Baby bison euthanized after Yellowstone tourists put it in their car because it was 'cold'

A bison grazes in Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner, Mont., in this March 9, 2016 photo. A bison grazes in Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner, Mont., in this March 9, 2016 photo. Photo: Matthew Brown, Associated Press Photo: Matthew Brown, Associated Press Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close Baby bison euthanized after Yellowstone tourists put it in their car because it was 'cold' 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

UPDATE: Yellowstone Park officials announced that, sadly, the baby bison had to be euthanized. Park rangers made multiple attempts to reintegrate the baby into its herd, but it was rejected.

"The bison calf was later euthanized because it was abandoned and causing a dangerous situation by continually approaching people and cars along the roadway," park officials said in a press release.

ORIGINAL STORY: In clear violation of the 'Leave No Trace' policy, tourists at Yellowstone National Park picked up a baby bison and put it in their car, according to one woman.

Karen Richardson of Victor, Idaho was visiting the scenic park last week when she saw a man and his son roll up to a ranger station with a baby bison in the back of their SUV.

"They were demanding to speak with a ranger," Richardson told EastIdahoNews.com. "They were seriously worried that the calf was freezing and dying."

Bison have existed in the wild for millions of years but sure, that baby really needed human intervention.

According to witnesses, the man was insistent that he was being helpful. Luckily, park rangers — who are actually helpful — took the baby bison back to where it was found and released it. No word on if the mother was waiting there to give the tourists a piece of her mind.

Yellowstone Park policy prohibits visitors from approaching wildlife, a warning that apparently some people really, really need.