Lightning. On December 10, 2016, staff Yellowstone Bear discovered that Lightning had escaped from the facility after digging under and pulling a World flap on a perimeter fence gate. Yellowstone Bear World ultimately euthanized Lightning 6010 S. 4300 W., Rexburg, ID 83440 after finding him approximately 2 miles away from the facility and “assessing the situation.”

Yellowstone Bear World, which was June 14, 2016: The USDA cited founded by Michael Ferguson in 1998 Yellowstone Bear World for failing to have a and is currently operated by his son, responsible adult available to accompany Courtney Ferguson, has failed to meet USDA officials during an inspection. minimum standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as March 18, 2005: Following an inspection established in the federal Animal Welfare during a traveling exhibit in Sandy, Utah, the Act (AWA). The U.S. Department of USDA cited Yellowstone Bear World for Agriculture (USDA) has cited failing to provide the inspector with a written Yellowstone Bear World for—among program of veterinary care, which prevented other things—failing to provide animals the inspector from evaluating whether three with adequate shelter and space, failing brown bear cubs and six black bear cubs to maintain enclosures in good repair, were receiving adequate veterinary care. failing to create compatible animal The USDA also cited Yellowstone Bear groupings and separations that remove World for failing to provide acquisition the risk of injury or death among records for the nine bear cubs. animals, failing to provide animals with adequate veterinary care, failing to October 30, 2001: The USDA cited provide animals with potable water, Yellowstone Bear World for failing to feed failing to maintain adequate perimeter eight adult wolves at least once a day. The fencing to protect animals, failing to facility fed the wolves every other day as a maintain an adequate program of method of weight control, but an inspector veterinary care, and failing to maintain noted that this schedule would typically complete records. Documentation is leave the animals hungry “more than available upon request. necessary” and that weight control could be “accomplished in a more humane manner,” December 19, 2016: The USDA cited by decreasing the daily ration for each Yellowstone Bear World for failing to animal. maintain a primary enclosure in good repair to protect and contain a wolf named The USDA also issued Yellowstone Bear Lightning. On December 9, 2016, Lightning World repeat citations for failing to provide dug under the primary enclosure fencing adequate veterinary care and failing to where some erosion had occurred, allowing maintain adequate records. The inspector him to enter a pen housing other animals, observed that a juvenile antelope was where he ended up between the primary experiencing “scours,” or diarrhea, “a enclosure and the perimeter fence. The common problem in juvenile animals which USDA also issued Yellowstone Bear World can sometimes lead to death.” Despite a critical citation for failing to maintain a evidence that the animal had been suffering perimeter fence adequate to function as a from the condition “for several hours or secondary containment method for longer,” staff had failed to document the

