Man pleads guilty after an encounter with a bison at Yellowstone National Park led to the animal being euthanized, prosecutors say

A man has pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife following an encounter with a newborn bison calf at Yellowstone National Park that resulted in the young animal being euthanized.

Clifford Walters pleaded guilty to one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife, the US attorney's office for Wyoming said in a news release.

Walters was charged a $500 fine, a $500 community service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, a $30 special assessment and a $10 processing fee, the release said.

CNN has reached out to Walters for comment.

The legal action comes after Walters was seen on May 20 disturbing a bison calf in the Wyoming portion of the park, the National Park Service said.

"The calf had been separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River. As the calf struggled, the man pushed the calf up from the river and onto the roadway," prosecutors said. "There was nothing in the report that revealed Mr. Walters acted maliciously."

After that encounter, the calf was seen following cars and people in the park, officials said.