An influencer petted a Mount Rainier marmot. A national park ranger called his parents.

An influencer, Jared Shult, said he was contacted by someone posing as a Mount Rainier National Park ranger after he pet a marmot on the park’s Skyline Trail. Shult, a 23-year-old from Texas, posted a video after reaching a scenic viewpoint about 1.5 miles into his hike, where a marmot and squirrel approached visitors. He scratched the marmot’s back while it hugged his leg, despite federal rules that prohibit feeding, touching, teasing, frightening or intentionally disturbing wildlife. The article says such violations can lead to fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in prison. Shult later received a $230 ticket, after the purported ranger posted the citation publicly and said officials were upset about the post. The ranger allegedly claimed Shult’s video violated wildlife regulations.