge area, where it stopped. Gad was out of sight of the vehicle for a short time while he waited for assistance. Because of concerns for public safety, several hundred park staff and visitors were immediately evacuated and the area was closed to the public. Law enforcement rangers from throughout the park responded to the area, and a tactical team from Gallatin County, Montana, was summoned to assist. Law enforcement personnel - about 40 all told - responded from the Park County Sheriffs Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Bozeman Police Department, and Grand Teton National Park. The Gallatin County tactical team arrived in the area around 1 p.m. At around 1:30 p.m., they approached the vehicle and found that the individuals had left it during the short time it was out of sight earlier in the day while it was still dark. An immediate search of Fishing Bridge and the surrounding area was begun. All vehicle traffic through Hayden Valley was stopped, and the Fishing Bridge area and East Entrance remained closed while the search continued. Entrance stations cautioned visitors entering the park about the situation, and vehicles exiting the park were searched. Around 4 p.m., visitors contacted Canyon rangers and stated that they had seen three people matching the suspects' descriptions near LeHardy Rapids, approximately three-and-a-half miles from Fishing Bridge. At around the same time, researchers in the park also reported that they had seen the same individuals in that area around 2 p.m. Rangers and other law enforcement officers immediately responded and began a search of the area. One of the trio was spotted, and all three attempted to flee the area. They were quickly apprehended. They offered no resistance, and no one was injured during their capture and arrest. They had a handgun, knife and a hammer in their possession. All were in good condition, although wet and cold. One is being held at facilities at Mammoth Hot Springs; the other two will be transported to either Cody or Jackson, Wyoming. The East Entrance, Fishing Bridge and Hayden Valley areas have reopened to the public. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/7]
A visitor died of injuries sustained in an accident near milepost 28 on Highway 191 on the evening of Saturday, September 22nd. The woman was driving her RV north on the highway when it drifted into the southbound lane and collided head-one with a tractor-trailer. Park staff and local LE and emergency services organizations responded immediately. The woman driving the RV, who was that vehicle's sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene; the driver of the tractor-trailer and his passenger were treated at the scene and taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for additional treatment. The passenger was treated and released, but the driver was admitted with facial trauma. The road was closed to all traffic following the accident. It was completely reopened by 2 a.m. and remains open to the public. Cleanup of diesel fuel from the tractor-trailer is underway. [Public Affairs, YELL, 9/23]
A student from Idaho State University suffered a second degree burn to his right ankle and lower calf when he stepped into hot mud while participating in a field trip in the Rabbit Creek drainage in the Old Faithful area on the afternoon of Saturday, September 29th. B.T. was with a group of students and their professor doing field work collecting thermal samples as part of a park research permit. The professor instructed the group on how to circumvent a specific feature that they had been discussing, but B.T. chose an alternate route, which included a single step on a clay-like surface. The surface appeared solid, but when he stepped onto it his right foot punched through and sank ankle-deep into hot mud. B.T. immediately removed his tennis shoe and sock. Group members cooled his ankle with water, then wrapped the foot with a clean shirt and covered it with a nylon bag. B.T. was carried out to one the vehicles and taken to the Old Faithful clinic and ranger station. The group arrived at the clinic around 6 p.m. and found it closed, so one of the students dialed 911. Park rangers responded and provided emergency medical treatment, then transported B.T. to the Old Faithful helispot. He was flown by the Air Idaho medevac helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for further treatment. B.T. was released from the hospital on Sunday, September 30th. [Public Affairs, YELL, 10/1]
On Thursday, October 4th, rangers apprehended E.J., 36, of Ocmulgee, Oklahoma, a suspect in the September 24th stabbing death of Rebecca Smith in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Arrest warrants had been filed against E.J. by the FBI for unlawful flight and by the state of Oklahoma for murder in the first degree. E.J. was considered to be armed, dangerous and suicidal. On Thursday evening, concessions personnel alerted rangers to a suspicious male loitering in the Amfac employee housing area in Mammoth Hot Springs. A check on the associated vehicle revealed that it had been stolen from Smith. Rangers began surveillance of the vehicle and E.J.'s campsite and set up perimeter roadblocks. E.J. was seen near the vehicle around 7 p.m. and arrested. He was taken before a federal magistrate and waived extradition. E.J. was taken to Teton County, where he was placed in the custody of federal marshals to await transport back to Oklahoma. [Public Affairs, YELL, 10/5]
On Saturday, November 17th, a sewage spill was discovered in the Lake Lodge area near Yellowstone Lake. Park staff estimate that between 50,000 and 250,0000 gallons of sewage bypassed the Lake Lodge lift station and entered an old septic tank and infiltration ditch. The partially treated sewage that did not soak into the infiltration ditch soaked through vegetation and entered a natural lagoon next to Yellowstone Lake. The lagoon is connected to the lake, but it appears likely that all of the flow was contained in the lagoon and that no partially treated sewage actually reached the lake. The sewage in the overflow system was apparently caused by grease that partially blocked the sewage in a manhole that goes into the lift station. The portion that did not go into the lift station went into the overflow pipe. The sewage system in this area is under construction to correct infiltration into the system, and the manhole serving the lift station was recently replaced. During the replacement of the manhole, the piping was incorrectly routed to the old overflow system instead of three newer overflow tanks. The overflow pipe has now been completely disconnected from the system; the new overflow tanks, with an overflow alarm, have been connected to the system. The incident has been reported to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. [Public Affairs, YELL, 11/26]
On December 13th, R.J, 23, and J.G., 20, both of Joliet, Montana, pled guilty to collecting and removing elk antlers from the park. On July 24th, officers from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks notified NPS special agents that R.J. and J.G. might have been taking antlers from the park. A joint investigation led to the discovery that the pair had about 191 pounds of antlers in their possession, and that they'd been taken from the park last June. R.J. had also collected antlers from the park on several other occasions over the past few years. R.J. was fined $3,000 and placed on probation for five years; J.G. was fined $500 and placed on probation for three years. Both are prohibited from entering the park during their probation. The investigation also revealed that a third person named Frank Curtis had accompanied R.J. and J.G. on one trip to the park. Curtis was on probation at the time for a double homicide in Ravailli County, Montana. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Yellowstone special agents worked with the Ravailli County attorney to produce the evidence needed to revoke his probation. On October 23rd, Curtis was sentenced to 100 years (50 suspended) for the probation violations. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 12/31]
Around 5:40 a.m. on September 7th, ranger Keith Gad noted that a pickup truck was parked out of bounds (camping outside a designated campground) in a pullout in Hayden Valley and stopped and contacted the three occupants - T.O., P.E. and a female juvenile. While in the midst of the contact, he received word that a vehicle check done on the 1996 Black Chevy pickup showed that it was stolen and that the occupants were armed, dangerous and wanted for multiple violent crimes in Minnesota. While Gad awaited backup, the trio fled in the pickup. This led to a major interagency manhunt that lasted twelve hours and involved NPS rangers and agents, park and county SWAT teams, and officers from five surrounding agencies. All three were found and arrested by the Gallatin County SWAT team, which included rangers Tim Reid and Jesse Farias. The crimes the threesome had committed before arriving in the park included several residential burglaries and vehicle thefts, multiple attempted homicides, and thefts of at least seven firearms. Inside the park, the trio committed crimes that included burglary, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, attempted assault and carjacking, and an attempted assault on Gad. Investigation revealed that one of the trio had cocked and pointed a Ruger .357 after the initial contact with Gad and was waiting for him to return to their truck. He also told the other two that he was going to shoot Gad. On January 8th, P.E. was sentenced in federal court in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for crimes committed inside the park, including burglary, transporting a stolen firearm across state lines, and transporting a stolen vehicle. Under the terms of the plea agreement, P.E. was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison. NPS special agent Dan Kirschner was the case agent and worked extensively with the U.S. Attorney's Office and investigators from New Brighton, Minnesota. The second defendant will be sentenced later this month. [Brian Smith, SSA, YELL, 1/11]
Three fugitives from justice - T.O., P.E. and a female juvenile - were apprehended in the park at 6 p.m. on September 7, 2001. On February 19th, a federal judge sentenced T.O. to ten years in prison for crimes committed within the park; upon release, he will be placed on three years of supervised probation, which will include drug testing and completion of a drug and alcohol treatment program. He will also have to pay fines, restitution and assessments totaling over $12,000. As noted in an earlier update, P.E. was sentenced to prison for eleven years and eight months. Charges against the juvenile were dropped. P.E. and T.O. will now face attempted murder charges in Minnesota. The state of Wisconsin will then consider filing burglary charges (three counts) and a vehicle theft charge (one count) against the duo. Minnesota prosecutors think that there may be a trial and that some park employees will be called on to testify. [Dan Kirschner, SA, YELL, 2/28]
On February 16th, N.C., 22, of Gardiner, Montana, pled guilty in a plea agreement to being an accessory in theft of antlers from the park. N.C. was charged with being in "possession of natural features," and has been ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution, serve 30 days in jail with all time suspended, and to serve two years of unsupervised probation. During the probation, N.C. is prohibited from entering Yellowstone NP except for work purposes. At the time of the offense, N.C. was employed as a seasonal maintenance worker. N.C.'s plea agreement comes in the wake of three other related convictions for antler poaching. Last December, R.J., 23, and J.G., 20, both of Joliet, Montana, pled guilty to collecting and removing elk antlers from the park. The arrests occurred when investigators from the park and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks found that R.J. and J.G. had about 191 pounds of antlers in their possession and determined that they'd been taken from the park. R.J. had also collected antlers from the park on several other occasions over the past few years. He was fined $3,000 and placed on probation for five years; J.G. was fined $500 and placed on probation for three years. Both are prohibited from entering the park during their probation. The investigation also revealed that a third person named F.C. had accompanied R.J. and J.G. on one trip to the park. F.C. was on probation at the time for a double homicide in Ravailli County, Montana. The U.S. Attorney's Office and Yellowstone special agents worked with the Ravailli County attorney to produce the evidence needed to revoke his probation. On October 23rd, F.C. was sentenced to 100 years (50 suspended) for the probation violations. [Dick Divine, SA, YELL, 2/19]
On the morning of March 29th, park special agents saw and stopped a car on the North Entrance Road that was operating without brake lights and whose occupants were not wearing seatbelts. They found that the driver's license had been suspended due to a failure to appear in court, and that none of the three occupants owned the car. A consent search led to the discovery of $8,500 in cash, a loaded 9 millimeter handgun, and drug paraphernalia. Two of the three were arrested and subsequently released on an unsecured bond pending an upcoming trial. The Park County Sheriff's Department and Missouri River Drug Task Force assisted with the case. [Mona Divine, YELL, 4/2]
A number of intoxicated people got into a verbal altercation on Front Street in Gardiner, Montana, just within park boundaries, around 12:30 a.m. on May 21st. Two of them then got into a pickup and accelerated out of the area. According to several witnesses, the driver, R.N., intentionally drove toward three men who were walking back toward a bar, running over J.G. After hitting J.G., R.N. reportedly turned the truck around and again headed for J.G., who was now lying in the street. The truck accelerated before hitting and running over him and dragging him for a few feet down the road. The truck then accelerated out of the area toward the park's north entrance. Rangers intercepted the truck and arrested R.N.. Other rangers and county personnel provided EMS assistance to J.G. and began the investigation. J.G., accompanied by a park paramedic, was taken by ambulance to a rendezvous with a Life Flight helicopter, which in turn flew him to a hospital. The quick intervention of emergency personnel, the provision of advanced life support, and the rapid transport by helicopter were instrumental in J.G.'s survival. It appears that he will recover from his multiple injuries. R.N. has been charged with unlawful assault with intent to murder and with unlawful assault causing serious bodily injury. While rangers were conducting their investigation, another intoxicated driver attempted to drive around the crime scene tape and was arrested for operating under the influence. [Mona Divine, Deputy CR, YELL, 5/23]
A woman who was jogging by herself in the Lake area received minor injuries when she encountered a bear around 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 26th. A.T., a 32-year-old U.S. Post Office employee at Lake, was jogging around the Lake Lodge cabin loop when she encountered a male sub-adult grizzly bear approximately 15 yards to her right. A.T. immediately stopped and stood perfectly still; she did not make eye contact with the bear, and continuously reassured the bear that she was not a threat. The bear stood up on its back legs and sniffed the air, then dropped to the ground and slowly approach A.T. on her right side. When it reached her, it began sniffing her from the waist down, then opened its mouth and - very gently - closed its mouth around A.T.' right upper thigh. The bear applied a small amount of pressure, then released her leg. A.T. received no injuries, other than some very minor contusions; her skin was not broken from the bite. After A.T. felt the bear release her leg, she reached for her water bottle and squirted the bear between the eyes. The bear immediately ran from the area. Park officials praised A.T. for how well she handled the potentially life-threatening bear encounter, remaining calm and focused throughout the ordeal. [Public Affairs, YELL, 5/30]
D.G., 39, and his son, Q.G., 12, both of Chubbuck, Idaho, had a backcountry permit for a campsite on the south shore of Shoshone Lake for Thursday, June 6th, and Friday, June 7th. Around 6:30 p.m. on the 7th, a group of boaters camping on the lake noticed an overturned canoe along the lakeshore. They were unable to locate anyone in the area or retrieve the canoe. When the group arrived at Grant Village late Saturday morning, they immediately contacted rangers and reported the incident. Searchers were dispatched on foot, by boat, and by helicopter. The helicopter crew located the canoe about a mile-and-a-half north of the outlet of Shoshone Lake around 5 p.m. A short time later, they spotted the body of Q.G. approximately a quarter mile north of the canoe. He was wearing a life jacket, but it was only partially on him. D.G.'s life jacket and other items from the canoe were found by ground searchers a few hundred yards further up the shore. The G.'s campsite and surrounding area were searched, but no sign of D.G. was found. Search operations were halted at dark, but were to continue over the weekend and include three dog teams and divers (if needed). High winds were reported on the lake on Thursday and Friday. It is unclear when the incident occurred, but one witness report indicates a possibility that the victims were seen early Friday morning. The incident remains under investigation. Preliminary findings list Q.G.'s cause of death as drowning as a consequence of cold water immersion. [Public Affairs, YELL, 6/9]
On the evening of June 12th, eight visitors were injured in the northeastern part of the park when they fell from their horses while returning from a concessioner-operated western cookout. The group was returning to Roosevelt Lodge from the cookout at Yancy's Hole when one or two of the horses at the back of the line spooked, then ran up through the line of horses, causing other horses to spook as well. At least eight riders fell or were thrown from their horses. A ranger witnessed the incident and immediately called for help. Rangers from Canyon, Mammoth and Tower responded immediately and provided emergency medical care. All were taken to Lake Hospital for treatment and observation. One woman was then flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for additional care. Her injuries included fractured ribs, a separated shoulder and internal injuries, but she is currently listed in stable condition. The remaining visitors were treated and released for injuries ranging from a fractured wrist to mild concussions. The incident remains under investigation. It's not yet known what spooked the horses. [Olivia McCombs, YELL, 6/14]
Two rangers were transporting a prisoner from Old Faithful to West Yellowstone around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13th, when they came upon an accident that had just occurred at Mount Haines overlook. They found a heavily-damaged Ford Taurus, an intoxicated driver, three dead bison and a fourth that was dying. The driver, G.L., suffered significant injuries; he was first taken to Lake Hospital, then to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyoming. G.L. was released from the hospital the next day and was arrested on a warrant by rangers and officers from Cody PD. On June 15th, he appeared before a federal magistrate and was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while suspended for DUI, destruction and killing of wildlife, driving without insurance, and driving with an opened container of alcohol. He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing that will be held on Tuesday. Ranger Curt Dimmick is the lead investigator. Government prosecutors intend to seek significant restitution in this case. [Brian Smith, SSA, YELL, 6/16]
D.G., 39, and his son, Q.G., 12, both of Chubbuck, Idaho, went canoeing on Shoshone Lake on Thursday, June 6th or Friday, June 7th and evidently overturned. Their canoe was spotted by other boaters on Friday evening and a search was launched. The canoe was located by the crew of a helicopter on the afternoon of the 8th and Q.G.'s body was discovered in the lake shortly thereafter. D.G.'s body was located in Moose Bay by the helicopter crew on the morning of June 15th, but high winds prevented them from bringing in divers until late that evening. D.G.'s body was found in about 18 feet of water. Searchers now believe that the G.s probably entered the lake from their campsite, which was only a half-mile away. Both evidently died as a consequence of cold water immersion. The temperature of the water in Shoshone Lake is currently between 38 and 42 degrees. Q.G.'s life jacket was only partially attached to him; D.G. was not wearing one. [Public Affairs, YELL, 6/17]
Two people died from injuries received in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 191 just after noon on June 28th. The two people were travelling southbound in a pickup when it drifted into the northbound lane and struck the cab of a tractor-trailer head-on. At the time of the report, there was no information available on the driver's injuries, if any. Park staff, county deputies, state highway patrol officers and local EMS personnel responded. Immediately following the accident, the highway was closed to all traffic, but reopened in the evening. Diesel fuel from the tractor-trailer was spilled during the accident. The state was notified and cleanup efforts were conducted. [Public Affairs, YELL, 6/30]
On the evening of Saturday, June 29th, a motorcycle and car collided on North Entrance Road just north of the Boiling River parking area in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of the park. Investigation and witness reports indicate that the 36-year-old driver of an SUV had stopped on the northbound shoulder of the roadway to consult a map. The driver then attempted to make a U-turn across the path of a motorcycle approaching from the south. The motorcycle driver attempted to stop, laid the motorcycle down on its side, and collided with the driver's side rear of the SUV. Both the 55-year-old male driver and his 49-year-old female passenger were injured but survived the initial crash. None of the four people in the SUV was injured. Rangers and investigators responded to the scene immediately along with the Mammoth Hot Springs ambulance. Both patients were transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital, where the operator, S.G. of Quakerstown, Pennsylvania, succumbed to his injuries. Initial indications are that S.G. suffered a massive head injury that lead to cardiac and respiratory arrest. His passenger, also from Quakerstown, was treated and released the following morning. The investigation by Mammoth rangers and park special agents is continuing and traffic-related charges are pending. Alcohol, speed and reckless driving do not appear to be factors in this accident. Neither S.G. nor his passenger was wearing a helmet. (Chris Fors, SA, YELL, 6/30]
In the early morning hours of July 5th, ranger Joe Bueter was on patrol on Park Street, which is adjacent to the town of Gardiner and within the park, when he came upon a green Buick being driven toward him while blacked out. When he activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop the car, the driver accelerated and drove in excess of 60 mph through a residential area that was posted 15 mph. The driver of the Buick lost control as he turned into the parking area of a concession bunkhouse and crashed into a trailer attached to a parked truck - hard enough to move them 15 feet and heavily damage the car. The driver again accelerated away, drove a short distance, and crashed into rocks and logs, this time permanently disabling the Buick. The driver and passenger fled on foot. Bueter chased the driver through a series of alleys and parking areas, into a bunkhouse, up a flight of steps, down a hallway and fire escape, and between several buildings, eventually capturing him after he fell near the Gardner River. The man - identified as R.H. - sustained only minor injuries. He appeared the next day in magistrate's court and was charged with an assimilated Montana statute for reckless driving by fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest, and driving without insurance. The passenger remains at large and is being sought on other charges. [Brian Smith, Supervisory SA, YELL, 7/6]
A bull bison gored 37-year-old P.J. of Albertville, Minnesota, near Old Faithful Lodge on the afternoon of July 13th. Witnesses said that the bison was grazing near the boardwalk that connects the lodge with Old Faithful geyser. A group of visitors approached to within ten to fifteen feet to take pictures of the animal. P.J. stepped out from the group and walked around to the front of the bison to see if it would raise its head for a better picture. The bison chased P.J. into the trees, picked him up with his horns, and threw him three to four feet into the air. The bison then stared at P.J. and the other visitors for several minutes before walking off and resuming grazing. P.J. sustained a puncture wound to his inner right thigh and various scrapes and bruises. Rangers provided initial care; he was then taken to Old Faithful Clinic for treatment of his injuries. Criminal charges are pending against P.J. for harassing wildlife. No action will be taken against the bison. [Public Affairs, YELL, 7/15]
A number of intoxicated people got into a verbal altercation on Front Street in Gardiner, Montana, just within park boundaries, around 12:30 a.m. on May 21st. Two of them then got into a pickup and accelerated out of the area. According to several witnesses, the driver, R.N., intentionally drove toward three men who were walking back toward a bar, running over J.G. After hitting J.G., R.N. reportedly turned the truck around and ran over him again, severely injuring him. Rangers intercepted the truck and arrested R.N.. On July 17th, a federal grand jury in Wyoming delivered a true bill and indicted R.N. on two felony counts of violation of 18 USC sections on assault with intent commit murder and assault causing grave bodily injury. He remains in federal custody pending trial. NPS special agent Chris Fors is the case agent. [Brian Smith, SSA, YELL, 7/17]
On July 15th, a federal grand jury in Casper, Wyoming, indicted C.C. on two felony counts of 21 USC 841 for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. C.C. was arrested by rangers on May 25th and was initially held in federal custody. He's now in custody in Kansas on other charges. A trail in Wyoming is pending. SA Dan Kirschner is the case agent. [Brian Smith, SSA, YELL]
On Thursday, July 25th, N.R., 21, an employee of Zanterra Parks and Resorts, a concession at Canyon, made plans to hitchhike from Canyon to either Fishing Bridge or Pelican trail and hike the Mist Pass trail to a backcountry campsite for an overnighter. He then planned to hike to the Lamar River trailhead and hitchhike back to Canyon on the 26th. This route covers over 30 miles, with several established trails, game trails and drainages along the way. On the evening of the 28th, a friend of N.R.'s reported him overdue and a search was begun. The search was conducted by ground teams, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, a dog team and smokejumpers, who searched more remote locations. N.R. was found about four miles from the Pelican trailhead on the afternoon of July 29th. He was in good condition. [Public Affairs, YELL]
The Protection Division conducted commercial vehicle safety inspections at two areas within the park on July 23rd and 24th. Inspections were conducted at the Old Faithful developed area and on U.S. Highway 191 on both days. During the two-day operation, 95 commercial vehicles, primarily tractor-trailers, were inspected on U.S. 191. Twenty-nine commercial vehicles were placed out of service for mechanical problems and four vehicle drivers were placed out of service for driver specific violations. Rangers issued 29 citations for a range of charges, including mechanical problems, hazardous materials compliance and illegal alcohol storage. Just over a third of all commercial vehicles inspected on U.S. 191 were placed out of service for significant mechanical and/or driver problems. Seventy commercial vehicles, primarily buses, were inspected at Old Faithful during the two-day period. Eight commercial vehicles were placed out of service for mechanical problems and one vehicle driver was placed out of service. Seventeen citations were issued for charges that included mechanical problems, hazardous materials compliance and lack of proof of vehicle insurance. Thirteen percent of all commercial vehicles inspected at Old Faithful were placed out of service for significant mechanical and/or driver problems. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Montana Highway Patrol and the Montana Department of Transportation provided certified inspectors for the operation. On-site assistance was also provided by the park VIP's, the Department of Transportation, Montana Department of Livestock, Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Bozeman Police Department. Due to the high number of safety violations discovered during the inspections, a random schedule of additional safety inspections is planned for the future. [Chris Fors, SA, YELL]
Rangers and special agents from the Mammoth Subdistrict began investigating a reported sexual assault on May 4th. A 21-year-old concession employee reported being sexually assaulted while unconscious from the effects of alcohol the previous weekend. Witnesses reported seeing the victim in an incapacitated state with the suspect and being carried and dragged by the suspect to his dormitory room. During the subsequent investigation, the suspect admitted having sexual relations with the female while she was semi-conscious and vomiting profusely from the effects of alcohol. Steven Bryan Hall, 40, of San Francisco and Yellowstone was arrested and charged with one count each of 18 USC 2242 (2)(a) and 18 USC 2242 (2)(b), both felony sexual abuse violations. Hall was detained without bond by the U.S. magistrate-judge and transferred to the custody of the U.S. marshal. Hall was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 9th and was to be tried on July 29th. [Chris Fors, SA, YELL]
A park visitor was bitten by a bear while sleeping in his tent at a designated backcountry campsite on the Sportsman Lake Trail in the northwest section of the park on the evening of Friday, August 30th. M.B. of Plano, Texas, had a two-day backcountry permit and was staying his first night at his assigned campsite when the incident occurred. He had set up camp and retired for the evening when he was awakened by the bear biting him through the tent, ripping a hole through it. M.B. screamed, frightening the bear away. Because M.B. did not actually see the bear, it's not known whether it was a black or grizzly bear. M.B. laid quite still for roughly an hour, listening for bear activity, before exiting the tent. He then put his partially collapsed tent back up and spent the remainder of the night there. At one point during the night, he heard scratching noises near the tree where he had hung his food. At daybreak, M.B. packed up his camp and hiked to the Glen Creek Trailhead where his vehicle was parked. He then drove to Mammoth Hot Springs and reported the incident to rangers. M.B. received a puncture wound and a one-inch laceration to the right side of his buttocks. He was treated and released from the Mammoth Hot Springs Clinic. Strong bear warnings have been posted along the Sportsman Lake Trail and overnight camping has been prohibited in this area. [Public Affairs, YELL]
A gasoline tank being filled at a service station at Old Faithful overflowed on the evening of August 25th, spilling 400 to 450 gallons of gasoline. Most of the spill was confined to a concrete containment dike underneath the tank, but an undetermined amount spread outside the dike. There's no indication that the gasoline reached any watercourse or thermal feature. The state was advised and an investigation is underway. [Public Affairs, YELL]
T.C., 43, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was hiking off-trail with a companion in a drainage near Columbine Creek on the morning of September 2nd when the two hikers topped a ridge and surprised a female grizzly and three cubs of the year. The hikers immediately turned and were starting back down the ridge when the bear charged. They dropped to the ground and remained still. The bear bit T.C.'s lower left leg, picking him up and shaking him for a few seconds before releasing him. T.C. sustained two large puncture lacerations and a fractured fibula. The grizzly then approached the second hiker, who was able to spray the bear's face with pepper spray, causing it to immediately turn away and leave the area with its cubs. T.C. and his companion hiked three miles back down the trail to their backcountry campsite on Columbine Creek, where they remained for the night. They flagged down an NPS boat the next day and were taken to Bridge Bay Marina, then to a local hospital. Strong bear warnings have been posted along the Thorofare Trail near Columbine Creek. No off-trail travel is allowed in the area, and some nearby backcountry campsites have been closed. [Public Affairs, YELL]
On September 18, O.P. was indicted on one felony count of theft (18 USC 661) by a federal grand jury in Cheyenne. The charge stemmed from an investigation that began last June when Old Faithful rangers and park special agents learned of the theft of $4,000 from the upper Hamilton Store. Hamilton Stores had exhausted all possible accounting explanations for the missing money before contacting park law enforcement. The excellent auditing procedures used by Hamilton Stores, coupled with outstanding cooperation by store employees, allowed the investigation to move forward quickly. O.P. was identified as a suspect and ultimately confessed to the crime. O.P. was working as an armed guard for Security Armored Express of Bozeman, Montana, when he made a delivery to the store. While there, he distracted a store employee for a few moments and stole the money. Following his confession, O.P. returned a combination of cash and property worth about $2,000, saying that the remainder had already been spent on items such as restaurant bills. Old Faithful rangers conducted most of the field investigation; assistance was provided by Bozeman PD. [Submitted by Chief Rangers Office, Yellowstone NP]
Late on the afternoon of September 28, the Park County Sheriff's Office advised dispatch that deputies were in pursuit of a man near the north boundary of the park and requested NPS assistance. The man had reportedly assaulted a deputy and was believed to be armed. During the brief chase, the man's vehicle became disabled. Rangers and NPS special agents responded and assisted deputies and Montana Highway Patrol officers in an unsuccessful ground search of the area. Early on the morning on September 29, deputies found him hiding in a camper and again asked the park for help. Rangers (including one equipped with a Taser), special agents trained as crisis negotiators, and a Bozeman PD canine unit supported deputies in a standoff of about three hours' duration that resulted in the armed man surrendering peacefully to deputies. He was arrested and booked into the Park County jail. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
On the afternoon of September 20, the park communications center received a garbled cell phone call from a man who said he was going to kill himself. He provided a general location where his body could be found; through patience and persistence, the dispatcher was able to narrow down the location to the Swan Lake Flats area just south of Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Subdistrict rangers and helitack personnel began a search for him, utilizing the park's contract helicopter to contact numerous hikers in the search area. Two men who'd been hiking with the caller were found near a small lake in the Fawn Pass area. The men were wearing camouflage clothing and appeared to have a previous knowledge of the area. The suicidal male was reported to be on a heavily-wooded slope with another member of the party. The first ranger on scene requested backup and took a handgun from one of the two men. Before backup could arrive by helicopter, the suicidal male came out of the woods with his friend. Two knives were taken from him and he was flown by helicopter to the nearest road. Several mandatory appearance violation notices were issued to the other three members of the group, including citations for fishing with live bait, possession of illegally taken fish, and possession of a loaded firearm. The suicidal man was taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital after he agreed to voluntarily commit himself for evaluation. He'd become despondent following the sudden breakup of his marriage. His friends decided to take him along on their backcountry trek so that they could keep an eye on him. [Submitted by Branch of Law Enforcement Services]
On October 17, S.B.H., 40, formerly of San Francisco and the Mammoth Hot Springs area of the park, was sentenced on a charge of felony sexual abuse in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming. S.B.H., a former Xanterra Parks and Resorts employee, was convicted in mid-October following a voluntary change of plea. S.B.H. was not offered a plea bargain by prosecutors due to the severity of the crime and the strength of evidence developed during the investigation. The investigation was begun in late April of this year when a 21-year-old Xanterra Parks and Resorts employee came forward with a complaint of being sexually assaulted while in an extremely intoxicated condition. Yellowstone special agents worked with Mammoth Subdistrict rangers to locate and interview the suspect, victim and critical witnesses and to develop other evidence. Xanterra Parks and Resorts demonstrated a strong commitment to combating the problem of "acquaintance" sexual assault through their excellent cooperation with investigators and their continued assistance to the victim during the investigation. Previous community oriented policing efforts by rangers significantly contributed to the success of the investigation during witness location and interview efforts. S.B.H. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised probation. S.B.H. was also ordered by the court to undergo any sex offender treatment deemed necessary and to register as a sex offender in any state where he resides following his release. This is the third sexual assault conviction resulting from crimes committed in Yellowstone this year and several other investigations are on-going. Law enforcement staff at Yellowstone are pursuing so-called "acquaintance" sexual assaults based on an increased understanding that many of these crimes are committed by sex offenders who simply opt to use a more cunning method to commit their assaults. [Submitted by Chris Fors, Special Agent, Branch of Law Enforcement Services]
On November 13, R.N., 31, of Cooke City, Montana, was convicted in federal district court on one count of assault with intent to murder (18 USC 113(a)). An additional charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury was dropped as part of a plea agreement. Rangers from the Mammoth Hot Springs Subdistrict arrested R.N. during the early morning hours of May 21, 2002. R.N. had been involved in two heated verbal altercations with J.G. at the Blue Goose Saloon, located on the park's north boundary. A third fight erupted in the street within the park a short time later. As R.N. drove off in his pick-up, he suddenly veered back toward J.G., striking him at a high rate of speed and leaving him seriously injured and disabled in the street. R.N. then turned around and struck J.G. again as he lay in the street, causing life-threatening injuries. J.G. was flown to a trauma center in Billings, where he remained in critical condition for several days and underwent a number of life-saving operations. R.N. was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his conviction. Sentencing is set for January 27. Mammoth rangers, headquarters staff and Park County deputies did an outstanding job in documenting the crime scene, processing evidence, and interviewing witnesses on-site while park special agents were returning from a meeting with federal prosecutors in Jackson. An FBI evidence response team from Denver assisted the park by processing R.N.'s truck. Other members of the park's staff from other divisions also provided critical assistance during the investigation. [Submitted by Chris Fors, Special Agent, Branch of Law Enforcement]
On July 9, plea agreements for two Montana men were accepted in federal court and they were found guilty of disturbing elk antlers from their natural state. T.C.M., 21, and J.D.G., 27, both residents of Simms, Montana, were arrested after they were observed caching (moving and hiding) elk antlers within the park on April 10. Both have been placed on unsupervised probation for a period of two years. As a condition of probation, both are banned from entering the park for a period of two years and were required to forfeit much of the equipment they were carrying when they were arrested. T.C.M.'s assessments, fines and restitution totaled $710; J.D.G.'s assessments, fines and restitution totaled $510. On November 26, the court accepted plea agreements from T.F.W., 66, and C.E.W., 64, both of Cody, Wyoming, for possessing elk antlers. The W.s were arrested as they were loading a cache of elk antlers into a pickup truck on August 5. Both have been placed on unsupervised probation for a period of two years. As a condition of probation, both are banned from entering the park for a period of two years. The W.'s assessments, fines and restitution totaled $ 2,252. [Submitted by Dan Kirschner, Special Agent]
On November 18, a federal grand jury in Casper, Wyoming, indicted S.S.W. on felony charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm (18 YSC 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2)). The indictment stemmed from an investigation into elk poaching conducted this fall by park special agents and rangers from the Lake District. Officers and investigators from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Teton County Sheriff's Department provided substantial assistance, but Lake District rangers did much of the extensive investigative work that ultimately lead to putting the case together. Conviction on these charges carries a mandatory ten-year jail sentence. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
Park firefighters have responded to three residential structural fires since mid-November:
[Submitted by Britton Gray, Fire Chief]
Rangers were summoned to a park residence on the night of December 23
to help deal with a suicidal person. The first ranger on scene
investigated and contacted a Teton County social services worker. He
concluded that there was clear probable cause to believe that the person
was potentially self-destructive and needed to be taken to the nearest
available medical facility for evaluation in accord with state civil
procedures and park policy. While waiting for a second ranger to arrive
in an over-snow ambulance, the suicidal person said that there would be
a fight if rangers attempted a transport. When the second ranger
arrived, efforts were made to work out the problem. These proved
fruitless, however. When the rangers attempted to press forward, the
subject began screaming, tore a shelf from the wall, and threatened and
attempted to strike the rangers with the shelf. Although the person was
quickly subdued, resistance continued in attempts to bite them, biting a
parent who was helping the rangers, kicking one of the rangers numerous
times in the abdomen, and scratching both rangers' faces and hands. The
rangers used control holds and handcuffs to subdue the person, who was
taken to a hospital in Jackson for evaluation in accord with state
guidelines. Both rangers suffered minor injuries, but neither was
seriously hurt. The subject did not suffer any injuries during the
melee. Charges were filed for interference and assault.
On December 23, C.C. was sentenced to twelve months
in federal custody following his conviction on two counts of
distribution of marijuana (21 USC 841). He was also fined and sentenced
to three years' formal probation once he serves his year in federal
custody. C.C.'s guilty plea to felony drug charges and sentence were
the result of an investigation into drug sales in distribution in the
park over the past five years by special agents and rangers. C.C.
was arrested by rangers at Old Faithful last May 9 with 90 grams of
marijuana in his possession. He was also carrying a large quantity of
"Ecstacy;" although not charged with possession of this drug, it
affected his sentence. After his initial release on the park charges, he
was arrested again by the Kansas Highway Patrol, convicted on charges of
possessing illegal drugs in Kansas, and served about three months in
state custody prior to his federal sentencing. Although six different
agencies logged hundreds of hours of work on this investigation, rangers
Gary Nelson and Mike Hardin were primarily responsible for making the
successful case against C.C. Nelson gathered intelligence and
working with other subdistricts in the park for five years in an effort
to catch C.C. This arrest was critical to the park's efforts toward
reducing demand for drugs in the Old Faithful area, as it lead to a
number of his customers and eventually to the disruption of drug dealing
in the area.
On August 3, 2002, an NPS research pilot spotted a vehicle hundreds
of yards off-road near the park's north boundary. As the pilot watched,
the vehicle returned to the road and parked a short distance away along
the boundary. Mammoth Subdistrict patrol ranger Doug Beringer located
the occupants and escorted them back to the spot where the vehicle had
originally been seen. The driver was subsequently identified as
R.E.S., 52, of Spokane, Washington. Rangers saw hundreds of
pounds of rocks, plants, wood and several archeological artifacts in
plain view in the back of the vehicle. R.E.S. initially insisted that
the materials came from western Montana, but confessed to collecting
many of the items in the park when confronted with two facts - that he
was in possession of a Yellowstone elk antler previously marked by
Beringer and that his off-road vehicle tracks lead directly to several
fresh holes in the ground that appeared to be missing some of the same
rocks and artifacts that were in his vehicle. During the interview,
R.E.S. repeatedly insisted that he was an incidental rock collector
who knew little about archeology. Rangers found that he had
approximately 150 mineral, archeological and plant items weighing about
150 pounds in his possession. Several attempts to identify R.E.S.
while at the scene were unsuccessful, so he was taken into custody for
booking and positive identification. The federal magistrate-judge opted
to hold him over the weekend for an initial appearance, after which
R.E.S. was released on a $2,000 cash bond. During the course of the
follow-up investigation, park staff were able to positively associate
dozens of the items with areas from throughout the park, and also
learned that R.E.S. had significant previous knowledge of archeology.
On August 9, a federal ARPA search warrant was served on the Spokane,
Washington, home where R.E.S. lives. Approximately 1,000 artifacts
were located in the residence and documented. The search did not reveal
evidence that positively linked the artifacts in the home to public
lands, however, preventing them from being legally seized as evidence.
Rangers, agents, officers and archeologists from Yellowstone, Joshua
Tree, Lake Roosevelt, Olympic, the Spokane County Sheriff's Department,
and the BIA assisted in the warrant service. Special agent Todd Swain
provided instrumental assistance to Yellowstone agents during the course
of the investigation. On January 7, R.E.S. entered a guilty plea to
one misdemeanor ARPA count and numerous 36 CFR counts, including
possessing/disturbing plants, possessing/disturbing mineral resources,
possessing wood, and off-road travel. R.E.S. was sentenced to two
years probation, banned from entering Yellowstone National Park for five
years, and ordered to pay $150 dollars in fines and $1,000 in
restitution. As a result of this case, Beringer focused patrol efforts
along the north boundary area and made two additional ARPA cases in the
same area within two months. On September 1, R.D.R., 36, of
Gardiner, Montana, was charged with a misdemeanor ARPA violation and a
CFR mineral resource violation after he was contacted by Beringer and
found to be in possession of 100 mineral items and archeological
artifacts. On September 25, R.D.R. pled guilty to both charges; he
was sentenced to a year's probation and ordered to pay $200 in fines and
$900 in restitution. On September 15, J.L.W., 46, of Marysville,
Washington, was charged with a misdemeanor ARPA violation and a CFR
mineral resource violation. When Beringer contacted her, she had 227
mineral items and archeological artifacts in her possession. On
September 17, J.L.W. plead guilty to both charges before and was
sentenced to a year's probation and ordered to pay $700 in fines and
$700 in restitution. The last two cases came about because the ranger
became suspicious of their activities when seeing their respective
vehicles in the same area. Consent interviews and searches led to the
charges. Although the majority of the artifacts in these cases were
worked flakes, the prosecutor and magistrate-judge strongly supported
the park's ARPA enforcement efforts.
Around 8:30 p.m. on January 29, rangers received a report that five
intoxicated men had departed from a bar in the park, gotten on their
snowmobiles, and had last been seen heading toward Madison Subdistrict.
Subsequent investigation revealed that four of the men had been racing
back to West Yellowstone when one of the riders lost control of his
snowmobile and fell from his machine. The snowmobile continued 200 feet
overland before crashing into the Firehole River and ending up fully
submerged. A second member of the party apparently made a wrong turn and
blew the engine out of his snowmobile while attempting to catch up with
the main group. The party regrouped and continued toward West
Yellowstone with four riders on three snowmobiles. Gallatin Subdistrict
SDR Rick Bennett, assistant SDR Bonnie Gaffney and ranger Tom Schwartz
intercepted the remnants of the party at the West Entrance Station at
approximately 9:30 p.m. As they were stopping the three remaining
snowmobiles, one of the operators crashed into the other two. Two of the
operators and the passenger involved in the previous accident were taken
into custody for DUI; the fourth was cited for nighttime closure
violations and unsafe operation, then released. Meanwhile, Madison
Subdistrict assistant SDR Dennis Young responded to the report of the
broken down snowmobile and arrested that operator for DUI after an
on-scene investigation. A National Park Service over-snow ambulance was
called to transport the man to the West Yellowstone jail. One of the
operators contacted at the West Entrance Station was extremely
uncooperative on scene and at the West Yellowstone Police Department
jail. He refused to produce identification that he had on his person,
provided false information about his identity, refused to comply with
booking and jail procedures, and incited and threatened those with him.
The arrest scenes were further complicated by heavy snow falling at the
time. All of those arrested were charged with various DUI violations and
violation of the nighttime snowmobile closure. The man involved in the
accident was also charged with unsafe operation and damage to resources.
The uncooperative snowmobiler was charged with interference, and two
others were charged with failing to have valid snowmobile registrations.
All four were released the following day on cash bond or with one of
their snowmobiles as collateral. The prosecutor ordered that all the
snowmobiles be held pending disposition of the case. The names of the
defendants are being withheld pending their initial appearances, set for
later this month.
On November 13, 2002, R.N., 31, of Cooke City, Montana, was
convicted in federal court on one count of assault with intent to murder
(18 USC 113(a)). An additional charge of assault resulting in serious
bodily injury was dropped as part of a plea agreement. On January 27,
R.N. was sentenced to serve 87 months (seven-and-a-half years) in jail
and ordered to pay significant restitution to the victim of his assault.
Rangers from Mammoth Hot Springs Subdistrict arrested R.N. during the
early hours of May 21, 2002. They had just been dispatched to
investigate a report that a local resident had been intentionally run
over twice by a pickup truck in front of the Blue Goose Saloon, located
on the north boundary of the park, when R.N.'s vehicle was spotted and
stopped as he fled the scene. Investigation revealed that R.N. was
involved in two heated verbal altercations with the victim while in the
saloon and that a third altercation erupted in the street within park
boundaries a short time later. As R.N. was beginning to drive his
pickup away, he suddenly veered back toward the victim and struck him
with the truck at a high rate of speed, leaving him seriously injured
and disabled in the street. R.N. then drove a short distance, turned
again, and struck the disabled victim as he lay in the street, causing
critical injuries. Park medics administered advanced life support and
the victim was airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, where he
remained in critical condition for several days and underwent multiple
life-saving operations. Mammoth Subdistrict rangers, headquarters staff,
and Park County (Montana) deputies did an outstanding job of crime scene
documentation, processing and on-site witness interviews while park
special agents were returning from a meeting with federal prosecutors in
Jackson, Wyoming. The FBI's Denver evidence response team assisted the
park by processing R.N.'s truck; park staff from other divisions
provided Yellowstone agents with instrumental assistance during the
investigation. NPS special agent Chris Fors was the case agent and
primary investigator. He logged over 300 hours on the case and drove
over 3,600 miles for interviews and court appearances. f
On January 21, a federal grand jury in Wyoming indicted K.B.
of Gardiner, Montana, on felony charges of being a convicted
felon in possession of a firearm (18 USC 922(g)). A conviction on this
charge carries a jail sentence of ten years. The indictment stems from
an incident that occurred on January 3. Ranger Joe Bueter and a Park
County deputy came upon a loud altercation on Park Street in front of
the Blue Goose Saloon. Park Street is within the park's boundary; the
Blue Goose Saloon was the location of the near fatal assault reported in
Tuesday's Morning Report. From a distance of 50 yards, K.B. yelled
an obscenity at the officers, accompanied by the related gesture. During
the subsequent encounter, Bueter and the deputy found a semi-automatic
handgun in K.B.'s waistband. He was placed under arrest for
disorderly conduct. Records checks showed that he was a convicted felon
with outstanding Montana misdemeanor arrest warrants filed on him. A
felony criminal complaint was filed before a federal magistrate, and
K.B. had a second post-indictment initial appearance in court on
February 7. He remains in federal custody in Wyoming pending trial. This
is the third incident in as many months during which rangers have
arrested intoxicated individuals in this area of the park who were also
in possession of firearm.
