The National Park Service (NPS) says a bison gored an 83-year-old woman on June 1 in Yellowstone National Park. In a press release, NPS says the woman from Greenville, South Carolina sustained serious injuries, but there are no further details available about her condition.
The incident occurred near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake within the Wyoming portion of the park. “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,” NPS reports.
Emergency responders transported the injured woman to a medical center in Idaho, where medical professionals are treating her injuries. NPS says the incident “remains under investigation,” so it’s unclear what the exact circumstances were that led to the attack.
Bison Safety in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Parks urges visitors to take responsibility for their own safety while visiting the park. “It’s your responsibility to respect safety regulations and view wildlife from a safe distance,” NPS says in the press release. “Move away from wildlife if they approach you.”
Visitors should stay a minimum of 25 yards away from large animals such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. They should stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
“Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” NPS says. “Bison are not aggressive animals but will defend their space when threatened. They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”
We will update this article with more information as it becomes available.