An extraordinary, costly defense of a minor moving violation in Grand Teton National Park fell flat for Jackson Hole wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen, who was found guilty Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Carman issued a 10-page written verdict, explaining that the National Park Service had met its burden of proof to convict Mangelsen of “operating a vehicle so slowly as to interfere with the normal flow of traffic.” Videos and testimony made it “clear” that the acclaimed photographer went to the location where Grizzly 610 had been struck by a vehicle and injured, the judge wrote.
“He drove back and forth past the site at a very slow rate of speed and in doing so caused other traffic to slow behind him,” Carman wrote. “He did so for the specific purpose of slowing the traffic in the vicinity of grizzly bear #610 and the cubs.
“While [Mangelsen] believes that his actions were justified based upon his concerns for the safety of the bears, he did in fact obstruct traffic.”
Mark Carman
“While Defendant believes that his actions were justified based upon his concerns for the safety of the bears,” the judge added, “he did in fact obstruct traffic.”
In an all-day trial in early June, Jackson attorney Ed Bushnell argued that Teton Park rangers were biased against Mangelsen and exploiting a “subjective” statute. In the photographer’s defense, he pulled law enforcement officer Brett Timm’s bodycam footage and played it in the federal courtroom to scrutinize what the officer claimed to have observed.
Timm was roughly 700 yards away from Mangelsen at the time of the violation, the footage showed. The officer was talking with another motorist in a highway-side pullout and facing a different direction.
“There’s no way Mr. Timm could have seen four cars stacked behind Mr. Mangelsen at the time he said he did,” Bushnell said during the trial. “It just couldn’t have happened.”
Reviewing the body camera footage, Carman saw evidence supporting Timm’s contention that he witnessed Mangelsen significantly slow down with four trailing vehicles.
“During this portion of the video, you can see by Ranger Timm’s reflection on the side of the vehicle that he is looking around a great deal, but the camera does not reflect his movement,” his verdict reads. “This supports the Ranger’s testimony that he observed Defendant’s driving action while in conversation with other drivers.”
Mangelsen, who owns the Images of Nature Gallery in Jackson, estimated he spent about $20,000 defending the case.
Carman scheduled Mangelsen’s sentencing for June 27.
Mangelsen told WyoFile on Wednesday that he will appeal after sentencing.
“I did exactly the right thing a person with common sense and a brain would do under the circumstances,” the 78-year-old photographer said. “They were not there to take care of bears. They were there to get me, it’s all they can think about.”
Update: This story has been updated to include Tom Mangelsen’s plans to appeal. —Ed.
Tom Mangelson did the right thing by driving slow to protect Grizzly 610 who was hit by a semi-truck to my understaning, as she lay there in pain and her cubs are looking at her and wondering if she may get up or did she die. I can clearly see that the park rangers do not care about the bears and they are protected maybe a lawsuit should be brought against the park rangers so a Judge can explain what Federally protected means, as the rangers seem to think speeding is ok and kill the bear with there vehicle as opposed to slowing down and protecting the bear and doing the right thing, and you fail miserably to see.
Tom is not so special that he has special privileges. He wasn’t going to save the bear. Driving by slowly once? Yes. Driving back and forth means he thinks he is controlling traffic, etc. He needs to get the rangers in charge of the park do their job, and go about his business. I don’t care how talented he is, or how many great photos he has produced. He is a visitor subject to the rules just like anybody else.
Agree
The news updates are great. Like hearing how the wildlife is doing! How is 399 and cubs?
I support Tom Mangelsen. He did the right thing slowing the traffic down trying to keep the cubs from getting hit on the road. Why didn’t the park police get out there and slow down the traffic?
Instead of them doing there job of slowing down the traffic to protect the cubs they give the man who had enough sense to do it a ticket. That seems wrong. It you want to give out tickets how about giving out tickets to the people who are driving 60 miles an hour passing everyone in the park. I see that every time I am in the park. Thank you Mr. Mangelsen for caring about the animals.