On November 26, E.J., 37, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found
guilty of murder in the first degree (malice aforethought) and sentenced
to life without parole. The conviction stems from an arrest made in the
park on October 4, 2001. Late that afternoon, a Xanterra Parks and
Resorts employee reported a suspicious person - subsequently identified
as E.J. - in the concession housing area in Mammoth Hot Springs. The
license plate on E.J.'s vehicle was reported to dispatch; it came
back to a vehicle that had been stolen from a woman named R.S.,
who had been strangled and stabbed to death in Cherokee County,
Oklahoma. The license check also revealed that E.J. was wanted by
the FBI for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and by the county for
murder in the first degree. E.J. was reported to be suicidal, armed
and dangerous. Rangers and special agents set up roadblocks and
surveillance on the vehicle and other areas in Mammoth Hot Springs.
Ranger Joe Bueter arrested E.J. when he returned to his vehicle
around 7 p.m. Bueter testified at the trial in Oklahoma. As part of his
defense, E.J. claimed that he was not guilty because of mental
illness, including suicidal tendencies. This argument was countered by
prosecutors employing reports from park investigators on E.J.'s
activities while in Yellowstone. Investigation showed that he'd been in
the area for a week and that he'd been trying to establish himself in
the local community by applying for jobs and trying to make friends with
locals - behaviors inconsistent with his claim that he came to the park
to commit suicide and was arrested before he had a chance to kill
himself. The FBI's Denver-based evidence response team assisted the park
by processing R.S.'s vehicle for physical evidence. Park special agents
also assisted R.S.'s family by donating her vehicle to a women's
shelter in Bozeman.
R.B. of Belgrade, Montana, pled guilty to two counts of
misdemeanor violations of ARPA in magistrate's court on November 13,
2002. Ranger David Barland-Liles had seen R.B. collecting artifacts
in the vicinity of the Gallatin River near the park's west boundary last
August. He contacted her and found that she had some chert flakes in her
possession. Park archeologist Ann Johnson prepared a damage assessment
which showed the archeological value of the flakes to be around $1,200
and the cost of emergency restoration and repair to be around $1,500.
R.B. was ordered to pay $600 in restitution and placed on a year's
unsupervised probation.
On February 23rd, West Yellowstone PD received information that
A.P.G., Jr., wanted on a parole violation from Idaho, was
staying in a local motel. Information from authorities in Idaho
indicated that A.P.G. was violent, had an extensive criminal record, and
could be in possession of a weapon. He was also reported to be involved
in drugs. Because of this, West Yellowstone police asked for assistance
from the park, the Gallatin County special response team, Gallatin
County SO, and the Department of Livestock. A.P.G., another adult and a
female juvenile were arrested. The juvenile was released to her mother
and the two adults were held without bond for parole violations. The man
with A.P.G. had methamphetamine in his possession at the time of the
arrest and may be charged with felony possession of dangerous drugs.
Shortly after these arrests, officers saw a person coming out of the
motel room that the trio had allegedly been occupying. He was detained.
Two others jumped out of a window from the second story room and were
apprehended within 30 minutes, one by ranger David Barland-Liles. All
three were later released pending investigation. Criminal charges will
likely be filed against all of them. In an unrelated case earlier that
day, Barland-Liles and a West Yellowstone PD officer were making an
unsuccessful attempt to serve an arrest warrant when they came upon two
men smoking marijuana. Arrested were D.L., 43, and G.T.,
26, both of West Yellowstone. Both were charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia; Larson will also be extradited to Wisconsin to face
felony drug possession charges there.
During a heavy snow storm in February, ranger Rick Bennett came upon
a rollover accident that had occurred on Highway 191 inside the park.
The ensuing investigation led to the arrest of driver B.W. for
multiple driving offenses and possession of marijuana; passenger Ryan
Beck was also arrested for possession of marijuana. About 60 grams of
marijuana and a quantity of cash were found in the car. B.W.
subsequently pled guilty in magistrate's court to six charges, including
possession of marijuana, driving despite a suspended license, driving
without insurance, and careless operation of a vehicle. He was sentenced
to 90 days in jail, with an additional 90 days custody suspended, and
was also fined $1,000 and placed on probation for two years. Beck pled
guilty to possession of marijuanaand was fined $1,000 and sentenced to
two years probation. This was the eightieth drug conviction in the park
in the last thirteen months.
Over the past three weeks, rangers in the Gallatin Subdistrict have
arrested a dozen people for riding snowmobiles inside closed and
roadless areas of the park. They were booked at the West Yellowstone PD
jail, then released on bond set by the federal magistrate pending
mandatory court appearances. One group of these snowmobilers was found
more than five miles inside the park. During the same three-week period,
nine other people were issued mandatory appearance citations for
snowmobile use in undesignated areas after being discovered just within
the park in areas where the boundary may be less clearly marked.
Follow-up investigation revealed resource damage in the park caused by
some of the operators running their snowmobiles over the tops of trees
and new vegetation; additional charges are pending in some of these
cases. Increased patrols were begun along the park's western boundary
after rangers noticed increased illegal snowmobile use in that area over
the past several years. Last year, a dozen people were cited for illegal
use of snowmobiles in that segment of the park. Gallatin Subdistrict
rangers have logged 4,000 patrol miles along the western boundary since
January 1st in a specific effort to target illegal snowmobile use in
Yellowstone's backcountry. Aircraft are also being used to help rangers
on the ground combat this increasing problem.
On March 17th, rangers in the park's West Subdistrict were called to assist Montana Highway Patrol and Madison County SO officers in the pursuit and capture of a drunk driver who was heading down Highway 287 at about 100 miles per hour, brandishing a shotgun out the truck's window. He was heading toward Highway 191 and a junction that would take him either through part of the park or the town of West Yellowstone. Rangers helped West Yellowstone officers divert traffic at several locations and place spike strips on the highway. The man drove past rangers and officers with the shotgun barrel still pointed out the driver's side window. He drove over the spike strip, which deflated his front tires, then stopped a little further down the road. Officers attempted to surround him, but he resumed driving. At that point, Montana Highway Patrol officers fired into the truck's rear tires in an attempt to disable it. The driver continued for another half mile, lost control of his truck, and went off the road. A standoff ensued in which the driver continued to point his shotgun out the window. He refused to comply with commands, so a SWAT/tactical team was summoned from Bozeman, about 80 miles to the north. A park special agent trained as a crisis negotiator was also called in, but deputies and rangers were eventually able to subdue the driver. He lost his shotgun in the process and was taken into custody without further incident. He faces numerous state felony charges. [Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent, YELL]
Rangers Kristin Fey and Allan Bush investigated a report of an
assault on a woman in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession dormitory by a
drunken male on the evening of February 21st. L.E. was
arrested on suspicion of being under the influence. Extensive follow-up
and interviews with the victim and witnesses led to the development of
strong evidence showing that L.E. had engaged in numerous incidents
of disorderly conduct, abusive sexual contact and public intoxication
over a period of 48 hours. He had previously been arrested in the park
and convicted of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of
alcohol and was still on probation. A criminal complaint was filed in
magistrate's court for abusive sexual contact (18 USC 2244(b)) and
public intoxication. L.E. pled not guilty at the arraignment, but
was found guilty of both charges at a trial on March 4th. His probation
was also revoked. L.E. was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail, with
another 120 days suspended, and three years probation. He was also
ordered to pay $500 in fines. The case rangers did an exceptional job on
the investigation, victim and witness assistance, and court testimony.
The effective intervention of the rangers at the beginning of the
incident prevented L.E.'s behavior from escalating to the felony
assault level.
On April 25, 2002, ranger Les Brunton investigated an accident on
Highway 191 within the park and arrested the operator for DUI, careless
operations, driving while suspended and possession of methamphetamine.
He was subsequently convicted on all charges and sentenced to a year in
prison, two years probation and a $1,000 fine. All but 15 days of the
jail term were suspended. Rangers and special agents suspected that he
was involved in transportation of methamphetamine. During the fall of
2002, special agent Dan Kirschner developed information indicating that
the man was living in Bozeman, that he was both using and selling
methamphetamine, and that the passenger in the vehicle had fled the
scene of the accident with a significant amount of methamphetamine in
his possession before rangers arrived. Working with the area drug task
force and Bozeman PD, Kirschner was able to obtain information on the
man's continued drug use and sales. Kirschner secured an arrest warrant
from the federal magistrate in Yellowstone for a probation violation and
had Bozeman PD serve both the federal warrant and an outstanding state
warrant on the man. On March 20th, he was sentenced to serve six months
in federal custody and remanded to the U.S. marshal. Additional state
and federal felony charges are pending.
On April 9th, NPS special agent Chris Fors and a Park County deputy
stopped a commercial vehicle for traffic violations inside the North
Entrance. During the contact, they discovered a substantial amount of
high-grade marijuana, all pre-packaged for sale. A Bozeman man was
arrested and faces federal felony drug charges. Related arrests occurred
in the Mammoth Hot Springs area and in Bozeman. In the Bozeman arrest, a
man was booked on three felony counts and officers seized seven pounds
of marijuana, a half ounce of mushrooms and a gram of hash. Additional
drug conspiracy charges are pending in the Gardiner/Mammoth Hot Springs
area and in Old Faithful. Mutual assistance continues among officers and
rangers from the park, the Park County SO, and the Missouri River drug
task force.
Rangers at Yellowstone recorded more than 74 cases of off-road travel
or resource damage by snowmobile operators over this past winter -
21 of them significant incursions of snowmobiles into roadless areas.
Snowmobiles were found to have been operated as deep as six miles within
remote section of the park in the Gallatin subdistrict and on the west
side of the park. Because of the highly visible resource damage and
difficulty catching offenders in prior years, subdistrict ranger Rick
Bennett and special agent Dan Kirschner put a plan into effect that
involved prevention, targeted patrols, consistent enforcement and
aggressive prosecution of violators. Press releases and other media were
used to deter violators and rangers logged over 600 hours on patrol,
logging more than 3,000 patrol miles. Between January and March, rangers
made a dozen arrests of egregious, willful, or repeat offenders, and
cited and released another nine violators. All 21 defendants negotiated
guilty pleas via plea agreements with the special assistant U.S.
attorney; all were accepted by the U.S. magistrate and entered into
court. Each defendant paid a minimum of $500 in fines and restitution,
and some had their snowmobiles held (at the direction of the U.S.
Attorney's Office) as evidence pending adjudication of their cases. It
is hard to measure how many additional violations were deterred by these
coordinated prevention and enforcement efforts. This operation will
continue in 2004.
The second of two bison incidents to occur in the Old Faithful area
within two weeks happened around 9 p.m. on the night of Friday, May
23rd. A 40-year-old Xanterra Parks and Resorts employee was bumped by a
bison near Columbine Dorm in the vicinity of Old Faithful Lodge Cabins.
The bison knocked her into a tree, then bumped her a second time; she
was not gored, but experienced back and neck pain. She was taken by
ambulance to West Yellowstone, then flown to Eastern Idaho Regional
Medical Center in Idaho Falls for further evaluation and treatment. The
first incident occurred at 4:30 a.m. on May 13th when another Xanterra
Parks and Resorts employee was walking to the employee dining room near
the Old Faithful Inn in the dark without a flashlight. The 50-year-old
man felt the ground shaking, then was pushed to the ground by a bison.
Although the bison stepped on him and bruised him with its horns, he was
not gored. He was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for
evaluation and treatment and has since returned to work. Neither
incident was witnessed, so it is not known if the bison were bulls or
cows. Bison are more dangerous than they first appear; they can weigh up
to 2,000 pounds and sprint up to 30 miles per hour. It is against the
law to approach within 25 yards of them.
Rangers from Grant Subdistrict were dispatched to check out a report
of a man threatening others with a rifle around 7 p.m. on May 22nd.
Before they could arrive on scene, the man fled the area in a Saturn
sedan. Witnesses at the scene reported that he'd previously barricaded
himself in his trailer; when friends attempted a welfare check, he'd
threatened them and driven them away by displaying an SKS rifle and
chambering a round. Rangers from surrounding subdistricts and special
agents headed to the area. About 55 minutes later, he passed a marked
park unit at a high rate of speed on the west entrance road. Other
witnesses reported that he'd driven through wildlife jams recklessly and
at high speeds. Inbound traffic was controlled near the west entrance by
rangers from the Gallatin and Madison Subdistricts and by West
Yellowstone PD officers. They also deployed speed sticks on the road,
The man stopped near the entrance, got out of his car and taunted
rangers and officers, then headed off in the opposite direction in an
attempt to evade them. He was stopped again and again got out of his
vehicle. This time a standoff took place that lasted about ten minutes.
While negotiators and a ranger with a taser headed to the area, rangers
Rick Bennett and Tom Schwartz saw an opportunity, tackled the man, and
placed him under arrest. He was treated for self-inflicted injuries that
had occurred back in Grant Village. The man subsequently assaulted
medical personnel while at a hospital in Bozeman. Rangers and agents
secured a search warrant for his trailer and recovered the firearm and
magazine believed to have been used. On May 24th, he appeared before the
federal magistrate judge in Yellowstone on the initial misdemeanor
charges. He was remanded to the custody of the US marshal and remains
incarcerated pending a detention hearing, and the filing of additional
felony charges relating to assault and illegal possession of firearms.
SA Chris Fors is the case agent.
Pebble Creek Campground and West Thumb Geyser Basin are temporarily
closed due to bear activity, and bear warnings have been posted in Lamar
and Slough Creek backcountry areas. Other restrictions could be
implemented as necessary. The closures stem from a pair of incidents. A
sub-adult grizzly bear (unknown sex) entered Pebble Creek Campground on
Sunday, June 1st, and bounced on an unoccupied tent, crushing the tent
to the ground and rolling around on it. The bear then left the area.
Owners of the tent were not present during the incident, but the
incident was witnessed and reported by other Pebble Creek campers. There
were no injuries, and the bear did not obtain any human food. Video
footage taken of the bear indicates it could be the same bear park staff
unsuccessfully tried to capture last year after receiving several
reports of a bear crushing tents and being chased out of backcountry
campsites in the Lamar area. Park staff have temporarily closed Pebble
Creek Campground (it was only partially open due to high water levels)
and are attempting to capture the bear at this time. On the following
evening, a woman on the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk had an
encounter with a probable grizzly bear (sex unknown). She and her family
were touring the basin when they noticed another visitor taking
photographs of something in a wooded area. A bear came out of the wooded
area and stepped onto the boardwalk in front of the woman, who was in
front of her family by a few feet. The woman told rangers that she
didn't see the bear until it was near her. The bear then approached her
and stood on its hind legs (it appeared to be between six and seven feet
tall) but did not touch her. The woman fell to the ground and kept
still. As she was lying on the boardwalk, the bear bit her twice -
neither bite breaking the skin - and stood over her for a moment.
When the woman's husband screamed at the bear, it departed the area. The
woman declined medical treatment offered by the Park Service on Monday.
The West Thumb Geyser Basin has been temporarily closed to evaluate the
situation.
Three park visitors were injured on the evening of June 10th when a
vehicle struck them as they were watching two black bears grazing in a
meadow near Calcite Springs, approximately one mile from Tower Junction
in the northeast section of the park. Just prior to the accident, a
ranger directing traffic at the location noted that a number of visitors
had parked their vehicles off to one side of the road, then crossed to
the other side to better view the bears. The ranger was in the process
of clearing traffic when he glanced behind him and saw an unoccupied
white Chrysler PT Cruiser roll away from its parked position, cross both
lanes of traffic, plow into the crowd, and continue down a ten-foot
embankment. One victim, a seven-year-old girl, was knocked down, run
over, and partially trapped under the vehicle; two other victims -
the seven-year-old's sister (eleven years old) and an older male (age
unknown) - were struck and knocked out of the way by the vehicle.
Most of the spectators did not see the vehicle coming. By the time the
ranger reached the accident scene, bystanders had moved the
seven-year-old out from under the vehicle. The ranger immediately called
for assistance. Rangers and staff from throughout the northern portion
of the park responded and provided emergency medical care. The two girls
were transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
in Idaho Falls for additional care; the man was transported by ambulance
to Livingston Memorial Hospital in Livingston. The seven-year old is
listed in stable condition; she has two fractured ribs and some
difficulty in breathing. Her sister was treated for an injury to her
left arm and released. The man received some cuts and lacerations and
was also treated and released. Park staff also provided emergency
medical care for anxiety to two witnesses at the scene - one of
them the owner of the vehicle, the other a woman visitor. Both were
treated at the scene and released.
Rangers from the Madison Subdistrict investigated a report of a
vehicle submerged in the Madison River early on the morning of June
14th. They found the car in the river and the occupants nearby, wet and
under the influence of alcohol. One was also injured. They determined
that the driver had hit a bison weighing about 2,200 pounds, causing
significant damage to the car (including the loss of the windshield).
They attempted to drive to Old Faithful but ended up driving into the
river. The driver was taken to a hospital outside the park by NPS EMS
personnel; the passenger was arrested. The bison suffered serious and
possibly lethal injuries. A major operation was undertaken to recover
the car from the river. Both the driver and passenger face numerous
charges, including DUI, giving rangers false information, unsafe
operation, destruction of wildlife, and, possibly, misappropriation of
the vehicle. The case remains under investigation. The prosecutor plans
on seeking significant restitution for damage to or destruction of
wildlife and other costs associated with the incident. Supervisory
ranger Curt Dimmick is the primary investigator.
On June 18th, rangers responded to a report of a 66-year-old male
hiker with chest pain near the Tower area. Advanced cardiac life support
was begun and he was transported to Lake Clinic by NPS ambulance. While
en route, he suddenly went into full cardiac arrest. Ranger-medics Matt
Vandzura and Collette Daigle-Berg were able to successfully defibrillate
and resuscitate the man, only to have him go into full arrest again
approximately 300 yards farther down the road. Vandzura and Daigle-Berg
again successfully defibrillated and resuscitated him. They were
assisted by rangers Mike Cole and Boone Vandzura. The trip to the clinic
then continued. The man regained consciousness as he was being loaded on
a medevac helicopter for a flight to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical
Center. He remains hospitalized but appears to be making a full
recovery.
Park dispatch received numerous 911 calls on the morning of June 19th
reporting a domestic violence incident in progress in Cooke City,
Montana, just outside of the park's northeast entrance. According to the
reports, a man armed with a knife had - among other things -
slashed tires on the victim's vehicle and threatened violence against
any responding officers. Four North District rangers and the chief
ranger responded from distances as far as 50 miles away. They were armed
with rifles, a taser and a shotgun loaded with beanbag rounds. Working
as a team, they assisted the sole Park County deputy in taking the man
into custody without incident. He was booked on multiple state charges,
including domestic violence and criminal damage.
On July 24th, T.B., 19, of LaFayette, Louisiana and
Yellowstone National Park, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one
count of felony sexual abuse (18 USC 2242(2)(B)). Canyon Subdistrict
rangers Fletcher Ogg and Jim Cannon began the investigation under the
direction of supervisory ranger Matt Vandzura during the early morning
of July 12th. The initial on-scene work by the responding rangers
greatly contributed to a successful interview conducted a few hours
later by park special agents and rangers. T.B. was arrested on
probable cause the following morning and charged by criminal complaint
pending the government seeking the indictment. The indictment alleges
that an extremely intoxicated 22-year-old female was left in T.B.'s
care and that he engaged in a sexual act with the victim, who was
incapable of declining participation.
A six year-old girl from Tucson, Arizona, was injured while playing
with her brother near Constant Geyser in Porcelain Basin in the Norris
Geyser Basin on the afternoon of July 30th. The girl and her brother
were evidently playing on the boardwalk near Constant Geyser, which was
erupting at the time, when she fell off the boardwalk into the run-off
channel from the nearby Whirligig Geyser. The run-off channel is
approximately one-half inch to two inches deep with water temperatures
at approximately 160 degrees Fahrenheit. First aid was administered by
her parents and a witness to the incident; she was then carried to the
Norris Museum, where park staff responded. The girl was taken to Lake
Clinic by ambulance, where she was treated and released. She received
minor burns to her lower extremities and back in the incident.
Park staff received several 911 calls from visitors on the evening of August
4th reporting the crash of a small airplane near the Midway Geyser Basin on the
west side of the park between Madison Junction and the Old Faithful area. The
pilot of the plane, J.W., 53, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, was killed upon
impact. Witness reports indicated that the airplane approached the geyser basin
area from the west and was flying at about tree-top level just south of the
parking area. The plane evidently hit the ground on the west side of the
Firehole River, then came to rest on the east side of the river near the main
park road. The airplane burst into flame upon impact, but the fire was put out
very quickly by park staff. Debris was strewn throughout the area and the engine
and a wing landed in the river. Some fuel leaked into the river and on the
ground near the river. Park staff removed the engine from the river on Tuesday
night to prevent further leakage. Cleanup of any spilled fuel will be done as
quickly as possible. No one on the ground was hurt. The aircraft was a replica
of the Hughes H-1B racer that was originally designed, built and flown by
millionaire Howard Hughes in the 1930s. This replica was built by J.W. and
made its first flight in July, 2002. The main park road was closed from the time
the incident occurred until about midnight, causing visitors to take alternative
routes. Some visitors were allowed to park RVs in the Old Faithful parking lot
for the night.
A 15-year-old girl drowned at a popular swimming area
on Firehole Canyon Drive on the afternoon of August 6th - only
the second drowning known to have ever occurred at this location.
L.C.S. of Boise, Idaho, was visiting the park with
her mother, two brothers, and some friends. She and one of the brothers
were swimming in a channel that runs through a gorge that empties into a
swimming hole on the river. According to her brother, she pinched her
nose and ducked under the water, but failed to resurface. The family
looked for her for approximately ten minutes, then summoned help from
other visitors swimming in the area. After searching another ten
minutes, a park visitor saw her legs sticking out from an overhanging
ledge under the water. Visitors immediately removed her from the water
and started CPR; other visitors reported the incident by calling 911 on
their cell phones. Park staff continued CPR and administered advanced
life support, continuing their efforts until she was pronounced dead at
the scene. She was not wearing a life jacket.
Rangers and special agents assisted FBI agents from Los Angeles and
Denver on September 14th in the arrest of B.F., an employee
with Xanterra, the park concessioner. B.F. was wanted on a
kidnapping charge. The case involved the abduction of two Israeli men
who have been missing since last December. Neither has yet been found.
B.F. faces a life imprisonment term if found guilty. Agents and Old
Faithful rangers did an outstanding job of intelligence gathering,
surveillance and pre-planning the execution of the search warrant, which
was done in concert with the FBI agents. The investigation continues;
B.F. may be charged with other non-related felonies.
A ranger who was working in his office at the Mammoth Subdistrict
ranger station on the afternoon of September 16th heard a loud banging
at the front door. When he opened the door, he was confronted with a
highly agitated and intoxicated man who was bleeding, screaming and
demanding to be arrested. He advanced on the ranger on at least two
occasions with a raised and closed fist. The ranger kept his distance,
sprayed the man with OC spray, then moved in and handcuffed him.
Responding rangers and special agents found the man still combative and
resisting efforts to arrest him. Investigation revealed that he was a
concession employee and that he'd been in a protracted disturbance of
the peace in Mammoth Hot Springs. He'd previously been convicted for
disorderly conduct in the park. He appeared before the federal
magistrate the next day on three charges, including one misdemeanor
count of 18 USC 111. The judge remanded him to the custody of the United
States Marshal's Service pending trial and a psychological evaluation.
S.S.W. was sentenced in federal district court to 46 months
in custody on August 29th after being convicted of being a felon in
possession of a firearm (18 USC 922g). S.S.W. was arrested on October 14,
2002, after an investigation revealed that he'd shot an elk illegally
within the park. The investigation was covered jointly by Yellowstone
and Grand Teton rangers, Teton County deputies, and Department of Fish
and Game officers. Rick Mossman, chief ranger at Wind Cave and former
SDR for the park's Snake River Subdistrict, conducted a significant
amount of the investigative work and was instrumental in obtaining the
felony conviction. This prosecution was part of the Department of
Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" initiative (www.psn.gov/), which targets prosecution
of gun crime offenders. Many of these offenders have engaged in criminal
activity while being in possession of a firearm, as has proven to be the
case with several narcotics and wildlife violations that have occurred
within Yellowstone.
A concession security guard saw smoke issuing from an occupied dorm
at Lake Village around 5:30 a.m. on September 22nd. He activated the
fire alarm, prompting a quick response by two park engines, an ambulance
and a patrol unit. The first units to arrive found that smoke was coming
from attic vents and upgraded the response to a first alarm. Three more
park engines and a second ambulance responded from Mammoth Hot Springs,
Old Faithful and Grant Village. During initial attack, firefighters
removed a room ceiling and found flame along inside rafters.
Investigation showed that the fire had been caused by the malfunction of
a light/heater/fan unit in a bathroom. A sprinkler had been activated,
slowing the fire's spread. The fire was one wall surface away from
breaching into a larger area and spreading throughout the building when
it was checked. Investigating rangers also found three dormitory rooms
where smoke detectors had been disabled and one room containing a
quantity of marijuana. Four dormitory residents were cited into court
for various violations. During the initial building search, one person
was found inside a room who was refusing to evacuate. Water, smoke, or
fire damage occurred to over 14 rooms and at least one ceiling
collapsed. The four-hour operation involved over 21 park personnel. Lake
Subdistrict SDR Michael Keator was the incident commander.
Two men from northwestern Wyoming were cited into federal court on
October 3rd for illegally shooting and killing three bull elks in a
remote area inside Yellowstone's eastern boundary. The investigation
began on October 1st as the result of observations made by law
enforcement rangers on routine anti-poaching patrol. A three-day
investigation ensued, involving NPS rangers and special agents, FWS
special agents, Forest Service officers and an NPS contract helicopter.
The men were caught after they abandoned the carcasses and attempted to
leave the area; seized were rifles, handguns, motor vehicles, trailers,
stock and optical equipment. The investigation is continuing with
assistance from FWS and the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish.
Numerous additional charges are anticipated. Additional information will
be provided following the initial court appearance on October 22nd.
On October 15th, rangers in the Tower Subdistrict checked out a red
2000 Chevy Blazer that had been parked for four days at the Slough Creek
trailhead. They found several suicide notes inside and evidence
identifying the missing man as a doctor from Louisiana. Both a search
and a criminal investigation were begun. Investigators learned that the
man was a well-known physician in both Florida and Louisiana. Evidence
indicated that he'd staged a very elaborate disappearance in late May.
At that time, a county sheriff's department conducted an extensive
ground and water search for the man, then an investigation into his
whereabouts after his boat was found floating and unoccupied. No
conclusive determination was made on his fate, but both drowning and
death from other causes were considered possible. The case received
extensive media coverage in the Florida Panhandle. The doctor's name was
entered into NCIC as a missing person. On September 25th, he was stopped
in Bozeman, Montana, and cited for numerous traffic violations. The
agency that had made the NCIC entry was contacted and the doctor's name
was removed from the missing person listing. This action generated
renewed media interested in both Montana and Florida, particularly when
the physician failed to appear in court as scheduled on October 9th. On
October 16th, an NPS dog and ground search team led by ranger Bonnie
Gaffney located the doctor's body in a secluded area about two miles
north of the Slough Creek trailhead. He was later positively identified
by family members. All investigation and forensic data strongly suggest
that his death was a suicide. Special agents continue to attempt to find
anyone who may have contacted the doctor prior to his death. Supervisory
park ranger Travis Poulson was the search IC.
Significant resource damage was inflicted on Lone Star Geyser and its
environs earlier this month by two men who illegally entered the area by
vehicle and drove around the geyser and surrounding meadows. On the
evening of Friday, October 10th, A.E., 22, of Vancouver,
Washington, drove his four-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma around the locked
barricade at the parking area at Lone Star Geyser and proceeded down the
trail to the end of the asphalt. Lone Star Geyser is located about five
miles south of the Old Faithful area. The trail leading to the geyser
from the parking area is closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians and
bicyclists. The trail, an old narrow road with a broken asphalt surface,
ends at a log barrier approximately 60 yards from the geyser. A.E. and
his companion then moved the log barrier and drove completely around the
geyser cone and surrounding meadows until the vehicle became stuck in
the soft soil. Once stuck, they set up camp near the geyser, started a
fire, and stayed the night. The following morning, they walked to Old
Faithful, where they found an unidentified couple in the Old Faithful
parking lot who agreed to help them. The couple drove A.E. and his
companion back to the Lone Star Geyser area, but refused to help them
once they realized the gravity of the situation and returned them to Old
Faithful. A.E. and his companion then went to the Old Faithful Ranger
Station to report the incident. Rangers drove to Lone Star Geyser with
A.E. and his friend. After completing their investigation and a
preliminary damage assessment, they took A.E. into custody and
transported him to the jail in West Yellowstone. His companion was not
arrested but was cited for his part in the damage to park resources.
A.E. made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate on
October 13th and was charged with operating a vehicle off road, injuring
mineral resources, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle,
improper food storage, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended
driver's license. The magistrate released A.E. on an unsecured $5,000
bond. His companion's name will be released after he has made his
initial court appearance sometime in the near future. The park is
currently assessing the resource damage done by the two men, which
appears to be significant. Tire tracks are clearly visible around the
geyser and throughout the meadows near the geyser. The park will seek
full restitution for all restoration costs. Thermal features (geysers,
hot springs, fumaroles, runoff channels) are extremely fragile and are
easily damaged, as are the plants and microbial mats in and near them.
To protect these fragile features, park regulations state that all
visitors must remain on trails and boardwalks. Park regulations do not
allow any off-road vehicular travel.
The park is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the killing
of a mature bull elk inside the park on Saturday, November 8th. The elk
was shot in the back and killed as it was attempting to run to the tree
line during the early morning hours that day. The incident occurred
about 24 miles north of West Yellowstone alongside Highway 191. The
carcass was left intact. Rangers recovered numerous items of evidence at
the scene, including the bullet that killed the elk, which has been sent
to a crime lab for ballistics testing. The poacher(s) face possible
felony charges for violations of the Lacey Act, taking of wildlife, use
of a weapon in the park, and damage to government property, and will
likely have to pay restitution for the animal.
Charges have been filed against the second person involved in the
resource destruction incident at Lone Star Geyser on October 10th.
A.B.O., 19, of Battle Ground, Washington, was originally issued
violation notices and released at the time he was apprehended. On
November 19th, A.B.O. was charged via criminal complaint with aiding and
abetting Adam R. Elford with operating a vehicle off road, aiding and
abetting Elford in the injury of mineral resources, and aiding and
abetting Elford in improper food storage. The U.S. Attorney's Office is
currently reviewing the Elford and A.B.O. cases to determine if felony
charges will be filed. The two men caused considerable damage to Lone
Star Geyser and its environs after they illegally entered the area by
vehicle and drove around the geyser and surrounding meadows. Park staff
and the Montana Conservation Corps have spent more than 80 hours
mitigating the resource damage caused by the two men - raking,
filling, and de-compacting the disturbed soil and vegetation. A
reassessment of the damaged area will be completed next spring, with
revegetation and restoration efforts to continue as necessary. The U.S.
Attorney's Office plans to seek full restitution from Elford and A.B.O.
for all restoration costs on behalf of the National Park
Service.
On November 22nd, rangers and special agents arrested E.A.J.,
31, of Livingston, Montana, following a citizen report of an
antelope poaching in progress in the Stevens Creek area of the park.
Ranger Doug Berringer and a park special agent were first to arrive on
scene and saw a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle
attempting to leave the area. The vehicle was stopped and a short
stand-off ensued. According to the criminal complaint filed in this
case, E.A.J. was repeatedly ordered at gunpoint to keep his hands in
view and to get down on the ground. E.A.J.E.A.J. instead opted to reach
repeatedly and aggressively toward his waistband, then reportedly told
the rangers to shoot him. He was ultimately taken into custody. A dead
antelope and a rifle were discovered in the front seat of the red Ford
Bronco he was driving. E.A.J. was booked into the Mammoth Hot Springs
jail for violating the Lacey Act (poaching), resisting and impeding
federal officers, using a weapon in a national park, operating a vehicle
under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, and
operating a vehicle off of designated park roadways. A detention hearing
was set for November 25th. The investigation is continuing and the case
is being further reviewed by the United States Attorney's Office for the
possible filing of additional felony weapons charges. This was the sixth
known wildlife poaching case inside the park within the last two
months.
On November 29th, rangers from the Gallatin Subdistrict arrested a
man from Three Forks, Montana, for a violation of the Lacey Act
following several citizen reports of two men field dressing a bull elk
alongside Highway 191 well within the park. Ranger Les Brunton responded
and saw a father and son dragging part of a trophy-class, six-point bull
elk toward their vehicle. Investigation revealed that the son was the
shooter; he was arrested, booked into the West Yellowstone Police
Department jail on Lacey Act and CFR weapons charges, and subsequently
released on bond by the park's magistrate. The investigation also
revealed that the pair drove past Brunton in his marked patrol car only
a few minutes before committing the crime. Following a review by the
U.S. Attorney's Office, charges were also filed against the father. This
was the seventh known big game animal poached within Yellowstone in the
last two months.
A federal grand jury in Casper, Wyoming, indicted former concession
employee M.L.F. on one felony count of sexual abuse (18 USC
2242(2)(b)) on November 17th. The indictment stemmed from an
investigation into a reported sexual assault in the Lake Hotel employee
housing area which was begun by rangers and special agents last
September. The case was associated with an end-of-year concession
employee "survivors" party and numerous "acquaintance" sexual assaults
reported in the park this year. US Marshals arrested M.L.F. in Key Largo
on December 10th. He was taken to Miami, where he made his initial
appearance before a federal magistrate. Rangers from Everglades NP also
provided valuable assistance in this case. Rangers and agents at
Yellowstone continue to work with the concessioner on new employee
orientations and training in an effort to prevent these types of
assaults and to assure that crimes are reported when they occur.
On December 2nd, rangers from Mammoth Subdistrict responded to a reported burglary and theft at the concession-operated warming hut and snowmobile facility. Rangers worked with a description of the vehicle seen in the area and data from in-place surveillance cameras to identify a suspect vehicle and circulate photos to area law enforcement officers. On December 11th, special agent Chris Fors and ranger Nancy Martinez saw this suspect vehicle traveling about a 100 mph on Highway 89 25 miles north of the park. They summoned additional assistance and managed to catch up with and stop it and contact the occupants. Both men admitted to breaking into the facility, stealing clothing, and unlawfully operating parked concession snowmobiles. All the stolen property was recovered, and the two men were charged with theft, criminal trespass, tampering and driving off-road. They also face possible burglary charges and state charges of reckless driving and possession of stolen property. [Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
On December 2nd, rangers from Mammoth Subdistrict responded to a
reported burglary and theft at the concession-operated warming hut and
snowmobile facility. Rangers worked with a description of the vehicle
seen in the area and data from in-place surveillance cameras to identify
a suspect vehicle and circulate photos to area law enforcement officers.
On December 11th, special agent Chris Fors and ranger Nancy Martinez saw
this suspect vehicle traveling about a 100 mph on Highway 89 25 miles
north of the park. They summoned additional assistance and managed to
catch up with and stop it and contact the occupants. Both men admitted
to breaking into the facility, stealing clothing, and unlawfully
operating parked concession snowmobiles. All the stolen property was
recovered, and the two men were charged with theft, criminal trespass,
tampering and driving off-road. They also face possible burglary charges
and state charges of reckless driving and possession of stolen
property.
On December 16th, R.S. of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced in
federal court after being convicted on two charges — possession of
methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a drug user in
possession of a firearm — that stemmed from a traffic stop the year
before last. R.S. will spend two years in prison and another three on
supervised release and pay a $500 fine. Ranger Robert Lester stopped
R.S. in the Lake District in the summer of 2002 and arrested him. An
investigation conducted jointly with ATF, DEA and the Wyoming Division
of Criminal Investigation led to the filing of the charges. It was
conducted under the auspices of Wyoming's "Project Guardian" and the
national "Project Safe Neighborhoods," both designed to facilitate the
prosecution of criminals who use firearms in the commission of crimes.
On January 7th, two instructors from Brigham Young University in
Idaho were convicted in magistrate's court for misdemeanor Lacey Act
violations. T.G.W., 31, of Rigby, Idaho, and T.W.C., 38,
of St. Anthony, Idaho, each plead guilty to single counts of Lacey Act
violations through a plea agreement. The two men were charged after an
investigation by rangers revealed that they intentionally removed a
bighorn sheep skull and horns from within the park. T.W.C. first
discovered the sheep skull while in Yellowstone with a school group and
asked a law enforcement ranger who was with them if they could take it.
After being told that it was illegal to remove such items from the park,
T.W.C. attempted to get a permit to take the skull. After the request
for a permit was rejected, both T.W.C. and T.G.W. returned to the park and
took the skull and horns. The case was referred to Yellowstone National
Park law enforcement by Idaho fish and game wardens who discovered the
sheep skull and horns at BYU-Idaho during a separate wildlife crime
investigation. Each defendant was ordered to pay $1,750 in restitution
to the park and a $25 special assessment to the federal courts, given a
90 day suspended jail sentence, placed on federal probation for three
years and banned from entering Yellowstone National Park for two years.
During the investigation, one of the defendants initially said the skull
came from within Montana and that the ranger with him was lost. Once
both subjects were interviewed by rangers, one of whom was the alleged
"lost" ranger, full confessions were obtained. This case was primarily
investigated by rangers Dave Ross and Brian Helms, with assistance from
Idaho Fish and Game officers and guidance from Yellowstone special
agents.
Two men from Livingston, Montana, were charged on January 20th with
violating the Lacey Act and possession of weapons inside a national
park. The investigation began on November 6th, when ranger Brian Helms
discovered that a bull elk had been killed and removed from inside of
the north boundary of Yellowstone near Beattie Gulch. Helms began what
turned out to be a lengthy investigation that was brought to a
successful conclusion with the assistance of the Montana Department of
Fish, Wildlife and Parks and several legal sportsmen who hunt in the
area. M.C., 38, and S.C., 39, both of Livingston,
Montana, were identified as suspects in the case. The criminal complaint
filed in magistrate's court alleges that M.C. admitted to
shooting the elk and also told the investigating ranger and special
agent that he and his brother had then removed it from the park. The
rifle used to shoot the elk and 174 pounds of processed meat from the
poached elk were seized from C. as evidence. Through the combined
efforts of rangers, investigators, cooperating agencies and the public,
the park has been able to achieve a clearance rate of nearly 80% in all
known wildlife poaching cases reported in Yellowstone this year.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, A.E., 22, of Vancouver, Washington,
appeared in magistrate's court in the park for sentencing on charges
stemming from an incident at Lone Star Geyser last fall. On October
10th, A.E. drove his four-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma around a locked
barricade at the Lone Star Geyser parking area and down the trail to the
geyser. At the end of the asphalt, he and his companion, A.O.,
19, of Battle Ground, Washington, moved a log barrier and drove
completely around the cone of the geyser and surrounding meadows until
the vehicle became stuck in the soft soil, causing considerable resource
damage. Park staff and members of the Montana Conservation Corp have to
date spent more than 80 hours mitigating the damage inflicted on the
area. A reassessment of the damaged areas will be completed this spring,
with revegetation and restoration efforts to continue as necessary.
A.E. was charged with operating a vehicle off road, injuring mineral
resources, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, improper
food storage, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's
license. At the February 3rd proceeding, A.E. was found guilty on all
five charges and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 70 days
suspended, followed by three years probation; banned from entering the
park for five years; ordered to pay a towing bill of $386.69; and fined
$1,550. He will also have to pay the NPS for the full cost of the
restoration and the court for the cost of his court-appointed attorney.
The case against A.O. is still being adjudicated and will be heard at a
later date. Ranger Dave Page and special agent Dan Kirschner were the
case agents.
On March 3rd, J.L.C. and D.G.C. were
sentenced in magistrate's court after each was convicted on three
violations of illegally transporting wildlife (16 USC 3372) and one of
illegal use of a firearm in the park (36 CFR 2.4). The magistrate
ordered them to jointly pay a total of $19,025 in fines and restitution,
sentenced each of them to 180-day suspended jail sentences, and banned
them from entering the park for three years. He also ordered them to
forfeit the two rifles used in the offenses, and to forfeit their state
hunting and fishing licenses and privileges for two years. These
sentences and convictions were the result of an anti-poaching operation
conducted by rangers last October, during which rangers Keith Crandell
and Richard Jones discovering that three elk had been killed and moved
while inside the park. Special agent Chris Fors was the case agent, but
the extensive operation and investigation involved over ten rangers, US
Fish and Wildlife special agents, and US Forest Service law enforcement
officers.
On March 16th, two men from Three Forks, Montana, were convicted in magistrate's court on charges of illegally killing a bull elk along U.S. Highway 191 inside of Yellowstone last November 28th. The investigation began after several citizens reported two men field dressing a bull elk alongside the highway many miles inside the park. Ranger Les Brunton responded and saw the two men dragging part of a trophy-class, six-point bull elk toward their vehicle. Special agent Dan Kirschner assisted Brunton and several other Gallitan Subdistrict rangers with the case. J.T.S., 23, of Three Forks, Montana, was convicted on one count of violating the Lacey Act for illegally killing and moving the elk and one count of illegally using a weapon inside of a national park. C.S.C., 45, of Three Forks, Montana, was convicted on one count of violating the Lacey Act. J.T.S. was ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution to the park for the destruction of the elk, a $2,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. The judge also sentenced him to a 180-day suspended jail sentence and three years' probation, banned him from entering Yellowstone for two years, ordered him to forfeit the rifle used in the crime, and banned him from possessing hunting and fishing licenses for three years. C.S.C. was ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution, a $1,000 fine and a $25 special assessment. He was also given a 90-day suspended jail sentence, banned from Yellowstone for two years, given three years of federal probation and banned from hunting and fishing for three years. [Submitted by Chris Fors, Special Agent]
Over the past twelve months, the park has been engaged in a major
effort to execute warrants nationwide. In a program developed by special
agent Dan Kirschner and approved by the US Marshal's Service and the
federal magistrate, more than 500 arrest warrants were signed and
entered into NCIC, the national criminal information system. The
warrants initially covered a three state area, but this was expanded to
nationwide through the efforts of the Marshal's Service. As of this
date, more than 310 park-generated arrest warrants have been cleared
either by arrest or by compliance on the part of the defendant. In some
cases, wanted persons were arrested in other jurisdictions and posted
bond for the Yellowstone warrant (usually as the result of a traffic
stop and NCIC check); in other cases, they paid their fines or complied
with court directions after being contacted by park investigators. Still
others were arrested, appeared before local magistrates, then were
transported back to the park by the Marshal's Service. Over 190 warrants
remain outstanding and are for crimes that include DUI, drugs, resource
violations, property theft and violent crimes. The park's deputy U.S.
marshal is now in charge of the program, which continues as a joint
operation by rangers and special agents, deputy marshals, park dispatch
and the federal courts. This is believed to be the first such operation
in the National Park Service; that is, with all magistrate warrants
disseminated nationally and with the significant cooperation of the US
Marshal's Service. Parks interested in learning more about this program
should contact either Dan Kirschner (307-344-2122) or senior deputy US
marshal Jay Mears (307-344-2850).
On May 3rd, special agent Bruce Applin and ranger Joe Bueter arrested
B.S. for interfering with agency functions. B.S. was the
subject of a BOLO (be on the lookout notice) that had been circulated
throughout western and northwestern parks, and is in the custody of
federal marshals. Parks that have been looking for B.S. or have an
interest in him should contact Applin at 307-344-2121. Parks will be
advised when he is released from custody.
Mammoth Subdistrict rangers were called to a concession dormitory
just before midnight on June 2nd to deal
with an intoxicated underage employee. The rangers cited him and
appeared to have resolved the situation, but park dispatch received a
call 90 minutes later reporting that he was again staggering around the
dorm. The responding ranger found him even more intoxicated and summoned
assistance. While they were en route, the man fled. Although caught by
the ranger, he made numerous efforts to break free and kicked and hit
the ranger. The ranger used his taser to stun him, which proved
effective. Since backup rangers were having trouble finding him, the
ranger attempted to control and handcuff the man. He resisted and again
attempted to flee, so the ranger shocked him once more, this time
disabling him until help arrived. Four rangers and a backboard were
needed to move the man to a patrol vehicle. At Mammoth jail, he again
assaulted the first responding ranger, shoving him into a wall and door
jamb. He remains in custody. Numerous charges have been filed against
him, including several accounts of assault on a federal officer. SA
Chris Fors is the case agent.
A Mammoth Subdistrict ranger was flagged down by a man on the evening
of May 23rd and told that he'd been assaulted and injured by another
man. The ranger called for backup, then searched for and found the
reputed assailant seated in a nearby car. The man said that he wouldn't
get out of his vehicle and challenged rangers to try and remove him.
