Blogger in the USA petted a marmot in a national park and got into trouble
American blogger Jared Shult was fined $230 for touching a marmot in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state, SFGATE reports .
23-year-old Shult, who lives in Texas and has about 171 thousand followers on Instagram, saw a marmot in early August while hiking the popular Skyline Trail. The animal itself approached the blogger and pressed against his leg, after which the man scratched its back. His friend filmed it, and Shult later published the video on social media.
After the publication, some users criticized the blogger for too close contact with a wild animal. Soon after, a warning appeared in the comments from a person who introduced themselves as a park employee and informed that rangers would contact Shult.
The next day, the blogger received a call from a Washington state number. He did not answer the unknown call, after which a ranger called his parents and informed them about the upcoming fine. Shult later spoke with the park employee and apologized.
He was issued a $230 fine for violating federal regulations. However, the ranger initially said that such a violation could carry a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in prison.
Mount Rainier National Park rules prohibit visitors from feeding and touching wild animals, including marmots, chipmunks, and ground squirrels. Also, animals must be kept at a distance of no less than 50 yards — more than 45 meters.
Shult admitted that he violated the rules, but considered the rangers' actions regarding contact with him and his parents irresponsible. At the same time, the blogger stated that he simply hadn't thought about the prohibition before, as he had seen other people near wild animals.
He also admitted that he still does not know how park staff obtained his phone number and his parents' contacts.
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