Yes it should go both ways. And the speeding is very unnecessary especially for roaming wildlife!
100% in support of the photographer. May you always be in the right spot at the right time. As for us humans, if you don’t want to slow down and enjoy the beauty and wonder of Mother Nature that is around you, take another route and leave her alone. We are the only force of nature who is working so very hard to destroy the place we live.
Park rangers anymore are Yes Men they’re not there to help wildlife to maintain the parks they’re there to shoot a hundred head of elk without saying anything the government wants to do something they do it they’re just they’re sitting on their desk drinking their coffee and collecting a paycheck they don’t do what they’re supposed to do and they should have been after the guy that hit the bear. I’m with Mangelsen 200 percent.
Look, the injured mother bear 610 was was not 100 %, after being struck by a vehicle some time earlier. Tom Mangelson went out of his way to help keep bear 610 and her cubs a little safer. Did the driver who struck 610 even stop to report. Grizzly bears are either on the Endangered Species List, or just recently delisted. May God vindicate Tom Mangelson. Park Rangers need to enforce the speed limit, I have witnessed drivers going way too fast over the 45 mph and 55 mph zones. How about 80 mph on Teton Park Rd, and the main hwy.
I have visited Yellowstone 3 times in the past. I have seen traffic stopped many times to observe animals. That is why people go to Yellowstone.
In reading the ongoing comments at the time 610 was struck the 3 cubs were separated from her across the road somewhere on the ridge. There was a rightfull concern that they were in danger if/when they would try to cross to be with her. Where was the patrol in the park? It seems to me that Mengellson was doing their job. Out of love and legitimate concern for 610 and the cubs he was trying to make a horrible situation safer for the cubs. Bear jams occur on the road and traffic is frequently slowed or stopped. Tom Mengellson was ticketed for actions that were necessary because the park Rangers didn’t have the protection of the cubs in mind with their inaction.
Mr. Mangelsen is a renowned nature photographer who’s images have educated and enriched the lives of all who have viewed them. His commitment to the animals that he’s photographed speaks volumes and nature professionals should acknowledge his dedication above the cut and dried road rules. He is obviously on the side of the animals and park officials should treat him as an asset rather than a liability.
Good for him
Call Kevin Costner He’ll help save that man and OUR Bearssssssss!
Quite honestly it’s quite sad that Mr. Mangelsen was ever cited for his heroic actions of making sure the bear and or bears were safe. Doesn’t help the government’s standing when they harass Mr. Mangelsen as a first priority instead of the safety of both the bear(s) and other park visitors. Let us consider an alternative outcome….Mr. Mangelsen ignores the bear(s). One of the four trailing vehicles occupants notices the wounded bear. So they stop and attempt to approach the bear out of curiosity or perhaps for an ever so quick and what they believe to be a convenient photo opportunity. They approach the bear and the bear goes into survival mode. Results aren’t pretty. So in this alternate version the government officials now choose to and do euthanize the bear. So the sad end result would be the bear would be put down and possibly one or more folks from the vehicle that stopped would be seriously injured and or dead due to their poor judgment and bad choice of approaching said injured Grizzly.
He isn’t heroic he drove back and forth taking pictures for his personal gain. He’s selfish and an idiot.
Then he cried when he got in trouble… he tried to lie by saying he was protecting the cubs! The safest thing to do is leave the area.
Where were the park rangers. If the bear was injured by a vehicle. Why weren’t the rangers there to help slow down traffic for the safety of the bear and cubs. Some of these judges really shouldn’t be on the bench. Common sense is not on there resume. Especially in Wyoming. I’m surprised that people didn’t get out of there vehicle and pose with the injured bear or try to pick up the cubs.
It’s a bear for crying out loud, was he gonna administer first aid? People go to the Nation Parks and think they’re in Disneyland, you’re not.