When they did so, he actively resisted, and it took three rangers to get
him cuffed and into a patrol vehicle. During the struggle, he repeatedly
attempted to kick one of the rangers in the groin and made numerous
death threats against them. It took four rangers to get him into a cell
at Mammoth. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of
assaulting/resisting/impeding officers and numerous counts of being
under the influence and disorderly.
A park employee was mauled by two grizzly bears while hiking alone in
the backcountry on the eastern portion of the Mary Mountain Trail on the
northern end of Hayden Valley between Canyon and Lake just before
9 p.m.on June 18th. The 20-year old
Xanterra Parks and Resorts employee was hiking and bird-watching off the
established trail when he encountered two adult grizzly bears (sex
unknown) about 30 yards away. The two bears charged, so he immediately
dropped to the ground and remained still. The bears swatted and bit him
on his back and rolled him over, then left the area. He remained still
until he was sure the bears were no longer present, then hiked the
half-mile back to the trailhead and his vehicle. He was able to flag
down a passing motorist, who agreed to transport him in his own vehicle
to the Canyon area. While driving north towards Canyon, they encountered
a ranger managing traffic alongside the road where a number of visitors
were watching elk. The ranger provided emergency medical treatment at
the location and had the victim transported by park ambulance to the
Lake Clinic for additional medical treatment. He was stabilized and
later transported by ambulance to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical
Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for further evaluation and treatment. His
injuries included minor bruises and lacerations and puncture wounds to
his back. The Mary Mountain Trail, which was temporarily closed to all
hiking until a further investigation could be done, has since reopened
with strong bear warnings posted along the eastern portion of the Mary
Mountain Trail.
On July 1st, Lake District rangers received a call from a Jackson,
Wyoming, veterinarian about a dog brought in that morning that had
possibly consumed a toxic substance in Bridge Bay Campground. The
veterinarian said that the symptoms that the dog exhibited before it
died at the campground were similar to ingesting Temik. Temik poisoning
has sickened and killed more than 26 dogs in the Teton County area in
the past couple of months. The poisonings have occurred when dogs have
consumed hot dogs or meat chunks, laced with Temik, found by the sides
of roads and trails. The poisonings are currently under investigation by
Teton County Sheriff's Office and other agencies. The campsite and
surrounding area were thoroughly searched, with nothing suspicious being
found. Warnings have been posted in the area to remind campers,
visitors, and employees to be sure to keep their dogs on a leash and not
allow them to eat any food off the ground. An investigation is
continuing into the incident. Results of a necropsy performed on the
dead dog should be available shortly.
A mud slide caused by heavy rains Sunday evening forced the temporary
closure of the East Entrance into the park. Mud from six inches to as
much as four feet deep covers a section of the road from east of Cub
Creek to an area seven miles from the park's east boundary. Three
vehicles were trapped by the slides. No one was hurt. Rangers freed the
16 occupants and their vehicles and took them to Pahaska Teepee. The
road is temporarily closed at the East Entrance Station and at the
Pelican Creek barricade just east of Fishing Bridge. The extent of road
damage is unknown. Park staff will evaluate the damage this
morning.
On the evening of July 4th, ranger Steve Roper investigated a report
of a Jeep CJ-5 being driven recklessly in the Lake Hotel area. He found
the Jeep and its two occupants — C.G. and B.M.
— standing right next to it directly behind the ranger
station. The two men were waving their arms at a visibly agitated
three-quarter-ton bison. Investigation — along with videotape
provided by visitors — showed that they'd spent some time harassing
the bison, then cornered it in a group of trees. Both men showed strong
signs of intoxication and were arrested. Numerous rangers had to assist
both at the scene and at the Yellowstone jail, as the two men were
uncooperative, resisted arrested, kicked and spat on the arrest cage,
and made threats against rangers during the 50-mile trip to the jail. On
July 6th, both pled guilty to all criminal counts filed against them in
magistrate's court. C.G. pled guilty to unlawfully approaching
wildlife, driving under the influence, possession of an opened
container, driving off road, public intoxication, and criminal damage;
he was assessed $1,410 in fines and restitution, placed on two years'
probation, given a 60-day suspended jail sentence, and banned from the
park for three years. B.M. pled guilty to unlawfully approaching
wildlife, possession of controlled substances, resisting/interfering,
criminal damage and public intoxication; he was assessed $1,310 in fines
and restitution, placed on two years' probation, given a 60-day
suspended jail sentence, and banned from the park for three years. Each
man also spent 36 hours in jail.
Park staff are evaluating the condition of the park's East Entrance Road, which was closed due to a mud slide caused by a thunderstorm on Sunday evening. The road remains closed between the East Entrance Station and a point just east of Fishing Bridge. Due to weather and safety concerns, it could be several days before the road is reopened to traffic. A three-quarter mile section of the road was buried in mud shortly after 8 p.m. Three vehicles were buried in mud up to their hoods, but rangers were able to get the occupants out through their windows. Another vehicle was trapped between mudslides. None of the 16 people in the vehicles were hurt, and all were freed by 11:30 p.m. on Sunday and taken to Pahaska Teepee. Two people traveling through the area on a motorcycle were able to leave the area through Fishing Bridge and stayed overnight in an employee dorm; the occupants of a car that came upon the mudslide from the west had to turn around and were put up for the night at the Fishing Bridge warming hut. While there are no indications of any trapped vehicles or missing persons, a search and rescue team from the Park County (Wyoming) Sheriff's Department will search the area today with metal detectors and a search dog as a precaution. The two largest mudslides covering the road are estimated to be 10 feet deep and 90 yards long. The mudslides occurred in an area east of the perimeter of last year's East Fire, but within the winter avalanche zones around Sylvan Pass. Guardrails and posts have been wiped out, a section of the roadbed has been undercut, and several thousand cubic yards of debris cover the road and will have to be removed. Overcast weather and forecast rain are hampering efforts to reopen the road due to safety concerns over the possibility of additional mudslides. Maintenance staff and the park geologist were on site yesterday to analyze the situation and develop a reopening game plan. While the East Entrance road is temporarily closed, travel between the park and Cody is possible over the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (Wyoming Highway 296) to the Beartooth Highway (US 212) and the park's Northeast Entrance. Due to ongoing road, construction, there may be up to 30-minute delays on the road east of Cooke City between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. [Submitted by Al Nash, Public Affairs]
Work on removing debris from the East Entrance road was set to begin
yesterday morning. The road was temporarily closed Sunday night between
the East Entrance Station and Pelican Creek, just east of Fishing
Bridge. Debris clean-up on Monday made it possible to reopen the section
of the road between Pelican Creek and Sylvan Lake late Monday afternoon,
but the road remains temporarily closed between the Sylvan Lake
barricade and the East Entrance station. An estimated 10,000 cubic feet
of debris covers the roadway. There are also some sections of the road
where the guardrails and posts were swept away and where the roadbed has
been washed out from under the asphalt. HK Contractors, Inc. of Idaho
Falls will assist with the debris removal. They already had personnel
and equipment on site for a road reconstruction project that was slated
to escalate in scope on Tuesday. The mud slide area is within an
avalanche zone. During the winter, artillery shells are shot into
threatening snow banks to reduce the threat of avalanche. Despite a
recent, aggressive cleanup of the area, it is possible that some
unexploded ordinance may be contained in the debris covering the road.
Experienced park staff have equipment to scan the debris to ensure it is
clear of hazards before it is removed. Once the debris is removed, park
staff will be in a better position to assess the repair work necessary
to reopen the road. No cost estimate or date for reopening the road is
possible at this early date. Despite the temporary closure of the park's
East Entrance, the other entrances to Yellowstone National Park and all
visitor services remain open. Travel between the park and Cody remains
possible over the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway (WY-296) and the Beartooth
Highway (US-212) through Cooke City and the park's Northeast Entrance.
Visitors may experience up to half-hour delays between 6:00 a.m.and 6:00
p.m.east of Cooke City due to road construction.
The East Entrance road in Yellowstone National Park is slated to
reopen to through travel at 8 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, July
24th. It has been temporarily closed since last Sunday, when heavy rains
caused several mudslides to cover the road. Most of the 30,000 tons of
mud, rock and debris that have covered a section of the road east of
Sylvan Pass have been removed. Crews plan to finish clearing the road of
debris today and install jersey barriers along hazardous areas where
guardrails and portions of the roadbed were washed away. Both lanes are
expected to be open to traffic Saturday morning. However, travelers
should be aware they might encounter flaggers and short delays if
limited sections of the road are restricted to one-way traffic. A
construction project to rebuild the road east of Sylvan Pass was all set
to get underway before the mudslides and temporary closure. The delayed
road project will start on July 25th. During construction, the road
between the East Entrance Station and Sylvan Lake will be open from 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with up to half-hour
construction delays. This section of road will be closed Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.the following morning.
There will be around the clock access through the East Entrance without
closures or delays each weekend from 8 a.m.Thursday until 8 p.m.Sunday
evening. Several visitors were trapped in their cars last Sunday
night until rescued by park rangers. The Cowboy Branch of the Wyoming
Red Cross (Worland, Wyoming), Pahaska Tepee, North Fork ranches, Park
County Search and Rescue (Cody, Wyoming) and several local families were
instrumental in rescue efforts and the care of the victims trapped in
Sunday's slides. Employees of the Federal Highway Administration, HK
Contractors, Inc., Tetra Tech, Inc., and the Montana National Guard
joined park staff in the massive cleanup effort.
Two Delaware North employees came to the Canyon Ranger Station on July 7th to report smelling marijuana at a particular location in their dormitory the previous evening. Ranger Amy Fink, assigned to the park as an FTEP training ranger, took the report and conducted an investigation with her field training ranger, Matt Vandzura. They contacted the suspect in his room the following day. Fink obtained written consent to search the room and found and seized a quarter-pound of marijuana. The resident, a 50-year-old Delaware North employee, was arrested and charged with possession. He appeared before the magistrate and was released on a $5,000 bond pending trial or plea agreement. [Submitted by Brian Smith]
In mid-May, Forest Service and BLM law enforcement officers and
special agents launched an investigation into a large number of
burglaries and thefts from pipe safes in campgrounds in Wyoming,
Montana, Utah and Idaho. The standard MO included use of a welding torch
and cutting instruments. Several campground pipe safes and numerous map
safes were entered in this manner in Yellowstone during the week of July
2nd. Yellowstone agents and rangers subsequently joined in the
investigation, which led to an arrest on July 20th. Investigators,
however, still need information and reports from any parks that have had
pipe safe thefts who haven't previously contacted agents. They are
particularly interested in any recovered physical evidence. The point of
contact is special agent Bruce Applin at 307-344-2121.
The Mammoth Fire Company was notified of smoke on the second floor of
the Mammoth Hotel around 5:30 a.m. on
Wednesday, July 14th. Gardiner VFD was called to provide mutual aid
assistance. Upon arrival, firefighters found hotel guests evacuating,
but neither smoke nor flames were immediately visible. They searched the
hotel and discovered smoke issuing from two adjoining rooms on the
second floor that are used for office space. A trash can used for a
paper shredder was smoldering and was removed from the building.
Pressure blowers were then employed to clear the smoke from the second
floor. Guests were allowed to return to the first and third floors while
the smoke was cleared. After the smoke was cleared, firefighters found a
liquid on the desk in one of the rooms which smelled like diesel fuel.
SA Dan Kirchner and chief Britton Gray are investigating this suspicious
fire and working in consultation with a Park County fire investigator.
Responding to the fire were two engines and eight firefighters from
Mammoth and one engine and five firefighters from Gardiner. The staff at
the hotel did an outstanding job in assisting these
departments.
J.R.T., 63, of Lorain, Ohio, died as a result of a single car
accident in the Old Faithful area on the evening of Monday, July 26th.
J.R.T. and a passenger were on a one-way road between the Upper Old
Faithful General Store and the Old Faithful Visitor Center about 7:50
p.m. The passenger said J.R.T. apparently suffered a seizure that caused
him to push down on the accelerator. The large Ford van crashed into a
small group of trees and rolled over onto the driver's side near an
intersection behind the visitor center. Rangers, an ambulance, a fire
engine and staff from the Old Faithful Clinic all immediately responded
to the scene. Despite their efforts, J.R.T. was pronounced dead at 8:40
p.m. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death. The car's
airbags deployed. The passenger was not injured in the crash, and the
car did not hit any pedestrians or other vehicles.
R.K., 29, of Ophir, Colorado, an internationally known
kayaker, was killed in a rollover accident on Highway 191 on the night
of August 9th. R.K. was alone in a pickup truck heading south on the
highway when the truck left the road about a mile north of the Gallatin
River Bridge, rolled several times down a steep embankment, and came to
rest on its roof, trapping him inside. Rangers, a deputy from the
Gallatin County Sheriff's Department, the West Yellowstone Police
Department and West Yellowstone Fire and EMS all responded. R.K. had
already passed away by the time rescuers arrived. The accident remains
under investigation. This was the second fatal vehicle accident in the
park this year.
On July 29th, special agent Chris Fors was on the Gardiner to Mammoth
Road when he saw three people acting suspiciously near the Gardner
River. They appeared to be intoxicated and under the influence of
methamphetamine and were in the process of removing natural features.
Fors watched the group while awaiting backup (30 minutes away), but was
forced to identify himself when one member of the group suddenly ran up
the riverbank to his location. The man then reached into his pocket,
ignoring commands to the contrary. A second man then ran up, screaming
obscenities and irrational sentences. Both men intermittently
reached into their pockets and advanced on Fors. They were held at
gunpoint until additional rangers and special agents arrived. All
three were placed under arrest on a combination of charges —
interfering with an agency function, disorderly conduct, possession of
illegal drugs, possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia, and removal
of natural features. During the investigation, Fors contacted the police
department in Great Falls, Montana, as all three men said that they
lived in that city. The watch commander told him that the department was
in the process of preparing an arrest warrant for one of the men and
that they suspected that he'd fled their city within the last 24 hours
and headed for Arizona. The second man was also wanted on various
misdemeanors charges. Both appeared in magistrate's court and pled
guilty to the federal charges. Their sentences included two days in
federal custody, after which they were turned over to state authorities.
On August 5th, one of the men — D.A., 23, of Prescott
Valley, Arizona — appeared in court in Great Falls and was
arraigned on a charge of felony forgery "by common scheme" and held on
$40,000 bond. The document so charging him stated that D.A. had used
bleaching chemicals and a printer to turn real $5 bills into fake $50
bills.
In November, 2002, the park's supervisory special agent received a
call from a woman in Minnesota who reported that she'd been sexually
abused by a family member while on a trip to the park in 1996. The case
was assigned to SA Chris Fors. Over the past two years, Fors worked with
FBI agents and Minnesota police and traveled several times to that state
to gather evidence and interview the victim, the suspect and witnesses.
Upon obtaining new evidence that the principal crime occurred just
outside the park and inside Park County, Montana, he brought the county
attorney and sheriff's department into the case. A felony arrest warrant
was issued this past June on state charges of incest and the suspect was
arrested in Minnesota. When he failed to appear in Montana, a warrant
was issued and he was brought to the state for arraignment. The case is
set to go to trial in December. While now a state case, Fors' nearly two
years of work, hundreds of hours of investigation, and thousands of
miles of travel were the primary factors in successfully bringing the
felony charges.
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 28th, M.R., 45, who
had recently moved to Cody, Wyoming, from New Jersey, was killed in a
rollover accident at Lower Baronette Meadows, which is a few miles from
the park's northeast entrance station. M.R. was eastbound in a 2003
Dodge pick-up truck when the vehicle's wheels dropped of the edge of the
road. He apparently overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll
violently. M.R. either wasn't wearing his seat belt or his seat belt
malfunctioned and he was thrown from the truck. He had died by the time
rangers arrived on-scene. Two weeks to the day later — on September
11th — a California man was killed in another single-vehicle
rollover accident. The man (whose name has not yet been released) was
westbound on the East Entrance Road near Mary Bay when his Chevy SUV
went off the road. As with the M.R. accident, it appears that he
overcorrected, causing the SUV to roll. He was thrown from the vehicle
and had died by the time rangers got there. These were the third and
fourth fatal MVA's in the park this year.
A park visitor who approached a bull elk too closely this past weekend was gored by the animal. The incident happened on Sunday morning near the Terrace Grill in Mammoth Hot Springs. A 60-year old man from Texas walked to within ten feet of the elk. He took a flash photograph of the animal, then turned his back on the bull and began to walk away. The startled bull put his head down and charged the visitor, who turned back toward the elk just in time to be struck head on by the antlers. He received some cuts and bruises to his head, hands and chest. A park employee charged by the same bull while leaving a building Sunday evening was bruised and strained some muscles. The elk also damaged six cars in the Mammoth Hot Springs area Sunday, adding to the six he had previously attacked. Total damage to the vehicles caused by this one bull elk has been estimated at $12,000 to $15,000. Because this overly aggressive bull was threatening the health and safety of visitors and employees, park managers decided to tranquilize the animal and remove his antlers. Transporting the animal to a distant location was ruled out because over-stressed animals can choke to death on regurgitated food. Even when successfully relocated, past history has shown elk shortly return to their original location. Elk congregate at Mammoth Hot Springs and many other developed areas in the park at during the fall mating season. The large, muscular bulls bugle and display their massive antlers to intimidate other bulls and impress herds of cow elk. Despite their often-docile appearance, elk are unpredictable, wild animals. They can run much faster than people can. Both cows and bulls can be very excitable and dangerous at this time of year. Sharpened tines on the large antlers of mature bulls are very effective weapons when wielded by animals weighing an average of 700 pounds. They may mock fight with trees or vehicles, spar with other rivals, or chase unsuspecting visitors who stray too closely.
Canyon Subdistrict rangers were called to a concession employee dorm at 1 a.m. on September 7th to deal with a man who was attempting to start fights with various people. When rangers Ryan Adrian and Sara Cavallaro arrived at the dorm, they came upon a man — subsequently identified as J.H. — who was visibly drunk and arguing with concession managers. They handcuffed him and continued their investigation. A second man jumped into the scene from a second floor balcony and challenged the rangers to arrest him. As the incident evolved, J.H. broke free, charged Adrian and attempted to head-butt him. Adrian deflected the assault, but was still struck and knocked backward several steps. While the rangers were struggling with J.H. and attempting to move him to their patrol vehicle, the second man began shouting and throwing sticks to instigate other employees in the dorm to help obstruct the arrest. A crowd of about 30 people gathered and surrounded the rangers, who put out a radio call for help. Five of the primary instigators yelled obscenities and threats and challenged the rangers from a distance of less than two feet, continually refusing orders to back away. In order to motivate members of the crowd to disperse, the ranger drew their tasers, removed the air cartridges, switched the safeties off, and used them to make spark displays — all the while still fighting to control J.H.. The spark display proved sufficient to back up the crowd about 15 feet. Six additional rangers from the Canyon and Lake areas soon arrived on scene; with this show of force, it proved possible to get the still combative J.H. into a patrol car. The rangers also moved into what remained of the crowd, seeking the primary troublemakers. Three of them were ultimately arrested, as their interference had seriously threatened the safety of Adrian and Cavallaro. On September 8th, J.H. appeared before the federal magistrate and pled guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault against a ranger, public intoxication, and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail and an additional 31 days of suspended time, banned from the park for two years, placed on two years probation, ordered to pay a $400 fine, and remanded to the custody of a US Marshal. Three other defendants pled guilty to various charges.[Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
On the morning of Sunday, September 19th, the driver of a fuel truck
headed east from Mammoth Hot Springs to make deliveries in the park ran
off the edge of the road, causing the truck's tank trailer to overturn
on its side. Rangers, structural firefighters and hazmat specialists
responded. A very small amount of leaking fuel was immediately
contained. The 8,000-gallon capacity trailer was carrying 6,800 gallons
of diesel. The tanker truck was unhitched from the overturned trailer.
The truck, operated by Story Distributing of Bozeman, was driven out of
the park, emptied and returned to the scene to accept fuel pumped from
the overturned trailer. Traffic on the road between Mammoth Hot Springs
and Tower Junction was delayed for periods of up to an hour due to the
accident. The impact on travelers lessened Sunday evening with a drop in
traffic due to nightfall, the end of the weekend and the temporary
closure of the Beartooth Highway due to snow around 8:15 p.m.
Sunday evening.
A.F., 51, of Punta Gorda, Florida, was reported missing late on the afternoon of Thursday, September 30th. His wife notified the park that he'd failed to return from a planned hour-long hike from the East Divide Picnic Area, between Old Faithful and West Thumb junction. A search for A.F. began late Thursday afternoon and employed rangers in patrol cars, a dog team, and two tracking teams. The search continued into the night, and was enlarged by the addition of four dog teams and three tracking teams at first light on Friday. A.F. was found walking along the road west of the picnic area shortly after 10 a.m. that morning. A.F. told rescuers that he had intended to take a short walk into the woods, trailed an elk for a while, and soon realized he was lost. As it began to get dark, he fell back on his Boy Scout training and decided to stay put for the night. A.F. built a big "X" in the bottom of a creek bed and then threw together a lean-to where he spent a cold night (temperatures were in the low- to mid-20s). A.F. said he yelled and whistled loudly to attract attention and said he thought he heard sirens, a car horn and even a dog during the night, but didn't think the sounds were coming from the direction of the picnic area. A total of 28 employees and volunteers from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were involved in the search effort. [Submitted by Public Affairs]
A park visitor and a concession employee were injured in separate confrontations with animals during the past two weeks. The first incident occurred on the morning of September 26th. A 41-year-old visitor was backpacking along the Snake River trail south of Heart Lake when heard a "whoof" and looked up to see three bears about 30 yards above the trail. As the sow bluff charged, the man slowly and calmly began to leave. The bear hit him from behind, knocking him down, then ran off. As he started to crawl away, the man heard the bear huffing and curled up into the fetal position with his back to the sow. The bear then batted him twice on the head and once in the shoulder with her paws and bit into the top of his pack several times before running off. He then hiked out to the trailhead. The man received two small puncture wounds on his head and one on his right shoulder but did not seek medical treatment. Wildlife managers believe the backpacker avoided serious injury by acting passively and non-threateningly during the encounter, by going into the fetal position, and by keeping his pack on his back. The second incident took place on the night of October 6th. A 24-year-old Michigan man who works for the park concessioner was walking back to his dorm at Old Faithful around 11:20 p.m. when he was surprised from behind by a bison. The bison gored him in the rear and lifted him into the air, landing him face down. He was treated for a two-and-a-half inch puncture wound and received stitches in his face at the Old Faithful Clinic.[Submitted by Office of Public Affairs]
A 39-year old park visitor from Georgia was burned last Thursday afternoon after breaking through the crust in a thermal area at Old Faithful. The man and his friend were touring the Firehole Lake area in the Lower Geyser Basin when they decided to get off the boardwalk at Artesia Geyser. The man broke through the crust, submerging both his legs up to the knees in hot water and suffering second degree burns to approximately 25 percent of his body. His friend pulled him from the hot water and drove him to the Old Faithful Inn to seek medical attention. Park EMS staff stabilized the man's injuries and transported him by ambulance to the Old Faithful Clinic for additional care. He was subsequently taken by life flight helicopter to Eastern Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was the first person to receive a thermal burn during the 2004
summer season. Park visitors are reminded that for their own
safety it is important to stay on boardwalks and designated trails while
viewing all thermal features in the park. Scalding water underlies
thin, breakable crusts; many geyser eruptions are unpredictable, and
thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures.
Boardwalks and trails help protect park visitors and prevent damage to
delicate formations.
On November 22, 2003, Yellowstone rangers and special agents arrested E.A.J., 31, of Livingston, Montana, following a citizen report of an antelope poaching in progress in the Stevens Creek area of the park. Ranger Doug Berringer and a park special agent were first to arrive in the area and stopped E.A.J. as he was fleeing the area. After the stop, a short standoff ensued when E.A.J. refused to follow their commands. E.A.J. was repeatedly ordered at gunpoint to keep his hands in view and to get down on the ground, but instead opted to reach repeatedly and aggressively for his waistband area (he later said that he had wanted the rangers to shoot him). E.A.J. was ultimately taken into custody. A dead antelope and a rifle were discovered in the front seat of the vehicle he was driving. E.A.J. was initially booked into the Mammoth Hot Springs jail for violating the Lacey Act (poaching), resisting and impeding federal officers, using a weapon in a national park, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, and operating a vehicle off of designated park roadways. A follow-up investigation revealed that E.A.J. was a long-term drug user. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in January of 2004 on a felony charge of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm (18 USC 922(g)). While out on cash bond on his Yellowstone charges, E.A.J. was twice arrested by local Montana authorities, first for DUI and then for domestic violence. E.A.J. was then arrested by U.S. marshals for violation of the terms of his release and was subsequently detained pending adjudication of his case The U.S. Attorney's Office opted to drop all but the firearms charge in exchange for a guilty plea to same. On September 3rd, E.A.J. was sentenced to serve 50 months in federal prison. To see the original incident report, click on "More Information" below.[Submitted by Chris Fors, Special Agent] More Information...
Over the three-day period from February 18th to the 20th, NPS and Forest Service rangers on routine border patrol arrested 17 people for illegally entering Yellowstone National Park's backcountry on snowmobiles. During these patrols, dozens of other snowmobilers were stopped at Yellowstone's boundary and prevented from illegally entering the park. The snowmobilers entered Yellowstone off-road in a remote section of the park along the western boundary, some entering past florescent orange boundary markers and placards clearly identifying the park boundary. One of the offenders entered the park illegally on a snowmobile again on February 19th after being cited the previous day for the same offense. All offenders were issued citations that require mandatory appearances in front of the federal magistrate. In recent years, park rangers have noticed an increase in illegal snowmobile use along the park's western boundary. In an effort to curtail this illegal and damaging activity, they have increased boundary patrols in the park's backcountry. Winter visitors to the park are reminded that the use of oversnow vehicles off designated routes is prohibited. Recreational oversnow vehicle travel in Yellowstone National Park is allowed only by guided snowmobile tours or by commercial snowcoaches between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. [Submitted by Public Affairs]
The ground and air search for missing 13-year-old Boy Scout L.S.
continued yesterday. L.S. fell into the Yellowstone River
last Friday evening around 6:30 p.m.. About 20 people, including park
staff and volunteers, were involved in yesterday's search. L.S.
was with his Boy Scout troop on a two-day backpacking trip into the
park. The troop was staying overnight at a backcountry campsite slightly
downstream from Knowles Falls, a popular hiking area between Blacktail
Trailhead and Gardiner, Montana, in the north section of the park.
L.S. and other troop members were pushing logs into the river when
one of the logs clipped him, sweeping him off his feet into the river.
He was last seen floating downstream in the river with his head above
water level. The river below the point last seen curved out of sight and
into a rapid. Since Saturday, park staff and volunteers have conducted
an extensive air and ground search from the point where L.S.
entered the river to Corwin Springs, Montana. Searchers did locate the
shoes he was wearing, but nothing has been found since. The park has
moved from an active search and rescue operation to a body recovery
effort. Searchers will continue with air and ground operations
today and will deploy a team of kayakers to help probe the river. They
will continue to focus on the 14-mile corridor searched over the past
four days. An observation point has been established on the bridge
crossing the Yellowstone River in Gardiner, Montana, which will be
manned by volunteers on a 24-hour basis. Park County and Gallatin
County, Montana, officials have offered equipment and resources as
needed. Outfitters and fishing guides in the area have been notified of
the situation. Boaters and fishermen on the Yellowstone River are
encouraged to contact park headquarters at 307-344-7381 if they have any
information that could be helpful to the search.
A search is currently underway for a missing Xanterra Parks and
Resorts employee whose vehicle was found in the Yellowstone River on
Wednesday, June 29th. A park visitor spotted the vehicle while hiking
along the river and reported it to park staff. A ground and air search
was immediately conducted in the surrounding area, but no one was found.
C.M.K., 19, of Belgrade, Montana, was last seen around 12:30
a.m. Wednesday when she drove away from the Roosevelt employee housing
area in her green Ford Explorer. Co-workers reported that she was alone
in the vehicle when she left. Her direction of travel was unknown.
Yesterday morning, around 50 park and concessioner staff began
operations to remove the vehicle. Kayakers utilized technical rope
systems to stabilize the vehicle. The park helicopter provided aerial
reconnaissance. Wreckers were then utilized to pull the vehicle to the
riverbank, where it was found unoccupied. The vehicle, a green Ford
Explorer, was badly damaged, with broken windows and deployed airbags. A
preliminary investigation indicates that the Explorer hit an embankment
on the right side of the road, crossed to the left side and went over an
embankment, dropping more than 100 feet into the river. The vehicle was
swept downstream a short distance before coming to rest in shallow water
approximately 50 feet from shore. An investigation continues into the
incident. Individuals with information leading up to the
disappearance of C.M.K. are requested to contact the park at
307-344-2121.
The following is an update on the three searches in progress in the park, as of this past Tuesday morning:
The park has scaled back all three searches considerably, with a
total of about ten park personnel now involved on a daily basis.
Suspension of all three operations is being considered. The rivers are
dropping significantly, water temperatures are rising, and water clarity
is increasing. Hundreds of visitors are engaged in river recreation on a
daily basis, increasing the chances that one or more of the
three missing people will be spotted. Members of the S. family
continue to staff an observation point on the bridge over the
Yellowstone River in Gardner around the clock.
Two park visitors suffered thermal burns in separate incidents this past Friday and Saturday. A 50-year old visitor from Spain was burned on Friday, August 12th, after stepping through a thin crust in a thermal area while walking around Potts Basin near West Thumb. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. The woman and her family were touring the park when they stopped at Potts Basin. The entire family was off-trail in a closed area, walking around, when the woman stepped through a thin crust into hot water. She received second degree burns to her left foot and ankle. Family members hiked out of the area and drove to the registration desk at Grant Village to report the incident and seek medical attention. Park EMS staff immediately responded, stabilized the victim's injuries, and transported her by ambulance to St. John's Hospital in Jackson, Wyoming. On Saturday afternoon, a 49-year old park visitor from New Hampshire was burned after stepping into a hot muddy area while walking off-trail near Lone Star Geyser in the Old Faithful area. The man and his family were touring the park when they stopped at Lone Star Geyser. The entire family was off-trail, walking around the area, when the man stepped into some hot mud. He received second degree burns to the top of his left foot up and around his left ankle and lower calf. Family members hiked out of the area and drove to the Old Faithful Ranger Station to report the incident and seek medical attention. Park EMS staff again responded, treated him, and took him to the same hospital. These were the second and third visitors to receive thermal burns during the 2005 summer season. The park has again issued reminders to visitors that, for their own safety, it is important to stay on boardwalks and designated trails while viewing all thermal features in the park. Scalding water underlies thin, breakable crusts; many geyser eruptions are unpredictable; and thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures. Boardwalks and trails help protect park visitors and prevent damage to delicate formations. [Cheryl Matthews, Public Affairs Officer]
On August 11th, rangers and special agents responded to a mutual aid request from Idaho police officers engaged in the high speed pursuit of a stolen car that was heading towards Yellowstone on Highway 20. Shortly after rangers attempted to spike the fleeing vehicle, it crashed and the two occupants fled into the woods west of the park. Rangers cleared the vehicle and called out the park's special response team (SRT) and additional tracker-certified rangers. Ten Idaho and Montana agencies also responded, including the US Forest Service, US Marshals Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Idaho State Police, Ashton Police Department, West Yellowstone Police Department, and the Madison and Gallatin County Sheriff's Offices. Two Montana National Guard helicopters also were dispatched to assist. Arriving SRT operators and trackers, including a park K-9 unit, quickly located a duffle bag with suspected marijuana and a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol that one of the suspects had apparently dropped. The team, augmented by an Ashton PD officer, tracked the suspect for more than three miles over a five-hour period. He was found by the Yellowstone search dog hiding near a golf course in a heavy thicket adjacent to a creek and was arrested at gunpoint without incident. His partner was arrested early the next morning after a deputy observed an opened door at a local cabin and found him asleep in a bed. [Submitted by SA Bruce M. Applin, SRT Team Leader]
Xanterra staff called park dispatch at 12:26 a.m. last Friday morning to report a fire that had broken out at the Old Faithful Inn. The fire ignited on the front porch over the inn's main entrance. All occupants were evacuated from the building. A total of 16 fire extinguishers were utilized by Xanterra staff to keep the fire at bay until NPS firefighters arrived on scene. Five firefighters responded in two engines and all flames were extinguished by 12:30 a.m. Firefighters remained on-site for an additional hour, pulling floorboards and clearing debris to ensure nothing was left smoldering. A preliminary inspection of the scene by Yellowstone's fire chief indicated that an estimated one-third of the historic porch railing was destroyed by the fire in addition to a pile of lumber that was being used for the inn's renovation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. [Submitted by Public Affairs]
A park visitor contacted a ranger around noon on September 16th to report a possible incident at the Gardner River High Bridge, located on the Mammoth-to-Tower Junction road approximately one mile from Mammoth Hot Springs. A language barrier prevented the ranger from fully understanding the nature of the report, other than that some sort of incident had occurred or was occurring there. The ranger immediately checked out the report. At the bridge, he contacted a woman who reported that her husband and teenage son had gone to take a picture two-and-a-half hours earlier and had not returned. She had hiked a short distance looking for them, but without luck. The ranger began searching the area and subsequently discovered two bodies below the bridge near the river embankment, a 200-foot drop from the top of the bridge. Efforts to find the person who originally reported the incident so that an interview can be conducted through an interpreter have so far been fruitless, and nobody else has been found who might have seen what happened. The bodies have been retrieved and positive identification has been made. Forensic autopsies are being completed to determine the official cause of death. Names of the victims are being withheld pending further notification of family members. The investigation is continuing. [Public Affairs]
On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14th, two men hiking the North Shore Trail along Shoshone Lake in the southern portion of the park were attacked several times by a grizzly. P.M., 52 of Bismark, North Dakota, and G.H., 51 of Northfield, Minnesota, were walking along an established trail toward a backcountry campsite when they noticed fresh bear scat. They decided to continue on to their campsite, but began making noise in an attempt to prevent a possible bear encounter. As they came over a knoll, approximately a quarter mile from where they saw the scat, they were charged by a grizzly at full stride. G.H., who was walking in front of P.M., was able to side-step the grizzly. P.M. stepped behind some trees and dropped to the ground. The bear ran by P.M., but then returned and swatted at him. The bear continued on to G.H., who had dropped to the ground and was on his stomach, and jumped on his back and swatted at him. The bear then retreated about 50 feet from the men, where they could hear it snorting. From his position on the ground, P.M. began removing the wrist straps from his hiking poles in order to retrieve his bear spray from his waist belt. The bear was apparently drawn back to the site by the noise. This time the bear attacked the hiker's leg. P.M. managed to retrieve the pepper spray from his waist belt and doused the bear's face, causing the bear to flea the area. The men hiked the four miles back to their vehicle at the Delacy Creek trailhead and drove to the Old Faithful Clinic for treatment. Remarkably, neither man was seriously injured. P.M. sustained a puncture wound to his lower left leg and was treated and released; G.H. was not injured, as he was protected by his backpack during the attack. The Delacy Creek, North Shore and Howard Eaton Trails are closed to hiking. Backcountry campsites along the north shore to Shoshone Lake are open to boat access only. [Public Affairs]
A 27-year-old Phoenix, Arizona, man was recently sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute approximately one ounce of methamphetamine inside Yellowstone National Park. He was also fined $250 and placed on four years' supervised release. Last February, he was stopped inside the park by a ranger and a special agent after several traffic violations were observed. He was arrested at the time and was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal Service throughout the case. A co-defendant in the case was sentenced to 24 months in prison as well. This case involved over 4,800 miles of repeated travel to and from district court and over 100 hours of case work for the special agent and ranger assigned to the case. (Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
At approximately 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5th, the driver of a sedan lost control of her vehicle and hit a tour bus near the Blacktail Plateau Drive in Yellowstone National Park. The sedan was traveling east toward Tower Junction when the road conditions changed from dry to icy, causing her to brake and lose control of her vehicle. The driver of the on-coming bus veered to the right to avoid a head-on collision, but the sedan hit the front of the bus on the driver's side, crushing the front of the car and causing the airbags to deploy. The bus came to a stop on an embankment near a group of trees, which prevented the bus from rolling. Approximately 20 NPS personnel responded, including three ambulances, one fire engine and two wreckers. The trees that prevented the bus from rolling blocked the door of the bus, and the 46 passengers and driver had to be evacuated through the driver's window. All passengers and the driver of the bus escaped injury and were transported by a Xanterra Parks & Resorts bus to Mammoth, where they had lodging reservations. The three passengers of the sedan were taken in two ambulances to the Mammoth Clinic where they were treated and released, having sustained bruises and contusions. The tour bus, owned by Arrow Stage Lines of Nebraska, was transporting a tour group from Group Voyagers, Inc., of Littleton, Colorado. The tour began in Littleton on Sunday, October 2nd, and entered the park on October 5th. The passengers of the sedan were from the United Kingdom. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone]
A six-year old boy from Wisconsin was burned after he tripped and fell into a hot spring while walking off-trail in the Firehole Lake Drive area on the afternoon of October 17th. The boy and his father were walking off-trail when the boy stumbled and fell into the hot spring. His father was able to pull him out of the hot spring immediately. The boy received second degree burns to both of his feet and ankles and to his right wrist. The boy's father brought him to the Old Faithful Clinic for initial treatment. He was then taken by National Park Service ground transport to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for additional care. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone NP]
Just before 1 a.m. on October 20th, park dispatch received a report of a fight involving guns in the street outside the Blue Goose Saloon in Gardiner, Montana. The Blue Goose Saloon is located approximately five feet outside of the park's boundary. The incident began when four people got into an argument over a pool game at the Blue Goose. When the foursome, accompanied by several other bar patrons, walked out the front door of the bar, they entered Yellowstone National Park. A fight involving several people ensued and escalated when one of them struck another in the head with a beer bottle. That person responded by pulling a knife, and his assailant further escalated by pulling a handgun. Three people sustained minor injuries, but nobody was injured by either gun or knife. The one on-duty ranger and a Park County SO sergeant responded. The two primary suspects were taken into custody minutes later following a felony car stop inside the park. Charges included criminal endangerment, DUI, assault, possession of a loaded firearm and disorderly conduct. Following an investigation, two other people involved in the fight were also charged. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office, as the principal events and the arrests occurred inside the park. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
Grant Subdistrict rangers were dispatched to a housing area to deal with an intoxicated and belligerent man just before midnight on July 14th. The first ranger on scene encountered an extremely intoxicated man who was in the process of threatening and menacing other people. The closest backup units were 20 minutes away; during that time, the man became extremely agitated and non-compliant. His threatening actions forced the ranger to use his Tasar on the man. When the two backup rangers arrived, they were able to help the original ranger make a safe arrest. On October 5th, the man was sentenced in magistrate's court in Yellowstone on one count of threatening/resisting a federal officer and one count each of disorderly conduct and being under the influence of alcohol. The magistrate sentenced him to serve 60 days in federal prison, fined him $1,045, and ordered that he serve a year's supervised probation. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
Since early 2005, Yellowstone rangers and special agents have been working in conjunction with the US Attorney's Office, the local area drug task force, the DEA, and US Post Office postal inspectors on an enhanced drug interdiction program focusing on illegal drug users, the quality of life impacts to the park, and overall illegal drug demand reduction. This upgraded 2005 NPS effort came at the direction of the US Attorney's Office. To date, 197 misdemeanor or felony drug cases have been filed in US Magistrate's Court in Yellowstone or in US District Courts in Cheyenne or Casper, Wyoming. This is an approximate 75% increase over the averages for the years 2002 through 2004. The seized drugs include 4.5 grams of cocaine and 16.5 grams of methamphetamine. The enforcement posture has been directed toward impacting and changing the behavior of illegal drug consumers. Key components of the program are physical arrest for marijuana possession over 9 grams, arrest for possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar drugs, and jail sentences for second or subsequent drug offenses. Other key parts of the program include the filing of Title 21 USC 844(a) Class A misdemeanor charges and formal federal probation for most drug possession cases, felony indictment and prosecution of drug possession with intent to sell, and investigation and charging of persons violating 18 USC 922(g) (possession of prohibited firearms) are also key parts of the program. The use of NPS and US Forest Service drug canine units in routine enforcement, planned interdiction patrols, and community, 'problem oriented' policing efforts with park concessionaires have augmented what has been an increasingly effective effort by field rangers on daily patrol and special agents providing support and follow-up investigation on drug cases. (Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge)
A Madison Subdistrict ranger on patrol on the West Entrance Road just after 7 p.m. last July 28th was passed by a vehicle that was doing 82 mph in a 45 mph zone. The ranger was able to eventually catch up with and stop him. The driver was arrested for DUI and driving while suspended, but the US Attorney's Office filed a total of eight charges against him due to the heavy traffic at the time and the serious danger caused to the public. Other charges included reckless endangerment, driving without insurance and providing alcohol to a minor. On October 14th, the defendant was sentenced by the federal magistrate at Yellowstone to 107 days in the custody of the US Bureau of Prisons, fined a total of $1,085 and placed on three years' supervised probation. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
Mammoth rangers arrested an intoxicated driver on December 6th after receiving a report regarding same from the North Entrance Station. Two days later, the defendant entered into a plea agreement with the US Attorney's Office and plead guilty to DUI and driving while suspended. The man had ten prior DUI convictions, two active arrest warrants out against him for DUI from Montana, and another active DUI warrant from New Mexico. He was sentenced to six months (180 days) in federal prison and remanded to the custody of the US Marshal. He was also fined $2,000, placed on five years federal probation, and will be turned over to respective state authorities at the end of his federal jail sentence. This was the 257th DUI prosecution in Yellowstone over the past four years. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
The headless carcass of a bull elk was discovered late last week just yards away from a busy park highway. Rangers discovered the dead animal on Friday, December 30th, near US Highway 191 mile marker 29. The carcass was found about 70 yards off the highway. A preliminary investigation by rangers and wildlife experts suggests the elk had been shot and killed the day before it was discovered. Extensive physical evidence was found at the scene. The park is asking the public to call if they have any information on this crime. A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person or persons responsible for killing the bull elk. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call special agent Bruce Applin at 307-244-2121. Anonymous tips may be left on Yellowstone's "We Tip" crime hotline at 307-344-2132. [Public Affairs]
The park's supervisory special agent was called out at 3 a.m. last July 1st to assist a ranger at Mammoth with an assault investigation. They found the alleged assailant at a concession dormitory; his car was parked nearby. Investigation revealed evidence that he'd been driving under the influence and had in his possession both illegal drugs and minerals taken from the park. During the contact, the man became increasingly agitated and uncooperative and suddenly lunged twice at the agent, knocking a flashlight and clipboard out of his hands. The man then retreated and a brief standoff ensued. When the ranger and agent displayed OC spray and a Taser, the man submitted to their commands and was taken into custody. After an initial appearance before a federal magistrate, he was released. About a week later, he was arrested by rangers and US marshals for violations of the terms of his release and suspicion that he was driving a misappropriated vehicle. He'd also had several law enforcement contacts during this period with Forest Service officers and Park County deputies. After about 45 days n custody, he was again released, this time on a cash bond and under the direct supervision of Pretrial Services. The man and his defense council later entered into a plea agreement with the AUSA. On November 2nd, he pled guilty to misdemeanor assault on an officer (18 USC 111), possession of marijuana (21 USC 844a), and possession of mineral features (36 CFR 2.1(a)). He was sentenced to 180 days' federal custody (but given credit for prior time served), fined $2,050, banned from Yellowstone for a year, and ordered to pay $500 in restitution. In late January, he surrendered to deputy US marshals in the Midwest and began to serve the balance of his jail sentence. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
A woman from Idaho was killed and her husband injured in a snowmobile accident on the morning of Sunday, February 26th. The Mountain Home, Idaho, couple was on a guided group snowmobile trip. They were riding together on a snowmobile when the accident occurred on the road between Norris and Canyon Village. They were eastbound when the woman lost control of the snowmobile on the road near Ice Lake and the machine flipped over head-to-tail. The man was thrown clear; his wife was trapped between the snowmobile and some trees. The accident was reported about 10:45 a.m. The woman was unresponsive when rangers arrived and was declared dead at the scene. Her injured husband was flown by Air Idaho Rescue helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for treatment. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. This is the first fatal accident in the park this year. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Specialist]
A visitor reported missing on the night of Wednesday, May 31st, was found safe and unhurt the following morning. The 20-year-old man from Washington state was visiting the park with family members. He walked away from his party around 9 p.m. at a trailhead near Fishing Bridge. He was last seen about 9:30 p.m. in the Fishing Bridge RV park. The man was barefoot, was wearing shorts and a lightweight sweater, and had a blanket. Because of heavy bear activity in the area and temperatures forecast to drop below freezing, a search was started immediately. The missing man reappeared early the next morning at the trailhead near Fishing Bridge. He told rangers that, after leaving the Fishing Bridge RV Park, he walked down the Howard Eaton trail along the east bank of the Yellowstone River and spent the night among the bison grazing in the area. He was in good physical condition. A total of thirteen people and two dog teams were involved in the overnight search. [Public Affairs Office]
A six-year-old boy from Utah was burned on the evening of Saturday, June 10th, after falling into water from a recently erupted geyser in Yellowstone National Park. The boy, his parents, and two older siblings had entered the park earlier in the day, pitched camp at Madison Campground, then traveled to the Old Faithful area. The family had just watched an eruption of Grand Geyser around 6:00 p.m. The boy was playing and walking along on the wet boardwalk when he slipped and fell into hot water runoff from nearby West Triplet Geyser, which had also recently erupted. He was pulled from the water after suffering burns to his arms and legs. A park ranger was nearby and immediately summoned Old Faithful rangers, who responded to the scene with an ambulance and paramedic. The boy was taken to the Old Faithful Clinic, where his condition was stabilized. He was then transported by ambulance to the West Yellowstone, Montana, airport and flown by air ambulance to the burn center at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. His current condition is unavailable. The boy is the first person to receive severe thermal burns this summer in the park. [Public Affairs]
An investigation into a hit-and-run accident in the park on Wednesday led to the apprehension of two men wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Iowa. Rangers found an unoccupied vehicle in the Canyon Lodge cabin complex around 10:30 p.m. which matched the description of one involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Canyon area earlier in the evening. The operator, J.S., 23, returned to the vehicle and was contacted by the investigating rangers. During questioning, rangers learned that J.S. and a companion were staying in a nearby cabin. While rangers were contacting the second man, criminal checks revealed that J.S. had an active felony arrest warrant against him in connection with a May 8th bank robbery in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Both men then fled into the woods. J.S. was apprehended after a short pursuit and a protracted struggle which ended when a ranger used a taser to bring him under control. J.S.'s companion, 32-year-old Aaron Rafferty, eluded immediate capture. J.S. was arrested and transported to the jail in Mammoth Hot Springs. Additional law enforcement staff were dispatched to Canyon to assist in the manhunt for Rafferty. Road blocks were set up throughout the park, and entrance stations were opened to advise visitors that a manhunt was underway. Rafferty was captured around 6 a.m. Thursday morning when a security guard employed by Xanterra Parks and Resorts reported seeing him sleeping in a vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident. Nearly 40 law enforcement rangers, officers and special agents from Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Park County Sheriff's Office were involved in the manhunt. Rangers and special agents are working jointly with the FBI in Iowa and with Oskaloosa City police in the investigation. Both men will appear before a federal magistrate in Yellowstone on charges that include assault on a federal officer, eluding and evading, and DUI. Efforts are also underway to extradite the men back to Iowa, where they will face both state and federal charges for armed bank robbery. [Public Affairs]
