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Tourist Is Jailed For Taunting Bison That Stopped Traffic In National Park

Tourist Is Jailed For Taunting Bison That Stopped Traffic In National Park

He made a frank and personal apology to any large grazing mammals offended by his actions

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A man who was arrested after taking the bizarre step of abusing and taunting a huge bison has been jailed in the USA.

Fifty-five-year-old Raymond Reinke has been sent to prison for 130 days after he pleaded guilty to harassing a wild animal. He was arrested after confronting the massive beast in a national park in Wyoming earlier this month.

Shocked and bemused bystanders watched Reinke beating his chest and taunting the animal as it stood in the road, by all accounts minding its own business.

According to reports, Reinke pleaded guilty to four counts of misconduct in national parks, a fifth charge was dropped by prosecutors. It had been reported that he had originally pleaded not guilty.

PA

Luckily for everyone by Raymond Reinke, the whole curious episode was filmed by Lindsey Jones, who was visiting the park with her family.

She was filming in her car when Reinke arrived on the scene, wearing shorts, a blue t-shirt and a cap. He taunted the beast, which became scared and charged at him. That's not something you'd want to happen - bison are huge.

As it happens, National Park employees are more than familiar with Mr Reinke's antics.

Shortly before the bison incident, he was arrested by law enforcement officers at Grand Teton National Park. He was then booked for a 'drunk and disorderly conduct' offence.

During the sentencing, Judge Mark Carmon said: "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."

He's right, too.

PA

Reinke was given 60 days in jail for the bison crime, and then another 60 days for 'interfering with law enforcement'. The judge added on 10 extra days for disorderly conduct.

The judge also ordered that 21 days of his sentence be commuted as time served.

Reinke was also ordered to undergo alcohol treatment and one of the conditions of his parole is that he must abstain from alcohol and drug use during his five years of probation.

In addition to that, he has also been banned from Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks in the future. Rightly so, you'd have to say.

Of his crimes, Reinke is quoted as having said: "I'm sorry to the buffalo [bison].

"He didn't deserve what I did to him. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt that buffalo [bison]."

LADbible made an approach to the bison, but it was unavailable for comment.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: US News, Animals