An elderly California woman was injured last week when she was gored by a bison she was attempting to photograph.
According to a news release from the National Park Service, the woman approached within 10 feet of a bison multiple times to take the bison’s photo. After she kept approaching, the animal gored her.
The incident happened on Thursday evening at the woman’s campsite at Bridge Bay Campground. Ranger provided immediate medical care to the woman, who sustained multiple goring wounds.
The woman was then flown via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
“The series of events that led to the goring suggest the bison was threatened by being repeatedly approached to within 10 feet,” said Yellowstone’s Senior Bison Biologist Chris Geremia in the release. “Bison are wild animals that respond to threats by displaying aggressive behaviors like pawing the ground, snorting, bobbing their head, bellowing, and raising their tail. If that doesn’t make the threat (in this instance it was a person) move away, a threatened bison may charge. To be safe around bison, stay at least 25 yards away, move away if they approach, and run away or find cover if they charge.”
The park staff reminded visitors that the wildlife in Yellowstone are wild and when an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot or any other developed area, give it space.
It’s also recommended to stay more than 25 yards away from all large animals including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and coyotes. People should stay at least 100 yards away from bears or wolves.
The incident is under investigation.
