A California woman has been gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park/Kurt Repanshek file
A California woman was gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park, just the latest incident of park visitors getting too close to wildlife in the park.
Park staff said Kim Hancock, 59, of Santa Rosa, was gored near Fountain Paint Pot in the park's Lower Geyser Basin on Wednesday morning.
"Hancock and a crowd of people approached within ten yards of the bison while walking along a boardwalk. At one point, people were closer than 15 feet from the bison," the park release said. "When it crossed the boardwalk, the bison became agitated and charged the crowd, goring Hancock. The bison immediately left the area."
Ms. Hancock was initially treated at the scene for a hip injury, and then taken by ambulance to the Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, Montana, in good condition.
Earlier this week two women were attacked by cow elk that felt their calves were being threated.
"Animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. Give animals space when they’re near trails, boardwalks, parking lots, or in developed areas," park staff say. "Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk. If you can’t maintain these distances, turn around and find an alternate route. Read more about safety in the park."
On May 1, a 72-year-old Idaho woman was butted in the thigh, pushed, and tossed off a trail by a bison in the Old Faithful area.
There now have been two visitors gored by bison in the park this year. There was one incident in 2017 and five in 2015.
Comments
Spent 10 days in Yellowstone last year. People are stupid getting too close to animals for a closeup or climbing over railings for a better shot from their IPhone.
Rangers can't cure stupidity. No one to blame but themselves.
just waiting for the family to file a lawsuit agains the park services for wrongful death..... you know its coming
Yes here in Texas we call it thinning the herd. Sounds like most of these people were 59-70's they should know better but these folks have probably already had offspring creating more not so smart park visitors.
This has nothing to do with budget cuts. It has everything to do with people not respecting nature. If you're close enough to get gored, you were too close to begin with, either underestimating your ability to get out of the way or the power and speed these animals possess. The NPS should charge every one of these people the minute they are released from the hosiptal
At RMNPwe are constantly seeing idiots carvings initials into live trees, bringing dogs on trails, littering, stopping traffic for THEIR picture needs... stupid is as stupid does.
We also saw an Asian guy setting up his camera within 10 ft of a bison near Old Faithful Inn... no one stopped him. He was not hurt that we know of...lucky.
Really more rangers not needed, people need to use their common sense, god given brains and pay attention
You are responsible for your own safety. Having more rangers to patrol is not the solution. Rangers are not babysitters for idiots.