I support Tom Mangelsen in his common sense approach of only showing concern and care for the injured bear. What if a human was hit, wouldn’t there be a traffic jam. Life is important no matter what! Humans need to have more respect for other life forms than just their own.
I don’t understand the comments trying to justify his actions based on his concern for the injured bear…was he going to transport it to St Johns?
Reading is fundamental!
As a former construction ranger in that park I would have been on the horn for the wildlife patrol to get out there pronto as well as notifying immediately the folks in charge of the bear dept for lack of their proper name. They would have responded immediately and handled the situation best way for all. Bear jams happen all the time. Everyone has to go slow. And keep moving if you are on the road. To bad for those who cut though the Park to race to Montana. Take the interstate! Why do you think the area is called Jackson HOLE!!! Slow down , your life is passing you by!!!
What’s the big deal! Park service couldn’t handle a bear jam? It’s not the first time! The park is about the animals and the people. Did the Park do anything for the wonderful resident bear mother after she was hit. Did they find the in vehicle who obviously went too fast to avoid a mother bear with young as it passed through the Park recklessly. Mr. Mangelson was slowing traffic to get the best some consideration by the Park Wildlife Patrol who apparently did nothing but accept vehicle strikes as some kind of natural injury!!!!! Ey yi yi! I thought they were playing God too often.
Agree
I have know Tom for nearly 40 years. I know too that his head and his heart are in the right place. As a professional naturalist and guide, I have also learned that some law enforcement rangers, not all…but they do exist, have a negative agenda towards people who make part of their living by working in National Parks. I think its a combination of jealousy and power. I was not there when the ticket was issued so I know only what I’m reading. I do know that the grizzlies in this ecosystem were nearly all destroyed back in the 1970’s after a dump, up in nearby Yellowstone, was hastily shut down and grizzlies who had lost an easy food supply became a safety issue. For the full story, please read…”Track of the Grizzly” by Dr. John and Frank Craighead. I guided in Grand Teton and Yellowstone for nearly 20 years and never saw a single grizzly. Thanks now to better management policies…and several decades….that has changed. People like Mangelsen have been invaluable with public relations for demanding that grizzlies be allowed to return to their former home. From my position, I would think that the ranger should have warned Tom that he was causing a traffic problem…a warning ticket at most. Being more concerned about the status of the injured bear, than how fast or slow traffic was moving, should have been the ranger’s top priority….in my opinion. BTW…if the Park Service wants to become annoyed at someone….look no further than their three Washington Wyoming representatives…. They all just voted to cut funding for the National Park Service! If you love wildlife and wild places, I think we should all be grateful their are talented and caring people like Mangelsen around.
Well said!
It’s despicable that yet another government run agency is up to senseless, illogical and money wasting antics. Clearly this is grounded on the premise of a personal vendetta against Mr. Mangelsen. Shame on you Park Services! As if there has never been a traffic jam due to tourists observing various wildlife. Wasting tax payers money to go after a stellar local wildlife supporter is not justice by any logical person’s rationale.
That’s great, Bev
How many poisonous jabs did you get?
Anyone who stops the world to save animals is 100%in the right…and until we are allowed to run over humans and leave them there, like we do animals, then don’t come at me with the “hUmAnS aRe AnImAlS tOo”
We already kill humans for convenience, save their organs, then throw the rest in an incinerator out back. No one ought to equate the life of a 4 legged animal to a human.
I posted my comment before I read the previous comments. All I can say is it’s unbelievable that so many people who don’t know Tom Mangelsen can be so jealous of his caring and talent! If they did, they would know that he probably does feel privileged. Privileged that God gave him the talent to capture the incredible shots of nature he does for the rest of the world to see. Privileged to live in one of the most beautiful places in America! I would also guess that all those who complained that he makes a lot of money don’t live in or around Teton County, literally the most expensive place to live in the US! He pays a premium price to live and work there. He does have to pay for the licensees and other fees required to own a business in Jackson. Those people don’t have any idea about the rules and regulations that must be followed. And then we get a post from a Marxist who thinks we need MORE government rules! If any of these “Negative Nancies” had ever been to Mr. Mangelsen’s gallery and knew the cost of doing business in Jackson, they would see that his prices are actually quite reasonable. His photos are incredible! I think they are priceless! That’s why he has won almost every award there is, world wide! Besides all that, for all of the clueless, you don’t just ride down the road and get photos like you see in Mr. M’s gallery. He spends hours and days in all kinds of weather and conditions to get just one good shot. And on top of all that he is very nice, friendly, and humble. Before you judge him, go to his website and learn about him and his work. God speed, Mr. Tom!