Rangers trapped and removed a black bear late Saturday afternoon because its aggressive behavior posed a continuing threat to the safety of park visitors and employees. The bear charged a number of visitors while raiding campsites in Canyon campground on Saturday morning. The adult male bear broke into one vehicle and attempted to break in to several others. At one point, it was observed walking on top of several vehicles in an attempt to gain access to them. The bear was sprayed several times with pepper spray and was hazed repeatedly by park staff in an attempt to get him to move away from people in the campground. Although these efforts failed, the bear eventually left on its own and was seen grazing on clover in a meadow near Canyon Lodge for several hours. Based on the animal's aggressive behavior, lack of fear of people, and its success at getting human food, the decision was made to capture and remove the bear. As capture operations were being set-up Saturday afternoon, the bear returned to the campground and began rummaging through campsites and acquiring human food from picnic tables, tents, coolers and fire grates. As he entered C Loop, the bear was attracted by an elk hind quarter used as bait and captured in a steel culvert-type trap. The bear was transported to park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs where, based on his aggressive and threatening behavior, the decision was made to euthanize the animal. His carcass was taken to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lab in Bozeman, Montana for a necropsy. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone NP]
An investigation into a hit-and-run accident in the park on Wednesday led to the apprehension of two men wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Iowa. Rangers found an unoccupied vehicle in the Canyon Lodge cabin complex around 10:30 p.m. which matched the description of one involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Canyon area earlier in the evening. The operator, J.S., 23, returned to the vehicle and was contacted by the investigating rangers. During questioning, rangers learned that J.S. and a companion were staying in a nearby cabin. While rangers were contacting the second man, criminal checks revealed that J.S. had an active felony arrest warrant against him in connection with a May 8th bank robbery in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Both men then fled into the woods. J.S. was apprehended after a short pursuit and a protracted struggle which ended when a ranger used a taser to bring him under control. J.S.'s companion, 32-year-old Aaron Rafferty, eluded immediate capture. J.S. was arrested and transported to the jail in Mammoth Hot Springs. Additional law enforcement staff were dispatched to Canyon to assist in the manhunt for Rafferty. Road blocks were set up throughout the park, and entrance stations were opened to advise visitors that a manhunt was underway. Rafferty was captured around 6 a.m. Thursday morning when a security guard employed by Xanterra Parks and Resorts reported seeing him sleeping in a vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident. Nearly 40 law enforcement rangers, officers and special agents from Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Park County Sheriff's Office were involved in the manhunt. Rangers and special agents are working jointly with the FBI in Iowa and with Oskaloosa City police in the investigation. Both men will appear before a federal magistrate in Yellowstone on charges that include assault on a federal officer, eluding and evading, and DUI. Efforts are also underway to extradite the men back to Iowa, where they will face both state and federal charges for armed bank robbery. Contact Information
On Wednesday, June 14th, rangers arrested two men who were wanted for a bank robbery in Oskaloosa, Iowa (for the original report, click on "More Information" below). On June 16th, the two men appeared before a federal magistrate in the park for a removal hearing on federal bank robbery charges that had been filed in Iowa. They were remanded to the custody of the US Marshal's Service and taken to the appropriate Iowa judicial district to face these charges. The charges stemming from their time in the park — assault on an officer, DUI, hit and run, and property damage — will be transferred by the US Attorney's Office in Yellowstone to a district court in Iowa. NPS special agents, FBI agents in Des Moines, and Oskaloosa PD investigators determined that the two men, wearing ski masks and armed with sawed-off shotguns, robbed the Oskaloosa bank of $183,000 in cash on May 10th, then fled west and spent time in at least five NPS areas (including about a week at Grand Canyon) and in Las Vegas before being caught in Yellowstone. Yellowstone NP rangers and agents recovered a substantial amount of the money taken in the robbery, but it appears that the two men spent a lot of it. The investigation continues. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region]
Heavy rain and hail from a powerful thunderstorm which crossed the northern section of the park early Tuesday afternoon caused four small mud slides across the road linking Gardiner, Montana and Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. The mud slides were located between the southern section of the Gardiner River Canyon and the Montana/Wyoming state line at the 45th parallel. Park staff closed the road at the North Entrance and at the Mammoth Hot Springs campground at 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon. Crews used heavy equipment to clear away the debris and the road reopened to traffic at 5:45 p.m. This was the second incident that inconvenienced park visitors and employees on Tuesday. Shortly after noon, a small wildland fire north of the park in the Gallatin National Forest took out the transmission line that provides electrical service to Gardiner and all of Yellowstone National Park. Back-up generators were brought on line in Yellowstone to provide power. Forest Service and National Park Service firefighters quickly brought the small fire under control, allowing NorthWestern Energy crews to repair the damage and restore power by 1:30 p.m. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
All but a handful of the commercial vehicles inspected in the park during a multi-agency operation last week were found to have some type of safety defect. Rangers, special agents and volunteers set up a commercial vehicle inspection checkpoint on U.S. Highway 191 at milepost 22 near the Fawn Pass Trailhead on June 26th and 27th. They conducted unannounced, full-level inspections with the assistance of the Motor Carrier Services Division of the Montana Department of Transportation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol's Commercial Carrier Division, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Of the 176 commercial trucks and buses inspected, 160 were discovered to have some kind of safety violation. Over 100 operators were ticketed. There were 77 "out-of-service" infractions which required either a vehicle or driver to be taken off the road due to serious violations. Among the worst of these were cracked trailer frames, unsecured loads, or trailers without brakes. In addition, four undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is the eighth year of the interagency inspection program. Last year's inspection at Old Faithful focused on buses. Tickets were issued to 76 of the 144 commercial vehicles and drivers inspected in 2005. [Public Affairs]
Just before midnight on July 31st, concession security officers contacted Lake District rangers and asked them for help in dealing with an intoxicated minor who was present at a party. Two rangers found and contacted the 18-year-old man, who was exceedingly drunk and disorderly. The man resisted arrest and became violent, striking a ranger once and attempting twice more, then getting his arm around the ranger's neck. He also attempted to remove the second ranger's sidearm from its holster. During this struggle, the rangers were surrounded by a hostile crowd, including several people who the security officers had to physically restrain to keep them from joining the struggle. The rangers were eventually able to free themselves from the man's grasp and twice stunned him with a Taser, making it possible from them to handcuff him and get him into a patrol vehicle. Meanwhile, several other members of the group continued their efforts to interfere with the arrest. On the following day, special agents filed several charges against the man, including assaulting/resisting a federal officer (18 USC 11 (a)). Rangers also identified the people who were in the crowd during the arrest. Two of them were charged with criminal interference and have court appearances pending. On August 11th, the first man entered a guilty plea to all the charges filed against him. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing on September 6th. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
Park rangers and special agents participated in a joint interdiction and saturation patrol operation on Highway 191 on the west side of the park on May 4th and 5th along with county, state and federal officers. More than 30 arrests were made for violations that included DUI, drug possession, driving under suspension, immigration violations and outstanding warrants. On May 5th, the registered owner of a vehicle that had been impounded in one of the immigration cases visited the Gallatin Ranger Office in an attempt to recover it. Following routine checks on him, he was arrested by rangers for driving while his license was suspended. A park special agent who was reviewing the case noted discrepancies in the man's stated identity and the booking photos. Investigation revealed that he was a convicted felon who had been deported several times for being an illegal alien, that he'd returned to the United States and stolen the identity of a U.S. citizen, that he'd spent several years in Montana under this identity, and that he'd been both arrested and jailed while operating under the false identity. The man was rebooked into the Yellowstone jail under his proper identity and charged via criminal complaint for a felony violation of Title 8 of the United States code. On July 19th, he was indicted by a federal grand jury for violating Section 1326(a)(1) of that title (being an illegal alien and a deported felon in the U.S.). The case is set for trial on October 26th. He remains in federal custody pending plea or trial. This statute carries a prison sentence of up to ten years. The FBI, ICE and Montana DCI assisted in the case. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
Efforts are underway to clean up a heating oil spill that occurred at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge on Tuesday, August 29th. Pumps consolidating heating oil from two underground tanks into a third tank kept running after the third tank reached capacity. This caused an estimated 700 to 750 gallons of heating oil to spill onto the ground near a loading dock behind the lodge. The pumps were immediately shut down once the spill was discovered early Tuesday morning. The spill was contained within an area five feet in diameter. All appropriate authorities, including the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, have been notified. The heating oil spill is not near any thermal features. It is not considered a threat to the groundwater in the Old Faithful area. The spill poses no threat to visitors or employees. Clean-up experts have been called in to deal with the effects of the spill. The cause is under investigation. [Public Affairs]
One person was killed and another hospitalized after an accident late on the night of Wednesday, September 6th. The accident happened shortly before midnight on the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the park's North Entrance. The driver of a red Chevrolet Avalanche traveling through Gardner River Canyon lost control of the vehicle, which skidded more than 160 feet, struck a guardrail, continued 45 feet down an embankment, and came to rest upside down along a river bank. Park fire, EMS and rescue personnel had to right the Avalanche before extricating the occupants. The driver, C.S., 27, of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, was flown by Air Idaho Rescue helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center; the passenger, M.W., 27, also from Mount Pleasant, did not survive. Alcohol was involved. C.S. was arrested on Thursday night following his release from the hospital and charged on several counts. More than 25 park and Park County Sheriff's Department personnel were involved in the accident response. [Public Affairs]
On the night of July 31st, rangers arrested an exceedingly drunk and disorderly 18-year-old concession employee at a party in the Lake District. During the course of the arrest, the man assaulted the rangers and attempted to remove one ranger's sidearm from its holster. The man subsequently appeared in federal court and pled guilty to assault charges (click on "More Information" below for the original report). On September 7th, he was sentenced on two counts of assault on a federal officer, one count of being a minor in possession of alcohol, and one count of public intoxication. He was ordered to serve 120 days in federal custody (with credit given for 40 days already served), placed on supervised probation for a year, and required to pay a $70 victim/witness assessment. He was remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
On September 20th, a federal grand jury indicted C.S., a 28-year-old Michigan resident, on two felony counts - involuntary manslaughter and false information. The indictment stemmed from a September accident and fatality that occurred in Gardner Canyon (click on "More Information" below for the original report). On the night of September 6th, the Chevy Avalanche that C.S. was driving hit a guardrail and vaulted about 30 feet down into a river, landing on its roof. A technical rescue and vehicle extrication ensued. The passenger in the Avalanche, M.W., 27, sustained significant head and chest injuries and died at the scene. C.S. was extricated, treated by NPS paramedics, and flown to a trauma center in Idaho. A preliminary investigation indicated that DUI was the underlying cause, and rangers also found evidence of identity theft. A park special agent drove the 110 miles from West Yellowstone to the hospital and was joined by another ranger. Together, they kept C.S. secured. Other agents wrote up a criminal complaint and obtained an arrest warrant on one felony manslaughter and three misdemeanor counts. C.S. was released after 36 hours at the hospital, at which point agents placed him under arrest and took him to Mammoth Hot Springs. He made his initial appearance on September 12th and was remanded to the custody of a U.S. Marshal. He remains in federal custody, and the Michigan State Police have placed an additional detainer on him for an outstanding felony assault arrest warrant. A Montana Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team helped park investigators. Their findings indicated that the Avalanche skidded over 160 feet before it hit the guardrail and tumbled into the river. Park investigators also found witnesses who reported that, just prior to the crash, they'd seen the car accelerating and driving the wrong way through the Mammoth Hot Springs area, passing through narrow curves at a high rate of speed, and colliding with a guardrail about a half mile before the final crash occurred. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
On the morning of August 29th, rangers and special agents launched an investigation into an assault that had occurred in the concession housing area. The suspect, C.R., 19, was eventually found and given a summons to appear in federal magistrate's court. Investigators determined that C.R. had struck a man in the head numerous times, knocking him unconscious, and that the man had sustained serious bodily injury. When C.R. failed to appear in court, a criminal complaint was filed against him for felony assault and a 'no bail' arrest warrant was issued. The latter was entered into NCIC, a nationwide criminal information tracking system. Agents began an effort to find C.R., who was now a federal fugitive. On September 22nd, a ranger who'd been one of the principal investigators in the case testified before a federal grand jury in Casper, Wyoming, after which the grand jury issued a felony indictment that superseded the complaint. On September 24th, C.R. was stopped by officers from the San Bernadino, California, police department and subsequently arrested on the warrant. Rangers from Joshua Tree brought him before a magistrate in Riverside, and he was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal's Service pending trial or other proceedings in Wyoming. [Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent)
A tip from a vigilant citizen who'd noted suspicious behavior in the park led to the capture and arrest of two poachers last weekend. The two men - T.J., 21, and V.R., 25, both of Bozeman, Montana - were arrested on the evening of Saturday, November 11th, and booked into the park's jail. They're accused of shooting and killing a bull elk inside the Boundary Lands area of the park near Stephens Creek, west of the Yellowstone River and northwest of Gardiner, Montana. The men were each arraigned on misdemeanor poaching, drug possession, and weapons charges. T.J. and V.R. are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending another court appearance on Thursday. A person convicted of a misdemeanor violation of the federal anti-poaching statute known as the Lacey Act can be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to up to one year in jail. Carrying a weapon in a national park can result in a $5,000 fine and six months in jail. [Public Affairs]
A storm that knocked out power to most of the park has added layers of extra work as preparations continue for Wednesday's winter opening. On Monday, two trucks were scheduled to enter Yellowstone to refill diesel tanks that fueled generators through the weekend in the wake of Friday's storm and outages. A snowplow was to clear snow before the trucks arrived, then pull the snow back onto the road and tamp it down in preparation for grooming. Meanwhile, NorthWestern Energy crews donned snowshoes on the ground and spent part of Sunday in a helicopter trying to get a fix on the outage. After dark Sunday, it was still unclear how many trees had toppled onto lines, but crews were preparing for more cold, rough work where power lines snake across Yellowstone's rugged backcountry. In some parts of the park, temperatures dipped to minus 30 on Saturday night. Company officials were able to reconnect power between Mammoth Hot Springs and Canyon Village on Sunday but, because of the remoteness and difficult working conditions, were unable to say when repairs might be made to restore power to the rest of Yellowstone. The powerful storm rolled into the area Friday with howling winds that knocked out power in much of western Montana and Yellowstone. While much of the power was restored in Montana, it remained cut off in most of Yellowstone all weekend. Generators consumed thousands of gallons of diesel fuel through the weekend to keep the lights on and heat flowing in places such as Old Faithful and Canyon. With so much fuel used already, park officials decided to try to fill the tanks before navigating the roads in wheeled vehicles becomes any more difficult. Once that task was completed, plans were to move snow back onto the roads to start grooming for the snowmobiles and snow coaches that are expected to enter Yellowstone for the beginning of winter season on Wednesday. Even before Friday's storm, there were discussions about light snow pack in Yellowstone in preparation for Wednesday's opening. Although snow amounts are marginal, most of the scheduled routes - including the one between the West Entrance and Old Faithful - should open to snowmobiles and snow coaches on Wednesday. Other areas - like those near Indian Creek south of Mammoth and Hayden Valley - are still being evaluated. [Mike Stark, The Billings Gazette]
On August 4, 2004, rangers at Mammoth arrested a man for driving while his license was suspended and for not having insurance. As per normal procedure, they towed and impounded his vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a weapon and ammunition that had been in the driver's possession. Over the next year and a half, NPS special agents worked the case and developed information showing that the man had engaged in a criminal conspiracy and witness tampering and that he had purchased a firearm via a third party (a "straw purchase") though prohibited from possessing a gun because he was a convicted felon. In July, the park's special response team, supported by ATF agents, deputy U.S. marshals and officers from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at the man's residence in Bozeman. There they found evidence of additional violations of the US Code section prohibiting felons from owning weapons and ammunition (18 USC 922(g)). A federal grand jury issued a true bill and indicted the man on related felony charges in October. The indictment stemmed from the original Yellowstone arrest. The man remains in local custody on unrelated charges and has a marshal's detainer against him for eventual transfer to Casper, Wyoming. The investigation and prosecution were conducted with support from the "Project Safe Neighborhoods" program in the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On June 19, 2005, the operator of a car involved in a single-vehicle accident was arrested for driving under the influence and while her license was suspended. The rangers also determined that she was in unlawful possession of the vehicle and that she was under the influence and in possession of methamphetamine. Special agents continued the investigation and filed a seven-count criminal complaint against her. The woman entered into a plea agreement with the US Attorney's Office last August and pled guilty to driving under the influence of drugs, possession of methamphetamine, and driving while suspended. She served 74 days in jail and was to then serve two years of supervised probation and enter into an extended drug treatment program. After just a week in the in-patient drug treatment program, though, she left the facility. The US Attorney's Office accordingly filed a motion to revoke her probation. An arrest warrant was secured and entered into NCIC. The woman was stopped and arrested by Idaho officers last October and was transferred back to the Wyoming District by federal marshals. She appeared before the federal magistrate, who sentenced her to a year in jail on the aggregate DUI and drug charges. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On January 30th, two men were sentenced in federal court in Yellowstone after entering guilty pleas to charges of illegally taking an elk in the park last year. On November 11, 2006, V.R. and T.J. were arrested by rangers and special agents for shooting a bull elk in the Stephens Creek area. Based on a plea agreement with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming, the two men entered guilty pleas to charges of transporting and possessing illegally taken wildlife (16 USC 3372(a)(1) and (3)(a)), possessing and carrying a firearm in the park (36 CFR 2.2(a)(1)), and illegally killing and taking a bull elk (36 CFR 2.2(a)(1)). V.R. also pled guilty to possession of marijuana (21 USC 844(a)). V.R. was sentenced to 30 days in jail (with credit for five days already served), placed on supervised probation for a year and unsupervised probation for three more years, and assessed a total of $8,560 in restitution, fines and special assessments. T.J. was sentenced to five days in jail (with credit for five days served), placed on unsupervised probation for three years, and assessed a total of $8,035 in restitution, fines and special assessments. Both men were also banned from entering Yellowstone for the next four years, banned from hunting anywhere for four years, and ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition which were used during the commission of the crime. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On February 16th, C.S., who'd been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of the passenger in his car in an accident last September, was sentenced in federal court in Casper to 57 months in prison and three years' supervised release. The second count of the felony indictment, which charged him with providing false information, was dismissed. The case resulted from a September 6, 2006, incident in Gardiner Canyon in which C.S. lost control of his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, which then skidded for over 160 feet and plunged 45 feet down into the Gardiner River. The hazardous and technical rescue and recovery operation involved more than 30 NPS fire, EMS and protection personnel, assisted by local firefighters and officers. M.W., the passenger in the Avalanche, was killed in the accident. C.S. showed signs of intoxication and registered a blood alcohol level of over .211. Agents and rangers found numerous witnesses who reported that the Avalanche had been driven recklessly through the Mammoth area and at a high rate of speed through a narrow canyon prior to the accident. C.S. has been in federal custody since the day after the accident, when he was arrested by NPS agents in Idaho Falls on a felony warrant. NPS investigators received valuable assistance from both the Montana Highway Patrol and the Park County coroner. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
Rangers arrested a man for driving a vehicle with a suspended license and without insurance during an interagency criminal interdiction operation last May. A special agent reviewing the case file noted some inconsistencies in the information regarding his identity. Working with the FBI, ICE and state of Montana authorities, special agents identified the man as J.D.G.-D., an undocumented and previously deported alien. The NPS investigation showed that he'd stolen and was using the identity of a U.S. citizen and had been arrested, convicted and served jail time for DUI. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wyoming for violations of Title 8 (convicted felon, prior deportation, illegal reentry into the U.S.). On April 16th, J.D.G.-D. was sentenced in federal court to 33 months in prison, ordered to pay $250 in fines and assessments, given 13 other probation conditions, and directed ICE to deport him after he served his prison time. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region]
During the fall of 2005, special agents and rangers from the River and Gallatin Districts began an investigation into two seemingly connected killings of bull elk adjacent to Highway 191 and within the park. The case led to a joint investigation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Connections to similar crimes in other jurisdictions and the identification of significant physical evidence provided links to several suspects. In November of 2006, the park's special response team, supported by several local, state and federal agencies, executed simultaneous search warrants for three structures and a vehicle in Gallatin and Jefferson Counties in Montana. The case was then further developed by agents and rangers and presented to a grand jury in Wyoming by the US Attorney's Office this past March. The grand jury issued a true bill and indicted M.B. on an array of charges — unlawful possession of illegally taken wildlife, unlawful transportation of illegally possessed wildlife, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with a witness. On March 26th, a no bond felony arrest warrant was issued by the district court and entered into NCIC. On April 25th, a team of rangers, assisted by Montana wardens and local officers, served the arrest warrant at the county probation office in Butte, Montana. Rangers arrested M.B. without incident and took him to the Yellowstone County jail in Billings. On April 26th, he appeared before the magistrate there and was ordered held, removed to the Wyoming judicial district, and remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service. He is currently awaiting arraignment and trial. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On April 2nd, Montana resident C.R. was sentenced in federal court following his entering a guilty plea to a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury (18 USC 113). He was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $9,172.81 in restitution to his victim, and placed on three years of supervised release following his prison term. The incident occurred on August 28, 2006, when rangers and special agents were called in to investigate an aggravated assault that had taken place in the concession housing area at Tower-Roosevelt. By the time they arrived, C.R. had left the area and his victim was in the hospital. Investigators determined that the victim had suffered serious and permanent head and facial injuries. The agents and rangers were unable to find C.R. at his permanent residence in Montana. A criminal complaint for felony assault was filed and an arrest warrant issued and entered into NCIC. C.R. was subsequently indicted on felony charges by a federal grand jury in Wyoming. Officers in San Bernadino, California, stopped C.R. on an unrelated charge last October and he was subsequently arrested on the NPS felony warrant. Following the April 2nd sentencing, he was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and directed to serve the balance of the 41 months in custody at a facility in Montana. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
J.C., 57, a photographer and author from Bozeman, was injured during an encounter with a bear on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 23rd. J.C. was taking photographs of bears along Trout Creek in Hayden Valley when he had an encounter with a grizzly. After being injured, J.C. hiked from two to three miles east to the Grand Loop Road, where he was found by visitors around 1 p.m. Rangers and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and treated J.C.'s severe facial injuries. He told rangers that he had been attacked by a sow bear with a cub. He was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone, Montana, then transferred to an Air Idaho helicopter and transported to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls. J.C. has published books on the lives of grizzly bears in Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. This is the second time J.C. has been seriously hurt in a bear encounter - he walked out of the backcountry and took himself to the hospital after being injured by a grizzly in Glacier National Park in September 1993. There were no bear-caused human injuries in Yellowstone National Park during 2006, and there have been only eight minor injuries since 2000. The last bear-caused human fatality in the park occurred in 1986. [Public Affairs]
The park's communication center received a 911 call around 2:30 a.m. on the morning of May 31st calling for assistance at Yellowstone Lake Lodge Cabins, where a 62-year-old visitor from Oklahoma had just stabbed his friend and barricaded himself in his cabin. The man was screaming loudly, breaking glass, and apparently hallucinating that people were trying to kill him. He had no previous associated medical history, and drugs and alcohol were apparently not involved. Adjacent cabins were evacuated and perimeters were established. While Yellowstone's special response team secured the perimeter of the cabin, the man came out of the cabin and team members took him into custody. The man was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment of minor lacerations from breaking windows and possibly a mental health evaluation. The stabbing victim received only superficial wounds and was treated and released. Ranger Frank Deluca served as incident commander. [Rick Obernesser, Chief Ranger]
A Gallatin/River District ranger was on patrol on Highway 191 on May 28th when a vehicle passed her at over 80 miles per hour. She pursued, but the driver refused to stop and continued for another ten miles at speeds up to 100 mph before the vehicle went off the road and three occupants jumped out and fled into the woods. Responding rangers and agents were joined in their search for the three men by officers from West Yellowstone and Gallatin County. A perimeter was established, and an NPS canine unit and tactical trackers from the park's special response team began following scent and tracks in an area about six miles outside West Yellowstone, eventually losing both when the tracks returned to the highway. Meanwhile, investigators eventually determined the name of the owner and suspected driver of the unregistered and unlicensed vehicle, and contacted the operator's family and probation officer. About an hour after the search was suspended, investigators discovered that one of the suspects was making calls from a cell phone that belonged to someone who lived in Bend, Oregon, and were able to identify the name of the phone's subscriber. With the assistance of police in Bend, they were able to make contact with people at the suspect's residence in Oregon and determined that one family member was staying at a remote cabin somewhere near West Yellowstone. A ranger recognized the name of the person from Bend and knew the location of his cabin. A squad of Gallatin officers and NPS rangers went to the cabin, found the phone subscriber from Oregon, and determined that he was okay and unaware that his truck and cell phone had just been stolen. For the next two days, NPS and Gallatin County investigators developed leads and contacts in the park and county and established the identities of all three of the people who'd been in the first vehicle and had then stolen the second vehicle. On May 30th, investigators determined that all three were at a bus terminal in Salt Lake City and that one of them was possibly armed with a handgun. Salt Lake City PD officers took all three into custody and recovered the stolen truck. The principal in this case faces state charges in Utah and in Gallatin and Park Counties in Montana and federal charges in the park. These include auto theft, possession of stolen property, criminal evading and probation violations. The initial search and the manhunt involved more than 20 officers from three jurisdictions. The park and Gallatin County operated under joint command; the NPS IC was Julie Hannaford. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
On May 8th, a rangers saw a vehicle being operated erratically on the Canyon-Norris Road and subsequently determined that the driver, D.W., was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. D.W. was arrested for DUI and for driving while suspended. A search incident to the arrest led to the discovery of numerous items of marijuana paraphernalia, prescription drugs, 25 grams of marijuana packaged for sale, and a box of ammunition. The passenger and registered owner, S.C., was also arrested. Investigators determined that both D.W. and S.C. were habitual drug users, that one of them had recently possessed and fired a handgun, and that both had ammunition in their possession. D.W. also had numerous felony convictions that made it a federal felony for him to possess either a firearm or ammunition. Special agents filed a five-count criminal complaint against D.W. and a four-count complaint against S.C. On May 17th, D.W. was indicted on all five and S.C. was indicted on three. Both are in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending trial or plea agreement. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge]
In July, 2006, rangers and special agents began investigating a rash of auto burglaries that had occurred in the Old Faithful and Belcher areas. The eight car clouts occurring in the park appeared to match M.O. and suspect information gathered in the investigation of similar burglaries that had occurred in Teton County (Wyoming), Gallatin County (Montana), and Bonneville, Madison and Fremont Counties (Idaho). Collectively, these areas had experienced 35 to 40 burglaries with an estimated total property loss of over $180,000. Among the victims were people employed by the park's horse and stock operation. In August, 2006, detectives from Idaho and NPS special agents identified the suspects - two men, aged 19 and 25, living in Rexburg, Idaho. Both were arrested following the controlled delivery of an item purchased with a stolen credit card. Agents, rangers and detectives then served search warrants and recovered most of the stolen property from a number of locations. Both men were prosecuted in Idaho for crimes in that state; they pled guilty, were sentenced, and served jail sentences that came to an end on July 18th. Yellowstone rangers then took the two men into custody and transported them to Mammoth Hot Springs. They'd been indicted by a federal grand jury in 2006 on several felony charges - interstate transport of stolen property, conspiracy, theft, and aiding and abetting theft - and federal arrest warrants were issued at that time. An NPS special agent was the case agent for the federal case, which included the Yellowstone burglaries and all the 35 plus crimes in the three states. On July 19th, the men had initial appearances before a federal magistrate at Yellowstone and were remanded to the custody of the US Marshal's Service pending detention hearings, pleas or trials. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
The East Entrance was to reopen to traffic yesterday morning after being temporarily closed Wednesday night due to a small mud slide. Mud and rock fell across both lanes of the East Entrance road just east of Sylvan Pass around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The slide, triggered by a heavy downpour, was about 50 feet long and varied from one to five feet deep. No vehicles were trapped in the slide, and no one was hurt. Rangers and maintenance staff were joined by representatives of the Federal Highway Administration and H-K Contractors, Inc. in clearing the debris. The effort was complicated by the need to scan the material visually and with a metal detector for unexploded ordinance used in avalanche control before removing the debris from the road. Rangers temporarily closed the road at the East Entrance Station and at the Pelican Creek barricade near Fishing Bridge. The East Entrance road was closed for six days in July, 2004, when heavy rains caused several mud slides, bringing 30,000 tons of debris down upon the same location. Updated information on park roads is available 24-hours a day by calling 307-344-2117. [Public Affairs]
An employee of Xanterra Parks & Resorts was killed in a single-vehicle rollover accident near the Old Faithful interchange at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday, August 15th. J.S., 27, from Grand Ledge, Michigan, was driving in the Old Faithful area when his vehicle left the road, rolled, then hit a tree, trapping him inside. Rangers and emergency response personnel found him unresponsive and without a pulse. Extrication equipment and personnel were required to access and recover his body. A motor vehicle accident reconstruction specialist from the Wyoming Highway Patrol is assisting rangers with the investigation. This is the first fatal accident in Yellowstone National Park this year. [Public Affairs]
A patrol ranger was called to the Grant Village campground to deal with a noise complaint and a reported disturbance on the evening of September 3rd. Upon arrival, he approached and contacted three men, all of whom immediately became abusive, threatening and hostile. Two of them threatened violence against the ranger, including statements that they would kill him. The ranger called for backup and made a tactical withdrawal. He also drew his taser as the men followed him back toward the car. Once in a better position, he drew his weapon and attempted to control the trio while awaiting arrival of backup. The park's special response team and rangers from the Grant, South, Lake and Old Faithful areas soon arrived on scene. During the initial stages of the standoff, the three men alternated between yelling obscenities and threats of violence and repeatedly entering and exiting their vehicles. One shouted that "someone is going to die tonight;" all three repeatedly challenged rangers to shoot them. The rangers brought out long guns and held the men at gunpoint. On several occasions, the men approached to within 20 feet of individual rangers and appeared to be engaged in some form of attempted police-assisted suicide. The on-scene supervisory ranger developed a plan to take the men into custody. When she had a sufficient number of rangers in place, she had five of them fire tasers nearly simultaneously to incapacitate the trio, then had six other rangers swarm the men and take them into custody. One of the three suffered lacerations when he fell to the ground during the arrest. All three were taken to the jail in Jackson, Wyoming. On September 5th, NPS special agents filed a five-count criminal complaint against two of them and a six-count complaint against the third. These charges included multiple counts for 18 USC 111 violations (assaulting, resisting, opposing, intimidating and interfering with rangers). They had initial appearances before the federal magistrate and are being held by the US Marshals Service pending a detention hearing this coming Monday. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge; Matt Vandzura, Snake District Ranger]
Two elderly Idaho residents drowned after their canoe overturned in Shoshone Lake late last week. The victims have been identified as 74-year-old F.K. and 80-year-old C.P., both of Boise, Idaho. The men had fishing permits and a backcountry permit for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights at three different campsites along the shore of Shoshone Lake, located in the backcountry southeast of Old Faithful. Just before 7 p.m. on Friday night, a group camping along the lakeshore used a cell phone to report finding an overturned red canoe, but added that they'd been unable to find the occupants. A second party retrieved the canoe and brought it to shore. Rangers from Grant, the South Entrance and Old Faithful immediately responded to the location on foot and by canoe and kayak. They had to suspend their search shortly after arriving because of nightfall. A search of the recovered canoe led to the discovery of a partial backcountry permit, which helped rangers focus their search on Saturday. The first victim was discovered in the water near the eastern shore of the lake around noon, and the second was found further out in the lake about an hour later. F.K. and C.P. were experienced canoeists and were both wearing life jackets. Windy conditions had been reported on the lake. Moving between campsites would have required the pair to make several open water crossings of the lake. Both the date and the cause of the accident remain under investigation. These are the first accidental deaths in the park this year, and the first drownings in the park since July 2005. [Submitted by Public Affairs, Yellowstone National Park]
A park employee was attacked by a bear early last Sunday morning near Gardiner, just north of the park. Ken Meyer, the park's safety manager, was hunting for black bear when he was mauled by what is believed to have been a female grizzly bear with cubs. Meyer sustained injuries to his arms, legs and chest. He subsequently underwent surgery at Livingston Memorial Hospital. Meyer was apparently walking near or along Little Trail Creek, which is north and west of Gardiner, early Sunday morning when he came upon what he said was a grizzly. The bear attacked him, retreated at some point, then attacked again. Meyer said he shot the bear with his rifle, possibly wounding it, before he walked out of the woods and called for help. Gallatin National Forest officials closed the area after the attack, fearing a wounded bear might be apt to injure others. Members of the Forest Service, Park Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks searched for the bear on the ground and from the air for much of Sunday. A spokeswoman for the forest said that a team of three or four people were "aggressively charged" by a grizzly during the search, but it was not believed to be the bear involved in the earlier mauling. The closure includes the area up to one mile on either side of Forest Service Road 1701 from its junction with Travertine County Road, commonly called Travertine Bench, and one mile on either side of Little Trail Creek outside the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary. The area includes Maiden Basin, Little Trail Creek Trail 49 and Lower Little Trail Creek Trail 319 and the Travertine Bench. [Submitted by The Billings Gazette]
Lake Village Fire Company units responded to a report of an overturned truck and trailer with two persons trapped inside at the East Entrance during the early morning hours of September 7th. Fire captain Frank DeLuca arrived on scene first, established command, and reported that there were two elderly victims, both with injuries, trapped inside their vehicle, which was pinned between a jackknifed and overturned fifth wheel trailer and the roadside guardrail. The overturned trailer had a ruptured propane line and was expelling a large amount of propane from two tanks throughout the accident scene. Lake firefighters, who arrived with two engines and a hazardous materials unit, donned self-contained breathing apparatus and crawled under the wreckage with a hose line. They forced entry into the trailer and disconnected the propane tanks, making it possible for medical personnel to safely enter the area. Paramedics then crawled inside the mangled vehicle to treat the two victims while firefighters employed extrication tools, including the "Jaws of Life," to free them from the wreckage. Three heavy duty wreckers were later employed to upright the vehicle and trailer and disentangle them from the guardrail. The victims were taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, where they were treated for possible broken ribs and numerous lacerations and contusions. Both were later released. The success of this rescue operation was another great example of the excellent working relationship between NPS work groups in the Lake area. The Lake Village Fire Company is made up of members from several divisions and specialties, including law enforcement, interpretation, paramedics, the Lake garage, bear management, Lake maintenance, and concession employees from Xanterra and Delaware North. District ranger Michael Keator was the incident commander. Ranger Kyle McDowell is investigating the accident. [Ranger Frank DeLuca, Lake Village Fire and EMS Coordinator]
A man was mauled by a bear while elk hunting north of the park in the Beattie Gulch area on the morning of Friday, September 14th. The Forest Service subsequently closed a portion of the Gallatin National Forest due to public safety concerns, and the park closed an abutting section of Yellowstone west of Gardiner. The northeast corner of the closed section of the park is where Reese Creek meets the park's northern boundary west of the Yellowstone River. The closure continues southwest along the park boundary until turning due south to Electric Peak. From Electric Peak, the southern boundary of the closed area follows the Montana/Wyoming state line east back to Reese Creek. Reese Creek forms the eastern boundary of this temporarily closed area. Hikers and backcountry users are encouraged to check with staff at the Albright Visitor Center or the Backcountry Office in Mammoth Hot Springs before planning any trips into this section of the park. [Submitted by Public Affairs, Yellowstone National Park]
A man was mauled by a bear while elk hunting north of the park in the Beattie Gulch area on the morning of Friday, September 14th. The Forest Service subsequently closed a portion of the Gallatin National Forest due to public safety concerns, and the park closed an abutting section of Yellowstone west of Gardiner. The northeast corner of the closed section of the park is where Reese Creek meets the park's northern boundary west of the Yellowstone River. The closure continues southwest along the park boundary until turning due south to Electric Peak. From Electric Peak, the southern boundary of the closed area follows the Montana/Wyoming state line east back to Reese Creek. Reese Creek forms the eastern boundary of this temporarily closed area. Hikers and backcountry users are encouraged to check with staff at the Albright Visitor Center or the Backcountry Office in Mammoth Hot Springs before planning any trips into this section of the park. [Public Affairs]
Effective yesterday, the park and the Gallatin National Forest lifted emergency area closures temporarily put in place north of Gardiner in the Reese Creek area of the park and the Beattie Gulch area of the national forest. The emergency closures were put into effect on Friday, September 14th, to address human safety concerns after a bear mauling in the forest - evidently an isolated incident (click on "More Information" for the original report). The bear was not injured, which would have caused additional human safety concerns. To help reduce human and bear encounters, hikers and hunters are encouraged to travel and hunt in pairs, carry bear spray, and adhere to food storage orders. Hunters should keep in mind that elk calls can also attract bears. It is also important to remember that bears are attracted to gut piles and food sources, including carcasses, particularly during this time of the year right before they enter hibernation. The Little Trail Creek Trail area closure will remain in effect as there may still be an injured bear in this area. The park and forest encourage visitors, backcountry users, and hunters to check with the Albright Visitor Center or the Backcountry Office in Mammoth Hot Springs or the Gardiner Ranger District Office in Gardiner for the most up to date closure information. [Public Affairs] HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3511"
A California woman died in a fall off a cliff along the Yellowstone River in the Calcite Springs area on Friday evening. Rangers responding to the scene spotted the woman lying immobile on the canyon floor near the Yellowstone River. A ranger who rappelled down the steep 500-foot embankment to reach her confirmed that she was dead. Rangers remained at the scene overnight and a helicopter flew the body out the next morning. The 32-year-old woman was from the Los Angeles, California, area. Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The park has asked that anyone who has information on the incident call dispatch at 307-344-7381, extension zero. [Submitted by Public Affairs, Yellowstone National Park]
The name of the woman who fell to her death in the park last Friday night has been released. C.H., 32, was from Beverly Hills, California. C.H. and a 39-year-old male friend from Los Angeles were traveling through the park and had stopped to take pictures at a pullout in the Calcite Springs area just north of Tower Fall when the accident occurred. Rangers received a report about 6:30 Friday evening that a woman had fallen over the cliff. When they arrived on scene, they could see C.H. lying motionless on the canyon floor next to the Yellowstone River. A ranger who rappelled down the 400-foot cliff confirmed that she had died. Due to darkness, steep terrain, and the complex nature of this type of large-scale operation, park staff had to wait until Saturday morning to remove C.H.'s body from the canyon floor. An autopsy conducted over the weekend showed that the cause of death was massive trauma caused by the fall. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to call the Park Tip Line at 307-344-2132. This is the same area of the park where a visitor from Michigan stepped over a rock retaining wall and fell to her death in June 2006. [Public Affairs]
On June 18th, Old Faithful rangers investigated a report they'd received of pornographic images of children on a laptop computer. They seized the computer and identified the owner as a concession employee. NPS agents based in Yellowstone and Denver began an investigation and a search warrant for the computer was obtained and served. On July 23rd, Yellowstone agents and the park's assistant U.S. attorney reviewed a report prepared by the Denver special agent. The report showed that the computer contained approximately 800 sexually explicit images of children, with about 30 of them apparently of children under the age of 13 in sexually explicit positions and in sexual contact with adults. The NPS case agent recognized some of the images from his previous cases as being depictions of actual children and not computer enhanced, created or morphed images. On August 2nd, agents received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that revealed that 47 of the images of children depicted on the computer were of known children identified in previous cases. The file attributes of at least 20 of the sexually explicit images of children had file access dates in June and July of 2007, which showed that the files were viewed during the time when the owner was employed at Old Faithful and in Yellowstone National Park. Because the computer owner and suspect was a foreign national and working in the United States on a temporary visa, NPS agents filed a criminal complaint for violations of 18 USC 2252 (knowing possession of material depicting sexual exploitation of minors) and obtained and entered into NCIC a felony arrest warrant for the man. On August 5th, Old Faithul rangers located and arrested him without incident. After his initial appearance and detention hearing before the US magistrate in Yellowstone, he was ordered held and remanded to the custody of the US Marshal. On September 19th, a federal grand jury in Cheyenne issued a true bill and indicted the man. On September 27th, he appeared before the federal district judge in Cheyenne and was ordered detained pending trial or plea agreement. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
A section of the park west of the town of Gardiner, Montana, has been temporarily closed for the second time this fall to address bear-human safety concerns. A man was mauled by a grizzly sow with three cubs Saturday morning while bow hunting for elk with friends in the Beattie Gulch area, north of the park's boundary. The closed section of Yellowstone begins where Reese Creek meets the park's northern boundary west of the Yellowstone River. The closure continues southwest along the park boundary until turning due south to Electric Peak. From Electric Peak, the southern boundary of the closed area follows the Montana/Wyoming state line east back to Reese Creek. Reese Creek forms the eastern boundary of this temporarily closed area. The temporary closure of this section of the park coincides with an emergency closure of an adjacent area of the Gallatin National Forest that was issued this past weekend. This same area of the park and the forest was closed from September 14th through September 18th after another bow hunter was mauled by a bear. Hikers and backcountry users are encouraged to check with staff at the Albright Visitor Center or the Backcountry Office in Mammoth Hot Springs before planning any trips into this section of the park. Updated information is also available by calling 307-344-2160 during business hours. More information on the emergency closure of the adjacent area of the Gallatin National Forest is available by contacting the Gardiner Ranger District at 406-848-7375. [Public Affairs]
When park dispatch conducted a routine wants and warrants check on a person on July 10th, the NCIC entry showed that the man was not wanted - but that he was a convicted sex offender who was required under state and federal law to register with local law enforcement authorities. Subsequent investigation revealed that he'd been convicted of a sex offense in California in 2001, that he was a concession employee residing in the park, and that he'd made no attempt to register with the park or any other nearby law enforcement agency. Investigators also found that he'd traveled to several states in recent years and worked at other locations outside California for extended periods of time without registering with any police department. A criminal complaint was accordingly filed against him for violation of 18 USC 2250(a) (failure to register as a sex offender) and a felony warrant was obtained. On July 19th, rangers arrested him. He subsequently appeared in magistrate's court and was ordered held pending indictment by US marshals. He was indicted in September and again ordered held pending trial or plea agreement. This was the second federal prosecution of an 18 USC 2250 violation in Wyoming since the law was enacted in 2006. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
A Montana State University student was killed in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 191 late Sunday afternoon. Jeffrey Korba was traveling north on the highway in his Subaru when it collided with a southbound Dodge Ram pickup truck. The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. between Big Sky and West Yellowstone. The 19-year-old student, who is from Califon, New Jersey, was declared dead at the scene. Both of the occupants of the pickup were injured in the accident. A 34-year-old man was taken by an Air Idaho Rescue helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. His wife, also in her 30s, was transported to Idaho Falls by ambulance. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. The pavement was bare and dry at the time. Korba was wearing his seat belt. Rangers were assisted by personnel from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department, West Yellowstone Fire and Rescue, Big Sky Fire and Rescue, and the Montana Highway Patrol. [Public Affairs]
On August 30th, an Old Faithful resident reported that her wallet had been lost and possibly stolen. The next day, she discovered activity on her credit cards, including an order for a mountain bike costing $1,118. Rangers began an investigation and subsequently tracked the order down to a bike shop in Pennsylvania. They were able to stop the order, then followed a series of leads to a concession employee — J.P., 28 — residing at Old Faithful. NPS special agents obtained a search warrant for his house and executed it on September 10th. They found evidence within of the original wire and credit card fraud and evidence of the use of stolen credit cards. Based on this evidence and their investigation, agents filed a criminal complaint and secured a felony arrest warrant on a misdemeanor and two felony counts (18 USC violations pertaining to wire fraud, use of a stolen credit card and possession of stolen property). During the investigation, J.P. fled from the park. An arrest warrant was entered into NCIC and he was tracked to Salt Lake City. An Old Faithful ranger was able to obtain a photo of his residence there, and agents provided leads to Salt Lake City police. On December 2nd, city officers found and arrested J.P. near his residence on the Yellowstone warrant. Federal marshals took him into custody. Following an initial appearance before the US magistrate in Salt Lake City, he was ordered detained and removed to the Wyoming judicial district. On December 18th, J.P. appeared before the magistrate at Yellowstone. In a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, he entered a guilty plea to one 18 USC count of possession of stolen property and the remaining two counts were dismissed. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and a $25 victim fund assessment, and placed on five years' probation. [Submitted by Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region]
Heavy snow and gusty winds associated with a major winter storm over the Northern Rockies created hazardous conditions yesterday which led to the temporary closure of most roads in Yellowstone National Park. The road between Gardiner, Montana, at the park's North Entrance and park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, was the only road open to travel yesterday afternoon. Blowing and drifting snow led to the temporary closure of the road between Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction, the Northeast Entrance and Cooke City, Montana, before 9 a.m. on Monday morning. This road is normally open to wheeled vehicles all year. Heavy snow along the park's East Entrance road prompted rangers to halt all oversnow travel across Sylvan Pass before 8 a.m. yesterday morning. Deteriorating conditions led park managers to close all other park roads and entrances to snowmobile and snowcoach travel by early afternoon. Up to 18 inches of new snow fell along the park's Grand Loop road over an 18-hour period. Snow depths at developed areas in the interior of the park ranged from three feet at Madison Junction to over five feet at Grant Village. Another six inches to two feet of snow were expected before the storm subsided. Gusty winds and decreasing temperatures are forecast on into Wednesday. The length of the temporary closures remains uncertain, as they are entirely dependent upon changing weather conditions. Park staff will reevaluate the status of each road segment this morning. The park anticipates a delayed, phased opening of road segments to begin no earlier than 10 a.m. Visitors are to call the park's 24-hour road condition report at 307-244-2117 for current updates before traveling to or within Yellowstone National Park. [Public Affairs]
