We’ve all seen them: Tourists who get too close to wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, who leave walkways, park in the middle of the road, feed animals and do other stupid things in obvious disregard for park rules.

But two recent incidents in Yellowstone National Park heightened awareness — and anger — regarding the behavior of tourists in the park.

It’s only mid-May, and we’re already incensed over the seeming stupidity of people who come to experience Yellowstone, which we consider to be our neighborhood park as well as the country’s first national park.

We take it personally when someone does something that obviously — to us at least — is stupid. Like putting a very young bison calf in the back of an SUV because the animal is alone and appears cold, then taking it away from its herd to a ranger station.

The Canadian tourist who did this had the best of intentions, but his actions had the worst of consequences for the calf. Rangers returned the calf to its herd, but, with the scent of humans on it, the herd refused to accept the calf.

The calf then repeatedly approached traffic, putting its life in danger and compromising the safety of the traveling public. Ultimately, rangers decided to euthanize the calf to prevent further harm.

We’re also aware that the tourist put himself into significant danger as well, since the calf’s mother could have been just out of sight, but not out of striking distance, so to speak.

In a second, more brazen incident over the weekend, a promotional group of four men calling themselves High On Life SundayFundayz — coincidentally, also from Canada — left the wooden walkway and walked several yards onto sensitive terrain at the Grand Prismatic Spring to take pictures and videos of them breaking the rules, which they posted on their Facebook page and other social media sites.

The group later removed its online photos and videos that were taken from illegal vantage points and posted an apology, offering to donate $1 for each positive comment about Yellowstone, up to a maximum of $5,000. But, judging by comments on the group’s Facebook page, that appeared to further fan the flames of anger rather than calming them.

Eventually, the group changed the wording of its apology to say it would donate the $5,000 to Yellowstone National Park without any strings attached.

Rangers later filed criminal complaints in both incidents, and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Wednesday that arrest warrants were issued for members of High On Life SundayFundayz.

These incidents are disturbing on several levels.

The actions of these and other irresponsible people threaten the park’s geothermal features, wildlife and natural environment — the very things that prompted Congress to set aside Yellowstone as our first national park.

Their actions also represent a threat to their own lives, and perhaps the lives of others nearby. The man who put the buffalo calf in his vehicle was fortunate that its mother wasn’t close enough to charge and gore him.

As for the men taking photos and videos at Grand Prismatic Spring, they’re lucky they didn’t end up falling through the ground’s thin crust into the heated geothermal water below.

Poor behavior by tourists in the park also provide impetus for environmentalists who believe Yellowstone should be closed to the public.

People who disregard park rules show a cavalier attitude about protecting wildlife and the environment in Yellowstone National Park. In these and so many other cases, their attitude seems to be, “The rules don’t apply to me. I’m more important than everyone else.”

And that makes us angry.

That anger is illustrated by these comments on High On Life SundayFundayz’s Facebook page:

Ramona George of Cody: “Because of your actions (and other people’s similar actions) more and more restrictions are being enforced in the park. That hurts those of us that live around Yellowstone and others that want to visit in the future. Environmentalist use these actions as examples as to why the park should be closed. I’m hoping that you truly learn the long time ramifications of your choices. The first step to restitution and eventual forgiveness from anyone is to step forward and deal with the consequences of your actions which include paying fines and federal charges. Life is teaching you a big lesson right now. Learn from it and grow up or future lessons could hurt a lot more!!!”

Mychal Lowman of Idaho: “You guys are ridiculous. I’ve lived in Idaho most of my life and in one weekend you trash it. What is wrong with you? Why couldn’t you help preserve this place instead of potentially devastating geyser and spring communities? This makes my heart hurt. For those of us who live in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, Yellowstone is our soul and you disrespected not only the park, but the people who cherished it. You are the worst type of people: selfish.”

We agree, and we hope this incident improves public awareness of the need to behave appropriately while in national parks, including Yellowstone, and other sensitive natural habitats.