I wouldn’t call myself a marxist, though my roommate is. Wish these officers took “speeding into protected animals” as seriously as they took “guy driving a little too slow”. The regulations we need more of are in defense of these environments, these important ecosystems, bears and all. Not in defense of poachers and industry. We only have one planet. Why prioritize a carbon-spewing multi-ton death machine over animals that have been in these lands since long before any of us were? Protecting the bears protects the people too, and none of the cars behind him crashed. We came to this continent and razed it to the ground, slaughtering the stewards of the land who had, through all their own side of history’s squabbles, still cared for it enough to keep it around. We can live alongside nature. Medicine, infrastructure, these aren’t incompatible with the needs of our furry, scaly, woody, and downy friends. We could live in a post-scarcity age, but the spectre of the Dutch India Company haunts this whole continent from top to bottom. There was so much here, *is* so much here. Anyone saying people have to pass on from preventable causes, that there’s too many people on earth to preserve nature, is either unaware, a sucker, or an opportunist. Many would return to an age before modern medicine, but the history of humanity is held aloft by interwoven care for our communities and environments. We have taken care of our disabled for eons. We began on our track to prosperity when we stopped leaving the injured among us by the wayside. The sign of a healed broken bone in the archaeological record is progress. For ourselves, and our wards. No one should be in a situation they’re forced to charge that much money for photographs to keep up rent in the first place. Everyone should be able to enjoy this planet. It’s a beautiful place.
Why are there not huge fines and jail time for people disturbing wildlife? Until there is people like Mangelson will try to protect them. The forest service needs to arrest and prosecute to set examples! WAKE UP NFS,
So his crime was slowing down, perhaps even stopping traffic?Was he the only one who held up traffic this summer at a bear sighting?
Was 610 saved.
Yes, as I understand it, she recovered that day and went on.
I lived in Jackson for 22 years, an I have spent a lot of time in the park. I have never seen park officials pull anyone over for slowing down and holding up traffic. It happens EVERY time there is an animal near the road. People slow down or just completely stop in the middle of the road! The idea of the parks is for the visitors to see the beauty of the area and get a chance to see wildlife they could see nowhere else. No clear thinking person could expect to travel through the park and not experience delays. I worked for a chuckwagon in Jackson and have met Mr. Mangelsen on many occasions. No one has done more to try to preserve the parks and defend and protect the wildlife than Tom Mangelsen! That’s what he was doing when he was “holding up traffic”! I doubt anyone who was behind him was upset with him. If they were, they were in the wrong place to start with! If the park service cared about the welfare of the animals as much as Mr. Mangelsen does they would appreciate what he has done to educate the public about caring for and preserving our parks! Thank you Mr. Mangelsen!
I also lived in Wy and I wished I had come to Jackson Hole. I’m surprised that the rangers didn’t go out and kill the bear. When it comes to nature or wildlife. It’s always last on the list to save. Either human or bulldozing landscape or killing animals that are two miles away and they say they are hunters. I wish we had a judge that used their brain once in awhile.
At the time he may have been trying to protect the bears. But after that, would a sensible wildlife advocate devote thousands of dollars to fighting the NPS? Too bad that money wasn’t donated to a Yellowstone wildlife and wilderness conservation entity. And now another big chunk to appeal? Sounds like an individual egotistical vendetta.
