Arizona Woman Gored by Bison at Yellowstone National Park
An Arizona woman visiting Yellowstone National Park was gored by a bison as she was walking away from the animal, park officials said Monday, in what is believed to be the first such incident this year.
The 47-year-old woman and the person she was with were walking in a field in front of the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone when they encountered two bison, according to the park’s news release. Despite turning to walk away from the animals, one of the bison charged at the woman and gored her on Monday morning.
The woman sustained significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. The incident is currently under investigation, and the Park Service has not released any additional information, including the woman’s condition.
This is the first incident of its kind at Yellowstone National Park in 2023. However, there were several incidents last year where visitors were attacked by bison for being too close to the animals.
One incident occurred on May 30, 2022, when an Ohio woman was gored by a bison and thrown 10 feet into the air after getting too close to the animal near a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin. Another incident took place on June 28, 2022, when a Colorado man was gored by a bison at Old Faithful while walking with his family on a boardwalk near Giant Geyser.
Bison are the largest mammals in North America and have injured more people at Yellowstone than any other animal, according to the Park Service. They are unpredictable and incredibly strong, capable of running up to 40 mph and jumping up to six feet vertically. Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have continuously lived since the prehistoric age.
Park officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of giving animals space and maintaining a safe distance of at least 25 yards from large animals like bison. Visitors are also advised to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
The Park Service warns visitors to avoid interacting with wild animals and to turn around and go the other way if necessary. During the mating season for bison, which runs from mid-July to mid-August, the animals can become agitated more quickly, so extra caution and additional space are recommended during this time.
As the investigation into this incident continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and maintaining a safe distance to prevent similar incidents in the future.