Park employees have reopened most park roads to travel after they were temporarily closed Monday following a major weekend winter storm. Heavy snow and gusty winds led to deteriorating conditions, which prompted the temporary closure of almost all park roads by early Monday afternoon. Only the road between park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, and the park's North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, remained open to travel. The road linking Mammoth Hot Springs and the park's Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana, is normally open to wheeled vehicle traffic all year. Plows began clearing the road of drifts early Tuesday morning, and were able to reopen the road to travel by cars and delivery vehicles by 9 a.m. During the winter season, most interior roads are groomed for guided oversnow travel by snowmobiles and snowcoaches. Shortly after first light Tuesday, park crews began assessing road segments and began working to reopen interior roads for oversnow travel and were able to open the route between West Yellowstone and Old Faithful by 9:30 a.m. All other oversnow routes are now open except for the section between Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris, and Madison Junction, and the park's East Entrance road over Sylvan Pass. Visitors can call the park's 24-hour road condition report at 307-344-2117 for up-to-date road and travel information. The National Weather Service yesterday issued a snow advisory for the park that remains in effect through noon today. This storm is forecast to dump 3 to 6 inches of new snow on the northern half of the park and up to 10 inches of new snow in the southern portion of Yellowstone. Strong, gusty winds are expected to accompany this storm, which will cause blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility. Meteorologists are keeping an eye on yet another storm system which could bring significant additional snowfall and gusty winds to the area by the weekend. [Public Affairs]
Old Faithful rangers located and served a felony warrant on J.B., a convicted sex offender, last July. NPS investigators charged him with failing to register as a sex offender (18 USC 2250(a)) and a federal grand jury subsequently indicted him on that charge. The case stemmed from an investigation begun a month earlier into a case from 2002 that had been reopened. Rangers and agents learned that J.B. had been regularly traveling from state to state since 2001 without registering as a sex offender, as required by both federal and state law. On January 2nd, J.B., who'd pled guilty to the charge, was sentenced in federal court. J.B. was: sentenced to serve 167 days in federal custody (time already served); placed on five years' supervised release; required to submit to DNA sample collection and additional processing, photographing and fingerprinting by federal probation officers; ordered not to access the internet with any filtering device or to make any attempt to conceal names of internet sites visited; barred from possessing or receiving any sexually-oriented telephone or electronic material; ordered not to associate with any children under 18 years old (except in the presence of a responsible adult who has been made aware of his criminal history); ordered to report his residence address immediately to local law enforcement offices (per provisions of the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act); and required to submit at any time to a warrantless search of his person, property, papers, or computer by any law enforcement or probation officer with reasonable suspicion concerning a violation of terms of release and/or unlawful conduct. Click on this link for a copy of the original report: HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3561" [Brian S Smith, IMR Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region]
Canyon rangers responded to a reported auto burglary near a concession dorm last August 26th and soon identified and arrested C.P. Agents and rangers executed a search warrant on C.P.'s dorm room and recovered numerous items of stolen NPS property and a handgun with ammunition and a holster. They also discovered evidence of a recent burglary of the Observation Peak cabin and theft of valuable and historic NPS property that the park did not yet know had been stolen. C.P. later pled guilty to three misdemeanor counts of unlawfully possessing federally-owned property (18 USC 641) and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. Meanwhile, the investigation continued. An inventory of C.P.'s vehicle led to the recovery of a CD player that had been stolen in the August 26th car clout, plus additional firearm equipment and paraphernalia. Investigators also found an eyewitness to the Observation Point cabin burglary, additional evidence of C.P.'s involvement in the car clout, evidence that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant by another agency, and evidence that he'd unlawfully possessed and used a firearm in the park. On November 14th, a federal grand jury indicted C.P. on charges of violating 18 USC 922 and 924 (fugitive from justice knowingly in possession of a firearm) and 18 USC 13 (knowingly entering a vehicle with intent to commit larceny). By this time, though, C.P. had been released from jail and was now a fugitive. NPS agents and deputy US marshals worked with state authorities in Texas in an effort to find C.P. and eventually made phone contact with him in Albuquerque. The agents were unable to talk him into going to a location where he could be arrested, so deputy marshals began searching for him in Albuquerque. On the evening of February 6th, they found C.P.'s vehicle at a rural residence and approached the house after several hours of surveillance. C.P., however, escaped out the back and rode away on a stolen horse. The deputies tracked him but lost his tracks in a remote area. They continued to work the area and watch the house and eventually found and arrested him. They also ensured that the horse was safely returned to its owner. On February 9th, C.P. appeared before a U.S. magistrate in Albuquerque. He was ordered held, removed to Wyoming, and placed in the hands of the US Marshals Service. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On the morning of March 26th, Albright Visitor Center staff reported that two women had secured themselves to a structural pillar inside the VC in an apparent act of protest. After responding rangers evacuated and closed the visitor center, they determined that the women were bison activists protesting the park's participation in the interagency bison management plan (IBMP). The stated intent of the act was to secure the superintendent's acquiescence to a list of demands that included withdrawing from the IBMP. After the women were extricated from the metal pipe apparatus that encased their hands and forearms and from its associated locking mechanisms, they were arrested and booked into the park jail. Charges of criminal interference and disorderly conduct have been filed by the assistant US Attorney. The women were released on a recognizance bond and the case has been continued. The incident, covered by local and national media, caused a three-hour closure of the visitor center and the lockdown of several administrative buildings. [Tim Reid, Acting Chief Ranger]
DNA tests have confirmed that remains discovered in Yellowstone last fall are those of a woman missing for nearly three years. Nineteen-year-old C.M.K. of Belgrade, Montana, was a concessions employee at Roosevelt Lodge. She was last seen driving away from the employee housing area in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Later that same day, a hiker found her green Ford Explorer submerged in the Yellowstone River about a mile east of Tower Junction. Investigators believe C.M.K. was eastbound when her vehicle struck an embankment on the right side of the road, then crossed to the left side and went over another embankment before dropping more than 100 feet into the river. The vehicle apparently was swept downstream a short distance before coming to rest in shallow water about 50 feet from the river bank. The heavily damaged vehicle was found to be unoccupied when pulled from the river. Despite an extensive search, no sign of the missing woman was found. This past September, anglers discovered a human skull in the Yellowstone River upstream from the town of Gardiner, Montana. A search of the area by park rangers and archeologists failed to turn up any additional physical evidence. When the Wyoming State Crime Lab was unable to identify the remains using dental records, the skull was sent to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. DNA tests were conducted at state of the art facilities at the university's Center for Human Identification. Based on the strength of the test results, investigators are convinced that the remains are those of the missing young woman. [Public Affairs]
Scalding water from a hidden natural pool burned a Utah woman hiking in the park on the afternoon of Thursday, May 29th. J.H. was walking with family members on an established dirt trail when she stepped into a pool of rainwater. Her foot broke through and landed in a previously undiscovered hot pool. The slightly acidic water was 171 degrees Fahrenheit, 26 degrees short of boiling temperature at that altitude. The water scalded J.H.'s ankle and lower leg. A park trail crew working nearby gave first aid, and J.H. was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where she was treated and released. J.H. was hiking in the Artists' Paintpots, a mile-long loop hike of colorful mud hot springs located about two-and-a-half miles south of the Norris Junction. Continuing geological activity causes the earth at Yellowstone to shift often, and boiling water can lie beneath a thin crust of earth. The area is temporarily closed. Four people were treated for thermal burns in the park last year. [Salt Lake Tribune]
A 12-year-old Pennsylvania boy was flipped in the air by a bison near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone last Friday morning. A mature bull bison, apparently annoyed at the close proximity of the boy, tossed him approximately 10 feet in the air. Witnesses said the boy was posing with members of his family within a foot or two of the animal despite repeated warnings from other visitors. The incident occurred just off the trail adjacent to the Uncle Tom's trail parking lot along South Rim Drive. The bull's horns did not puncture the boy. The only outward injuries he suffered were abrasions, possibly received from hitting the ground after the fall. Because the boy complained of abdominal pain, he was transported by ambulance to Lake Clinic, then flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. His current condition is not available. [Public Affairs]
On June 18th, J.M., 28, was sentenced in federal court to 270 days in prison (three, three-month sentences, to be served consecutively) after he entered a guilty plea to three counts of assault (18 USC 113). The plea and sentence stemmed from J.M.'s involvement in an incident that occurred at Mammoth campground on June 12th. Early that morning, rangers were notified of a fight in progress in the campground and subsequently arrested J.M. for being under the influence to the extent that he was a danger to both himself and others. J.M. had assaulted three park visitors, injuring one of them, after making verbal comments about their racial and ethnic origin. During his initial appearance several days later, J.M. became so verbally abusive and combative that the judge suspended proceedings and ordered a US marshal to remove him from the courtroom. In advocating the lengthy jail sentence, the US attorney argued that the investigation had clearly shown that the offenses were hate-related and based on the perceived national origin and/or religion of the three victims. The attorney also noted that J.M. used slanderous invectives, including religious and racial epithets, during the commission of the unprovoked attacks, striking two of the three victims and spitting on the third. In addition to the sentence, J.M. was banned from entering Yellowstone for five years. The case is also under review by the Justice Department regarding civil rights violations. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On July 14, 2006, an Old Faithful ranger stopped the driver of an older model Dodge van for several traffic violations. A check on the man - V.M., 49 - showed that his Montana driver's license had been suspended due to a number of DUI convictions, failures to appear in court, and driving without insurance. V.M. was arrested. During the search incident to the arrest, the ranger found two pieces of Yellowstone obsidian on his person and a quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, an opened container of alcohol, and a .38 caliber Charter Arms hand gun with five rounds of ammunition within his reach in the van. V.M. entered into a plea agreement and was sentenced on the misdemeanor charges to six months in prison and a $1400 fine. Based on Meyer's prior conviction for homicide, park special agents opened an investigation into his being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm (18 USC 922g). The US Attorney's Office agreed to prosecute and V.M. was indicted on the felony charge by a grand jury in January, 2007. By the time a felony arrest warrant had been issued and a detainer filed, V.M. had served his misdemeanor sentence and been released from prison. The felony warrant was entered into NCIC. A year-and-a-half long investigation and search for V.M. by the special agents, the US Marshal's Service and detectives from Kalispell PD proved fruitless. On June 28th, however, V.M. was involved in a vehicle accident and hospitalized in northern Montana. Montana Highway Patrol officers ran a routine NCIC check on V.M. and came across the felony warrant. V.M. fled from the hospital, though, before officers could be sent over to arrest him. On the morning of July 1st, two NPS agents following up on a lead found him in the front yard of his residence near Kalispell. They arrested him without incident and transported him to Missoula, where he appeared before a federal magistrate and was remanded to the custody of a US marshal pending removal to the Wyoming judicial district and a trial on the felony charge. [Brian S. Smith, Special Agent in Charge, IMR]
On July 9th, C.P. was sentenced in federal district court following his conviction for being a fugitive in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 153 days in federal custody, followed by five months of home confinement and the balance of 24 months of supervised release. A second count of entering a vehicle with intent to commit burglary was dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement. On August 26, 2007, rangers arrested C.P. for public intoxication and suspected auto burglary (for a copy of the original report, click on the link below). The arrest led to the discovery of evidence of a burglary of Observation Peak cabin and the service of two search warrants. C.P. was then convicted in magistrate's court and sentenced to 60 days in jail. The on-going investigation subsequently revealed that C.P. had a firearm and ammunition in his possession within the park while an active fugitive from another jurisdiction. A felony arrest warrant was then posted and a manhunt conducted for C.P., who was eventually arrested by US marshals in New Mexico. In March, C.P. filed a motion to suppress the evidence in the firearms case, which was denied after a hearing in federal district court. Ranger Justin Ivary, then detailed into a special agent's position, was the case agent. The investigation and eventual convictions involved several hundred hours of work on the part of Yellowstone rangers and special agents, deputy US marshals, and the United States' Attorney's Offices in Wyoming and New Mexico. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
On March 12th, a West District ranger and a field trainee ranger stopped a car that was being driven erratically on Highway 191 and arrested J.S. of Bozeman, Montana. She was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, and second offense driving suspended. During the search of her vehicle for inventory and incident to arrest, a loaded handgun was found under the driver's seat. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the assistant US attorney, she was sentenced to 30 days in custody and fined $250 on the misdemeanor charges. The investigation showed that she had a prior felony conviction in Utah. Through the service of a search warrant at her Bozeman residence and the location of a cooperative witness by Yellowstone special agents and rangers, five additional firearms and associated ammunition were recovered from her possession and taken into evidence. Over the ensuing months, Yellowstone special agents performed an ATF gun trace, established the interstate case nexus, and were able to obtain evidence to certify her felony conviction. On July 24th, a Wyoming grand jury issued a true bill and indicted J.S. on one felony count of 18 USC 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2) (convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition). This charge carries a potential maximum jail sentence of ten years and a potential maximum fine of $250,000. On July 31st, Yellowstone special agents and Bozeman police officers served the felony warrant and arrested J.S. in Bozeman. She initially fled from and eluded the officers, and it took the better part of a morning to locate and arrest her. She was taken before the US magistrate in Yellowstone and, following an initial appearance, was remanded to the custody of a US marshal pending arraignment and trial. [Brian S Smith, MR Special Agent in Charge]
On June 17th, the park's communications center received a 911 call from a person in Gardiner, Montana, reporting a possibly intoxicated man driving a commercial laundry delivery and pickup van. A 'be on the lookout' message that was broadcast to Mammoth rangers and Park County deputies was overheard by park employees who'd seen the vehicle and called in its location and direction of travel. About ten minutes later, the park's deputy chief ranger for operations spotted it behind the Mammoth Clinic and contacted the driver, identified as R.W., 36, of Bozeman, Montana. R.W. had the odor of an alcoholic beverage about him and a field investigation showed probable cause to believe that we was operating the truck while under the influence of alcohol. R.W. was arrested and charged with two counts of DUI and one count of providing false information. He pled guilty to one count of DUI and the other charges were dropped pursuant to a plea agreement with the assistant U.S. attorney. R.W. was sentenced to 30 days in jail and turned over to a US marshal. Park special agents and rangers investigation the case soon learned that in 2007 R.W. had been convicted in Sweet Grass County, Montana, on two felony counts of sexual assault and sentenced to ten years in prison. All but 197 days had been suspended and R.W. had been ordered released under the supervision of state probation/parole officers. The probation included a "zero tolerance policy for any illegal drug or alcohol use" - which meant that he'd be subject to being returned to prison if he was caught with alcohol in his possession or system. NPS investigators were able to find facts showing that R.W. had consumed up to a pint of vodka per day, regularly drove the laundry vehicle from Bozeman to the park while intoxicated, and was consistently noncompliant with the judge's probation order. The combination of alcohol and a history of sex offenses made it clear that lack of inhibitions and an inability to control impulses while intoxicated made him a danger to the community. With information provided by the NPS, a state probation/parole officer placed a detainer on R.W. On August 19th, he appeared before a state district judge. The Sweetgrass County attorney presented the revocation case, which was based primarily on the NPS DUI conviction and follow-up investigation and testimony, including statements by the NPS supervisory special agent. The district judge revoked R.W.'s probation and returned him to the state prison system to serve the balance of his sentence, a total of eight years and four months. He will not be eligible for probation/parole for about four years. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge, IMR]
In June, 2007, rangers were contacted regarding a concession employee - H.S., a Chinese national in the U.S. on a work visa - who was suspected of having child pornography on his computer. H.S.'s roommate had come upon disturbing images while borrowing H.S.'s computer and had called rangers. An investigation was undertaken and a search warrant obtained. The computer was shipped to SA Beth Shott in Denver for forensic analysis, and she found over 800 indecent images of children on it. H.S. was subsequently indicted and arrested. On September 28th, following a week-long trail, H.S. was found guilty of possession of child pornography (18 USC 2252A (a)(5)(a)). The case involved depositions from individuals in China, forensics which required translation of Chinese characters, and employment of translators in both the U.S. and China. The prosecuting attorney said that Shott's analysis and her testimony during the trial were crucial to the conviction. [Bruce Applin, Acting Supervisory Special Agent]
On Friday, November 6th, S.H. pled guilty in federal district court to one count of being in a felon in possession of a firearm, thereby precluding the necessity of a trial that had been set to start on November 10th. S.H.'s last-minute plea followed a suppression hearing in which his attorney challenged the admissibility of several pieces of evidence, but lost the motion. S.H. was originally arrested for driving in the park while under suspension in August of 2004. An inventory of his seized vehicle led to the discovery of a rifle and a follow-up investigation revealed that S.H. was a convicted felon. A search warrant was then executed on S.H.'s home in Bozeman by the park's special response team, agents from the NPS and ATF, U.S. marshals, and Gallatin County officers. Additional evidence was found within the residence. S.H. was then indicted and arrested. Special agents Dan Kirschner and David Barland-Liles were co-case agents and former law enforcement ranger Rick McAdam the arresting officer. [Bruce Applin, Acting Supervisory Special Agent]
On Tuesday September 9th, Old Faithful rangers responded to a report of a man down with CPR in progress in front of the Old Faithful Inn. They found two visitors performing CPR on a man who had no pulse and was not breathing and immediately began instituting advanced cardiac life support measures, employing a LifePak 12 (a defibrillator with a monitor). His cardiac rhythm was restored and he was taken to the Old Faithful Clinic for further treatment, then on to a hospital in Idaho Falls via helicopter. After spending nearly three months in the hospital, he has returned home and is enjoying the holidays with family and friends. The positive outcome of this incident is a result of excellent teamwork by those involved, including visitors Jerry Wolf and Yosef Morgentstein; rangers Jim Warren, Tim Townsend, Jessica Stevens, Brent Thye, Eric Nelson and Tim Knaus; and clinic staffers Bob McClurg, Ginger Townsend and Luanne Rubyiones. [Colleen Rawlings, Old Faithful District Ranger]
On December 12th, V.M.M. was sentenced in federal district court following his conviction for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal custody, followed by 24 months of supervised release. On July 14, 2006 Yellowstone rangers arrested V.M.M. near Old Faithful for driving while his privileges were suspended and for possession of a controlled substance. A search incident to arrest revealed a .38 revolver and ammunition located next to the driver's seat. V.M.M. was found guilty in federal magistrate's court and sentenced to 120 days in jail. A subsequent investigation revealed that V.M.M. had been convicted of second degree murder in Washington State in 1985 and of criminal sale of dangerous drugs in Montana in 1998. This led to a grand jury indictment and issuance of an arrest warrant for V.M.M., who had already completed his 120 days of incarceration. In October, NPS special agents were contacted by the Montana Highway Patrol and advised that they'd discovered the arrest warrant while investigating a motorcycle accident caused by V.M.M.. V.M.M. was in the hospital in Kalispell Montana at the time recovering from head and facial injuries, but agents discovered that he'd been able to convince the hospital to release him during the early morning hours. Two agents left for Kalispell and found V.M.M. sitting on the front porch of a friend's house within ten minutes of arriving in town. V.M.M. was arrested without incident and transported to Missoula for an initial appearance. The case agent was Bruce Applin. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
Four people were apprehended recently when park rangers caught them riding snowmobiles in Yellowstone's backcountry. They were operating their rented machines off-trail, more than a mile inside the park boundary near West Yellowstone. The four men from Indiana will have to return to the area in late February and appear before the magistrate in federal district court at Mammoth Hot Springs. While limited, managed snowmobile and snowcoach travel over groomed, snow-packed park roads is permitted in Yellowstone, the use of snowmobiles in the backcountry, on trails, and off road has always been prohibited. Violators face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail as well as forfeiture of their snowmobiles. Additional charges of damage to park resources can result in another $5,000 fine and an additional six months imprisonment. In recent weeks, rangers have observed off-road snowmobile tracks up to two-and-a-half miles inside Yellowstone's backcountry. Rangers regularly patrol the boundary and have the option to ticket, arrest, and confiscate the snowmobiles of violators, who can expect to face aggressive prosecution. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone]
Rangers have cited six men for walking on Old Faithful - and two of them for urinating at the geyser - after someone outside the park reported seeing them on a live park webcast. The six men were cited for going off trail and into the geyser area last week. Park rangers also cited two of the men for illegally possessing a piece of a park natural resource, and two for urinating at the geyser. All six are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate. The park has a camera aimed at the geyser 24-hours a day with video streaming over the Internet. [KIDK News]
On May 15th, S.H., 52, was sentenced in a Wyoming district court to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a charge of being a prohibited possessor of a firearm (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1)). In August, 2004, S.H. was arrested by Yellowstone rangers for DUI and driving with a suspended license. A Ruger .22 rifle was discovered by the rangers during the subsequent inventory of S.H.'s impounded vehicle. Through interviews and a review of S.H.'s criminal history, special agent Dan Kirschner discovered that S.H. obtained the rifle by conspiring with a friend to conduct a "straw purchase" and that S.H. had also been convicted on a felony charge of eluding officers in Colorado. Special agent Bruce Applin served a search warrant at S.H.'s residence in Bozeman and discovered additional evidence of gun and ammunition ownership. A subsequent grand jury indictment and arrest warrant led to S.H.'s arrest last September by federal marshals and an NPS agent. He remained in custody pending the plea agreement and sentencing. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
On May 19th, S.S., 44, a Montana resident, was sentenced in a Gallatin County court after pleading guilty to four state felony poaching charges. S.S. had also attempted to take wildlife from the park, where he'd been previously convicted of poaching an elk. An investigation conducted by investigators from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks revealed that S.S. was conducting illegal guiding, hunting and trapping operations, and that he attempted to take elk and river otters from the park on the night of December 8, 2007. S.S. had a previous misdemeanor federal conviction from 1987 after poaching an elk in the same area of Yellowstone. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison (15 years suspended). As part of his sentencing, he also lost his hunting privileges for life anywhere in the world, is prohibited from possessing firearms and other weapons for life, is banned from entering any national park for 20 years, must forfeit all mounts, antlers, horns and pelts seized during the investigation, and must pay the court costs. In light of the state sentence, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the National Park Service declined to pursue additional federal misdemeanor charges. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
Park staff are searching for the body of a Utah man who apparently committed suicide by jumping off the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old man was last seen around 1:50 p.m. on the observation platform at the brink of the Lower Falls along the north rim of the canyon. Witnesses said that he jumped over the railing into the Yellowstone River, then went down over the 308-foot-high Lower Falls. A search of the river was begun immediately, using both observers on the ground and the park helicopter. The search and recovery effort continued on Wednesday. The man's name is being withheld pending notification of family members. The incident remains under investigation. The latest stream flow reading upstream of the falls at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake recorded over 44,500 gallons of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River. [Public Affairs]
Efforts to find the body of a man who jumped into the Yellowstone River earlier this week are continuing. Witnesses report that N.M., 20, was on the observation platform at Brink of the Lower Falls when he jumped over the railing into the river. He was then swept over the 308-foot-high Lower Falls to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. On Wednesday, searchers rapelled to the bottom of the canyon and recovered some of N.M.'s clothing from an eddy about a quarter mile downstream from the base of the falls. The park helicopter conducted another search flight Thursday morning down the length of the 20-mile-long canyon. The ground search is centered on observation points along the canyon rim with a clear view of the Yellowstone River at the bottom of the canyon, which ranges from 800 to 1,200 feet deep. The Brink of the Lower Falls is a popular observation point along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. A gauge upstream of the falls recorded nearly 6,000 cubic feet of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake at the time of the incident. [Public Affairs]
A 50-year-old woman from Spain was butted and tossed in the air by a bull bison at Canyon yesterday morning. The woman and her husband were using a pay phone in the Canyon lodging area with their backs to the road. According to witnesses, two bull bison walked down the road, passing within 20 feet of the couple. One of the bison left the road, walked up behind the woman and butted her into the air. The couple, who were facing away from the road, did not see the bison coming. The injured woman was transported to the Canyon Lodge front desk by visitors, then taken by ambulance to the Lake Clinic, where she was released with only minor injuries. Visitors are urged to be aware of their surroundings and to be very cautious around wildlife, as they are unpredictable. Extremely serious injuries or death can result from approaching wild animals too closely or allowing wild animals to approach you even if they appear docile. Park regulations require that a minimum distance of 100 yards be maintained from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other animals. [Public Affairs]
On June 29th, A.T., a Yellowstone heavy equipment operator, was sentenced in a Wyoming District Court to 97 months incarceration followed by ten years of supervised release. On March 19th, A.T. pled guilty to a felony charge of abusive sexual contact with a juvenile under the age of 12 (18 USC 2244(a)(5) & (c)). He was arrested on January 27th following a grand jury indictment. The sentencing ends an investigation that began on July 3, 2008. During that investigation, rangers and special agents from the Investigative Services Branch served eight search warrants, enlisted the help of numerous child interview specialists and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and hired a specialized forensics lab. As part of his plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, two additional charges for production and possession of child pornography were dismissed. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
A visitor from Southern California was gored by a bison in a park campground yesterday morning. The 55-year-old man from Norco, California, was staying in Bridge Bay Campground. About 11:30 a.m., he was taking pictures of a bull bison that was wandering among the campsites. When the two got to within about ten feet of each other, the bison charged the camper. The man received a puncture wound to the upper left thigh. He was treated at the Lake Clinic, then transported by ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. His injuries are not considered to be life threatening. This is the second time a park visitor has been injured by a bison this summer. A 50-year-old woman from Spain was tossed in the air by a bull bison in the Canyon area on June 24th while talking on a pay phone. She was treated for minor injuries. A bull bison can stand six feet tall, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and run at speeds up to 30 miles an hour. Bison can be dangerous at any time, but may be more so during the next several weeks, which mark the peak of their mating season. Park regulations require people to stay at least 25 yards away from most animals, such as bison and elk, and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves at all times. Those who fail to abide by these requirements not only put themselves in danger, they may also be subject to a citation and fine. Visitors desiring a closer look at animals are encouraged to use binoculars, a spotting scope, or the zoom lens on their still or video camera. [Public Affairs]
On July 22nd, the park received a be-on-the-lookout message (BOLO) for a registered sex offender who'd failed to surrender himself to authorities on a $300,00 warrant and was thought to be in the park. California detectives suspected that Robert Odenthal was on a pack trip in the park and that he had a child with him. The backcountry office found a permit for Odenthal and rangers quickly found his vehicle. The park's special response time began an overnight hike to his campsite, where they set up listening and observation posts and maintained them through the night. Odenthal was arrested by the team at daylight without incident and flown out of the backcountry by helicopter. The child was his son and was unharmed. The boy was transferred to child protective services and reunited with his mother. Odenthal waived extradition and was returned to California. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
A woman from Wyoming drowned last Thursday afternoon in the backcountry in the southwest corner of the park. H.L.S. of Jackson drowned in the Bechler River near a backcountry campsite located about five-and-a-half trail miles north-northeast of the Bechler Ranger Station. The 30-year-old woman was one of a party of four staying at the Bechler Ford backcountry campsite. The woman reportedly said she felt ill, then went swimming. She was later discovered under four feet of water against a log. H.L.S. was removed from the river by a friend who determined that she wasn't breathing and had no pulse. The friend ran five miles to the Bechler Ranger Station and reported the incident at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Rangers on horseback responded to the drowning report from the Bechler Ranger Station and a park helicopter flew in from Mammoth Hot Springs with a park medic. They found the woman unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse. She was declared dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation. The Bechler region of Yellowstone is accessible by road in the spring, summer and fall from Ashton, Idaho. Since it is not connected to the Grand Loop Road and is not close to any of the park's better known attractions, the area is primarily used by anglers, backpackers, and stock users. This is the first accidental death in the park in 2009, and the first drowning since September 2007. [Public Affairs]
During the night of September 4th, a patrol ranger came upon two vehicles blocking the road near the Canyon Junction. On stopping to perform a welfare check, the ranger became suspicious of the occupants' nervous behavior and inappropriate answers to questions, then noticed erratic driving behavior as it drove away. A check of the vehicle's registration revealed that it had been reported stolen in Minnesota. Rangers attempted a felony stop, but the driver sped away when they activated their emergency lights. The subsequent pursuit resulted in the vehicle being disabled through deployment of spike strips and eventually crashing into trees near West Thumb. The passenger, a hitchhiker, immediately surrendered to rangers. The driver, later identified as J.E.R., 43, fled into the woods carrying a machete. Rangers established a perimeter that included the closure of an 18-mile-long section of road. The park's tactical tracking unit, special response team, two special agents, additional rangers, and a search dog were involved in the ensuing manhunt. J.E.R. was captured three hours later as he reentered the roadway. He reported attempting suicide during his escape attempt by hacking at his wrists with his machete. J.E.R. was charged with four felony offenses - transportation of a stolen vehicle, transporting stolen goods, willfully and maliciously attempting to destroy a conveyance, and unlawfully restraining another person and exposing him to serious bodily injury. On September 9th, J.E.R. had an initial appearance before the U.S. magistrate judge in Yellowstone and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
An on-going earthquake swarm is being reported approximately seven miles west of Ojo Caliente Hot Spring in Lower Geyser Basin. The University of Utah reports that a notable swarm of small earthquakes as large as magnitude 2.7 occurred throughout the evening of January 17th and morning of January 18th. The largest earthquakes in the swarm as of yesterday morning were a pair of shocks of magnitude 2.7 that occurred at 5:02 and 7:38 p.m. MST Sunday evening. There were a total of 206 located earthquakes in the swarm of magnitude 2.7 to 0.5 as of 9 a.m. Monday morning, and there was one report of one of the larger earthquakes being felt in Yellowstone. Swarms of this nature are relatively common in this part of the park. The swarm is considered normal for tectonic-related sources in the volcanic setting of Yellowstone and not an indication of premonitory volcanic or hydrothermal activity, but ongoing analyses will evaluate these different sources. Information on the earthquake can be viewed at the University of Utah seismograph stations: HYPERLINK "http://www.seis.utah.edu/". Seismograph recordings from stations of the Yellowstone seismograph station can be viewed online at: HYPERLINK "http://www.quake.utah.edu/helicorder/heli/yellowstone/index.html". [Press release, University of Utah]
A series of micro to moderate earthquakes continues to shake some visitors and residents in and near Yellowstone National Park.The activity is centered in the northwest corner of the Yellowstone Caldera, in the backcountry roughly half-way between Old Faithful and the community of West Yellowstone, Montana. As of 9 a.m. MST Friday, January 22nd, 1,033 earthquakes had been recorded since the swarm began occurring on Sunday afternoon, January 17th. Ten of the earthquakes have been magnitude 3.0 or greater, with a 3.8 magnitude earthquake recorded late Wednesday evening. The larger quakes have been felt by people in Old Faithful, West Yellowstone, Canyon, Mammoth Hot Springs, Grant Village, Madison, and Gardiner. No damage or injuries have been reported. Scientists are confident that the current earthquake activity is due to the shifting and changing pressures in the earth's crust, and not to any change or increase in volcanic activity in Yellowstone. The park is using this occasion to reinforce earthquake preparedness and to remind both employees and visitors how the unique and active geologic nature of the park has resulted in the creation of the world's largest collection of geysers, hot springs, and other hydrothermal features. Yellowstone averages about 1,600 earthquakes a year, and recorded 1,652 earthquakes in 2009. The park has experienced 80 earthquake swarms in the last 15 years. The last swarm of 133 very small earthquakes occurred in mid October 2009 near Heart Lake, in the south-central portion of the park. This earthquake activity is being monitored around-the-clock by staff of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, a cooperative effort of the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Utah. Generally, earthquakes less than magnitude 3.0 are not felt by people. It typically takes an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or greater to cause structural damage, and a magnitude 6.5 earthquake to cause the surface of the ground to rupture. A continually updated map and list of earthquakes in Yellowstone is available online at HYPERLINK "http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/Yellowstone.html". More information on the Yellowstone volcano and the park's geothermal systems can be found on the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center web site HYPERLINK "http://www.greateryellowstonescience.org". [Public Affairs, Yellowstone]
The remains of two Montana men who died while ice climbing a frozen waterfall in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone were successfully recovered Tuesday afternoon. The victims have been identified as M.E., 28, and M.K., 29, of Bozeman, Montana. Both have immediate family members who live in Wyoming. The men reportedly had several years of ice and mountain climbing experience. One victim was removed from the canyon early Tuesday afternoon. Melting ice near the rock ledge where the two men were discovered 300 feet beneath the canyon rim threatened to halt the recovery effort until Wednesday morning. However, use of a helicopter permitted the safe recovery of the second victim late Tuesday afternoon. Friends of the two men contacted the park about 1:00 p.m. Monday afternoon to report the pair had left Sunday for a day hike from Artist Point and had not returned. It was later discovered the two men had actually arrived in the park Saturday, and intended to ice climb Silver Cord Cascade. This series of waterfalls begins at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, northeast of Artist Point, dropping several hundred feet to the canyon floor and into the Yellowstone River. Members of the park's technical rescue team, the wildland fire crew, three climbing rangers from Grand Teton National Park, and a helicopter were all involved in the rescue and recovery effort. A rescue team member rappelled into the canyon as darkness fell Monday evening and found the two dead on a rock ledge. Initial observations of the scene and gear configuration indicate that the fall was likely due to collapse of the ice column during the men's ascent. The accident remains under investigation. All hiking and climbing in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is prohibited from Brink of the Upper Falls downriver to, but not including, the Silver Cord Cascade drainage. Rangers believe climbers attempt Silver Cord Cascade one to three times a year. These are the first accident fatalities in Yellowstone since a drowning in the southwest corner of the park last September. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A search is underway for an Oklahoma man missing in the park since Monday. During a routine patrol early on Monday morning, rangers found a 2010 Red Cadillac STS sedan with Oklahoma license plates parked at the Hellroaring Trailhead, west of Tower Junction. The vehicle, which had obviously been parked overnight, was not associated with an overnight backcountry permit. A check showed that P.K., 25, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, had rented the vehicle several days earlier. Limited personal belongings were discovered in the car. A preliminary search and questioning of hikers, backpackers, and area businesses was conducted, but didn't turn up any information on P.K.'s whereabouts. Dog teams were added to the search effort yesterday afternoon. P.K. is described as being 6 foot 1 inch tall, weighing 185 pounds, and having brown hair and hazel eyes. Rangers believe that he may have been in the area for up to two weeks, and may not have been using his own name in any contact with individuals or businesses. Anyone with information regarding P.K. is asked to call Yellowstone National Park at 307-344-7381. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
Nine park visitors were injured late Tuesday afternoon when they were struck by lightning. All were on the boardwalk or on walkways around Old Faithful Geyser when a small thunderstorm cell produced a single lightning bolt. Park staff immediately converged on the scene of the strike and began to triage the injured. Bystanders had started CPR on a 57-year-old man who was conscious and breathing when rangers arrived. He was taken to the Old Faithful Clinic, and then transported by an Air Idaho Rescue helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. His condition was not available as of late Wednesday morning. An 18-year-old man complained of shortness of breath. He was also taken by ambulance to the Old Faithful Clinic, where we has treated and released. Six others with minor injuries had gathered next to the building under an overhang to get out of the rain and hail which was coming down at the time. They had various complaints of shortness of breath, tingling, or numbness. They were all taken to the Old Faithful Clinic where they were treated and released. A ninth individual walked into the Old Faithful Ranger Station and reported being struck by lightning, but did not seek medical attention. Hundreds of visitors witnessed the incident, as they were awaiting the next eruption of the famous geyser. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers and investigators are still hoping the public can help with the ongoing search for a man missing since last Monday morning. A rental car belonging to 25-year-old P.K., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was discovered at the Hellroaring Trailhead in the north central section of the park early on the morning of Monday, May 31st. He had not applied for a permit to camp out overnight in the backcountry at one of the many campsites along the trail system in the area which leads to and parallels the Yellowstone River. A subsequent investigation revealed that the red Cadillac STS sedan with Oklahoma plates had been rented a month earlier and was two weeks overdue. Family members who were then contacted reported they had not been in touch with P.K. in recent weeks, and reported him missing. P.K. is described as standing 6 foot, 1 inch tall, weighing 185 pounds, and having brown hair and hazel eyes. Based upon information from his family, he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after serving for four years. During his service, he was injured twice by improvised explosive devices while serving in Iraq. He had moved to Oklahoma City from the Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota, area to attend college. His family is concerned about his mental state, and said he was suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome related to his injuries. A series of searches by ground teams and dog teams have failed to turn up any clues to his whereabouts, as has a call for the public to report any sightings of P.K. in the area prior to Monday morning. Investigators still believe he is in the park. Search efforts were slated to ramp up again over the weekend, as ground searchers and dog teams again focused on the backcountry northwest of Tower Junction. Cloudy, rainy weather, a low ceiling, and a lack of a focused search area has led searchers to focus efforts on the ground rather than utilizing helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. There is a chance, however, that P.K. is no longer in Yellowstone. Investigators in the area are asking anyone who may have seen or been in contact with P.K. in recent weeks to call Yellowstone National Park at 307-344-7381. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A motorcycle accident last Saturday afternoon in the northeast section of the park claimed the life of an Illinois man. J.F., 53, and two companions had rented motorcycles for a loop trip from Belgrade, Montana, through the park, over the Beartooth Pass, and back. J.F. was trailing the other two riders as they headed east into the Lamar Canyon when his Harley-Davidson struck a rock wall at the east end of the canyon. While the motorcycle remained on the road, J.F. went over the rock wall and down an embankment. There were no witnesses to the accident. J.F. was unconscious and not breathing when bystanders reached him. The helmet he was wearing had come off, and he suffered severe head trauma. He was declared dead at the scene. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A Minnesota man is dead and a young girl hospitalized after a head-on accident in the park on Wednesday afternoon. D.P., Jr., 42, was northbound between Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs around 2 p.m. when his motorcycle crossed the centerline near the Grizzly Lake trailhead. D.P.'s 2000 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle collided head-on with a southbound motor home, killing him instantly. A young girl who was riding in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle was thrown clear by the impact and injured. She was taken by an Air Idaho Rescue helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where she was last reported in stable condition. Investigators are still trying to determine if D.P. was wearing a helmet that was found at the scene. The injured girl was wearing a helmet. This is the second fatal motorcycle accident in the park this summer. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
F.J., 65, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was fishing in the Yellowstone River Thursday near Mud Volcano. Around noon, he lost his footing while attempting to walk out to a small island in the middle of the river and was quickly carried away by the strong current. Rangers, responding to a call from a witness to the incident, discovered the man nearly six miles downstream, lying face down in the water along the river bank north of Elk Antler Creek. Members of the park's technical rescue team, who are trained in swiftwater rescue, pulled him from the river. After he was examined by paramedics, F.J. was declared dead at the scene. The accident is being investigated. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A visitor from Utah was injured by a bison in a thermal area near Old Faithful on Monday evening. At about 8:30 p.m. on July 19th, a 49-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man were exiting the Biscuit Basin thermal area to rejoin their family group in the parking lot when a bison appeared in some nearby brush and charged them. The woman was struck and flipped in the air. She sustained injuries as a result of the bison's impact and her subsequent fall to the ground. As the man attempted to escape the bison's charge, he tripped and fell, sustaining injuries to his shoulder, hand, and foot. He was not injured by the bison. The family proceeded in their own vehicle toward Jackson, Wyoming. They were intercepted by park rangers near Grant Village, where the rangers and EMT staff provided medical assistance and ambulance transports for both parties to the hospital in Jackson. This is the second time that a park visitor has been charged and injured by a bison this summer. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of an Oklahoma man missing since May has been discovered. On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 14th, a group of researchers working off trail in the park's backcountry came upon human remains. They hiked out and notified rangers, who then hiked into the area Thursday to confirm the researchers' discovery. They found the body of a young man near the top of Garnet Hill, a prominent summit northwest of Tower Junction. The site is well off established trails and east of the Hellroaring Trailhead, where a rental car belonging to P.K. was discovered abandoned in late May. The body was removed by helicopter, and then taken to Bozeman, Montana, for a forensic autopsy, which confirmed the remains were those of the 25-year-old man. The autopsy revealed that P.K. died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. P.K. had been the subject of an HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=5118" ongoing searchsince May 31st, when a check on a red Cadillac STS sedan parked at the trailhead showed that the vehicle was two weeks overdue from an Oklahoma City car rental agency. Family members who were then contacted said they had not been in touch with P.K. in recent weeks and reported him missing. A series of searches by ground teams, dog teams, and from the air had failed to turn up any clues to the missing man's whereabouts until Wednesday's discovery by researchers. P.K. had been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after serving for four years. During his service, he was injured twice by improvised explosive devices while serving in Iraq. He had recently moved to Oklahoma City from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to attend college. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A 22-year-old woman died on Tuesday night at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained when she slipped under the surface of the water at Firehole River near Old Faithful. Lin Ching-Ling, a Taiwanese national, was submerged for approximately five minutes before bystanders were able to pull her out of the water. Rangers and a paramedic responded to a call received at approximately 1:35 p.m. regarding a woman who had been submerged in the water. A park visitor saw the woman on the bottom of the river, approximately 10 feet below the surface, and dove down to retrieve her. He then brought her to the water's edge, yelled for help, and immediately began CPR. A doctor and two nurses who happened to be in the area quickly took over CPR efforts. When park paramedics and rangers arrived, CPR was continued for about 40 minutes at the scene, at which point the patient regained a pulse. She was then taken by ambulance to Madison Junction where a waiting helicopter transported her to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. She later died. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A search is currently underway for 48-year-old S.I. of Burtonsville, Maryland, whose black 2009 Lexus IS-250 sedan was discovered abandoned at Craig Pass along the section of the Grand Loop Road linking Old Faithful and West Thumb during a routine patrol of the Isa Lake parking area on Sunday evening. S.I. was reportedly on a cross-country trip. Repeated searches from the ground and from the air have failed to turn up any clues as to his whereabouts. S.I. is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 215 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and has tattoos on his shoulder blades and right triceps. Anyone with information regarding the missing man is asked to call park dispatch at 307-344-7381. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
On January 13th, field trainee rangers Ben Littlefield and Chris Farrar were dispatched to a report of a minor in possession of alcohol at a concession employee dormitory. The rangers contacted C.R.D. and his 20-year-old girlfriend, who were occupying the same room. During the contact, the park dispatch advised that there was a protection order out of Colorado against C.R.D., prohibiting him from being in contact with his girlfriend. The girlfriend claimed, however, that she was voluntarily living with C.R.D.. During a follow-up investigation conducted by ranger Alec Chapman, Colorado advised they had an existing in-state arrest warrant for C.R.D. for failure to comply with conditions of probation stemming from his conviction for assaulting his girlfriend. Colorado, upon learning that C.R.D. was violating several conditions of probation, expanded the area of extradition to include surrounding states and asked the park to arrest him. Chapman and an ISB special agent investigated further and learned that C.R.D. had fraudulently obtained an employee vehicle permit and was operating a vehicle without liability insurance and valid registration. Chapman advised Littlefield and Farrar of the warrant and the other violations. On January 26th, Littlefield and Farrar saw what they suspected to be drug paraphernalia in C.R.D.'s vehicle and again contacted him and his girlfriend. At this time, the girlfriend was intoxicated and admitted that C.R.D. had provided her with the alcohol and that they had both used the marijuana pipe the rangers previously observed in their vehicle. C.R.D. admitted that he owned the pipe and had provided his girlfriend with alcohol. A search of the vehicle yielded more marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which tested positive for amphetamines. C.R.D. was arrested on the Colorado warrant and was subsequently charged via criminal complaint with one Class A drug possession misdemeanor and five Class B misdemeanors. The Yellowstone-based assistant U. S. attorney reached a plea agreement with C.R.D., and, on January 28th, he pled guilty and was convicted on two of the counts. He was sentenced to seven days confinement for possession of controlled substance and seven days for giving alcohol to a minor, both to run concurrently. C.R.D. was also placed on unsupervised probation for a period of five years, during which he is banned from Yellowstone. During his initial appearance, C.R.D. waived extradition on the Colorado warrant and remains in custody awaiting transfer to Colorado. [Chris Farrar, Field Training Ranger]
On September 13th, a West Yellowstone police officer who is also a deputized ranger contacted D.C., who was camped in his vehicle in an undesignated area within the park. The officer determined that D.C. was under the influence and had been driving with a suspended driver's license. He also saw a hypodermic needle in D.C.'s vehicle. D.C. was detained until rangers and an NPS drug detection K-9 unit arrived on scene. He was arrested, and, during a probable cause search of the vehicle utilizing the dog, heroin and methamphetamines were located and seized. Seventy rounds of .32 caliber ammunition were also located during the investigation. During an interview with Investigative Services Branch special agents, D.C. admitted to being a convicted felon and purchasing the ammunition. An investigation with Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm agents led to a determination that D.C. had affected interstate commerce though the possession of the ammunition. Last month, D.C. pled guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition (18 USC 922(g)(1)). He is being held pending sentencing in March. [Investigative Services Branch]
During a traffic stop on July 17, 2009, Yellowstone rangers determined that the passenger in the vehicle, S.S. of Altus, Oklahoma, had six prior felony convictions on his record - and that he was in possession of a loaded firearm. The subsequent investigation revealed that he was a leader of the Bloods street gang in Altus. A federal grand jury issued an indictment charging S.S. with violating the federal law prohibiting felons from possessing firearms (18 USC § 922(g)). S.S., who had been released on bond, was subsequently apprehended during a traffic stop in Oklahoma and was returned to the District of Wyoming. On September 7, 2010, S.S. plead guilty to the charge filed against him. On November 17, 2010, U. S. District Judge he was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment, a $200 fine, and three years' probation. [Investigative Services Branch]
