Two Yellowstone National Park tourists pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of harassing wildlife by riding motorcycles off-road near grazing bison.
According to a park spokesman, Dallin McAllister, 25, and Tyler McAllister, 36, were cited for approaching and disturbing wildlife, and operating motor vehicles in a prohibited area.
The McAllister brothers, from Utah and Arizona, were cited after the incident, which occurred Friday afternoon near Fountain Flats. A court proceeding will be scheduled for fall.
Meanwhile, Viral Hog has published video footage captured Friday, showing two motorcycle riders off-road amid several wary bison, including calves.
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Yellowstone would not state if the riders in the footage, in fact, were the McAllisters. However, the spokesman told For The Win Outdoors that the footage published by Viral Hog “is the correlated video of this incident.”
Viewers of the video will note that the motorcycle riders were off-road in a pasture – one with a passenger – while several bison became skittish and ran from the riders.
One of the men can be seen reaching over his handlebars as if trying to touch a fleeing bison.
A woman, clearly angered, can be heard yelling, “Get out of the field!” and “Get out of there!”
Yellowstone is home to nearly 5,000 bison. The animals, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, are unpredictable and surprisingly quick, capable of running in bursts up to 30 mph.
In June, a 72-year-old woman was gored multiple times by a bison after she repeatedly approached the animals.
Yellowstone guidelines require tourists to remain at least 25 yards from bison at all times, but these rules are routinely ignored by some.
Yellowstone advises tourists that they’re responsible for their own safety, and for understanding park rules.
–Images are courtesy of Viral Hog