BOZEMAN — Two people have been issued citations after trespassing on the prohibited area at Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park on Friday, December 27.
According to a park ranger, other visitors alerted park officials who tracked down the violators after viewing surveillance video.
The names of the two people have not been released at this point; we will update you if we get more details.
This incident follows another case where a visitor fell into the thermal water at Old Faithful several months ago. On September 29, Cade Edmond Siemers sustained severe burns to a "significant portion" of his body after falling into thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser.
In June 2017, a man sustained severe burns after falling in a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin. In June 2016 , 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.
According to park officials, more than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found in the park, of which more than 500 are geysers.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019: 2 men caught walking too close to Old Faithful
AUGUST 17, 2019: Man walks within feet of Old Faithful geyser
- The Yellowstone National Park website provides the following safety information:
- Never approach animals. The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk.
- Stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas. Hot springs have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than any other natural feature. Keep your children close and don’t let them run.
- Never park in the road or block traffic. Use pullouts to watch wildlife and let other cars pass. Stay with your vehicle if you encounter a wildlife jam.
- Never park in the road or block traffic. Use pullouts to watch wildlife and let other cars pass. Stay with your vehicle if you encounter a wildlife jam.