Members of a tour group were issued citations Wednesday evening for walking on the cone of the world's most famous geyser. An individual from Wisconsin called to tip off park rangers after watching the situation unfold on the Old Faithful live streaming web cam. When the first park ranger arrived on scene, she found approximately 30 people off the boardwalk, standing around the cone of the geyser taking photographs. After getting them safely back on the boardwalk, members of the group told the ranger they had not seen any of the numerous and prominent signs they walked past which warn visitors of the dangers found in thermal areas and of the requirement to stay on boardwalks and designated trails. The tour group leader, the bus driver, and one member of the first group of four visitors who walked off the boardwalk were cited for being off trail in a thermal area, a violation of federal law with a $125 fine. Articles in the free park newspaper, on the park web site, podcasts, and on signs posted throughout the park, all remind visitors to stay on boardwalks and established trails when visiting Yellowstone National Park. For their safety and the safety of others, visitors are told to keep children close and not to run on boardwalks or on trails in thermal areas. Pets are not allowed in or near thermal areas. Swimming in the hot pools is prohibited. Unfortunately, almost every year one or more visitors who ignore all these warnings fall through the fragile, thin crust in a thermal area and are burned by the boiling water beneath. There are more than 10,000 geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and steam vents in Yellowstone National Park, the largest collection of hydrothermal features anywhere in the world. Old Faithful erupts about every 90 minutes, shooting a column of boiling water and steam 130 feet or more into the air. This is not the first time a web cam viewer has notified park rangers about visitors off boardwalk and on the cone of Old Faithful. The most famous prior incident occurred in May 2009, when six visitors were spotted urinating in the geyser cone. They were found guilty of a variety of charges, with one of the six fined $750, placed on three years of probation, and banned from the park for two years. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
Park road crews and avalanche experts are working to clear Sylvan Pass of more than 20 feet of snow and assess the continuing danger of wet snow slides that have kept the road closed since May 11th. Four significant slides in the pass - one resulting in a debris field 70 yards wide and 20 to 30 feet deep across the road - occurred on Wednesday and Thursday. The park is currently redirecting heavy road clearing equipment to support reopening operations. Avalanche crews searched the slide area yesterday with probes and canine rescue teams to ensure no motorists were caught in the slide. An unoccupied government vehicle sustained damage when it was partially buried in a major slide as a ranger was conducting an assessment of the area on foot on Wednesday. The ranger was not injured. Explosives were used yesterday to try and bring down some of the heavy, wet snow. Thirteen of 18 of the detonations were successful in releasing large amounts of snow. This snow slide activity is expected to continue until the weather pattern returns to freezing night time temperatures. The current forecast for the Sylvan Pass area is for daytime temperatures in the 50s over the next two to three days, which will continue to warm the heavy snowpack and make it increasingly unstable. Overnight lows in the past 48 hours have dipped just enough below freezing to create a thin layer of ice, but that crust melts quickly by midday. A blanket of heavy melting snow in the park's interior has also contributed to the roof collapse of the RV repair facility at Fishing Bridge and caused roof damage to roof of the Grant Village Visitor Education Center. No injuries were reported in either incident, and repair work is underway. [Dan Hottle, Public Affairs Office]
A rockslide has temporarily closed the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction. Rocks and debris were discovered early Saturday morning covering a section of road at the entrance to Blacktail Plateau Drive about eight miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs. Enough debris had been cleared from the road by Sunday to make emergency travel possible, but concerns remained about several car-sized boulders perched atop unstable material at the base of the slope immediately adjacent to the roadway. The park is planning on additional investigation by geo-technical consultants and considering work that may be needed to safely reopen the road to travel. This section of road will remain closed for several days. The temporary closure has cut off the scenic Lamar Valley and the park's northeast entrance from most of the rest of the park. Visitors can still travel to and from the area by taking US-212 to US-296 to WY-120, the route linking the communities of Cooke City, Montana, and Cody, Wyoming. Meanwhile, the park is mobilizing plows and personnel to open another route between the Lamar Valley and the rest of the park. Crews and equipment are being pulled off spring clearing of the Beartooth Highway and are instead working overtime to clear the road from Tower Junction over Dunraven Pass to Canyon Village. Weather and avalanche conditions on the pass permitting, this road could open to travel by next weekend. Park crews are also working to clear and repair the Blacktail Plateau Drive, a one-lane gravel seasonal scenic route which parallels the section of road closed by Saturday's rock slide. While not suitable for heavy visitor traffic, it's opening would allow for safer emergency travel and limited administrative travel to resupply the Yellowstone General Store at Tower Fall and support efforts to open Roosevelt Lodge on schedule on Friday, June 10th. The north, west and south entrances to Yellowstone are open, subject to temporary closures due to weather. Unstable snow conditions and the threat of snow slides continue to limit travel on the East Entrance road through Sylvan Pass to the hours of 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. The section of US-212 across Beartooth Pass, which links the park's northeast entrance with the community of Red Lodge, Montana, has yet to open for the season. Information on park road conditions is available 24 hours a day by calling the park's road information hotline at 307-344-2117. [Public Affairs Office]
The road from Mammoth Hot Springs through the Lamar Valley to Cooke City, Montana, reopened on Wednesday following a rock slide that closed it on May 28th. Park geologists and road maintenance crews, along with representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, examined the slide area just east of Blacktail Plateau Drive and determined the road was safe for vehicle travel after heavy equipment operators removed several car-sized boulders from the roadway. Park managers will aggressively monitor the slide area over coming weeks, especially during precipitation events, to assess the risk of any future slides. Internationally-recognized falling rock warning signs and no-stopping signs have been installed along a four-tenth-mile stretch through the slide area as a precaution for visitors, as the road has historically been a site for occasional "bear jams" - backups caused by visitors stopping to watch bears. No new material has fallen from the hillside since the original slide. Progress is also being made to clear the road between Tower Junction and Canyon Village over Dunraven Pass. Crews and snowplowing equipment were pulled off the spring clearing of the Beartooth Highway last weekend to focus on Dunraven pass, and are expecting to have the route opened, weather and avalanche conditions permitting, by this weekend. Once Dunraven is cleared, crews and equipment will return to US 212 to resume clearing operations on Beartooth Pass, which links the park's northeast entrance with the community of Red Lodge, Montana. The highway is currently scheduled to open the weekend of June 10th. Visitors can still travel into the Northeast Entrance of the park from Cody, Wyoming, by taking WY 120 to US 296 to US 212 through Cooke City, Montana. The north, west, and south entrances to Yellowstone are open, yet are subject to last-minute, temporary closures due to weather. Unstable snow conditions and the threat of snow slides continue to limit travel on the East Entrance Road through Sylvan Pass to between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. Information on park road conditions is available 24 hours a day by calling the park's road information hotline at 307-344-2117. [Dan Hottle, Public Affairs Officer]
Two bus drivers taken into custody Friday afternoon on suspicion of drunk driving made their initial court appearances on Monday. J.P., Jr., 44, and K.L.S, 42, both of Bozeman, Montana, appeared before a magistrate judge in the Yellowstone Justice Center in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. Acting on a phone tip, park rangers contacted the pair Friday at the Specimen Ridge trailhead in the Lamar Valley east of Tower Junction, where the two buses the men were driving were parked. Both were employed by Karst Stage of Bozeman, Montana. The firm had been hired by Bozeman Public Schools to provide transportation for a field trip by a group of middle school students. When taken into custody, J.P. had a blood alcohol content of 0.091, K.L.S. a blood alcohol content of 0.032. J.P. and K.L.S. each face three misdemeanor charges. Neither entered a plea during their federal court appearance Monday. Both men were released on signature bonds. [Public Affairs Office]
Recent safety inspections of commercial buses in the park resulted in the immediate arrest of 38-year-old S.P., of Forest Hills, New York, and the impounding of the 14-passenger bus he was driving under the auspices of S.C.T., Inc., of Brooklyn, New York. Originally arrested for operating with a suspended driver's license, S.P. pled guilty in magistrate's court to operating a commercial vehicle after the effective date of an unsatisfactory rating, as S.C.T. had been prohibited by the Department of Transportation from interstate operation of commercial passenger vehicles due to being significantly out of compliance with safety regulations for equipment and/or drivers. S.P. was fined $235 and placed on unsupervised probation for one year, during which time he is banned from operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone. The recent safety inspections resulted in one arrest, three drivers and four vehicles being taken out of service, and eight citations being issued. Fifty-three vehicles were inspected. This is the thirteenth year of an interagency inspection program in which Yellowstone rangers and state and federal transportation officials conduct inspections designed to ensure the safe operation and mechanical soundness of commercial buses and trucks on Yellowstone's roadways. This effort helps protect visitors, park employees and park resources from potential mishaps. Both the vehicle and the driver are evaluated in order to ensure full compliance with federal regulations that govern commercial vehicle operation. [Public Affairs Office]
Early Friday afternoon, a pair of hikers reported finding the body of a man along the eastern section of the Mary Mountain Trail. The 21-mile-long trail runs between Hayden Valley and the Lower Geyser Basin in the central section of the park. Rangers responding to the scene found the body of 59-year-old J.W. of Michigan along the trail about five miles west of the Hayden Valley trailhead. There were signs of grizzly bear activity at the scene, and an autopsy conducted on Sunday determined that J.W. had died from traumatic injuries sustained in a bear attack. The Mary Mountain Trail, the Cygnet Lakes Trail, and the section of the Hayden Valley west of the Grand Loop Road have been closed to hikers. Rangers, wildlife biologists, and park managers continue their investigation of the incident. Visitors are advised to stay on designated trails, hike in groups of three or more people, be alert for bears, make noise, carry bear spray, and not to run upon encountering a bear. Hikers and backcountry users are encouraged to check with staff at park visitor centers or backcountry offices for updated information before planning any trips in the central portion of the park. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers and wildlife biologists continue their investigation into the fatal bear attack that occurred the Thursday before last. The body of 59-year old J.W. of Chassell, Michigan, was discovered on Friday, August 26th, along the Mary Mountain Trail. The investigation and autopsy results confirm that J.W. had died the previous day of traumatic injuries suffered in a grizzly bear attack. Daily reconnaissance flights over the area have resulted in very few bear sightings. The three bear traps previously set out in the area have been moved to different locations, and five additional traps have been deployed in an attempt to capture grizzlies in the area. Results of DNA tests of hair samples taken from the attack site and from any bears that may be captured in the area will aid the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding this fatal attack. Yellowstone hosts over three million visitors a year, with an average of just one bear caused human injury a year. This is the second fatal bear attack in park this year and only the seventh in the park since it was established in 1872. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Specialist]
A grizzly bear sow and two cubs captured by Yellowstone National Park staff have been linked to the scene of the recent mauling death of a hiker in the Hayden Valley. Results from DNA tests obtained from bear hair and scat samples indicate the 250-pound, six- to seven-year-old sow was present at the scene on the Mary Mountain Trail where hiker J.W.'s body was recovered on August 26th. This is the same bear that was responsible for the death of hiker Brian Matayoshi during a defensive attack on July 6th on the Wapiti Lake Trail. Rangers and an interagency board of review determined Matayoshi's death near Canyon Village on the Wapiti Lake Trail resulted from a defensive attack by the sow protecting her cubs. "We will more than likely never know what role, if any, the sow might have played in Mr. J.W.'s death due to the lack of witnesses and presence of multiple bears at the incident scene," said Dan Wenk, the park's superintendent. "But because the DNA analysis indicates the same bear was present at the scene of both fatalities, we euthanized her to eliminate the risk of future interaction with Yellowstone visitors and staff." The adult female grizzly was captured on Wednesday, September 28th; her two cubs were captured the next day and placed in the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. The sow was euthanized on Sunday morning. Grizzly bear cubs typically adapt successfully to captivity. Adult bears that are removed from the wild do not adapt well to captivity. In the J.W. incident, Yellowstone officials determined that at least nine grizzly bears were feeding on two bison carcasses in the area, including one carcass which was located 150 yards from where J.W. was hiking alone on the Mary Mountain Trail. Seventeen bear "daybeds" were also found in the same vicinity. Capture operations, reconnaissance flights, and DNA sampling and testing will continue through the fall. Any future management decisions will be made on a case by case basis for any additional bears that are captured and provide a DNA link to the scene. Hikers are encouraged to travel in groups of three or more, make noise on the trail, and carry bear spray. Visitors are reminded that park regulations require people to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other large animals. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone NP]
On May 12th, rangers responded to a disturbance at the Xanterra Parks and Resorts employee pub in Yellowstone and arrested a Xanterra employee claiming to be Manuel Trevino III for disorderly conduct and being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that he posed a threat to others. At the Yellowstone jail, Trevino's fingerprints were scanned into the Joint Automated Booking System (JABS) system, which automatically runs fingerprints against an existing nationwide database. A ranger saw that Trevino's prints matched those of R.B., a previously deported alien with an extensive criminal history and many known identities. R.B. was in possession of false identification documents which were later found to have been used in his employment verification process to work in Yellowstone, an action that is in violation of a federal law on document fraud (8 USC 1324(c)). NPS special agents worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General during the investigation to confirm that R.B. was an alien who had illegally reentered the United States. R.B. was successfully prosecuted, and, pursuant to a plea agreement, was sentenced in September to 41 months in prison for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien into the United States (considered an aggravated reentry offense due to the type and severity of his past felony convictions) in violation of 8 USC 136(a)(1) and (2) and (b)(2). The JABS system went online in Yellowstone last January. [Investigative Services Branch]
A joint investigation by several law enforcement agencies, including the National Park Service, has resulted in the arrest and conviction of a man for possession of child pornography. In 2010, the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Montana Department of Justice began looking into an individual who was downloading child pornography. That led them to 57-year-old J.H.D., a concession employee who worked in the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone National Park and in Grand Canyon National Park. The subsequent joint investigation by Montana authorities, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service led to J.H.D.'s arrest at Old Faithful in October 2011. The forensic analysis of J.H.D.'s computers revealed he was in possession of hundreds of images of child pornography that included images of children engaged in sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence. J.H.D. was tried and convicted on federal charges of possession of child pornography. On March 15th, he was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming to ten years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. [Public Affairs, Yellowstone NP]
An 18-year-old woman died last Thursday in an accidental fall near Inspiration Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. M."M."S.R. of Kaliningrad, Russia, a Yellowstone concession employee on her first day in the park, was hiking the canyon's North Rim Trail with three other acquaintances when she ventured off trail onto a loose rock promontory, which quickly gave way underneath her. Rangers responded to a 911 cell phone call received late in the afternoon reporting that a woman had fallen into the canyon. With the assistance of ground spotters and a Teton Interagency helicopter, they spotted the woman's body at a point about 400 feet down the canyon wall and concluded that she had sustained non-survivable injuries. Despite the hazardous terrain, the body was successfully recovered from the canyon via a short-haul helicopter operation at approximately noon on Friday. [Public Affairs]
On June 20th, M.E., 50, a former National Park Service property technician, was sentenced for using a government computer to view child pornography. The judge sentenced him to five years probation, a $500 fine, and a $100 special assessment fee. M.E. will be required to register as a sex offender. [Public Affairs]
Dispatcher Martha Downing received a 911 call on the evening of July 19th reporting that a 67-year-old man had collapsed in the RV park at Fishing Bridge. The man's wife had witnessed the collapse and quickly began CPR; she also began pounding on the walls of the trailer to gain the attention of people in neighboring campsites. The neighbor who responded was a member of an ambulance company who carried an automated external defibrillator (AED) on his travels and administered multiple shocks. Law enforcement ranger Morgan Leech, park medic Eric Amundson, paramedics Trenton Harper and Ben Dowdy, and SCA John Hinshaw were among the park's first responders. They provided ALS interventions and were able to restore a pulse. The man was transported to the Lake Clinic and taken by life flight to Eastern Idaho Medical Center. Prior to departing Lake Clinic, he was alert and talking, and the initial report was that he would have no apparent deficits. A good lesson to take away is that early CPR and AEDs work. The man was not breathing and his heart was not beating on its own for close to twenty minutes. [Bonnie Schwartz, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone National Park rangers spent Monday responding to numerous incidents, including several involving significant injuries to visitors. C.D., 56, of Gernsheim, Germany, sustained a head injury when he was thrown from a horse near Tower Junction. He later died from his injuries after being flown by life flight to a Billings, Montana, hospital. A 37-year-old man from Provo, Utah, suffered thermal burns on the Solitary Geyser Trail in the Upper Geyser Basin. He was transported by ambulance to West Yellowstone, Montana, and from there by airplane to the Salt Lake City Burn Center. A 65-year-old British national from Bangkok, Thailand, suffered injuries when he was thrown into the air by a bull bison at Mammoth Hot Springs. He was transported to Memorial Hospital in Livingston, Montana. Yellowstone employees respond to an average of 700 emergency medical calls each year. [Public Affairs]
On August 9th, D.N., a former Yellowstone National Park employee, was sentenced to one year probation, fined $1,200, and ordered to pay $7,429 in restitution for embezzlement of government money. An investigation by the National Park Service's Investigative Services Branch revealed that D.N. stole money from Yellowstone's fee collection program in 2007. D.N. worked in the park finance office from 2003 until 2007. [Investigative Services Branch]
A head-on collision late last Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of a motorcyclist from northeast Wyoming. The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. between Madison Junction and the Gibbon Falls overlook. The 52-year-old motorcyclist was declared dead at the scene. A sport utility vehicle traveling southbound crossed the centerline of the road on the crest of a hill and into the path of three oncoming motorcycles. Cody, who was in the lead, had no time to react and was struck and was killed instantly. The other riders, who were traveling behind Cody, were able to lay their motorcycles down on their sides and avoid colliding with the SUV. The solo rider on one of the motorcycles was transported to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries; the two people on the other motorcycle were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Preliminary information from the investigation indicates the driver of the SUV may have nodded off momentarily, resulting in the SUV crossing the center line and hitting the motorcyclist head-on. The accident remains under investigation. [Public Affairs]
A two vehicle head-on collision was reported to park dispatch via a 911 call last Monday afternoon. The accident occurred on the Grand Loop Road between Lake Village and Grant Village, about two miles north of Pumice Point. Initial responding emergency units, primarily from Lake, Grant and Old Faithful, quickly extinguished a small fire in one vehicle and then began treatment of nine injured people. ICS was established and nine NPS ambulances and three NPS fire engines were dispatched in addition to more law enforcement and traffic control personnel. A hand line and extrication tools were also sent. A total of 22 EMS professionals (both ALS and BLS) and nine firefighters were eventually on scene. The three victims identified as most critical were taken to the Lake Clinic and then flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Two of three who were not in critical condition were taken by ambulances to Old Faithful Clinic, with the third transported to West Park Hospital in Cody. The remaining three victims were assessed and treated on scene and then released. One of the visitors taken to Idaho Falls subsequently succumbed to her injuries. A total of 44 NPS employees, including an additional ambulance from Grand Teton NP, responded to this accident; dispatch, maintenance, interpretation and resource management employees also assisted. The IC was Klint Powell, Lake backcountry ranger. The accident remains under investigation. [Bonnie Schwartz, Deputy Chief Ranger]
On January 18th rangers received a report of a person suffering from an allergic reaction at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. Ranger/paramedic Sonja Brester and ranger/EMT Steve Glaser responded via snowmobile and over-snow ambulance. When they arrived, they found that victim was showing signs of respiratory distress and was unable to speak. They quickly recognized the seriousness of the situation and took decisive action, administering the appropriate medications and treatments. A life-flight helicopter was called and transported the ailing visitor to an advanced care facility. After the call was wrapped up the medical staff from the helicopter company called to express their gratitude at how the patient was treated before the transport and credited Brester and Glaser with saving the visitor's life. [Kris Salapek, Deputy District Ranger]
On February 7th, C.M., 57, of Visalia, California, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for theft involving the use of fraudulent checks. Upon release from prison, she will be on supervised probation for a period of one year. The judge ordered immediate payment of the restitution in the amount of $2,263.55 and imposed several special conditions of probation. On June 6, 2012, the Yellowstone Association reported that C.M., a park concession employee, had used fraudulent checks at their retail sales outlets. An investigation by Yellowstone and Grand Teton rangers and an ISB special agent determined that she had victimized businesses in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and eight businesses in four counties in Montana and Wyoming. Search warrants were served on C.M., her vehicle, and her dormitory residence. During an interview, C.M. confessed to passing all of the fraudulent checks and on August 1, 2012, was arrested on felony charges. In consultation with surrounding jurisdictions, a plea agreement resulted in charging three counts of misdemeanor theft, with C.M. agreeing to make restitution to all ten victims. Significant assistance was provided by Yosemite National Park's law enforcement office in conducting the investigation. [Investigative Services Branch]
A 73-year-old man from southwest Montana died last Wednesday after losing his footing while fishing. The man was fishing in the Yellowstone River near the Nez Perce picnic ground in the Mud Volcano area when witnesses say he lost his footing in chest-deep water while attempting to cross the river and was carried approximately 200 yards downstream in the swift current. Another visitor ran downstream and pulled the unconscious man ashore and began CPR. Park rangers and medical staff were notified and responded but were unable to revive the victim. [Public Affairs Office]
Last Thursday morning, searchers discovered the body of a young man who went on a solo hike to a mountain peak in northwest Yellowstone Tuesday and failed to return. The last contact with 23-year-old J.A.P. was a cell phone call he made to friends about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. J.A.P. told his friends he was below the summit of Electric Peak, and that he was starting to descend the mountain because of nearby lightning. J.A.P. was reported missing by a friend about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and a search was begun the next day. It involved an aerial search by both airplane and helicopter and ground search by teams in 4-wheel drive vehicles, on horseback, and on foot. No clues on his whereabouts were found. J.A.P.'s body was discovered below the summit of Electric Peak shortly after the search resumed Thursday morning. The cause of death is under investigation. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, J.A.P. was working at a local Gardiner, Montana, business. Electric Peak is a nearly 11,000 foot mountain in the Gallatin Range, located west of Gardiner, Montana, in the northwest portion of the park. The National Park Service worked closely with a variety of agencies and landowners, including the Park County Sheriff's Office in conducting the search. [Public Affairs Office]
A young girl was fatally injured as a result of an incident which occurred in a park campground early on Saturday morning. Park rangers responded to a 911 call from a woman at the Grant Village Campground who told the emergency dispatcher that her three-year-old daughter had just shot herself with a handgun. Resuscitation efforts by responding emergency medical staff were unsuccessful. The incident remains under investigation. [Public Affairs]
Two Alaska men walked away from an airplane crash after their single-engine Piper 180 aircraft went down just outside the park's boundary near Sylvan Pass on the evening of Friday, October 11th. J.B., 61, and his son D.B., 25, both from Beluga, Alaska, were en route to Boise, Idaho. The pair had just taken off from Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming, when the crash occurred. The Park Country Sheriff's Office 911 Communications Center received a report on an overdue aircraft shortly after midnight on Friday. Rangers and personnel from Park County Search and Rescue began a joint search for the aircraft at first light on Saturday morning. Search crews were able to approximate the location of the aircraft through tracking signals from its emergency location transmitter. A county SAR aircraft located the wreckage shortly before 9 a.m. and was able to confirm that both occupants had survived. As rescuers began making their way to the site of the crash, approximately 1,500 yards south of the East Entrance Road, both men were seen walking out under their own power. The men sustained bruises, lacerations and possible fractures. Both were transported to West Park Hospital by ambulance. The exact cause of the crash is as yet undetermined. The investigation has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration in coordination with the National Park Service. [Public Affairs]
On the afternoon of March 27th, park dispatch received a 911 call from park employee Debi Roberts, 59, reporting that an ex-boyfriend was trying to break into her house in Gardiner, located outside the park, and that he had a gun. Yellowstone rangers were closest to the scene and responded under the terms of an MOU with the Park County Sheriff's Office. Deputies from the sheriff's office also responded, but were miles out of position. Minutes later, another 911 call came from one of Roberts' neighbors reporting that she had been shot and was bleeding and unconscious but breathing. The caller reported that the shooter might still be in the house and that he may have also been shot. Yellowstone rangers were first to arrive on scene and confirmed that the shooter was in a bedroom in Roberts' house and appeared to be dead. They secured the scene and began providing ALS care to Roberts, but she did not survive. When county deputies arrived, they took over the scene and the investigation. The initial investigation indicates a murder-suicide committed by Steve Cole, 63. Debi Roberts was a long-term maintenance employee in the Mammoth area of Yellowstone. Services will be held today at 6 p.m. at the Gardiner High School gymnasium. A reception will be held in the Gardiner Community Center after the service. All are invited to attend. [Bonnie Schwartz, Deputy Chief Ranger]
A 54-year old man was injured when his single-engine airplane crashed in the park on Monday morning. Shortly before 8:30 a.m., several callers reported that a small plane had crashed just north of the Gardiner Cemetery and east of Yellowstone Trail inside Yellowstone National Park. The accident site is south of the publicly-owned Gardiner Airport, which is outside the park boundary. The seriously injured pilot was removed from the wreckage and transported by ambulance to Gardiner Airport, then transferred to a Summit Air Ambulance helicopter and taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for treatment. The plane is an Aero Commander agricultural aircraft, which is designed to carry a single pilot and no passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified of the accident, which is under investigation. The Park County Sheriff's Office and Gardiner Ambulance joined Yellowstone National Park law enforcement rangers, firefighters, and EMS personnel in a park ambulance in responding to the incident. [Public Affairs]
A search is underway for a young man from Georgia who was swept down the Yellowstone River near Tower Junction on Monday evening. Three young concession employees reportedly used inner tubes to float the Lamar River on Monday. Floating the river is prohibited by park regulations due to safety concerns. Shortly after reaching the confluence of the Lamar and Yellowstone Rivers, two of the men got out of the water. The third man, 22-year-old D.L., was last seen about 7:30 p.m. Monday being propelled downstream by the rushing water, without either an inner tube or life jacket. Initial search efforts Monday evening failed to turn up any sign of D.L., who is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Search efforts were increased Tuesday, with a helicopter, three dog teams, and several small groups of people searching the Yellowstone River corridor from Tower Junction downstream to Gardiner, Montana. Approximately 50 people had been dedicated to the search effort as of mid-afternoon Tuesday. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
An eight-year-old California girl was killed in a fall into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on the morning of Sunday, August 17th. The young girl was hiking with family members along the trail to the brink of the Lower Falls when the accident occurred. About two thirds of the way down the trail toward the observation platform, she reportedly stepped off the trail, lost her footing, and fell approximately 550 feet into the canyon. Park personnel retrieved her body around noon on Sunday. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of a young man missing in since the evening of Monday, August 11th, has been recovered. Twenty-two year old D.L. had gone tubing Monday with friends on the Lamar River near Tower Junction. Shortly after reaching the point where the Lamar River flows into the Yellowstone River, his two companions managed to get to the river's edge and get out of the much faster moving water. D.L. was last seen being swept downstream, separated from his inner tube and without a life jacket. Search efforts began Monday evening. At its peak, over 50 people were involved in the search, which included a helicopter, three dog teams, and several groups of searchers on foot. Late last Friday, searchers spotted what they thought was a submerged body pinned to a large rock in a very steep and dangerous section of the Yellowstone River, about a quarter mile downstream from where D.L. was last seen. A swiftwater rescue team from Gallatin County, Montana, was called in on Saturday to navigate the river. Using kayaks and a raft anchored to both banks of the river, they were able to dislodge and recover D.L.'s body on Saturday afternoon. A helicopter was utilized to remove his body from the remote area. The corner made a positive identification Saturday evening. D.L., who was from northeastern Georgia community of Demorest, was in Yellowstone working as a summer seasonal employee at Roosevelt Lodge. An autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death. Floating the river is prohibited by park regulations. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A search was begun on Tuesday, August 26th, for K."K."W., 21, a park concession employee. K.W. reportedly missed several shifts at work and failed to meet a family member the previous afternoon as planned. After a brief search in the Old Faithful Lodge area, her body was found not far from the point she was reportedly last seen by a fellow employee. Details surrounding her discovery were withheld from the public until Wednesday afternoon to allow for notification of family members. The incident remains under investigation by National Park Service park rangers and special agents. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
An autopsy has been completed on a Yellowstone concession employee whose body was found in the Old Faithful area earlier this week. The autopsy determined that the cause of death was suicide. K."K."W. was reported missing after failing to meet a family member on August 26th and after missing several shifts at work. After a brief search that evening, the body of the 21-year-old Twin Bridges, Montana, woman was found in the Old Faithful Lodge area. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
Just after 8:30 a.m. on September 10th, park dispatch received a report of a woman in her 70s experiencing difficulty breathing at the Grant Village campground. Rangers and volunteers were dispatched to her location. By the time they arrived, her heart had stopped. Ranger/paramedic Bob Elliott took charge of providing care while an air ambulance responded. CPR and other advanced life support measures were employed to restore the woman's pulse. Due to weather conditions, she was taken by park ambulance toward the park's south entrance and then transferred to an Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center medevac helicopter at Flagg Ranch and flown to St. Johns Hospital in Jackson. Later that afternoon, rangers were dispatched to a report of an 80-year-old man who was choking in the Tower-Roosevelt area. Minutes after the man collapsed, visitors and Xanterra concession staff began CPR and called for help. EMT/rangers quickly responded to the man's location down a two-mile-long dirt. Rangers Tom Schwartz and Matt Lussier provided patient care. The man soon regained a pulse and began breathing on his own. He was taken by ambulance to a location where he could be picked up by Summit Air Ambulance and flown to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Rangers and NPS medics responded to a total of nine medical calls on September 10th. Six of the nine were related to cardiac problems, including these two CPR calls. [Bonnie Schwartz, Acting Chief Ranger]
Three cases regarding the illegal use of unmanned aircraft in Yellowstone National Park have resulted in three convictions. D.C. of Molalla, Oregon, was charged with violating the ban after he flew his unmanned aircraft over the crowded Midway Geyser Basin and close to bison on August 19th. He pled guilty to the charge of violating a closure and was fined $1,000 plus court costs. In late September, T.V.V. of the Netherlands entered a guilty plea in connection with an August 2nd incident in which his unmanned aircraft crashed into Grand Prismatic Spring. He was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay over $2,200 in restitution. Earlier in September, A.M. of Germany pled guilty to charges arising from operating an unmanned aircraft which crashed into Yellowstone Lake near the West Thumb Marina back on July 18th. A.M. was sentenced to a one year ban from the park, was placed on one year of unsupervised probation, and was ordered to pay over $1,600 in fines and restitution. All three successfully prosecuted cases arose from well documented violations of the prohibition on the operation of unmanned aircraft in park along with other violations of park regulations or impacts to park resources. The regulation was enacted due to the conflict or impact with a variety of park uses, including disturbance of wildlife, impacts or damage to sensitive geothermal areas, and the creation of public safety hazards posed by their unregulated use. The ban is contained in the 2014 update to the Superintendent's Compendium, which can be found online at HYPERLINK "http://go.usa.gov/mzRV" http://go.usa.gov/mzRV. In addition, Director Jarvis signed a policy memorandum in late June that directs superintendents nationwide to prohibit launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service. As these three instances illustrate, park rangers are enforcing the ban on unmanned aircraft operation in Yellowstone National Park. Violators could be subject to a mandatory court appearance, confiscation of their unmanned aircraft, and if found guilty could be subject to fines and other penalties. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
A woman who was caught with about 260 pounds of marijuana in her possession in the park has been sentenced in federal court. D.W. of Bowden West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in jail for possession with intent to distribute approximately 118 kilograms of marijuana and for aiding and abetting. Rangers contacted D.W. for camping illegally in her recreation vehicle. During the contact, they smelled marijuana and asked her if she had anymore. D.W. responded she had approximately 260 pounds in the back of the RV. [Investigative Services Branch]
The body of a Montana man was discovered this past weekend along a park ski trail. Snowshoers called 911 around noon on Saturday after spotting what they thought was a frozen human body in the snow along a groomed ski trail in the northern part of the park. Rangers responded to the Frog Rock Trailhead, which is south of the Grand Loop Road, eight-and-a-half miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs. They discovered the body of 52-year-old M.M. from Belgrade, Montana, not far from the ski trail along the Blacktail Plateau Drive. While initial indications are that the man succumbed to hypothermia, the incident remains under investigation. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]
On November 30, 2010, a concession employee reported to the National Park Service that D.R. had stolen her credit card information and then fraudulently used the card to purchase items while within the boundaries of the park. An investigation conducted by the Investigative Services Branch revealed a series of fraudulent purchases by D.R. totaling approximately $2,792 between September 4 and October 13, 2009. The total financial loss to the victim was estimated at $4, 600. On January 2, 2015, D.R. was arrested on a warrant in Washington State and held pending trial. Rangers from Lake Roosevelt NRA assisted with the coordination and transport of D.R. for his initial appearance. D.R. pleaded guilty to three counts of misappropriation of property and services and was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and a year's supervised release and ordered to pay full restitution to the victim. [Investigative Services Branch]
A Taiwanese girl sustained serious but not life threatening injuries in an encounter with a bison in the Old Faithful area on Friday, May 16th.. Shortly after noon, the 16-year-old exchange student was visiting Upper Geyser Basin with her host family. While hiking near Old Faithful Geyser, the family joined a group of people watching a bison grazing adjacent to the trail. According to firsthand reports, the group was somewhere between three and six feet from the bison. The girl turned her back to the bison to have her picture taken when the bison lifted its head, took a couple steps and gored her. When responding rangers arrived on scene, there was a group of people fewer than ten feet from the grazing bison. The rangers, with assistance from bystanders, moved the girl a safe distance from the bison. The girl was transported to the Old Faithful Clinic, treated and then flown to a hospital by helicopter ambulance for further medical treatment. [Amy Bartlett, Public Affairs Office]
Rangers saved a man from New York after he fell approximately 25 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on Sunday, May 10th. Shortly before 5:30 p.m., a 71-year-old man was attempting to take a picture of a sign at Grand View at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone when he stumbled backwards over a stone barrier and into the canyon. After falling approximately 25 feet, he was able to stop himself at the top of a precipice by bracing his body and feet on opposing sides of a small crevice. A visitor who witnessed the man's fall ran to a nearby parking lot to call 911. The first two rangers on scene threw a looped rope down to the man and secured him to a sign and tree at the top of the canyon. Park employees and members of the park's technical rescue team responded to the scene and set up a system of ropes and pulleys to carry out the rescue. One harnessed member of the technical rescue team descended to the man's location and secured him to the pulley system. The man was then able to walk to safety with assistance from the ropes, pulleys, and ranger. According to staff on scene, the man was extremely lucky. The crevice and the angle of his body during the fall helped the man stop at the top of a 200 foot drop. A fall just inches to the left might have resulted in a fatality, as the canyon wall is mostly steep loose rock. The man was transported by ground ambulance to a helicopter ambulance for a possible hip injury. Seventeen Park Service staff assisted with this rescue. [Public Affairs Office]
A 62-year-old Australian man sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries after an encounter with a bison near Old Faithful Lodge yesterday morning. According to witness reports, several people were crowding a bison that was lying on the grass near an asphalt path when the man approached it while taking pictures with an electronic notepad. He got to within three to five feet from the bison when it charged him, tossing him into the air several times. When responding rangers arrived on scene, the bison was approximately 100 yards from the injured man. He was flown to a hospital for treatment. Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run and are unpredictable and dangerous. Visitors are advised to always give the animals enough space to avoid crowding the animal. [Public Affairs Office]
Two people were injured after getting too close to bison in separate incidents over the last two weeks. The first encounter occurred on June 23rd when an off-duty concession employee came upon a bison while walking off trail after dark in the Lower Geyser Basin area; the second incident occurred on July 1st when a visitor encountered a bison while hiking the Storm Point trail in the Yellowstone Lake area. The first incident happened when a 19-year-old visitor and three friends were returning to their car after swimming in the Firehole River late at night. The girl and a companion were walking in the dark when they came upon a bison lying down about 10 feet from them. The companion turned and ran from the bison, but before the girl could react, the bison charged her and tossed her in the air. The girl's friends helped her to their car and drove back to Canyon Village, where all four live and work. At Canyon, the girl went to bed, but awoke a short time later feeling ill. Around one in the morning, the party called the Yellowstone Interagency Communication Center asking for medical help. Rangers transported her by ambulance to a hospital outside the park. She was was treated for minor injuries and released later that day. The second incident occurred when a 68-year-old visitor was hiking on the Storm Point trail, approximately 300 yards from the trailhead, and encountered a bison near the trail. The woman continued on the trail; as she passed the bison, it charged and gored her. A witness ran up the trail to report the incident to an interpretive ranger leading a hike in the area. Shortly before 4:30 p.m., the ranger reported the incident to the Yellowstone Interagency Communication Center. Due to serious injuries, the woman was transported to Lake Clinic by ambulance and then flown to a hospital outside the park. These were the third and fourth bison encounters to occur in Yellowstone National Park this summer. The other two occurred when visitors in the Old Faithful area approached too close to bison. Both visitors in those incidents were flown to a hospital due to their injuries. [Public Affairs Office]
A 43-year-old woman from Mississippi received minor injuries Tuesday when she turned her back on a bison to get a photo with it near the Fairy Falls trailhead. She was the fifth person injured after approaching bison this season. The woman and her daughter were by the trailhead sign when they decided to take a picture with a bison that was approximately six yards away from them near the trail. When they turned their backs to the bison to take the picture, someone warned that they were too close. They heard the bison's footsteps moving toward them and started to run, but the bison caught the mother on the right side, lifted her up and tossed her with its head. The woman's father covered her with his body to protect her and the bison moved about three yards away. The family drove to the Old Faithful Clinic, where the woman was treated and released with minor injuries. "The family said they read the warnings in both the park literature and the signage, but saw other people close to the bison, so they thought it would be OK," said Old Faithful District Ranger Colleen Rawlings. "People need to recognize that Yellowstone wildlife is wild, even though they seem docile. This woman was lucky that her injuries were not more severe." The park has again reminded visitors that wildlife should not be approached, regardless of how tame or calm they appear. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, visitors must give it a wide berth and not approach it closer than the required minimum distances - 25 yards away from all large animals (bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes) and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Bison can run three times faster than humans can sprint and are unpredictable and dangerous. Visitors are advised to give the animals enough space and alter their plans to avoid interacting with an animal in close proximity. [Public Affairs Office]
A search is underway for F."I."X., a 21-year old man from China. F.X. is a seasonal concessioner employee in the park and was backpacking with four friends last Thursday when he disappeared while swimming in the Yellowstone River near its confluence with Hellroaring Creek in the northern section of the park. F.X. was in the water with two of his companions around 11:45 am when he was pulled away from the shore by the current of the swiftly flowing river. F.X. was struggling to stay afloat as unsuccessful efforts were made to pull him back to shore. He was swept downriver into a long stretch of rapids before he disappeared from view. A member of the party placed a 911 call to park dispatch at 12:39 pm. Rangers immediately began responding on horseback and on foot. Responders reached the river and met with the reporting party at 2:44 pm. Initial search efforts Thursday afternoon did not turn up any sign of F.X., who is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Search efforts were increased on Friday; a helicopter, two dog teams, and 20 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park employees actively searched for him in the Yellowstone River corridor. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of F."I."X. is asked to call Yellowstone National Park at 307-344-2643. [Public Affairs Office]
Preliminary results of an investigation into the recent death of a hiker in the park show that the man was attacked by a grizzly bear. While the exact cause of death has not been determined, investigators have identified what appear to be defensive wounds on the victim's forearms. The victim's body was found partially consumed and cached, or covered, in the vicinity of the Elephant Back Loop Trail near Lake Village on Friday afternoon. Based on partial tracks found at the scene, it appears that an adult female grizzly and at least one cub-of-the-year were present and likely involved in the incident. The Montana man was a long-term seasonal employee of Medcor, the company that operates three urgent care clinics in the park. He had worked and lived in Yellowstone for five seasons and was an experienced hiker. He was reported missing on Friday morning when he did not report for work. A park ranger found his body in a popular off-trail area he was known to frequent, approximately a half mile from the Elephant Back Loop Trail. Additional rangers and wildlife biologists responded to the scene and gathered evidence for bear DNA recovery. The investigation will continue, although heavy rains in the area Friday evening and Saturday morning have made additional evidence recovery difficult. A forensic autopsy is currently scheduled for today. Wildlife biologists set bear traps in the area on Friday evening. If bears are trapped and identified as having been involved in the attack, they will be euthanized. "We may not be able to conclusively determine the circumstances of this bear attack, but we will not risk public safety," said Superintendent Dan Wenk. "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with the loss of someone who loved Yellowstone so very much." The Elephant Back Loop Trail and immediate area will remain closed until further notice. Signs are posted and maps of the closure area are available at park visitor centers. [Public Affairs Office]
Three defendants from the Canadian group High On Life appeared before a federal magistrate in the park on January 19th to face charges on a number of violations in Yellowstone and in other western national parks and BLM areas. Two other members of the group appeared in court last November. C.G., A.L., and J.B. pleaded guilty to violations in Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Mesa Verde National Park; Hamish Cross, Park Heuser pleaded guilty to violations in Yellowstone and Death Valley on November 1st. C.G. and A.L. pleaded guilty to charges in Yellowstone that included disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous condition and foot travel in a thermal area. They also pleaded guilty to charges for commercial photography without a permit in Zion; use of a drone in a closed area, riding a bike in wilderness, and commercial photography without a permit in Death Valley; and the use of a drone in a closed area in Mesa Verde. Each was sentenced to serve seven days in jail and to pay more than $2,000 in fines, plus restitution, community service payments, and fees. They'll be on probation for five years and banned from public lands. As a condition of their probation, they will remove all photographs and videos taken of public lands where they were charged with violations from their social media sites. J.B. pleaded guilty to charges in Yellowstone that included disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous condition and foot travel in a thermal area. He agreed to pay over $3,500 in fines, restitution, community service payments, and fees. He too will be on probation for five years and will be banned from public lands. On May 16, 2016, a concerned citizen contacted rangers in Yellowstone after seeing four individuals walking on Grand Prismatic Spring. During the course of the investigation, rangers identified the four involved in the violations in Yellowstone National Park and arrest warrants were issued. Through the use of social media and tips from the public, additional investigations were conducted about the group's activities on other federal lands. The High On Life group was also issued violation notices by rangers at Zion, Death Valley, Yellowstone and Mesa Verde and at two BLM areas — Corona Arch and Bonneville Salt Flats. Source: Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
Hikers discovered a mortally wounded female wolf inside the park near Gardiner, Montana, on April 11th. Park staff responded quickly, and, due to the severity of the wolf's injuries, euthanized the animal. The body was then sent to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, for a necropsy. Preliminary results from the necropsy of the Canyon Pack alpha female wolf showed that she suffered from a gunshot wound. Investigators believe that the wolf was shot on the north side of the park near Gardiner, or possibly near the Old Yellowstone Trail, which is located in the park on the northern boundary. The incident likely occurred sometime between April 10th at 1 a.m. and April 11th at 2 p.m. This wolf was one of three known white wolves in the park. She lived to be 12 years old, twice the age of the average wolf in the park, and had a broad range that extended from Hayden Valley to the Firehole River area to the northern portion of the park. As the alpha female for over nine years with the same alpha male, she had at least 20 pups, 14 of which lived to be yearlings. She was one of the most recognizable wolves in the park and was sought after by visitors. Due to the serious nature of this incident, a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was responsible for this criminal act. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the park's Investigative Services Branch. Tips will be kept confidential:
Source: Press Release, Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
Yellowstone National Park is now offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting a wolf on the north side of the park near Gardiner, Montana. It's believed that the incident took place sometime between April 10th at 1 a.m. and April 11th at 2 p.m. "Due to a tremendous desire by groups and individuals to donate for this reward, the park has established a Yellowstone Resource Rewards Fund through our charitable partner, Yellowstone Forever," said Superintendent Dan Wenk. "Up to $25,000 from this fund will pay for the reward in this case if there is a conviction. Any money left over will be held for future resource violation cases in the park." Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the park's Investigative Services Branch. Tips will be kept confidential:
Source: Press Release, Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
On Friday, June 9th, park search crews found the body of an Illinois man who failed to return from a day hike he took on Wednesday on Rescue Creek Trail near the park's North Entrance. J.M., 53, evidently died in a fall from Turkey Pen Peak. The park began looking for J.M. when his wife reported him missing on Thursday. At its peak, the search involved eight hiking teams, five dog teams, four horse teams, and a helicopter. The Rescue Creek Trail, which had been closed due to this search, has reopened. Source: Press Release, Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
G.G., 21, of Raleigh, North Carolina, sustained severe burns after falling into a hot spring late on Tuesday, June 13th. The incident occurred in the Lower Geyser Basin off of Fountain Flat Drive just north of the Old Faithful area. G.G., currently an employee with Xanterra Parks and Resorts, was with seven other people when he fell. Members of the group attempted to evacuate G.G. by car. Just before midnight, they flagged down a ranger near Seven Mile Bridge on the West Entrance Road. Park staff provided immediate medical assistance and transported G.G. via ambulance to the airport in West Yellowstone. From there, he was flown to a hospital. Since rangers were not at the scene of the incident, it is not yet clear exactly where and how it occurred. Investigations continue. This was the first serious injury in a thermal area this year. Last June, a man left the boardwalk and died after slipping into a hot spring in Norris Geyser Basin. In August 2000, one person died and two people received severe burns from falling into a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin. Source: News Release, Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
T.C., a 23-year-old kayaking guide from Salt Lake City, Utah, died while attempting to rescue a client who capsized in the West Thumb area on Yellowstone Lake on Wednesday, June 14th. The kayaking group consisted of nine clients and three guides. After receiving a call through the park's dispatch center, rangers responded to the scene in a patrol boat and found T.C. in the water. They brought him on board and immediately started CPR while in route back to the dock. CPR continued as T.C. was transported to the nearby helipad at Grant Village via ambulance. A Life Flight helicopter landed to assist, but T.C. was pronounced dead before taking off. The client who T.C. attempted to save was rescued by other guides in the group and brought to shore before rangers arrived on scene. The client was transported to the park clinic and treated for hypothermia. The incident remains under investigation. T.C. worked as a guide for Oars, a company based out of Angel Camp, California. Oars has offered non-motorized boat tours in Yellowstone under a permit since 1996. This was his first season working for Oars as a guide. Since 1894, there have been 41 deaths in Yellowstone Lake. The most recent was in 1997, when two people died while canoeing. Source: Press Release, Morgan Warthin, Yellowstone NP.
