On June 1, a bison gored an 83-year-old woman in Yellowstone National Park, the park said in a press release.
The incident took place near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake.
Bison Gores 83-Year-Old Woman in Yellowstone National Park
The woman, who is from Greenville, South Carolina, “sustained serious injuries” and was “transported to the Lake Medical Center where she was flown by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.”
This new bison goring incident is currently still under investigation and the park has no additional information to share at this time. The woman’s condition remains unknown.
The park did share some limited details on the goring, though, saying that “the bison, defending its space, came within a few feet of the woman and lifted her about a foot off the ground with its horns.”
This is yet another reminder to respect the animals in Yellowstone, to keep your distance, and to never approach wildlife.
Wildlife Safety in Yellowstone National Park
Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous. Wild animals can be aggressive if people don’t respect their space. When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, give it space.
It is your responsibility to stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes – and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves.
If need be, move or turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison are not aggressive animals but will defend their space when threatened. They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.
Read more about safety in the park, including how to behave around wildlife. The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules.
For safety tips and guidelines for specific animals, I recommend reading these articles:
