A Yellowstone bison gores a 71-year-old Pennsylvania woman in her second attack this week, the third in a month, the park says
“The woman and her daughter inadvertently approached the bison as they returned to their vehicle at the trailhead, causing the bull bison to charge,” the Park Service said Thursday.
The woman suffered ‘non-life threatening injuries’ and was taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyo.
It’s unclear exactly how close the woman and her daughter were when the bison charged. The park, which is mostly in Wyoming, requires visitors to stay more than 25 yards away from bison.
“Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is wild and can be dangerous on approach,” the Park Service said, repeating the same warning it issued two days earlier.
The incident is the latest in a series in which bison gored visitors who failed to keep the proper distance.
Earlier in the week, a 34-year-old Colorado Springs man was gored by a bison at Old Faithful Geyser. The man was walking with his family on a boardwalk near Giant Geyser on Monday when a bull bison charged at the group, according to a news release.
“Family members did not leave the area and the male bison continued to charge and gore the male,” the Park Service said.
The man suffered an arm injury and was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Yellowstone Hospital. The Park Service said Monday’s incident involved a visitor who was “too close to the animal.”
Prior to these two incidents, a 25-year-old woman from Grove City, Ohio was gored by a bison and thrown 10 feet into the air on Memorial Day after also getting too close to the animal. While on a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin in late May, the woman came within 10 feet of the animal, park officials said. Two other people were also within 25 yards of the bison, the Park Service said in a news release.
When the woman approached the bison on the boardwalk west of Old Faithful, the animal charged at her.
“As a result, the bison gored the woman and threw her 10 feet into the air,” the Park Service said at the time.
The woman suffered a puncture wound and other injuries and was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
As North America’s largest mammal, bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal, according to the Park Service. They are unpredictable and extremely strong. Although they can weigh up to 1 ton and stand about 6 feet at the shoulder, bison can run up to 35 mph, which is “three times faster than humans,” according to the Park Service. They can also jump up to six feet vertically “and can pivot quickly to fight off predators,” according to the National Wildlife Federation.
Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times, according to the Department of the Interior. Between 2,300 and 5,500 bison live in Yellowstone, according to the Park Service.
Yellowstone officials have stressed that visitors should give animals space if they approach campsites, trails, boardwalks, parking lots or developed areas. Visitors should stay more than 25 yards from all large animals, such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes, according to the Park Service. He advises you to stay at least 100 meters away from bears and wolves.
Although wildlife attacks are rare, dangerous encounters do occur, especially when humans are unaware of – or unaware of – the rules and etiquette surrounding wildlife viewing. Cameron Harsh, director of programs for the US office of World Animal Protection, an international nonprofit group, told the Washington Post last month that “wild animals want to be left on their own.”
The third bison incident in a month is part of what has been a turbulent time in Yellowstone. Park officials announced Thursday that its northern loop will reopen on Saturday, less than three weeks after the park suffered severe flood damage. Record rainfall and historic flooding forced Yellowstone to close all five entrances on June 13. But 93% of the park’s road network is now open, and the temporary system of alternating license plates to limit visitors will be lifted over the bank holiday weekend.
Wednesday’s incident is still under investigation, according to the Park Service. In its press release, the Park Service stressed to visitors – again – not to approach the bison.
“Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area,” the Park Service said. “If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with any nearby wild animal.”
Andrea Sachs and Natalie B. Compton contributed to this report.
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