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A sign in Yellowstone National Park warns visitors not to approach bison and other wildlife in the park.
CNN
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An 83-year-old woman was seriously injured when she was gored by a bison in the famous Yellowstone National Park on Saturday, officials said in a news release Monday.
The bison was “defending its space” when it came within a few feet of her, then used its horns to lift the Greenville, South Carolina, woman about a foot off the ground, officials said. park.
The incident occurred near the Storm Point Trail in Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, according to the release. Park rescuers took the woman to Lake Medical Clinic in Village Lake, then she was transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Authorities on Monday did not share information on the woman’s condition and said the incident was under investigation.
“Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” Yellowstone National Park officials said. Although the animals are not generally aggressive, they will defend “their space when threatened,” park officials said.
“(Bison) are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans,” the release said.
National parks can pose dangers to visitors, especially those who disregard warnings about wildlife and natural hazards.
Yellowstone issues cautionary advisories, urging visitors to remember that its animals “are wild and can be dangerous” when approached.
“When an animal is near a campsite, a trail, a promenade, a parking lot or in a developed area, give it space. It is your responsibility to stay more than 25 yards… from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes – and at least 100 yards… from bears and wolves,” said the park in Monday’s news. release.
Male bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, the park says. Despite their mass, they are considered agile and can jump over objects around 5 feet tall.
Park visitors are also being warned this week that elk with their calves can be extremely dangerous.
“Be vigilant, especially this time of year around Mammoth Hot Springs. Elk calves may be hiding near buildings, under or next to vehicles, and in blind corners,” park officials said in an alert posted on their website.
CNN’s Steve Almasy and Forrest Brown contributed to this report.
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