Man who harassed Yellowstone bison nabbed at Glacier park
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS (AP) — An Oregon man who was caught on video harassing a bison at Yellowstone National Park was arrested at Glacier National Park in the third disturbance in less than a week at a national park, officials said last Friday.
Rangers looking for Raymond Reinke of Pendleton, Oregon, found him causing a disturbance Thursday evening at the historic Many Glacier Hotel in the popular Montana park, the National Park Service said.
He remains jailed pending a hearing next week and has requested a court-appointed attorney. A message left at a phone listing for Reinke in Oregon was not immediately returned.
Reinke, 55, had been cited for drunken and disorderly conduct in a third national park, Grand Teton, last Saturday and was released on $500 bond that required him to follow the law and avoid alcohol.
Yellowstone rangers cited him three days later for not wearing a seatbelt and noted that he appeared intoxicated, park officials said. They did not know of Reinke’s bond conditions at the time.
Reinke was later cited after another Yellowstone visitor took video of him walking up to a bison in a roadway congested with stopped cars and waving his arms. The animal charges him a couple of times, but Reinke does not appear to get hurt.
Yellowstone officials warn visitors to stay at least 23 meters away from bison, which injure tourists every year who get too close.
After the video gained attention online and Yellowstone rangers learned of Reinke’s charges at Grand Teton, an assistant US attorney asked that his bond be revoked. A warrant was issued for Reinke’s arrest.
He had told rangers he planned to travel to Glacier National Park. Rangers there were looking for his vehicle when they got a report about two guests arguing and creating a disturbance at Many Glacier Hotel.
Rangers identified one of the guests as Reinke, who was sent back to Yellowstone and appeared in a US court last Friday.