A wildlife photographer has lost a $20,000 legal battle over a traffic ticket that happened after he slowed down to check on an injured grizzly bear.
On Tuesday, the US District Court of Wyoming found famous wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen guilty of a minor crime in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Mangelsen, who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, estimates that he will spend more than $20,000 on the $150 ticket, according to a report. Oil City News.
The legal battle stems from events that occurred on the afternoon and evening of October 9, 2023, in Grand Teton National Park.
That day, Mangelson saw a grizzly bear named Grizzly 610 lying injured on the side of Highway 26 in Grand Teton National Park after the bear had apparently been hit by a car on the side of the road. Apparently he took pictures of the injured bear, and shared them Oil City News.
The 78-year-old photographer is known for his pictures of the famous bears of Grand Teton National Park – including Grizzly 399 and her cubs. Grizzly 610 is one of the 399’s sons.
On October 9, Mangelson allegedly drove the injured Grizzly 610 at least four times that day.
The photographer allegedly slowed down to see and check on the boy. After being unable to move for hours while injured, the grizzly bear reportedly bounced back quickly and regained what appeared to be healthy legs.
However, that night, Mangelson was issued a $150 ticket for obstructing traffic.
According to the witness statements of the two police officers who were on the scene, the photographer slowed to 5 mph near the location of Grizzly 610 while holding up four other vehicles.
The police thought that Mangelsen’s driving could cause a “bear ice” – a term used to describe cars and people gathering because of the sight of an injury.
‘A Terrible Judgment’
However, instead of paying the ticket, Mangelsen argued in court last week and spent tens of thousands of dollars to defend his case.
“I’ll probably spend $20,000 by the time it’s over,” Mangelsen said. Oil City News.
“If I’m found guilty of slowing down and stopping when the bears are on the road, that’s really bad.”
But, according to local Wyoming news WyoFileA federal judge found Mangelsen guilty of obstructing traffic on US Highway 26/191 in Grand Teton National Park this week.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Carman issued a 10-page written decision, explaining that the National Park Service had met its burden of proof to convict Mangelsen of “slowly operating a vehicle to cause an obstruction.” in normal traffic.”
Judge Carman said the video and evidence made it “clear” that the cameraman went to the scene where Grizzly 610 was hit by a car and injured.
“He drove back and forth behind the station at a slow rate of speed and in doing so caused the other vehicles behind him to slow down,” Judge Carman wrote in his decision. .
“He did it for the specific purpose of slowing down the car around grizzly bear #610 and the boys.
“Although the accused believes that his actions are appropriate based on his concerns for the safety of the bears, the truth is that he obstructed traffic.”
Judge Carman has set Mangelsen’s sentencing for June 27. However, Mangelsen told the national news agency that he will appeal again after the sentence is handed down.
“I did exactly what a sane person would do under the circumstances,” Mangelsen said. WyoFile.
“They weren’t there to take care of the bears. They were there to get me, that’s all they could think about.”
Image ID: Image caption licensed via Depositphotos.
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