When there are discussions of poaching in Yellowstone National Park, the talk usually involves animals of some sort, but earlier this month scofflaws were stopped from poaching eggs in a thermal feature in Biscuit Basin.

In early July Park Rangers interceded to stop a Japanese tourist group from trying to boil eggs in a Biscuit Basin thermal feature, according to the Powell Tribune. The group had already broken the eggs into the pool to see what would happen; they were escorted from the area, but they were not charged with any violations of the law.

Interfering with any sort of thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park is strictly forbidden, even with something so seemingly innocent as an egg broken into a thermal pool. Yes, we understand the temptation -- and for decades many succumbed to the temptation of throwing a hanky in Handkerchief Pool or some coins in Morning Glory -- but it's been shown time and time any interference with a thermal feature can lead to very bad things.

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