A second tourist has been gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park in just three days, bringing the total number of attacks to three for 2022. Park officials report a 71-year-old Pennsylvania woman and her daughter were walking to their car near Yellowstone’s Storm Point when they accidentally approached a bull bison. The bull charged and the elderly woman was gored. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Cody, Wyoming. Just two days prior, a man was gored by a bison near Old Faithful which was captured on camera in a video that went full viral (WATCH HERE). Find Yellowstone’s statement on this most recent incident below.
Incident details:
– A 71-year-old woman from West Chester, Pennsylvania, was gored by a bull bison near Storm Point at Yellowstone Lake on Wednesday, June 29.
– The woman and her daughter inadvertently approached the bison as they were returning to their vehicle at the trailhead, causing the bull bison to charge.
– The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries after the encounter and was transported by ambulance to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyoming.
– This incident remains under investigation, and there is no additional information to share.
– This is the third reported bison and visitor incident in 2022. On May 30, a woman approached a bison near a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin, and a man approached a bison near a boardwalk at Giant Geyser on June 28.
How to view wildlife safely:
– Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous when approached.
– Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.
– Stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes – and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves.
– Approaching bison threatens them and they may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, or snorting. These are warning signs that you are too close and that a charge is imminent.
– Do not stand your ground. Immediately walk or run away from the animal. Spray bear spray as you are moving away if the animal follows you.
– Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.