Mr White, I don’t know about the egotistical part, he certainly was willing to spend $$ to defend his actions, which is his right. But, I agree that the $$ could have done greater good by donation to conservation groups.
Mangelson has always had an attitude that because he’s a photographer he should have special access. He needs to get off his high horse and have respect for others.
👍
So, Mr. Mangelsen is a famous photographer, but he gets his photos riding by in a car in tourist traffic?
Maybe do some research. Tom has known that bear since she was cub. The park is there for her…not tourists. She had been struck by a car…how do you not see a full grown grizzly. Hope they were arrested. Toms concern was for the bear…not taking photos.
Sounds like no one wants to take responsibility for helping the Bear . If this is a known are for bears to be sited and known to be close to the freeway. Remember we are in their territory. Why doesn’t the state recognize the fact that this is not the first time this happened and place a sign up that says reduced speed ahead – beware of bear sightings ahead – Reduced speed for next 10 miles. And but siding walls up so it separate s the Bear and the vehicle. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out
BTW putting up walls is not a good idea. Bears need to be able to wander as needed to find food, hunt prey and escape predators. The mother bear could climb over easily but cubs might not and then you have an anxious, angry mama separated from her cubs and near people- not a good situation! I believe there are signs to watch for wildlife in the area already. As I read the article it seemed the photographer was trying to slow traffic to give the injured bear time to move away to a safer area and recover from the collision and her cubs to follow .
I just finished watching the tv program on this individual and bear 399. He was very arrogant and quite emphatic that these bears are more special than people. He also was derogatory about the actions of the rangers. Seems like this is just another example.
I can’t speak to what happened that day, but every time I have driven through that park I would say this has never been enforced on regular people. The park is one big traffic jam and no one is enforcing slow moving cars.
Cars go so fast. No respect for the park or wildlife
The safety of the bear was his concern. Common sense is tells me to do the same, get people to slow down! W T F does it matter if traffic had to slow down?! The Rangers stop the traffic when a bear is coming toward the road. This is ridiculous. Wasted time and money!
This photographer is another example of why I tell folks that baby boomers have taught us how to act “entitled”. Take your ticket and pay up photographer man
Prime example of an individual violating the law!
Thank you cousin for your concern for this grizzly bear. Your photographs may be the only thing we have of a variety of animals sadly. Stay strong.
Tom Mangelsen obviously has the love and care for these beautiful wild animal’s he photographs and shares with the world. I find it very hard to believe he was doing anything with bad intentions. He is a protector and did what he believed was the right thing to do.
I am 81 yes. young Tetons was my favorite place Iam an artist and love wildlife, I’ve known Of Tom Mangelsen, know of his sincere love of Animals beyond many this breaks my heart. The wold has so changed.
m
I sympathize with the photographer, safety for all including the cubs was his priority. I once was driving on a local 2 lane road and there were turkey vultures eating road kill. I approached them slowly, allowing them to move out of the way. Unfortunately, the black truck behind me had no empathy sped up fast around me and struck more than 4 of them. One was so, seriously injured, I had to drive over it to free him of his misery. I was so angry, and just cried. I do not regret my actions, and accept that their is a small group of people who show ignorance, and evil.
He put other people in danger as well as himself. Park Rangers are there to protect wildlife. I agree with the judge.
Park Service, your a bunch of f-n idiots. To waste time and taxpayers money to persue this for a man that was concerned for the well being of an animal. As a fellow photographer, I would not only have slowed, I would have stoped. Don’t you have something better to do, like clean the toilet’s?
Mr Overman You are certainly entitled to your opinion. But I believe you violated the first two principles of “Keep it clean, civil and on topic”. Making disparaging comments about individuals not only demeans them, but also discredits you and what you write. Capisce?
This dude has got quite a sense of swlf-importance, too bad. It makes the good he does reverberate differently.
Prime example of Government overstepping its boundaries.
You’d complain about too small of a spoon in a free ice cream sundae.
It appears that the photographer overstepped his boundaries.