A man and woman sustained injuries on the morning of June 28th when they were butted by a bison at Mud Volcano, which is just north of Lake Village. T.S., 74, and his wife, P.H., 72, both from Heber City, Utah, were taking photographs on a boardwalk at Mud Volcano when a bison approached them. The bison butted P.H., who fell into T.S.. Both individuals then fell to the ground. Park rangers responded immediately and evacuated the couple from the trail to the road. They were taken to the Lake Clinic. T.S. had minor injuries; P.H. was transported by Life Flight to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she was last reported in stable condition. Source: Press release, Yellowstone NP.
As many as 10 workers in Yellowstone National Park's maintenance division will be disciplined after an investigation found female employees being subjected to sexual harassment and other problems. The Office of the Inspector General launched its investigation into Yellowstone last year when a park employee complained to a local magazine and members of Congress that a pervasive "men's club" environment had encouraged the exploitation and abuse of female workers. The inspector general's investigation also found that government-issued charge cards in the maintenance division had been misused. Superintendent Dan Wenk said that personnel actions could range from reprimands to suspensions or firing. The workers can appeal before the penalties become final. Since the harassment allegations emerged last year, park supervisors have undergone mandatory sexual harassment training. Similar training is happening this summer for all seasonal and permanent employees. Investigators found that between 2010 and 2016, six women who had previously worked in the maintenance division had faced derogatory comments or actions that made them feel uncomfortable. They said the division's supervisor described the culture at Yellowstone as a "good old boy system" that was rampant in the 1990s but has improved over time. Source: News story, NBC News.
On September 8th, National Park Service biologists captured and killed a bear near Heart Lake in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The immature, male grizzly was repeatedly involved in conflicts with humans. This bear began exhibiting bold behavior around people in 2015. At that time, Wyoming Game and Fish personnel captured the bear, tagged it, and relocated it to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. In 2016, the same bear entered campsites in the Heart Lake area of Yellowstone and destroyed backpackers' tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. National Park Service staff attempted to change the bear's dangerous behavior through the use of electric decoy tents, electric food sack decoys, and by hazing with bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, and cracker shells. These efforts failed. Attempts to trap the bear also failed. Hikers reported observing the bear around campsites and investigating tents in the Heart Lake area this past summer. On the evening of August 26th, the bear forced a group of three backpackers out of their campsite near Heart Lake and consumed all of their food. In response, Yellowstone closed the area to backcountry camping on August 27th and set traps for the bear on September 1st. The bear was captured and killed on the morning of September 8th. Source: News Release, Yellowstone National Park.
Special agents were alerted this past January of the possible embezzlement of funds from a child care center in the park. Following an investigation, D.M. admitted to agents that she made unauthorized personal purchases using center funds. Miles is the former director of Little People's Learning Center, a private daycare located in Mammoth Hot Springs. At a recent sentencing hearing in federal court, D.M. was ordered to pay $570 in restitution as well as a $1,000 fine. She was also sentenced to serve 14 days in jail. Source: News release, Investigative Services Branch.
Although the parks weren't overrun with violators during last week's brief government shutdown, several incidents have been reported: Yellowstone National Park — Tourists on a commercial snowmobile broke park rules by driving too close to Old Faithful geyser on Sunday, January 21st, at a time when most staff was furloughed during the partial government shutdown. A concession operator who is authorized to conduct snowmobile tours through Yellowstone — and was allowed to continue doing so even as most park employees stopped work that weekend — violated park rules. The culprits were spotted on a park webcam and the concessioner faces a mandatory court appearance. The geyser was not harmed. If you've heard of any other incidents, please send them along. Sources: Washington Post and St. George Spectrum.
Sometime on the night of February 21st, the fences at the Stephens Creek Facility were compromised, releasing 73 of the 96 bison that were inside the pen. Many, if not all, of the bison remained in the immediate area, and most returned to the pen via the same illegal fence openings over the course of the morning. Park staff had the fence repaired by midday. None of these bison had yet been processed or tested for brucellosis. Some would have been held for possible quarantine, while others would have been transferred to Native American tribes and shipped to slaughter. This was the second such incident this year. On the morning of January 16th, park staff discovered that 52 bison had been released from the facility. At the time of the initial report (January 17th), none of them had yet been found. No follow-up report on that incident has been issued. These animals were being held and tested for brucellosis at Stephens Creek as part of a plan being considered to establish a quarantine program. The purpose of that program would be to augment or establish new conservation and cultural herds of disease-free plains bison, enhance cultural and nutritional opportunities for Native Americans, reduce the shipment of Yellowstone bison to meat processing facilities, and conserve a viable, wild population of Yellowstone bison. Criminal investigations into both incidents are underway. The park is reviewing security measures at the facility and will make improvements immediately. Source: Yellowstone news January 17th and February 22nd news releases.
A 53-year-old Illinois man who fell to his death in Yellowstone National Park last year was looking for a supposed hidden cache of gold and jewels. KULR-TV in Billings, Montana, reports that J.M. of Batavia, Illinois, was looking for the treasure that antiquities dealer Forrest Fenn says he stashed somewhere in the Rocky Mountains several years ago. The investigation by Yellowstone officials into J.M.'s death was kept private, but KULR obtained it through a Freedom of Information Act request. The investigative report reveals J.M.'s wife told park authorities that J.M. was looking for the treasure when she called to report him missing. J.M.'s body was found in the park on June 9, 2017. He had fallen about 500 feet down a steep slope. The report ruled the death an accident. Thousands have hunted in vain across remote corners of the Western U.S. for the supposed buried treasure. Source: Sacramento Bee.
Three activists were arrested a week ago yesterday for attempting to block the slaughter of Yellowstone bison. Two people locked themselves inside the squeeze chute at the park's Stephens Creek corrals early Tuesday morning. The chute is where bison are readied for slaughter. Other protesters were also there, holding signs signaling their opposition to the annual cull of Yellowstone bison. The two were arrested for entering the area around the corrals, which is closed to the public. No damage was done to the facility. A third person has also been arrested, also for entering a closed area. The three activists are connected to a group called W.B.D. On its Facebook page, the group calls itself a "collective of indigenous and non-native organizers dedicated to seeing wild buffalo roam free on the plains." The group has identified the three people who were arrested as C.C., T.B. and H.P. Initial court appearances are scheduled for Wednesday. In a phone interview, A.L., a spokesman for W.B.D., declined to say how many people are involved in the group or how long it had been active. He described it as an "autonomous grassroots group" and said they wanted to intervene in the annual slaughter of bison "directly and nonviolently." The park works with other federal, tribal and state government agencies to reduce its bison population each year. A management plan calls for a population of about 3,000. Last August, Yellowstone biologists estimated the population at about 4,800 animals. The reduction comes through slaughter and hunting. Last year, more than 1,200 bison were culled. This past winter, managers agreed to try to remove between 600 and 900 bison. Rangers previously arrested two other protestors who'd chained themselves to cement-filled barrels in an effort to prevent trucks from taking bison to slaughterhouses. The two were members of Wild Buffalo Defense. In a post on the group's Facebook page, they're identified as Wolf and Coyote. Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, March 6th; Bozeman Daily Chronicle , March 16th
On the afternoon of May 1st, 72-year-old V.J. of Boise, Idaho, was butted in the thigh, pushed, and tossed off a trail by a bison in the Old Faithful area. V.J. did not see the animal as she walked around a bend in the trail and wasn't able to move away before the animal dropped its head and pushed her off the trail. Rangers responded to the incident and treated V.J.'s minor injuries. V.J. was transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho. No citations were issued. This was the first incident of a bison injuring a visitor this. There were five such incidents in 2015 and one last year. Source/full story: Yellowstone NP.
Park staff were busy during the first week of June responding to incidents in which people were injured by animals, two of them visitors and the third a concession employee:
Sources: Casper Star-Tribune; CBS News; SFGate.com
A man who was caught on video while harassing a bison in Yellowstone National Park in early August was arrested days later in Glacier National Park. R.R., 55, of Pendleton, Oregon, actually "scored a trifecta," reports the Billings Gazette, "managing to get cited in three national parks during the [same] week." R.R. was first arrested by rangers in Grand Teton National Park on July 28th for an alleged drunk and disorderly incident. After spending the night in the Teton County Jail, he was released on bond. Three days later, he was in Yellowstone National Park, where a vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped for a traffic violation. According to park officials, R.R. appeared to be intoxicated and argumentative, and they cited him for not wearing his seat belt. It was evidently after this traffic stop that R.R. encountered the bison as vehicles stopped to let it walk down the road. In a video that's since gone viral (here's a version that appeared on a news show) and sparked outrage internationally, a man who officials said is R.R. can be seen wearing blue shorts, a turquoise shirt, and white socks without shoes. The man walked toward the bison, which at that point was ambling down the side of the road. He waved his arms like a matador, and the bison charged at him. The man ran in a circle while the bison stood in the road, and waved his arms again, prompting the bison to charge at him again. The bison eventually walks away. Numerous visitors reported the wildlife harassment, and rangers found R.R. later that evening and issued a citation for a court appearance. At that point they hadn't seen the video, but once they learned of his history and saw the "egregious nature of the wildlife violation," his bond was revoked. R.R. had told rangers he was planning to travel to Glacier National Park, and rangers issued a "be on the lookout" alert for his vehicle. While they were searching, rangers also responded to a disturbance at the Many Glacier Hotel, where two guests were arguing in the dining room. It just so happened that one of them was R.R.. R.R. was arrested on federal charges and taken to Mammoth Hot Springs, where he made an initial appearance in federal court. He faces five charges, including being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that endangers himself or others; interference/resisting; making unreasonable noise; storing an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle; and disturbing wildlife. Source: Billings Gazette.
A bear charged a family hiking in Yellowstone National Park on Thursday, August 23rd, knocking down and injuring a 10-year-old boy before his parents were able to drive the animal off with bear spray. The unidentified boy from Washington state was transferred to a hospital for puncture wounds to his back, wounds around his buttocks, and an injured wrist. It's not clear whether the bear that attacked the boy was a grizzly or a black bear. Yellowstone averages about one bear attack on a human per year, but it's been three years since the last attack within park boundaries. The family of four was hiking along the Divide Trail southeast of Old Faithful when the bear charged from the vegetation, chased the boy, and knocked him to the ground. The boy's parents sprayed the bear's head from a distance of about five feet, causing it to leave. The family walked to the trailhead and drove to the ranger station at Old Faithful, where they were sent to a nearby clinic. The boy was then transferred to a hospital in Big Sky. The cause of the attack has yet to be determined. Source: KOMO News.
R.R., 55, of Pendleton, Oregon, was sentenced to 130 days in jail on charges that included harassing a bison in Yellowstone National Park. R.R. pleaded guilty during a bench trial in federal court at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone on August 23rd. After witnesses filmed him taunting a bison, R.R. fled Yellowstone, but was also arrested in Glacier National Park and ticketed for misconduct in Grand Teton. The judge sentenced R.R. to 60 days in jail for harassing wildlife, 60 days for interfering with law enforcement officers, and 10 days for disorderly conduct. At the time of his appearance, R.R. had already spent 21 days in jail. Source: Cody Enterprise.
E.L., a 60-year-old climber, died on August 5th after falling while on Forbidden Peak in the North Cascades. E.L. was free climbing on wet rock slabs with a group of three other climbers above their bivouac shelter when he fell about 100 feet. A National Park Service helicopter was dispatched from Marblemount in Skagit County after the International Emergency Response Coordination Center was alerted about E.L. by a personal-locator beacon. The operation was made difficult by harsh weather conditions, including rain, wind and lightning. Source: Seattle Times.
R.R., 55, who was arrested in early August after video surfaced of the incident where he waved his arms and ran toward a bison, pleaded guilty to four charges of misconduct in federal court last month. R.R. had several run-ins with law enforcement in Yellowstone and Grand Teton in the weeks leading up to his arrest, including incidents in which he had an open container of alcohol and was publicly intoxicated. He was also cited for disturbing wildlife after the bison video surfaced online in late July. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail on the charge of harassing wildlife for the bison incident, plus 60 days for interfering with law enforcement and 10 days for disorderly conduct, for 130 days total in jail, with credit for 21 days served. When in court, R.R. apologized to the bison: "I'm sorry to the buffalo. He didn't deserve what I did to him. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt that buffalo." To which the judge replied: "You chased and hounded the bison. You're lucky the bison didn't take care of it and you're standing in front of me." R.R. has a criminal history dating to 1991, although it includes no felony offenses. Source: ABC Fox Montana.
A park visitor videoed an incident at Mammoth Hot Springs last week in which a bull elk who'd been fighting another bull apparently got agitated at the nearby presence of visitors photographing him and crossed the road to where they were standing. The bull didn't charge them right away, though, affording visitors time to retreat and give him room; not surprisingly, most of them did not move. The bull finally charged and struck one of them. According to a later report, he was not seriously injured. The video can be seen at the link below. Park regulations state that when an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, people must give it space. Visitors are told to stay 25 yards away from all large animals — bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes — and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and, if necessary, turn around and go another way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity. Source: KTVQ News.
Visitors to Old Faithful last Friday saw and videoed a man dressed in black leave the boardwalk and stand on the geyser. The video shows him walking up to the edge of the geyser cone. Although he stands with his back to the crowd, his body language suggest he's uriating into it. He then lies down at the edge and looks down the geyser's throat, briefly steps down into it, and walks back toward the visitors. The park has not yet released a statement, but visitors say that rangers soon showed up and arrested the man. Sources: NBC Montana.
The following are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Yellowstone NP — The Colorado man who was arrested by rangers for walking up to Old Faithful and stepping into the cone was arrested again last week, this time in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Officers received a report of a reckless driver and ended up pursuing the man for some time before employing spike strips to flatten two tires on his SUV. Although the man kept driving, the vehicle eventually caught fire from the sparks issuing from the wheel rims. Source: KGAB News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Yellowstone NP — G.V., the man who walked up to the edge of Old Faithful this past summer and briefly stepped into it, has been banned from Yellowstone and Grand Tetons for five years. He also waived a preliminary hearing this week regarding his arrest in Cheyenne following a police pursuit and remains jailed on $10,000 cash bond. An arraignment date hasn't been set. Source: Great Falls Tribune.
A New York photographer is under investigation for using a drone to take an aerial image of Grand Prismatic Spring, which he then posted on his Instagram page. Photographer T.M., who says he didn't know about the ban on drones in the park, described how he got the image in a caption that ran with the photo, which has since been removed from his popular Instagram page. T.M. flew into Billings, arriving around midnight, then drove straight to the park in order to get an image of the spring at dawn. According to his posting, he arrived at the West Entrance at 6:45 a.m. and "somehow managed to drive right into the park despite the seasonal winter closure," which he claims he also knew nothing about. Violation of the ban is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. "NPS just wants money," an unrepentant T.M. told a follower. "If I would have offered them 5K to fly for a photo, they would have certainly found a way to make it happen for me." Deby Dixon, a local wildlife photographer, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that she's in the park almost daily and that she's noticed laws being ignored more often lately due to the rise of visual-driven social media. Her comment on T.M.'s action: "Ignorance of the law is not a defense. There are really good people who love the park and come here and try to do the right thing, and they're getting trampled by people who think they can do whatever they want. It ruins it for everyone else." Source: Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
A wild wolf known technically as 926F — but more popularly as 'Spitfire' — was killed by a hunter as it wandered just outside the park last weekend. A member of the Lamar Canyon pack in the national park's northeast region, Spitfire was the daughter of 832F, an alpha female that had become a celebrity, famous for her hunting prowess and for her frequent appearances along the road traveled by tourists in the park's Lamar Valley. While wolf biologists called the mother 832F, the she-wolf was famously known as "06" for the year she was born. She was the subject of the book American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West and was killed by a hunter as well. Montana has permitted hunting of wolves since 2011, and a few hundred are killed each year. A game warden checked with the hunter and found that the killing was entirely legal. But it has renewed calls for a buffer around the park so wolves that live within the safe harbor of Yellowstone and that have little fear of humans cannot be shot if they wander beyond the park's invisible boundary. Source: New York Times.
A 22-year-old New York woman was airlifted from the park on January 8th after crashing her snowmobile into the Madison River. The park received a 911 call just after 10 a.m. reporting a snowmobile crash in the park near Riverside Drive, about six miles east of West Yellowstone, with both the snowmobile and rider ending up in the river. Rangers requested assistance from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone. Hebgen Basin Fire Department also responded. When rescuers arrived, the woman had been removed from the water but was extremely cold and suffering from an apparent broken femur. An Air Idaho Rescue helicopter was requested; it landed at the scene and flew the woman to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment. Source (with photo): Billings Gazette.
J.C., 30, who assaulted two visitors in a park bathroom last summer, spraying them both with bear spray, has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison. J.C. pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault. On July 18, 2018, park rangers responded to a 911 call of a sexual assault in progress. While responding, multiple 911 calls were received about an ongoing fight between two men. When rangers arrived on the scene, they found two men holding a third man — later identified as J.C. — pinned to the ground. Investigation revealed that one of the men and his girlfriend had walked to the community bathrooms to use the facilities. When he exited the men's side, he heard a woman's voice screaming for help. The man then knocked on the door and when the woman continued to scream, he pushed it open. Inside he could see a pair of legs sticking out from under the far stall. When he opened the door he saw J.C. assaulting his girlfriend. J.C. then turned and assaulted the boyfriend, launching the altercation. The man was bitten twice by J.C., who also pulled out bear spray and sprayed the man and his girlfriend. All three individuals were exposed to the bear spray. The woman, who was told by her boyfriend to flee and call 911, ran outside and encountered a bystander who went into the bathroom, saw the fight, and helped keep J.C. pinned to the floor in the bathroom until law enforcement could arrive. Upon completion of his prison sentence, J.C. will be on supervised release for 36 months and was ordered to pay $2,199 in restitution and a $125 special assessment. Source: KXLH News.
Three Montana men who were charged with illegally hunting and taking a male mountain lion in the park north of the Yellowstone River last December have admitted that they shot the mountain lion and took it back to their vehicle; one also admitted to lying about where the lion was killed. A.P., Trey J.S. and C.S. of Livingston were each ordered to pay approximately $1,700 in restitution and fees and serve three years of unsupervised probation. During the probation they are banned from hunting and fishing and trapping "worldwide." Source: Cody Enterprise.
A woman working for the park concessioner was injured in a cow elk attack at Mammoth Hot Springs around 6:30 a.m. on the morning of May 29th. She was taken to a hospital, but no information is available at present on her status. Mammoth Hot Springs is a common hangout for elk, including mothers who give birth to calves in the spring and remain protective of their offspring. They are common in the area, often reclining on the grass among the buildings there. The elk was chased away after the attack. Last year, two women were injured by elk in the same area; in both cases, the cows were acting to protect newborn calves. Source: Cody Enterprise.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities: Yellowstone NP — The Mount Washburn trail and trailhead parking area at Dunraven Pass will be closed in August as work continues to improve the trail. Work includes safety improvements and installation of new windows and preservation work at the lookout. The trail from Chittenden Road will remain open during the work. Source: Casper Star-Tribune.
Park snow plow operators and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer rescued a stranded motorist on Highway 212 near Beartooth Pass in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 8th. The driver had gotten stuck in the snow; a friend had tried to reach him in his four-wheel-drive vehicle, but had to turn back due to three- to four-foot-high drifts. The friend then called for help. The NPS plow operators cleared a path to the motorist, then, with the help of a state trooper, shoveled the vehicle out of a drift. The Wyoming Highway Patrol has reminded park visitors that conditions can change quickly in the mountains and motorists should be ready for any possibility. Source: KIDK News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — The family of the kayaking guide who died in Yellowstone Lake two years ago is suing the company that employed him, its owners and several of its employees. In the suit, T.C.'s mother alleges that negligence by OARS and its workers caused the 23-year-old's death. T.C. fell into the lake on the afternoon of June 14, 2017, while working to help a client who had capsized. He was unable to get back into his kayak and remained in the water for an extended period of time, ultimately becoming hypothermic and drowning before rescuers arrived. It was the first death on the lake in roughly 20 years. The family contends that OARS breached its duty of caring for T.C. by "forcing" him to guide a trip in dangerous conditions, sending him out with two other "extremely novice" guides and failing to adequately train all three guides on safety equipment and emergency procedures. Source: CJ Baker, Powell Tribune.
The historic fire lookout on top of Mount Washburn, built in 1931, burned to the ground on Tuesday, July 16th, after being struck by lightning. The fire also damaged a radio repeater. On Wednesday morning, three park employees, including the park fire chief, were to fly by helicopter to the 10,000-foot lookout to assess the damage. The flight, however, was postponed as the helicopter was diverted to a higher priority incident outside the park. While en route, the helicopter manager snapped a photo of the burned lookout, which by then consisted of only a few charred supports rising from the base. Park staff attempted to fly to the lookout again on Wednesday afternoon, but the helicopter was grounded by strong winds. Additional attempts to reach the mountain were to be made later in the week. Because of the fire the Mount Holmes Trail west of the junction with the Trilobite Lake Trail and the summit of Mount Holmes are closed. They will remain closed until the unsafe conditions are assessed, mitigated, and no longer pose a threat to public safety. Source: Helena Independent Record.
A nine-year-old girl from Florida was injured by a bison near Observation Point Trail in the Old Faithful area on the afternoon of Monday, July 22nd. Witnesses told rangers that a group of about 50 people had been within five to ten feet of the bison for at least 20 minutes before it charged. The bull eventually caught the girl and tossed her into the air. She received initial treatment from a medical provider at Old Faithful Lodge before being taken to Old Faithful Clinic, where she was later released. The park yet again reminded visitors of the requirement to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals — like bison, elk and coyotes — and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. ABC News, among other media outlets, posted a video taken by a visitor of the bison tossing the girl in the air. Sources: Powell Tribune; ABC News
On July 9th, a federal judge in Montana gave a California man jail time for walking off the boardwalks at Grand Prismatic Spring and across a wide expanse of sensitive algal mats, saying that the court "will not tolerate people who damage resources." J.N., 28, appeared by phone from his home in the San Francisco Bay area. J.N. had reached a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney to pay a $1,540 fine for walking hundreds of yards across the outflow stream from Grand Prismatic. He told the judge that he saw the signs warning visitors to stay on the boardwalks but was in a hurry to pick up a friend at the airport so took a shortcut. In later questioning, he admitted that he was picked up by rangers at Old Faithful, where he went after Grand Prismatic, prompting the judge to note that couldn't have been in too big a hurry if he went to the famous geyser before picking up his friend. The eyewitness who turned him in said that J.N. asked a different friend he met in the parking lot if he "got the shot." J.N. argued in court that he was referring to a good shot of the spring, not his walk, but the judge didn't buy it. He bypassed the sentencing deal, reducing the fine to $1,040, but tacked on four days in jail, one year's probation and a one year ban from Yellowstone National Park. J.N. pleaded with the judge for no jail time, but the judge would not relent, though he did allow the time to be served over several weekends so J.N. would not miss time from his new job. The U.S. attorney noted that the video of the shortcut across the algal mats went viral and that it's important to send a strong message to people who see it. The judge agreed, calling Grand Prismatic one of the greatest scenic areas in the country. Source: John Sherer, KXLF News.
The park has euthanized two black bears that posed a danger to visitors, including one that bit a woman in her tent. They're also trying to capture a third bear that displayed signs of aggression at a campsite. Park staff have had a particularly busy summer dealing with bears at backcountry campsites, at campgrounds and along roads. Last month, at a campsite near Little Cottonwood Creek, a black bear bruised a woman's thigh when it bit into her tent. The bite did not break her skin due to the thickness of her sleeping bag and the fabric of the tent. The bear had likely found human food in the same location before. Rangers set up cameras and a decoy tent at the campsite to see if the bear would return; it did, aggressively tearing up the tent. The bear was caught and put down. Earlier this month, campers left food unattended at a backcountry campsite along the Lamar River Trail, allowing a bear to eat approximately ten pounds of it. Campers who visited the site the following day encountered the same bear, which also had to be killed. Last week, another black bear at the Indian Creek Campground caused property damage to tents and vehicles. The park is employing cameras to see if the bear returns and will take "appropriate actions based on the current circumstances." Source: Yellowstone NP.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — Correction: Last week, an incident report appeared in this newsletter that said that the fire lookout on Mount Washburn had burned to the ground. It was in fact the fire tower on Mount Holmes; the fire was seen from the lookout on Mount Washburn. Thanks to member Jeff Manoe for spotting and reporting the error.
A former seasonal employee has been ordered to serve three months in jail and pay $5,000 in restitution for starting a grass fire that burned near the park's north entrance last month. He was also ordered to serve two years of unsupervised probation and cannot enter Yellowstone National Park for two years. C.J.F. admitted to dropping a lit cigarette on the ground while sitting at a picnic table and igniting the fire. On July 26th, firefighters from the park and Gardiner, Montana, fought and suppressed the fire. No structures were damaged. Source: Zach Spadt, KTWO News.
A concession kitchen worker who reportedly made white supremacist and threatening comments was charged with drug and firearms crimes in federal court on August 15th. T.S., 22, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in violation of national park rules. He was scheduled to make his initial appearance at the federal Yellowstone Justice Center in Mammoth Hot Springs this past Monday. On the morning of August 10th, the manager of the Roosevelt Lodge told a ranger that T.S. would be receiving a shipment of drugs, that he had firearms in his vehicle, and that he had been making white supremacist comments. The manager also told the ranger that one of T.S.' roommates had expressed concerns that T.S. could become "an active shooter." Three other co-workers came to the lodge's human resources office to file similar complaints. Another co-worker said that in June he went shooting with T.S., who had two handguns and a shotgun. That co-worker said that he'd seen T.S. high on marijuana and possibly cocaine. He added that T.S. told him that "'given the right tools and opportunity he could and would hurt someone based on his point of view,'" according to the criminal complaint. On the evening of August 10th, two rangers went to the kitchen where T.S. was cutting cantaloupe, saw that he was speaking nervously with a co-worker, and asked him to step outside. T.S. told them that he felt that he was being targeted by his co-workers because he is a "'white redneck'" and that he would be a "'protector'" if anything ever happened at Roosevelt Lodge. He added that he had two handguns, but didn't mention a shotgun. On August 13th, the Mammoth Hot Springs postmaster notified rangers that the post office had received a package addressed to T.S.. That package contained three ounces of marijuana. Two days later, T.S. received another package containing 28.2 grams of a mushroom plant that field-tested positive for psilocybin. Source: Tom Morton, K2Radio.com.
Last Saturday, a park visitor walked to within 20 feet of Old Faithful to take a close-up photo while others waited for it to erupt. When he walked back from the geyser's mouth, the crowd began booing and he responded by flipping them off. Park staff followed him until rangers arrived on scene. "He was well within the danger zone of this being a potential life-threatening situation because it could have gone off at anytime," said visitor Devin Bartolotta, who witnessed and videoed the event. Old Faithful erupts every 35 to 120 minutes, spewing 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of boiling water 90 to 184 feet into the air for up to five minutes. The temperature of the water at the vent has been measured at 204 degrees Fahrenheit. Source: David Strege, USA Today.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — Last week's edition carried a report about the sentencing of C.F. for setting an arson fire in the park. The story was taken from a KTWO news report that correctly stated that C.F. was a seasonal — but didn't add that he was a concession seasonal, not a park seasonal. Source: Powell Tribune.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — The man who walked dangerously close to Old Faithful last week escaped without being arrested. Although park staff followed him as he left the geyser, he disappeared into a crowded parking lot; by the time rangers arrived, he'd left the area, with no one getting his license plate number or a description of his vehicle. Although there's a video of the incident, it was taken from some distance away and doesn't show his face. Source: MTN News.
A summer season that has seen a spike in dangerous, foolhardy and illegal activities by visitors — from patting bison at Yellowstone to fatal falls while taking selfies at Yosemite — has recorded another such inanity. On September 10th, two men left the boardwalk surrounding Old Faithful, walked to the geyser's steaming spout, and peered inside while taking cellphone pictures. A visitor caught their activities on film and reported them to the park. The two men were arrested, charged with thermal trespassing, and ordered to appear in court in December. The visitor who took the photos of the men called their actions "complete stupidity." "I don't see how anyone couldn't be aware of the rules," she said. "They're posted everywhere. They're in multiple different languages. All around the border of the geyser, there are rules saying that it is very dangerous, that the ground is unstable and very fragile." The article below includes images of the two men at the geyser's mouth. Source: Bill Hutchinson, ABC News.
A 48-year-old man suffered severe burns after falling into a hot spring near Old Faithful geyser on September 29th. Rangers who were called to the Old Faithful Inn on Sunday found that C.S. suffered severe burns to a significant portion of his body. C.S. told rangers that he went for a walk without a flashlight and tripped and fell into the thermal water. Rangers found evidence that C.S. may have been drinking alcohol at the time. When they went back to the scene Monday, they found C.S.'s shoe, hat, and a beer can along with footprints leading to and from the geyser. C.S. was taken to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Source: Doha Madani, NBC News.
A North Dakota man arrested in the park on September 18th threatened to shoot as many as 20 people at an office in Idaho if his wife didn't identify a man there he suspected of having an "emotional affair" with her. Rangers arrested J.M., 44, of Christine, North Dakota, at a picnic area. He was found to have a 9 mm handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition in his SUV. Evidence suggests that J.M., a former school board member, was on his way to Boise, Idaho. Sheriff's officials in eastern North Dakota used J.M.'s cellphone records to track him to the Yellowstone area. Earlier that day, J.M. texted and called his wife and her brother, saying if she sent a photo of the man he sought, "only two people would die rather than 20." J.M. allegedly sent her a picture of the pistol with the message, "Up to you." Court records did not identify the man J.M. sought or where in Boise he worked. J.M. was jailed on federal charges of illegal gun possession and making threats. Source: Mead Gruver, Associated Press via Idaho Statesman.
A California man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after police found eight pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a spare tire after he told them he had seen Yogi Bear in Yellowstone National Park M.S., 32, was sentenced last Thursday to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methedrine. M.S. was stopped in a rental car by Montana Highway Patrol on December 12, 2017 for trailing a car too closely. During the stop, he told police he was driving to North Dakota from Idaho, where he had been visiting with family, and planned to fly back to California once there. During the interview, M.S. was unable to name the city he had visited, but remembered that he had just come from Yellowstone National Park, where he claimed that he'd seen Yogi Bear. Suspicious of the man's story, the officer asked permission to search the vehicle and M.S. consented. In it, police found a spare tire that appeared to be deflated, something unusual for a rental car. The tire was taken to a nearby repair shop, where it was discovered that it contained six vacuum-sealed packages containing just over eight pounds of meth -- the equivalent of 30,000 doses. Source: Paulina Dedaj, Fox News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — On January 9th, two men were sentenced to 10 days in jail each for trespassing on the cone of Old Faithful geyser. On the morning of September 10th, employees and visitors saw the two men walking on the cone and reported it to park dispatch. A ranger contacted and cited E.S., 20, of Lakewood, Colorado, and R.G., 25, of Woodstock, New York. E.S. and R.G. appeared in court last December; both men pleaded guilty to the violation of thermal trespass. In addition to jail time, the men each owe $540 in restitution, face five years of unsupervised probation, and are banned from the park for that time. Source: Casper Star Tribune.
An Indiana man was rescued uninjured from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone last week — but was cited for being off trail and in a closed area. D.C., 55, of Indiana, was reported rappelling into the canyon around 11 a.m. on January 6th. D.C. had dropped his backpack near the end of his 360-foot rope and went off to retrieve it. He slid down the canyon wall toward the Yellowstone River and could not climb back up. A friend who was communicating with him from the top through a radio was able to confirm he was not injured. After two hours, D.C. requested assistance and 11 search and rescue team members responded. A rescuer was lowered down about 800 feet to his location. It took four hours to raise D.C. and the rescuer to the top of the cliff. Blowing snow and below freezing temperatures made the rescue difficult. D.C. received citations for creating a hazardous condition for everyone involved and for his off-trail travel in a closed area. The court date to see a judge in the park is pending. Source: Mari Hall, Billings Gazette.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — The Indiana man who illegally rappelled into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone earlier this month before having to be rescued says he was searching for hidden treasure. D.C., 55, is convinced the canyon holds the infamous Fenn treasure — a multimillion dollar cache of gold and jewels that Sante Fe art dealer and author Forrest Fenn insists he hid some time ago. Thousands have sought or are seeking the treasure; four have died in the process. In a novel rationalization, D.C. says he made this attempt in order to save others who may be injured or perish looking for the treasure. Source: Mark Davis, Powell Tribune.
On the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, park dispatch received a call reporting that a coyote had bitten a woman in the Canyon Village area. She was cross-country skiing on the Grand Loop Road near the South Rim Drive when the incident occurred. Witnesses took the 43-year-old woman to the Canyon Visitor Education Center, where rangers provided initial treatment for puncture wounds and lacerations to her head and arm. They then transported her to Mammoth Hot Springs by over-snow vehicle. She subsequently was transferred to another medical facility. Park staff temporarily closed the road, then positively identified and killed the coyote. The coyote tested negative for rabies. Source: Morgan Warthin, National Park Service; Cody Enterprise.
The park is asking visitors to review their vacation photos to see if they can spot any clues regarding two missing children whose mother was recently brought back to Idaho to face charges. L.V. was arrested in Hawaii last month and charged with felony child abandonment. Her seven-year-old son, J."JJ"V., was last seen on September 23rd and his sister, 17-year-old T.R., was last seen on September 8th -- the same day the family went on a day trip in the park. Police in the small town of Rexburg, Idaho, where the children were last known to be living, have said they "strongly believe that J.V. and T.R.'s lives are in danger." They also say L.V., 46, and her husband, C.D., have repeatedly lied about the children's whereabouts. The bizarre case spans several states, includes investigations into three mysterious deaths and touches on rumors of L.V.'s and C.D.'s apocalyptic religious beliefs. L.V.'s estranged husband, C.V., was shot and killed by her brother A.C. in Phoenix last July. A.C., who said the shooting was in self-defense, died of unknown causes in December. In August, L.V. moved from Arizona to Idaho, where C.D. lived with his wife, T.D. She died in October. Her obituary said the death was from natural causes, but law enforcement became suspicious when C.D. married L.V. just two weeks after T.D.'s death. T.D.'s remains have been exhumed, but the autopsy report has not yet been released. Toxicology results on A.C. also are not public yet. Investigators are particularly looking for anything that may show L.V., her brother, A.C., the children or a silver 2017 Ford F-150 pickup with Arizona license plate CPQUINT, which the group was driving in Yellowstone. L.V. reportedly believes she is "a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ's second coming in July 2020," according to divorce documents that C.V. filed before his death. She and C.D. were both involved in an Idaho-based group that promotes preparing for the biblical end times. The article below contains a number of photos of the children and L.V. Source: Rebecca Boone, Associated Press, via KOMO News.
News on national parks continues to focus mostly on the administration's response to the pandemic. Here's an assortment of stories from the last two weeks: Return Of Visitors — A few stories have been posted in the media about the return of visitors over the Memorial Day weekend. Although a public health emergency is in effect in Georgia, WXIA/WATL in Atlanta reported that large crowds appeared along the Chattahoochee River, ignoring social distancing requirements; the park and local communities are working on a solution to the problem. The Rumsen-Fair Haven Patchsays that there were no issues with beach crowding or overcapacity at Sandy Hook in Gateway over the weekend. An article in The Guardian reports on the huge number of visitors arriving in Yellowstone over the holiday weekend, noting that neither visitors were disregarding social distancing and that masks were not generally seen.
A woman suffered burns after falling into a thermal feature near Old Faithful last Tuesday. She had illegally entered the park, which was closed to visitors at the time. The woman told rangers that she was backing up to take pictures when she fell into a thermal feature at the Old Faithful Geyser. She was able to get in her vehicle and drive through the park until contacted by rangers. Due to her injuries, she was life-flighted to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Rangers are not sure which thermal feature she fell into; the investigation continues. Earlier this year, two men who were caught trespassing on the cone of Old Faithful were sentenced to ten days in jail and five years of probation. They were also ordered to pay $540 in restitution and banned from the park for five years. Last year, a man suffered severe burns when he took a walk off the boardwalk at night without a flashlight and tripped into the thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser. In June 2017, a North Carolina man suffered severe burns when he fell into a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin; a year before that, an Oregon man died when he went off a boardwalk and fell into a hot spring that was 212 degrees Fahrenheit. His body was not recovered. Source: CNN via ABNC-57 News.
A visitor was injured in a bison attack last Wednesday. The incident occurred in the Old Faithful Upper Geyser Basin when the woman got too close to the animal. The bison reacted by charging her. The extent of the woman's injuries were not known at the time of the report, but she'd declined to be taken to a hospital. The park reiterated its standing guidance: "When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Stay 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves." The attack is under investigation. Source: Dennis Romero, NBC News.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — The man who had to be rescued by rangers after illegally rappelling into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone last winter has received multiple penalties for his actions. D.C., 55, must serve a week in jail, reimburse the National Park Service more than $4,000 for the expense of getting him out of the canyon, and stay out of Yellowstone National Park for the next five years. D.C. told the judge who presided over his case that he has no plans of ever returning to Yellowstone and apologized for what he did. However, he continues to "firmly believe" that Forrest Fenn's famed treasure is stashed on the canyon floor. Fenn published a riddle in 2010 that, he says, lays out the location of gold and jewels he stashed somewhere in the Rocky Mountain region. Thousands have looked for it; several have died in the process. In sentencing D.C., the judge said he'd engaged in "highly reckless behavior." Source: CJ Baker and Mark Davis, Casper Star Tribune.
