National parks are filling up across the country, including Yellowstone National Park. On June 25, a 72-year-old park visitor from California wanted to get an up-close photo with one of Yellowstone’s 5,000 bison.
After getting within 10 feet of the bison, it charged the woman and gored her multiple times.
A press release from the parks says the woman walked within 10 feet of the bison several times near her campsite in Wyoming, Park regulations state that visitors need to remain at least 25 yards from bison.
“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. “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 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 victim was treated by rangers before being flown to a hospital for additional treatment. Her current condition is unknown.