{00337783} Yellowstone Bear World

condition on the animal’s health record or wolves. An inspector believed the three report it to the attending veterinarian. The dens were not adequate for the six wolves, investigator observed dark, dried material particularly since compatibility issues had adhered to the hair in patches running down already arisen among them. the inside of the antelope’s back legs. An employee reported that they did not see the The USDA also issued Yellowstone Bear material during the daily observation, but World a repeat direct citation for failing to the inspector noted that, based on the ensure that animals housed together are dryness of the material, it had been present compatible after a wolf named Dillon for several hours or longer. suffered a “very damaged” eye because of suspected aggression from another wolf The inspector further observed that after the two animals were moved from an Yellowstone Bear World was failing to follow enclosure consisting of many acres and the written program of veterinary care that placed together in “a small pen.” Dillon’s the attending veterinarian had designed. eye subsequently had to be removed. Two wolf pups born in May 2001 had only received one vaccination each, although the Finally, the USDA issued Yellowstone Bear program called for repeat vaccines to be World a repeat direct citation for failing to given at 12 and 16 weeks of age. The maintain its facilities in good repair to inspector noted that Yellowstone Bear protect animals from injury. On August 25, World’s failure to administer boosters put 2001, a fallow named Pete was found the pups at risk of exposure to distemper, dead, evidently strangled by “an electrical parvo, and other viruses that visitors might cord wrapped around his neck.” The USDA bring into the facility. Moreover, the had previously advised Yellowstone Bear inspector was unable to verify whether two World to take action to prevent animals buffaloes had received vaccines as required “from chewing on [the cord] or getting by the written program of veterinary care. tangled in it, either of which could lead to death.” The USDA additionally cited Yellowstone Bear World for failing to maintain an intact August 22, 2001: The USDA issued perimeter fence around bear enclosures Yellowstone Bear World repeat citations for and for failing to provide adequate shelter the following: failing to maintain daily health from inclement weather. The inspector records on site; failing to have complete noted that the facility supplied a single 20- acquisition records for wolf pups acquired foot-by-12-foot shelter for four (including on July 12, 2001; failing to have disposition two who were not compatible to be housed records for the death of a white-tailed deer together), four buffaloes, and one fallow fawn; and failing to maintain intact perimeter deer and that the animals’ enclosure had no fencing around several animal enclosures. trees or other natural shelter from the area’s In particular, the perimeter fence at the strong, cold winds and snow. In addition, customer exit did not meet the 6-foot height Yellowstone Bear World supplied a single 5- requirement, another perimeter fence had foot-by-4-foot shelter for two black bears gaps and was not constructed in a way to and three wolf pups, which was too small prevent outside animals from going through and too low to accommodate all the or under it and having contact with animals animals. Six dens, each approximately 5 in the facility, and there was no perimeter feet by 5 feet by 4 feet, were supplied for fence around an enclosure containing two nine wolves (a pup and eight adults). Three . of the dens housed individual wolves, while the other three dens were shared among six Yellowstone Bear World

The USDA issued Yellowstone Bear World fallow deer doe. The containment gate also a direct citation for failing to maintain was not maintained in a way to contain the outdoor facilities in good repair. The wolves and protect the adjacent animals inspector noted that the facility had not from injury. The USDA also issued mended gaps in the primary fencing around Yellowstone Bear World a direct citation for a deer enclosure, “which could allow failing to maintain facilities in good repair to predator entrance.” The USDA further cited protect animals from injury. The inspector the facility for failing to provide two bison observed gaps in several areas along with potable water. The inspector noted that fences and gates, which could allow the pond that served as the only water predators easy access to enclosures. source for the two bison was green in color Additionally, the inspector noted that a and had “a large amount of thick algae fallow deer fawn had been killed by a buildup.” The USDA additionally cited predator on July 5, 2001, while an adult Yellowstone Bear World for failing to allow reindeer was killed by a predator in the fall inspection of records. The inspector was of 2000. unable to verify whether the attending veterinarian was performing an on-site visit The USDA also issued Yellowstone Bear every six weeks and whether the animals World a direct citation for failing to separate had received vaccines as called for in the incompatible animals, resulting in the written program of veterinary care because deaths of a , who was killed following the records had “been inadvertently interspecies aggression, and two fallow transported to Montana.” deer, one of whom was seen being racked on the ground by a fallow deer buck and July 31, 2001: The USDA issued was killed by the buck days later. Another Yellowstone Bear World repeat citations for fallow deer was gored and killed by the failing to include all species in the written same buck. The facility was also cited for program of veterinary care, failing to lacking sanitary potable water. Specifically, maintain complete and accurate health the pond that served as the water source for records, failing to maintain complete two bison was green in color and had a acquisition records for multiple species, large amount of thick algae buildup. In failing to have disposition records for a addition, the USDA cited Yellowstone Bear fallow deer who died, failing to provide all World for failing to properly store food for animals with adequate shelter from the sun, the animals in the petting . The inspector and failing to have adequate perimeter noted that the food was left in open bags on fencing. Fencing at the entry gate did not the floor of a shed. reach the 6-foot requirement, a pen housing two bison did not have a perimeter fence, July 17, 2000: The USDA cited Yellowstone and another perimeter fence did not meet Bear World for failing to follow the written the 8-foot requirement near the highway emergency and evacuation program by not and had openings large enough for outside conducting periodic emergency and animals to enter the facility near the evacuation drills or having the necessary maintenance road. emergency equipment available as well as failing to keep an emergency kit The USDA also issued Yellowstone Bear appropriately stocked with medications. World direct citations for failing to handle Specifically, an injectable medication bottle animals as expeditiously and carefully as in the emergency kit was empty and there possible after an employee left a gate open were no other medications for emergency while traveling between pens, allowing capture, tranquilization, or anesthesia in the wolves to gain access to a pen and kill a kit. The facility was also cited for failing to Yellowstone Bear World