Earlier editions of this newsletter have reported on a man being arrested in Yellowstone for attempting to climb down into Yellowstone Canyon to find a treasure he believed to have been buried there and on the death of a man at Dinosaur while seeking the same cache of gold and jewels. Forrest Fenn, an 89-year-old art and antiquities collector, buried the treasure in the Rocky Mountain region, then announced that it was out there — somewhere. Over the years, thousands have searched for the treasure, worth over $1 million. Earlier this month, Fenn announced that it had been found. The finder and location have not been revealed. Fenn estimates that over 350,000 people from around the world went hunting for the treasure at one time or another. Source: Alicia Lee, CNN.
Two Pennsylvania women have been fined $350 each and ordered to serve two days in jail for being off the trail in a thermal area of the park. The incident occurred on June 11th. T.L.D., 31, and S.A.P., 30, both of Philadelphia, were seen off the boardwalk walking in a thermal area, which resulted in damage to orange bacterial mats at Opal Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin. Witnesses confronted them in an effort to get them to stop. The women were also ordered to pay $107 for damages to Opal Pool. They've been banned from Yellowstone for two years and will serve two years of unsupervised release. The amount of restitution was based on a damage assessment conducted by the Yellowstone geologist and a thermal research crew. Source: Phil Drake, Great Falls Tribune.
A 72-year-old California woman was gored multiple times by a wild bison after repeatedly approaching the animal to take its photograph. The woman was flown to an Idaho hospital for treatment of her injuries following the June 25th incident. She was not identified and her current condition is unknown. The woman was at her campsite at the park's Bridge Bay Campground when she approached within 10 feet of the animal several times prior to being gored. Source: San Francisco Chronicle.
As is the case during most summers, reports on incidents pertaining to contacts between native species and visitors — intentional, accidental or otherwise — are on the increase. Here are a few that have come in lately: Yellowstone NP — A 37-year-old Missouri woman was hiking alone on Fairy Falls Trail near the Old Faithful geyser last week when she was knocked down by grizzly bear. The woman tried using bear spray and then notified others of the attack. She received minor injuries to her face and a scratch on her thigh, but declined medical attention. The bear was with her cub and was acting naturally to defend it. Source: East Idaho News. Yellowstone NP — A black bear was killed by wildlife managers after it brazenly walked into a backcountry campsite, bit one of the five campers, and then began eating their food. The incident took place around 5 p.m. on July 6th at a campsite located roughly three miles from the Hellroaring Trailhead in northern Yellowstone. The backpackers — three adults and two children — had been sitting outside of their tents when the bear walked up and bit a woman on her arm and head, inflicting bruises and minor cuts. The adult sow then nipped at one of the children's hands and got into the group's food, which had not yet been hung from a storage pole. The group left the area and contacted the park; when rangers arrived at the scene on horseback, the bear was still in the campsite eating the backpackers' food. A decision was made to kill the bear because of concerns about human safety and the fact that the bear entered an occupied campsite, bit a person and received a considerable food reward after this behavior. Source: Powell Tribune. Yellowstone NP — A Montana woman played dead to avoid injury when she fell in front of a charging bison last week. A video taken by another visitor — which can be seen at the link below — shows the woman and another person running from two charging bison. As the closer bison nears, the woman trips and falls to the grass. She lays completely still while the bison, within a fraction of the second, catches up to her position. 'Play dead! Play dead!' people can be heard screaming at her as the bison prances around her body and eventually moves away from her. She suffered no injuries. Source: Daily Mail.
The road between Mud Volcano and Fishing Bridge Junction remains temporarily closed due to an accident in which a tandem trailer on a truck hauling gasoline tipped over. The temporary road closure will allow park staff to assess the impacts of a gasoline spill. This segment of road closed last Thursday shortly after the incident occurred. The commercial motor vehicle was transporting unleaded gasoline to facilities in the park when the tandem trailer flipped over on the west side of the road and approximately 3,000 gallons of unleaded fuel was released. There is no evidence that gasoline entered the Yellowstone River. This incident remains under investigation. Mud Volcano is open and can be accessed from the north. The East Entrance Road to Fishing Bridge Junction is open. Visitors can also access Fishing Bridge Junction from the south. Source: Sweetwater Now.
An Arizona man and a Utah man have each pled not guilty to charges that accuse them of riding motorcycles off-road in the park and harassing bison. D.A., 25, of Utah, and T.A., 36, of Arizona, are each charged with operating a motor vehicle in prohibited areas and feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. The incident occurred near Fountain Flats Drive on the afternoon of September 11th. In a Facebook group titled "Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of The Idiots!" a user posted a video showing two motorcyclists riding off road within feet of several bison, including some calves. A woman on the video could be heard yelling at the motorcyclists "get out of the field." The video shows the motorcyclists ride away from the bison as a herd chases them back onto the road. There will be a court hearing sometime this fall. Source: Freddie Monares, Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
After leaving the Lamar Valley, park visitor L.S. stopped along the highway when she saw a bunch of people by the river, thinking it might be a wolf sighting. Instead, it was several tourists acting recklessly as they approached a herd of bison and caused a stampede. "The people saw them and started walking closer and closer toward the bison," L.S. explained. "They [the bison] kept getting more agitated by the minute. They walked farther down out of my sight, but I could still hear them grunting and blowing. While I had my iPhone up taking a picture, I heard the rumble of the stampede and immediately moved my camera from still photos to video and captured the video you see." [You can see the video in the article link below] "You only see about four-to-six people on the video, but there were more in the same spot the bison come running from," L.S. said. "The fishermen grabbed their stuff and ran, and then you see the bison running, and I felt relief the people didn't get trampled. All of a sudden you see the bison appear between the fishermen and tourists, then they turn and run toward the tourists. I was scared for a second, but the second wave of stampeding bison turned again and ran across the river to join the herd on the other side." "It was amazing that they didn't heed the warning of grunting, snorting and stomping feet!" L.S. said. "I stopped filming cause I really thought that someone out of view had to have been hurt and was going to help if needed." Afterward, the tourists made their way back to their vehicles, but they heard an earful from bystanders. "Thank goodness nobody was hurt," she said, "and I hope they all learned a lesson. It reaffirmed the awesome power of such beautiful creatures in my eyes." Click here for story, photo and video. Source: David Strege, USA Today.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — Although the famous/infamous Forest Fenn treasure was at last found last June, the repercussions continue for treasure hunters. A Utah man currently faces two federal charges for digging for it in the park. R.C., 52, was looking for it and dug in the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery inside the national park between October 1st and May 24th last year. He was indicted by a grand jury last month on two federal counts. He pled not guilty; a trial will be held next month. The search for the treasure led to at least five deaths. Thousands were reported to have looked for it at some point. Click here for full article. Source: Phil Helsel, NBC News.
An Idaho Falls man and two others are in hot water after being found with cooking pots and two chickens in a thermal area of the park. On August 7th, a ranger received reports that a group was hiking toward Shoshone Geyser Basin with cooking pots. The ranger responded and discovered two whole chickens in a burlap sack sitting in a hot spring with a cooking pot nearby. The ranger spoke with the group of ten, including a child. The Idaho Falls man and two others were cited for foot travel in a thermal area; the first man was also ordered to appear in a Mammoth Hot Springs court. The man pleaded guilty to the citation on September 10th in addition to a charge for violating closures and use limits. He was ordered to pay a $600 fine for each charge and will serve two years of unsupervised probation. During that time, he is banned from the park. This isn't the first time park visitors have been in trouble for trying to cook chicken near a geyser. In 2001, a Seattle television show host and producer dug a hole in the park to show how natural heat could cook chicken. The show was reportedly fined $150 and placed on two-year probation for disturbing mineral deposits in a national park and stepping off trails near steaming geysers. Source: Nate Eaton, East Idaho News.
A three-year-old child suffered second-degree burns after falling into a thermal feature near Midway Geyser Basin last month. According to the park, the child "took off running from the trail, slipped and then fell into a small thermal feature" in the area of the Fountain Freight Road. The child was burned on his lower body and back and was taken by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center's Burn Center in Idaho Falls. This incident was the second significant injury reported at a Yellowstone thermal area this year. In May, a visitor who'd illegally entered the park fell into a thermal feature near Old Faithful while backing up to take a photo. Last year, a man similarly fell into thermal water and suffered severe burns while trespassing near the cone of Old Faithful. Source: Powell Tribune.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — You will undoubtedly recall the incident recently reported in these pages in which an enterprising crew of young visitors tried to cook a chicken in one of the park's thermal springs. With Thanksgiving imminent, you're no doubt expecting that a reenactment was attempted with turkeys. No, but the National Park Service LEGO Vignettes Facebook now includes a scene of the original incident. "Lego Ranger" Gavin Gardner, an actual ranger at Salem Maritime Historic Site in Massachusetts, has been creating and posting daily Lego scenes on social media since the pandemic began, some offering comic relief, others providing safety warnings. This is a little of both. You can find it and several other Gardner connections at this webpage. Source: Danielle Johnson, Jackson Hole News And Guide.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Yellowstone NP — A Utah man has pleaded guilty after authorities said he was caught digging in a park cemetery in search of hidden treasure. R.D.C, 52, of Syracuse, Utah, entered a plea on January 4th in U.S. District Court in Casper to illegally excavating or trafficking in archaeological resources and to damaging federal property. He could face up to 12 years in prison and $270,000 in fines when sentenced March 17th. R.D.C. was searching for a treasure chest containing coins, gold and other valuables left in the backcountry a decade ago by Santa Fe, New Mexico, art and antiquities dealer Forrest Fenn, who published a book with a poem containing clues to where the treasure could be found. R.D.C. caused more than $1,000 in damage by digging in the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery between Oct. 1, 2019, and May 24, 2020, prosecutors alleged. Source: Associated Press.
An individual became upset that a commercial guide would not take his group kayaking due to intoxication. When the guide called law enforcement, the individual made threatening comments and refused to obey orders. He was charged with and pled guilty to disorderly conduct charges. He received 60 days in jail, five years of unsupervised probation, a park ban for five years, and will pay $1,500 in fines. Source: KPVI
On July 7, 2020, a 37-year-old visitor donned a coonskin cap and carried a U.S. flag up to the edge of Old Faithful geyser. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor account of traveling in a closed thermal area. In addition to the park ban, he received 15 days in jail and $240 in fines and fees. Source: Powell Tribune
A 30-year-old hiker on the Storm Point Trail was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Medical Center after being gored by a bison. She had been hiking with one other individual. Details have not yet been released. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
T.E.G. was sentenced in federal court on seven counts of illegal activities and violations, including violating closures, providing unauthorized tours, disturbing wildlife, and trespassing. Evidence included a social media page, podcast, and guidebook, which described the violations in detail. T.E.G. will serve seven days in prison, $1,100 in fines, fees, and a donation to Yellowstone Forever Geological Resource Fund, and a ban from Yellowstone for the remainder of 2021. He will also serve five years of probation and is required to remove all references of illegal activity from his media sources. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming
On May 15, a group of tourists at Roaring Mountain was approached by a grizzly and two cubs. The group returned to their vehicles, except for one woman, who was warned by the others to get back. She did not, and was charged by the sow grizzly. Video of the encounter was shared widely on social media and the park posted a photo of her on May 25, asking for more information. They got a tip from someone who had seen the woman tagged on a posting of the video, and she will now face charges of intentionally disturbing wildlife and violating closures and use limits. She has not yet entered a plea and the first court appearance will be on August 26. Source: ABC 7 Chicago
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that more than a thousand minor quakes occurred around Yellowstone last month. They are the most quakes reported at the park since 2017. Source: WSILTV
In 2017, a family was stopped while driving on the North Fork near Newton Creek Campground, shortly after leaving Yellowstone through the East Entrance. They pulled over when they noticed they were being closely followed by an NPS vehicle, thinking they would let it pass. The NPS vehicle pulled over in front of the family's car, and two rangers got out with long guns drawn. 8 county sheriff's deputies arrived on scene shortly thereafter. The driver was ordered to throw his car keys outside of the vehicle and the group was held at gunpoint, handcuffed, and put into patrol cars for an hour. Authorities later said they had confused the driver for a man who was wanted in connection with a triple murder in Idaho. The family is suing the two rangers and two deputies in Wyoming Federal District Court for civil charges of mental and emotional duress, false imprisonment, reckless endangering, and excessive force. Source: Cody Enterprise
On August 18, a woman was sentenced to seven days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a $1,000 payment to Yellowstone Forever Geological Resource Fund for illegally walking on thermal ground at Norris Geyser Basin. Multiple people took photos and videos of the woman and two others who walked off the clearly-signed boardwalk. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On September 16, 19-year-old concession employee received treatment from rangers in the Old Faithful area for second- and third-degree burns on 5% of her body. As of September 17, no details about the circumstances of the incident have been released, but park officials reminded visitors to remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around thermal features. She was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone and life-flighted to the Burn Center at East Idaho Regional Medical Center. Source: KBZK
On September 19, brothers K.C. and M.O. were reported by a relative as overdue from a backpacking trip to Shoshone Lake. M.O.'s body was found on September 20 on the east side of the lake and the cause of death was determined to be exposure/hypothermia The park experienced its first snowstorm of the season on September 19. A vacant campsite with gear and a canoe was located on the south lake shore. The search for K.C. is ongoing, and the park announced that the search shifted "from rescue to recovery" on September 24. Both are retired NPS rangers, and K.C. is a former Navy Seal and long-time activist for public lands. Source: WHDH, Yellowstone National Park, Backpacker
Yellowstone National Park — The concession employee who ended up with second and third-degree burns on 5% of her body near Old Faithful on September 16 was said to be hiking with friends, and then got separated from the group. She took a wrong turn and her phone died, and it was starting to get dark. She accidentally wandered off trail into a thermal area, where the ground cracked and though the hole was not deep, it was filled with scalding water. She was able to escape and make her way to a road, and was transported via ambulance and helicopter to a burn center. Source: WJAR
On October 4, a dog jumped out of a vehicle, which led its owner to chase it into Maiden's Grave Spring. The visitor suffered serious thermal burns between her shoulders and feet. A family member who was also in the vehicle pulled her out and drove her to West Yellowstone, where she was treated and transferred and flown to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. The dog was rescued and taken to a vet, but the dog passed away from its injuries. The incident remains under investigation. Source: KTVQ, BBC
On October 7, a visitor was sentenced to four days in jail, a one-year ban from Yellowstone, and $2,000 in fines and community service payments for willfully approaching and photographing a grizzly and three cubs too closely at Roaring Mountain in May 2021. A video of the encounter was taken by other visitors and went viral on social media. Source: The New York Times
Yellowstone National Park — On October 8, the park began scaling back search and recovery efforts for K.C. The search has gone on for three weeks using helicopters, boats, sonar technology, and ground crews, and seasonal weather conditions have begun to deteriorate. The park will continue limited search efforts as conditions allow. The incident is still under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On August 2, 2018, a visitor was dropped off at the Mount Holmes trailhead with the intent to find and dig up the famous Forrest Fenn buried treasure. Along the trail, he came across bear scat and fur, so he thought it would be safer to stray from the trail. He got lost and eventually called park personnel. After several hours of trying to communicate with the visitor, rangers organized a helicopter rescue and he was cited for disorderly conduct. He was fined $2,880 for the cost of the rescue and banned from Yellowstone for five years. Source: Sacramento Bee
Twenty of the park's gray wolves have been shot (legally) by hunters while roaming outside the park in recent months. Park officials are concerned that the deaths are a large setback to the species' long-term viability. The Phantom Lake Pack is now considered "eliminated" due to the hunts, and there are several more months left in the season. Superintendent Cam Sholly has asked Montana Governor Greg Gianforte to shut down hunting and trapping in the area for the rest of the season. Several environmental groups have asked Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to issue an emergency listing of wolves under the Endangered Species Act. Source: Anchorage Daily News Cody Enterprise
On September 25, 2021, at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, a 27-year-old visitor became highly intoxicated, harassed guests, ran through the halls, broke thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and acted in a threatening manner to a security guard. A law enforcement officer approached the individual, which ensued in utilization of a taser. An ambulance was called to help treat both the intoxication and other injuries the individual received during the incident. While in the ambulance, the individual broke out of restraints and began fighting with an officer, requiring the driver (also an officer) to pull over and assist. Both officers sustained injuries. The individual pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and one count of depredation against property of the United States. The individual was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, one year of supervised release with no entry to the park, $2,865 in restitution, and restrictions on alcohol use. Source: KRTV
On April 6, a person was arrested in the park and charged with kidnapping associated with a 2018 "murder for hire" in Vermont. The person allegedly posed as a U.S. Marshal and told the victim that he was being charged with racketeering and he was taken away in handcuffs. The victim's body was found in a snowbank with gunshot wounds. It is unclear how the suspect was found and arrested in the park. Source: Cowboy State Daily
On April 18, a former construction contractor was sentenced for assault with the intent to commit a felony. On October 1, 2021, the individual assaulted someone with the intent to commit a kidnapping at the Fishing Bridge RV Park, where the perpetrator was a resident. The individual was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, as well as a $500 fine and $100 assessment. Source: Buckrail
Around May 21, a 3-year-old grizzly bear was attacked and wounded by its mother and the mother's mate. The younger bear was not killed, but was "suffering in an awful way," so NPS staff put the young bear down. It is believed that the mother was trying to frighten the bear away from the area, but when the male bear entered the altercation, the attack intensified. It is mating season and food sources are also scarce this time of year. Source: Cowboy State Daily June 15, 2022 On May 30, a 25-year-old approached within 10 feet of a bison near a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin, just north of Old Faithful. The visitor sustained a puncture wound and other injuries and was immediately transported via ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Though some media agencies reported that the visitor had passed away from injuries sustained in the incident, this was incorrect and has since been revised. Source: Yellowstone National Park, East Idaho News June 15, 2022 On June 13, the park closed all entrances due to heavy flooding, rockslides, mudslides, and "extremely hazardous conditions." Multiple sections of road in the park have washed out or been covered by mud and rocks, and the integrity of bridges and wastewater treatment need to be assessed. The Yellowstone River is running "beyond record levels." Additional rainfall is also forecasted. On June 13 and 14, about 40 people were evacuated from the park by helicopter. The park will remain closed until further notice. Roads into gateway communities have also been heavily damaged. Superintendent Cam Sholly has said that the road between Gardiner and Cooke City will likely remain closed for the remainder of the season. Source: Yellowstone National Park, CNN July 13, 2022 On June 27, a 34-year-old was gored by a charging bison while walking along a boardwalk near Old Faithful geyser. The bison ran toward the person's group, which included three adults and a child. It then stopped at the boardwalk, shook its head, and pawed the ground before jumping over the boardwalk and charging at the people. One of the adults grabbed the child, who was in front of the bison, and the bison struck the adult with its head, lifting both of them into the air. The two jumped up and sprinted away and the bison turned around and began walking in the other direction. The struck person's arm was injured in the incident and they were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment. Source: Los Angeles Times On June 29, two people inadvertently approached a bison while returning to their vehicle at a Yellowstone Lake trailhead. The bison then charged them. A 71-year-old was taken by ambulance to the West Park Hospital for treatment, and injuries from the incident were not life-threatening. It was the second bison attack in three days and the third in a month inside the park. Source: The Register-Herald July 13, 2022 An individual who is "well-known in public-speaking circles," as well as on social media, for telling personal stories about surviving an accidental electrocution, posted an 8-second video walking off-trail near thermal features. The video was meant to be humorous, making light of their electrocution scars. The individual received a lot of backlash via social media and subsequently removed the video. They stated they called the authorities in the park to be held accountable and apologized for the incident. It is unclear if the park will pursue fines or other punishment for the incident. Source: Cowboy State Daily July 13, 2022 The park's north loop reopened on July 2. The Alternating License Plate System was also stopped on July 2 and all normal entrance procedures have been enacted. The North Entrance Road and Northeast Entrance Road remain closed to vehicular traffic while repairs are made. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the park on July 8, and during a news conference with Superintendent Cam Sholly, they announced that it may take 3-5 years to completely finish permanent repairs in the park. Source: WyoTodayMedia, KPVI
On July 13, the park opened 93% of roadways and 88% of the backcountry in the aftermath of the historic flooding. Bicycles are allowed on limited portions of the North and Northeast entrance roads. On July 21, the park began allow bicycling, hiking, and fishing between Tower Junction and Slough Creek and will begin instituting a day-use reservation system for vehicles in the area on August 1. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On August 8, a driver and a 48-year-old passenger were riding a motorcycle westbound on U.S. 121 near the Wyoming-Montana border in the park when a moose ran into the highway, causing a collision. Neither rider was wearing a helmet and the passenger died of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver had severe injuries, but survived the crash. Source: Wyoming News
The park opened the road corridor from Tower Junction to Slough Creek for reservation-based use, starting on August 3. It has been closed to vehicle traffic since the June floods. Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle August 24, 2022 On August 16, a park employee noticed part of a foot inside of a shoe floating in Abyss Pool. The park temporarily closed the West Thumb Geyser Basin to investigate, and it has since reopened. Based on evidence available, investigators believe an incident occurred the morning of July 31. Foul play is not suspected. The park has not given any other information about the investigation. Source: Seattle Times, Yellowstone National Park August 24, 2022 On August 19, a fuel tanker truck lost control and rolled over near mile marker 16 on U.S. Highway 191 in the western part of the park adjacent to Greyling Creek. An estimated 4,800 gallons of unleaded fuel spilled out, and it is unclear whether any entered the creek. Staff from Hebgen Basin Fire and EMS units, cleanup and mitigation contractors, and NPS staff responded. One lane of traffic is still open with traffic control in place to facilitate drivers from both directions and the cleanup is ongoing. There were no injuries associated with the incident. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park September 7, 2022 On August 24, a mudslide just outside the East Entrance of the park shut down the road for several hours. The road is now open. Source: NBC Montana September 7, 2022 On August 31, the park stopped requiring day-use tickets to drive the corridor between Tower Junction and Slough Creek. The road is now open for any visitors for day use, though closures on nearby trails and the roadway past Slough Creek remain in place due to damage from the historic floods in June 2022. The park has also released new photos and video of the ongoing road repairs. Source: Yellowstone National Park September 18, 2022 On September 9, the Montana Army National Guard utilized a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to remove a front loader that had gotten stranded in an inaccessible part of Gardiner Canyon during the June flood event. They transported the machinery about 0.75 miles to a safer, more accessible location. Source: Weather.com September 18, 2022 On September 6, Northwestern Energy staff observed smoke coming out of a small building that houses a solar battery energy storage system at West Thumb Geyser Basin. NPS fire crews were dispatched to the location. They did not see flames, but they did observe smoke. The exterior of the building was not damaged. To ensure visitor and employee safety, the West Thumb Geyser Basin is closed until the batteries have fully discharged and all fumes have dissipated from the area. It will reopen when the area is safe. As of September 17, it was still closed. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On September 27, individuals in Tom Miner Basin, Montana reported seeing smoke in a remote section of the park. A park helicopter crew flew over the area and spotted a new fire, which is suspected to have started due to lightning a few days earlier. Fire crews are monitoring the Big Horn Fire, which is expected to be slowed significantly by forecasted snow and rain. Backcountry campsite WE4 was closed for the rest of the season due to its proximity to the fire. Source: NBC Montana
The NPS, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, announced that the Old Gardiner Road will open to regular traffic no later than November 1. The road has typically been a limited-access road, and will require the FHA to build a new 1/4-mile approach road to avoid a 12-15% grade on the original road, as well as an expansion to the road widths to prevent vehicle restrictions. Source: Yellowstone National Park
The North Entrance and the road between North Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs will open to regular traffic on November 1, the first time since the historic flooding in June 2022. The route will be on the newly-modernized historic Old Gardiner Road. Source: Yellowstone National Park
The park announced that they were able to identify the victim whose foot was found floating in a hot spring at Abyss Pool in West Thumb Geyser Basin in August 2022 through DNA analysis. It is unclear how the 70-year-old-individual ended up in the spring and concluded that it happened the morning of July 31. Officials said, to the best of their knowledge, it was unwitnessed and they did not suspect foul play. In addition to the NPS, Teton County's Coroners Office and Search and Rescue, as well as the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation supported the investigation. Source: ABC7, Yellowstone National Park
On December 28 after dark, a semi-truck hit a herd of bison on Highway 191 just outside the park, north of West Yellowstone. Two other vehicles were also involved. 13 bison were killed or had to be euthanized due to the severity of their injuries. The accident is under investigation. Source: ABC News
On January 9, the U.S. Geological Survey published an article about misinformation that spread through social media around December 25 after an individual made false claims that Yellowstone might be showing signs of volcanic unrest and that communities were being evacuated. The information was reshared widely and resulted in many concerned calls, emails, and social media queries to local law enforcement, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and the National Park Service. A local county sheriff's office addressed the rumors directly with a public service announcement. Source: Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (U.S. Geological Survey) February 8, 2023 On January 27, a law enforcement ranger attempted to make contact with a vehicle that was parked in the road at Jackson Lake Junction. As soon as the ranger put on their patrol vehicle lights, the driver fled the scene in their vehicle. The individual drove at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour for 24 miles from the Moran area to Highway 89. Due to the poor weather conditions and the risks involved, officers did not pursue the vehicle, and instead deployed spike strips at the Glacier View Turnout. All northbound traffic was stopped at Moose Junction, snowplow operations were paused, and Teton County Sheriff's Office deputies were staged at the Gros Ventre roundabout. The driver passed through the spike strips and continued southbound until passing another NPS officer, and they then pulled over. The 54-year-old driver was placed in custody and charged with obstructing traffic, speeding, violation of a traffic control device, unsafe operations, fleeing, and eluding. It was discovered that the individual had been cited by NPS officials an hour before the chase began because they got their vehicle stuck in a closed area north of Flagg Ranch, south of the southern entrance to Yellowstone. They had received a citation to appear by a Yellowstone law enforcement ranger for operating a non-oversnow vehicle on an oversnow route. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide February 22, 2023 The 52-year-old who led law enforcement on a high speed chase through Grand Teton on January 27 after receiving a citation hours earlier in Yellowstone (see February 8, 2023 Coalition Report) has now been reported missing by friends and family. The individual has not been seen since January 30, the day they were released from Teton County Jail. The individual is due to appear in federal court on February 28 for an arraignment. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On May 13, rangers observed a single vehicle that had been driven into a snowbank on Craig Pass. An individual stood outside the car. A deceased person was found inside the car. The individual outside the car was detained and arrested for drug possession and other traffic-related charges. An investigation into the cause of death for the other individual is in process by the NPS with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Attorney's Office, and Teton County Coroner's Office. The road between Old Faithful and West Thumb was closed for 24 hours while the scene was processed. Source: Yellowstone National Park
The Neighbors Against Bison Slaughter have filed a lawsuit against the NPS and U.S. Forest Service. While obtaining documents related to the lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorney obtained an April 27, 2022, briefing statement to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior in which Montana Governor Greg Gianforte asked the NPS to withdraw its notice of intent to update the park's bison management plan. The briefing document noted that the State of Montana had previously agreed upon two of the preliminary alternatives included in the plan through an interagency bison management plan, but that they were no longer happy about any of the three alternatives. Montana threatened to litigate if their demands for bison vaccination and a population target of 3,000 individuals were not met. The park released a plan with three alternatives in Winter 2022 and expect to release a final plan in 2024. Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
On May 20, a bison calf had been separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River near the confluence of the river and Soda Butte Creek. As the calf struggled, an individual pushed the calf up the riverbank and onto the roadway. Visitors observed the calf walking up to people and cars. NPS staff tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd, but the efforts failed, and the calf continued to approach cars and people on the highway. NPS staff ultimately put the calf down. The park is seeking information from the public about the unidentified individual who moved the calf onto the road. Source: Yellowstone National Park
Over Memorial Day weekend, while driving on Highway 191 in the park, visitors captured a baby elk, put it inside their vehicle, and drove to the West Yellowstone Police Department (MT). At some point, the calf escaped and ran off into the forest adjacent to the police department. The calf's condition is unclear. The incident is under investigation. Source: East Idaho News, Yellowstone National Park
On May 18, two adult black bears were struck and killed by vehicles in two separate incidents. One incident occurred near milepost 14 on Highway 191 and the other occurred at milepost 29 on Highway 191. Additionally, one elk and one bison were also hit by vehicles in the past week. The incidents are under investigation and visitors are reminded to obey speed limits within the park. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On May 31, an individual pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife, in connection with a May 20 incident at the park. The individual moved a newborn bison calf toward a road after it got separated from its herd and the calf later had to be euthanized by park staff (see 5/24/23 Coalition Report). "There was nothing in the report that revealed [the individual] acted maliciously." The individual was charged a $500 fine, a $500 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, and $40 in assessment and processing fees. Source: Yellowstone National Park/U.S. Department of Justice, District of Wyoming
Park officials are investigating a video in which an individual exited a car on a park road, then ran "growling, grunting and making barking noises" toward a black bear. The bear ran off and the individual turned toward the camera, ripped off their shirt, flexed, and made "gorilla" noises. The individual apparently has been recorded doing so "numerous times." Source: Cowboy State Daily
The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins reopened on July 1. The hotel has been closed since the June 2022 record floods, which damaged the area's wastewater system. A new system has been built and is now operational. The Mammoth Campground is still being repaired. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On June 11, the park became aware of a 105mm ordinance that had been utilized for avalanche control but had not exploded. The item had rolled down a mountainside to "within 10 feet of the main route of travel in the park." The park contacted the U.S. Air Force's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team from the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, which was able to detonate the device close to where it rested. It was determined that the fuse had sheared off on impact, which caused it to malfunction and trigger incorrectly. Source: Maelstrom Air Force Base
On July 16, a 47-year-old was walking with another visitor in a field in front of the Lake Lodge cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone. Upon seeing two bison, the visitors turned to walk away from them. One of the bison charged and gored the 47-year-old. The individual sustained "significant injuries" to the chest and abdomen. The visitor was transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. It is unclear how close to the bison the two individuals were when attacked, and the incident remains under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 3, a storm brought high winds and rain to the southern area of the park, particularly the Lake Village area. Several hundred trees came down, including on buildings and vehicles. The hotel and clinic lost commercial power for approximately 24 hours before it was restored. Bridge Bay Campground and marina also lost power, which were restored later that week. Several cabins and a building were evacuated and remain closed for repairs. No fatalities or severe injuries were reported in the incident. Source: Yellowstone National Park
The park has released further details about the individual who was found deceased in a vehicle on Craig Pass on May 13 (see 5/24/23 Coalition Report). The Teton County (WY) Coroner's Office determined that the deceased individual, age 38, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Another individual at the scene, found standing in the road adjacent to the car, which was in a snowbank, was arrested for drug possession and other traffic-related charges. The incident remains under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 28, a visitor observed the Hitching Post Fire about 0.5 miles east of the Lamar River Trail and 5.5 miles south of the park's Northeast Entrance Road. The fire is believed to have been ignited by lightning on July 25. Crews are working to confine it. As of August 8, the fire is still considered active. It has burned 0.5 acres. Source: Yellowstone National Park (7/28 news release, current fire conditions)
On July 28, a visitor observed the Hitching Post Fire about 0.5 miles east of the Lamar River Trail and 5.5 miles south of the park's Northeast Entrance Road. The fire is believed to have been ignited by lightning on July 25. Crews were able to confine it to 0.5 acres. Source: Yellowstone National Park (7/28 news release, current fire conditions)
On August 22, a 49-year-old suffered a non-life-threatening injury to their foot while illegally traveling off-trail in a thermal area of the park. The following day, the individual was arraigned for charges of "thermal trespass" and "being under the influence of alcohol dangerous to self or others." As a condition of their release, they have been banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until the case is resolved. The investigation is still underway and a trial date has not yet been set. Source: CNN
On August 28, a cement truck rolled off the road and onto a minivan near Tower Junction. The five people inside the minivan were extricated and moved to safety. Due to the hardened cement inside the drum, crews were unable to remove the truck entirely from the scene until September 11, when a specialized crew was able to assist with its removal. During the removal, the road between Tower Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs was closed for several hours. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On November 14, the park and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced that they have confirmed a positive detection of chronic wasting disease in the carcass of an adult mule deer buck found near Yellowstone Lake. The buck was outfitted with a GPS collar for population monitoring, and the collar alerted the WGFD that the animal died in mid-October. The NPS and WGFD will increase monitoring for chronic wasting disease throughout the park. Visitors are reminded to not touch or handle sick or dead wild animals. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On November 1, a 70-year-old who is well-known publicly as a celebrity actor, was observed in a closed thermal area at Mammoth Terraces. Two citations for petty offenses were issued. The individual was on personal time, not for film work. The individual is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on January 23. Source: WSAZ
On January 4, the celebrity actor that was charged with two citations for entering a closed thermal area at Mammoth Terraces (see 1/10/24 Coalition Report) pleaded not guilty. A status conference will take place on February 20. Source: National Parks Traveler
On March 14, the 70-year-old celebrity actor that was charged with entering a closed thermal area at Mammoth Terraces in November 2023 (see 1/10/24 and 2/7/24 Coalition Reports) was fined $500 and required to pay $1,000 to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund, in addition to other fees. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On April 21, a 40-year-old was observed by other visitors "harassing" a herd of bison, including kicking one in the leg. Rangers responded to the scene and found the suspect's vehicle near the West Entrance before stopping it in the town of West Yellowstone. The individual was arrested and charged with being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that may endanger oneself, disorderly conduct as to create or maintain a hazardous condition, approaching wildlife, and disturbing wildlife. The driver of the vehicle, a 37-year-old, was also arrested and cited for driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation, and disturbing wildlife. The 40-year-old sustained "minor" injuries from the bison encounter. They were treated at a medical facility, released from care, then taken to the Gallatin County Detention Center in Bozeman, Montana. On April 22, the individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges. Source: KRTV
On April 24, a 55-year-old and one other individual skied about a mile into the backcountry in the Fairy Falls area near Old Faithful before the 55-year-old incurred an injury. They made an emergency call. Rangers skied in, and, upon arrival, requested helicopter assistance from Teton County Search and Rescue. The helicopter was able to land nearby and load both individuals into the ship. They were flown to a landing zone on the Grand Loop Road and the patient was transferred to a waiting ambulance. Source: Local News 8
On May 23, the park received a late-season snowstorm, resulting in the temporary closure of many roads due to dangerous driving conditions. The roads have since reopened. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On June 1, an 83-year-old approached a bison too closely near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake. The bison gored the individual, lifting them about a foot off the ground with its horns. The individual sustained serious injuries. Park responders transported them to the Lake Medical Clinic, where they were transferred by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On June 9, a lightning strike started the Milepost 17 Fire off Highway 191, 17 miles north of West Yellowstone. The fire was detected by a motorist in the park. Firefighters contained the fire at 0.1 acres on June 10. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On June 4, a federal court sentenced a 21-year-old to seven days in jail, two years of unsupervised release, a two-year ban from Yellowstone, and a $1,500 fine for "thermal trespass." The individual was convicted for crossing a fence and walking up the hillside within 15-20 feet of the steam vent at Steamboat Geyser. An on-duty employee observed the individual in the closed area, took a photograph, and called for law enforcement. When contacted, the individual said they left the boardwalk to take photos. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 4, park staff responded to the report of a 28-year-old concession employee with a firearm "making threats" at Canyon Village. The individual was reported to be holding someone hostage at gunpoint and had threatened "suicide by cop." Upon contacting the individual, there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and law enforcement rangers, leaving the suspect deceased and one ranger injured. The ranger was brought to a local hospital and said to be in "stable condition." The FBI is leading the investigation of the incident, with support from NPS special agents. Canyon Village was temporarily closed for the investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole News and Guide, Powell Tribune
On July 9, a concession employee that worked at the Roosevelt Lodge was charged with disorderly conduct for making several comments related to gun violence. The individual was report as making statements that "the next mass shooting will be here [at the Roosevelt Lodge]." This was several days after a 28-year-old concession employee was killed by law enforcement after threatening a mass shooting at the Canyon Lodge, then spraying bullets at the building (see 7/10/24 Coalition Report and "Follow-Ups on Previously Reported Incidents" below). The Roosevelt Lodge was evacuated and the individual was detained while their cabin and vehicle were searched. "Nothing of note" was found. Another employee reported that on July 5, just a day after the Canyon Lodge incident, the suspect violated an employee dining room rule, and when another employee approached them about it, the suspect got angry, threw their tray, and made comments about a mass shooting. The suspect is being held without bail. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On July 15, the park closed the Madison River, Firehole River, Gibbon River, and most of their associated tributaries due to warm water temperatures and low river flows, which are stressful conditions for fish. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 11, a vehicle with five occupants accidentally drove off the roadway and into the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature near Roaring Mountain. All five occupants exited the vehicle on their own. All individuals were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. On July 12, law enforcement rangers closed both lanes of the roadway for about two hours while the car was winched from its location nine feet below the surface. The thermal feature has "acidic and hot surface water temperatures (ranging around 105 degrees Fahrenheit)." Hanser's Automotive, the U.S. Water Rescue Dive Team, HK Contractors, Resource Technologies Incorporated, and Yellowstone Park Service Stations supported the removal of the car. The incident is under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 23, a "localized hydrothermal explosion" occurred near Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin. No injuries were reported and damage is still being assessed. Biscuit Basin, including the parking lot and boardwalks, is temporarily closed for safety. The Grand Road remains open. Staff from the NPS and U.S. Geological Survey will monitor conditions and reopen the area once deemed safe to do so. Source: Yellowstone National Park
More details have been released concerning the July 4 shootout between a 28-year-old concession employee and NPS law enforcement, resulting in the fatality of the suspect and an injury to a ranger (see 7/10/24 Coalition Report). The 28-year-old held a hostage at gunpoint in a residence in Canyon Village and said they planned to carry out a mass shooting in the park. The person who had been held hostage was eventually able to leave the situation and alerted authorities. Rangers "spent the next several hours" trying to find the suspect, eventually locating them outside the Canyon Village dining area, where 200 people were dining inside. The suspect shot a barrage of bullets at the service entrance of the building with a semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement rangers opened fire, and the suspect died at the scene. The injured ranger was taken to a nearby hospital and has since been released. Canyon Lodge was closed through July 10 for investigation. The law enforcement rangers involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing, per NPS policy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation. Source: ABC7
The park released further information regarding the hydrothermal explosion in Biscuit Basin (see 7/24/24 Coalition Report). The explosion was caused by "water suddenly transitioning to steam in the shallow hydrothermal system beneath Black Diamond Pool." No seismicity, ground deformation, or unusual gas and thermal emissions were detected at the site. The explosion sent steam and debris "tens to hundreds of feet from the source." No injuries were reported from the event. The shape of Black Dimond Pool "has changed somewhat." Personnel from the NPS and U.S. Geological Survey continue to monitor conditions for changes, and have predicted that "small explosions of boiling water from this area in Biscuit Basin continue to be possible over the coming days to months." Biscuit Basin is closed for the remainder of 2024 for visitor safety. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On July 23, the 55-year-old concession employee recently heard making threatening statements about "the next mass shooting" at the Roosevelt Lodge dining room (see 7/24/24 Coalition Report) was sentenced in federal court for two charges of disorderly conduct. The individual served 14 days of jail time, is banned from Yellowstone for five years, and will serve five years of supervised release. Source: Oil City News
On August 10, an individual "born in 1967" attempted to purchase beer at the Old Faithful Upper General Store. After their credit cards were declined, the individual stole a "service station heavy-duty wrecker." They then drove north, turned around, drove the wrong way on a one-way road near the Old Faithful Lodge, went off the pavement, drove through a fence, and came to a stop in a field. They exited the tow truck and ran south into the trees. A tow truck driver began to run after the individual, but was ordered to stop by two NPS rangers. The rangers pursued the individual through the trees, and across Grand Loop Road through traffic, where two other rangers were able to stop the individual at gunpoint. When asked for their name, the individual gave a fabricated name and said they were an "undisclosed United States Marshal" and they needed the truck to get to "the United States Marshal's Headquarters." The individual had the smell of alcohol on their being. The individual was brought to Mammoth Jail. They refused to participate in a field sobriety test, preliminary breath test, or blood draw, which require a warrant to perform. The individual has been charged with nine misdemeanors, including destruction of federal property, reckless driving, and a DUI. On August 12, the individual pleaded guilty to all charges. The judge ordered the individual be detained, with a formal detention hearing on August 15. Source: Oil City News
On August 14, the park lifted some of its temporary fishing closures (see 7/24/24 Coalition Report). The Madison River, Firehold River, and Gibbon River continue to have full fishing closures in place. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On August 28, the park reopened the Madison and Gibbon Rivers for fishing due to cooler water temperatures. The Firehole River also is now open for fishing from sunrise to 2 PM, then closed during the warmer hours of the day. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On September 16, a 60-year-old was hiking with one other individual and a dog off-trail near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful when they broke through a thin soil crust into scalding water. The individual went to the park's medical clinic and was later transported via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment of second- and third-degree burns on their lower leg. Both walking off-trail and hiking with pets in thermal areas and on trails are not allowed in the park. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On September 14, a 22-year-old was dropped off by boat at Terrace Point for a 7-day backpacking trip to summit Eagle Peak. On September 17, the individual called a family member from the top of Eagle Peak. They then failed to arrive for their boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake's Southeast Arm on September 20. The park began a search of the area, including 96 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, a drone, and forensic analysis of cellular activity. Supporting agencies on the search include the NPS (Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks), Park County (WY), and Teton County (WY). As of October 1, the individual had not been found. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On June 4, while camping at the Fishing Bridge RV Park in Yellowstone, a couple's pet cat, named Rayne Beau, "was spooked and ran off into the dense trees." The family spent several days putting out treats and toys to attempt to lure the cat back. The couple left when their camping stay ended on June 8, unsuccessful at finding Rayne Beau. About two months later, the cat was spotted in a neighborhood in Roseville, California, located over 800 miles from Yellowstone. A person who lived nearby gave the cat food and water until they were able to trap Rayne Beau on August 3. The cat was admitted to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The shelter utilized Rayne Beau's microchip to contact the couple, who live in Salinas, California, and they were reunited on August 4. The cat had lost six pounds in the incident. It is unclear whether or not the cat walked or had been transported by other individuals toward Roseville. Source: NBC News, The Sun
On September 19, the NPS released bodycam footage for the July 4, 2024, officer-involved shooting at Canyon Village (see 7/10/24 and 7/24/24 Coalition Reports). The incident is still under investigation. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On September 16, the park lifted its fishing restriction on the Firehole River due to cooler water temperatures. Fishing had been restricted since July due to high water temperatures and low flows. Source: Yellowstone National Park
On October 2, after 11 days of searching, the park announced it has transitioned its search for a missing 22-year-old backpacker on Eagle Peak (see 10/2/24 Coalition Report) from "rescue" to "recovery" mode, with limited searching "as conditions warrant." Over 100 personnel participated in the search, including two helicopters, search dog teams, ground teams with spotting scopes, trackers, and a drone. On October 13, the park sent out a new aerial search "as areas of the park previously under snow have become visible in recent days." As of October 14, the individual had not been found. Source: Yellowstone National Park, New York Post
On October 22, the grizzly known as #399 was struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming, outside of park boundaries. The grizzly was well-known due to her status as the oldest known grizzly bear to be still producing offspring, at 28-years-old. She was known to be with a yearling cub at the time of the accident. The status of the cub is unknown. Source: Grand Teton National Park
The family of the 22-year-old who went missing while hiking Eagle Peak (see 10/2/24 and 10/16/24 Coalition Reports) has continued an unofficial search for the individual. Though the park has allowed the family to continue its ground searches in the aftermath of the park's discontinuation of an active search, it has denied a request for a contractor to fly ground searchers in via helicopter. In its denial, the park cited the inability to verify the pilot's experience and the park's currently limited resources for a rescue on the mountain if anything went wrong. The U.S. Forest Service also denied a request for a volunteer helicopter flight. Source: WyoFile
On October 31, a 62-year-old was sentenced for entering Canary Spring, an area near Mammoth Hot Springs that is off trail and closed to visitors. The individual entered the area with one other adult and two children. The individual pleaded guilty to "destroying a mineral resource" and was sentenced to seven days in jail, five years of probation, a five-year ban from Yellowstone, and a fine of $3,000. Source: WDBJ7
On November 1, a wolf was found dead in heavy cover inside Montana's Wolf Management Unit 313, located adjacent to Yellowstone. It was the fifth wolf killed in the unit despite a quota goal of three wolves in place this season. All five were likely killed on October 25. Based on an investigation by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, it is believed that the fifth wolf was unknowingly wounded/killed. All five wolves are from the 8 Mile Pack, raising concerns from ecologists and local businesses that rely on wildlife viewing tourism. Source: KTVQ | |