Man wanted for harassing bison in Yellowstone arrested at Many Glacier Hotel

A man was arrested Thursday at approximately 10:45 p.m. at the Many Glacier Hotel after park rangers responded to a report of two guests arguing loudly and creating a disturbance in the hotel dining room. The man had a warrant out for his arrest after being caught on video harassing a bison in Yellowstone National Park earlier this week.

The man, 55-year-old Raymond Reinke of Pendleton, Oregon, was being sought after his bail was revoked following a string of citations in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park over the past week.

Reinke had spent the night of July 28 in the Teton County Jail after being arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct, according to a press release. He was released on bond the following day and traveled to Yellowstone National Park.

There, Yellowstone National Park rangers stopped his car for a traffic violation. Ranger reported he was drunk and argumentative and he was ultimately cited for a seat belt violation on July 31. It is believed that following that citation he encountered the bison.

In a video that has circulated widely on Facebook, Reinke can be seen following the bison as it crosses the road, getting its attention and taking a menacing stance resembling that of a bullfighter. The bison charges him a couple times before the video ends.

During his traffic stop, Reinke had told Yellowstone Park rangers that he planned to travel to Glacier National Park next. Once the Yellowstone rangers connected the dots and realized the man was connected to multiple infractions as well as the wildlife harassment case an assistant U.S. attorney requested his bond be revoked.

On the night of Thursday, Aug. 2, that request was granted and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to the release. That was shortly before Glacier National Park rangers responded to the call at the Many Glacier hotel, where one of the guests creating the disturbance was Reinke.

Following his arrest, authorities transported Reinke to Helena, where Yellowstone rangers met him and took him the rest of the way back to Yellowstone and booked him in to Yellowstone jail. He is scheduled for a court appearance today.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.