have a complete perimeter fence at a drive- failing to keep a current written program of through gate, through which escaped veterinary care by updating it to show the animals could “easily” exit the facility and veterinary care program for eight wolves “people and other unwanted animals could and two buffaloes acquired since the prior easily gain entry.” The USDA further cited year, failing to have an adequate quarantine Yellowstone Bear World for failing to area for sick animals, failing to maintain provide animals in the petting zoo with a complete acquisition records for all animals, clean, sanitary water receptacle. The and failing to provide animals with adequate animals had a plastic-lined artificial creek shelter from the sun. The inspector noted that had feces, a buildup of organic debris, that three sheep and three goats shared a and algae in it. “metal culvert,” which could “not accommodate all 6 animals at one time” and October 6, 1999: The USDA issued was “not an appropriate material to provide Yellowstone Bear World a repeat citation for protection from the sun.” failing to have responsible and knowledgeable attendants present during The USDA also cited Yellowstone Bear periods of public contact at the petting zoo, World for failing to properly handle a sheep where guests were interacting with two who had been “left on exhibit” while sheep and three goats, and at the black suffering from a fever of 104.5 degrees. The bear cub enclosure, where there was a low investigator observed that it was “not fence that could lead to potential contact appropriate to continue to stress a sick between cubs and guests. The USDA animal by keeping it on exhibition in a additionally cited Yellowstone Bear World situation like this where there is feeding for failing to provide a salt block free from from the public and increased stress from contamination. The investigator observed interaction with the public.” feces on top of the salt block and touching the block where it sat in the receptacle. The USDA additionally cited Yellowstone Yellowstone Bear World was also cited for Bear World for failing to provide adequate improper sanitation in the petting zoo, which veterinary care. At least three fallow deer was “diffusely sprinkled with feces.” It was were “thin to the point that ribs were visible” reported to the inspector that the shavings and their coats were “dry and somewhat on the ground had not been changed in a rough.” They were not as bright and alert as month and that raking the pen was “not the other fallow deer. The investigator entirely effective” at removing the feces observed that there was no evidence that a because of the small size of the fecal balls. fecal examination had been performed and that the facility had been unable “to July 22, 1999: The USDA cited Yellowstone physically manage close containment of the Bear World for the improper feeding and animals to treat them.” handling of animals. The inspector observed a salt block lying “directly on the ground The USDA further cited Yellowstone Bear which consisted of shavings contaminated World for failing to have an adequate with feces.” The inspector also observed quarantine area for sick animals. The that no responsible and knowledgeable investigator noted that the sick sheep had employee was present while nine visitors been left on exhibit with two other sheep interacted with sheep and goats in the and three goats in the petting zoo, while the petting zoo. three fallow deer who were sick had remained in an enclosure with five other June 16, 1999: The USDA cited fallow deer, nine elk, four reindeer, and two Yellowstone Bear World for the following: buffaloes. Yellowstone Bear World

Finally, the USDA cited Yellowstone Bear World for failing to construct a cargo area appropriately to protect animals during transportation. The cargo area for the primary conveyance used to transport wolves to the facility had not been designed and constructed to protect the animals’ health, safety, and comfort. Specifically, the divider panels did not go all the way to the ground, which allowed one wolf to access another wolf’s foot and cause damage to the extent that the foot had to be amputated.

In addition to these citations, the USDA inspector noted various concerns, including the need for a knowledgeable attending veterinarian or nutritionist to review the nutrition program for each species, the potential inadequacy of the facility’s fencing and housing conditions to protect the animals during winter, and the potential lack of sufficient “animal handlers who are appropriately trained in handling dangerous animals.”