Please note:
1.) Mr. Mangelsen’s activities are COMMERCIAL in nature and need to be regulated as such. Commercial photographers operating with a national park should have a permit limiting them to a set number of days per year, specified locations, specified species to photograph and other conditions specified in their permit such as hours per day and limits on causing traffic jams.
2.) Visitors/tourists should only have a short time limit such as 15 minutes in which to observe and photograph bears and other species; and, they should not be required to have a permit in order to do so.
3.) Grizzly bears are a T&E species offered full protection under the Endangered Species Act to include designated critical habitat, and, within that habitat, they need to have protection from constant harassment by humans – especially commercial enterprises whose motivation is making money not protection of the T&E species. Have whooping cranes been relentlessly followed, Condors, bald eagles, black footed ferrets, etc.? Relentless commercial exploitation of protected species under the ESA must be curtailed and Mangelsen is one of the worst examples anywhere.
4. The Park Service has an absolute responsibility under the ESA to protect T&E species in their custody and has the authority to promulgate rules and policies which limit commercial exploitation of those species.
Then that permit should extend to anyone who has a camera or recording device. Never know when one will capture a photo or video worth a million $$$$! One hopes your DNA isn’t out walking among us.
Except your comment seems hypocritical! Just because Tom is a photographer doesn’t mean his concern wasn’t primarily for the safety and condition of a bear that was just hit by a car! Perhaps the ranger should have been taking more concern for the bear and her condition. Too much government oversight! And someone was driving too fast to strike the bear with their vehicle! In reality the photographers are no worse and are usually better than the tourists with selfie sticks who gather in masses. So should they be regulated also?
That’s absurd! I get it that he is making money off of the animals and some people don’t like that. Look at the photo of him taking pictures of 399, he is a very long way away from her. He isn’t hurting anything. I love photographing animals. There’s nothing worse than driving 1500 miles to get to the park, waiting 2 days to actually spot a bear then having someone run you off for blocking traffic.
These parks are still in existence because of tourism & people waiting to get “that one good shot,” go after the people that are actually up close & harassing the animals, destroying the park, etc. Leave the ones that actually give back alone!
When I used to do documentary cinematography on in a federal recreation area, I was required to show proof of $1 million in liability insurance. So, yes, bear-voyeur Tom was doing commercial photography in a National Park and is subject to the NPS permitting process and its rules, regardless of his good intentions.
I’ll have to check prices at Images of Nature Gallery next time i’m in Jackson, WY.
Well, he can afford $20k to fight a traffic citation. So I’m thinking that we already know the prices in his gallery….
Do you know that only 20 to maybe 30 percent of the human population are Empaths? Not a very impressive number. And the rest of the human cabal consist of narcissist, sociopaths, psychopaths so forth and so on. The defendant, Mr. M is an empath. His reaction to bear 610 shows his love and respect for our wildlife. Most people would not cuz they are wrapped up in themselves. Mr. Timm, was doing his job, well part of his job. His job is also to protect the wildlife. Multitasking is not hard for a trained professional. Mr. M was one of the few Empaths on the road that day. He did what 30 percent of humans would do in that situation. I have seen the clown show w tourist on those roads. Either Mr. Timm needs an assistant to respond for wildlife down alerts or put in speed bumps w flashing digital signs telling the clowns to chill. The wildlife was there first, it’s their home. Mr. M has and is giving future generations the gift of beautiful memories along w trying to prevent more damage to a bear that some “Toureon” hit w his vehicle. More has to be incorporated to make those roads more wildlife friendly. And less, nonsense by Timms of the Woods, w ticket writing, court, and punishment of a taxpaying man of integrity and grit. We all r here for a short time let us make an effort to enjoy what God has given us, and stop the bull.
So only empath’s can be concerned about human and wildlife interactions?
You lost me, and most of the population in your comment. Not everything is an enigma wrapped up in a mystery.
They’re expensive, very expensive but phenominal!