Drone Harassment of Grizzly Bear Draws Fury from Tourists

A beloved grizzly bear and her two cubs faced harassment from a drone operated by an individual in Yellowstone National Park, leaving many nearby visitors “angry as hell.”

Don Johnson, a park visitor from Idaho Falls, was taking photos of the bears near Grizzly Lake when the incident occurred on May 14. He recalled that the drone was flying so close to the bears that they could have easily swatted it away. The newspaper noted the intense proximity of the drone.

The mother grizzly involved, named Beryl, is one of the park’s well-known residents. Johnson mentioned he only discovered the drone’s presence when he noticed a ranger shouting about it.

This commotion drew a crowd of onlookers, all equally upset about the treatment of the animals. “Everyone was crazier than hell. If someone had caught him, who knows what might have happened,” Johnson remarked.

He added that such actions should be illegal, and hefty fines should be imposed for them. Luckily, before authorities could respond, the drone operator, which Johnson described as “creepy,” managed to disappear while filming the bears.

Operating a drone in national parks, such as Yellowstone, is against the law and can result in penalties including up to six months in prison and a fine of $5,000.

Johnson later posted footage of the incident on Facebook, which gained rapid attention, attracting tens of thousands of views and sparking considerable outrage. Some commenters suggested that increased awareness might lead to identifying the drone operator.

Fortunately, reports indicate that Beryl and her cubs seemed to be little affected by the drone encounter and continued to explore the park, much to the delight of those watching.