Bozeman Police Blame ‘Yellowstone’ for Rise in Montana Crime

What makes America so special is that we love cowboys. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why the American neo-Western drama series Yellowstone has gained so much popularity over the years. The show revolves around the family drama of the Dutton family. Also known as the owners of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.

The series has not only attracted millions of viewers since its premiere on June 20, 2018, but has also convinced many people to move to Montana. While you might think more people could be good, the Bozeman Police Department shared that the TV series Yellowstone and Yellowstone tourists are partly responsible for the increased crime in Montana.

Yellowstone tourists blamed for increased crime in Montana

Getty Images, Fyletto

While more tourism brings in more money for the state, more people ultimately leads to more problems for permanent residents. WhiskeyRiff shared some of the issues long-term residents have faced due to the production and popularity of the show.

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They said one local woman was frustrated because “production was going on at all hours of the night.” That same resident also told WhiskeyRiff that “the production crew was also extremely rude throughout the entire uncomfortable process.” While this production issue only affects residents who live close to the set, there are other issues that affect more local residents as well.

One big area that locals complain about is the price of real estate in Montana. With the growing popularity of the show, more people from out of state have decided to move to the beautiful state of Montana. The television series showcases the beautiful landscapes of Montana; now everyone wants a piece of that pie. With the influx of Yellowstone tourists, home prices have skyrocketed.

According to CNBC, “around Bozeman, the median price of a single-family home rose from less than $500,000 before the pandemic to nearly $750,000.” Now, locals can no longer afford to buy homes. It’s mostly wealthy, foreign tourists who are coming here and trying to buy a ranch, like the characters in the show.

Crime is skyrocketing

It’s not just the housing prices that are rising, crime rates are too. The Bozeman police chief spoke to the DailyMail and explained how Yellowstone tourists are contributing to the increased crime rate. He said, “That show has directly increased crime locally and has added more work to the department’s already busy schedule.”

Later, he tells WhiskeyRiff exactly what types of crimes are on the rise. His explanation is about the everyday people of Montana and what they see. “They can’t see the increased human trafficking in the city. A lot of them don’t see the increased fentanyl that’s available in the city. But they do see people running red lights, so that’s going to be their biggest problem.”

Montana continues to bloom

While the police chief admits the show can’t be held solely responsible, it’s a huge contributor to many of Montana’s growing problems. When the pandemic hit, many people began opting for remote work. The show Yellowstone made living on a ranch in the wilderness attractive.

However, Montana locals say these Yellowstone tourists are in for a nasty surprise. Many locals claim the show doesn’t accurately portray ranchers. They say the mob-like connections and violence give them a bad image that isn’t realistic.

Another thing the show doesn’t share with these Yellowstone tourists is Montana’s harsh winters. The police chief tells WhiskeyRiff, “There’s a certain lore and image of Montana, but a lot of them leave after living in the area for a short time. They can’t stand the cold.”

Given the rising crime rate, skyrocketing housing prices, rude production workers, and poor representation of their hometowns, it’s no surprise that Bozeman residents can’t wait for the craze to pass and the tourists to leave Yellowstone.