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
I liked several or the previous comments! These incidents remind me of one that occured in approx. 1990 or a little earlier. can't remember exact date or who was the wise director at the park then..
A woman wanted aclose-up picture of bison picrure of a bison. It was laying down resting so that was not good enough for her so she went over and kicked it to mke it stant for the picture. Well it stood allright. and goored her. She sued the NP Serviec, Director and the rangers I think.
When ask by the press for comments on the suit He replied, you see a wild animal that weighs maybe 2000 lbs with horns, that is natures way of saying Danger!!!
for a more accurate info I think there was articles in the SLC , UT news pater.
Haha! I think the wildlife will hold people accountable for their actions!
You are exactly right. You can't fix stupid.
Visitors to Yellowstone and I am sure other National Parks seem to never heed the advice or better yet warnings of not gitting too close to the wildlife! Park Rangers cannot be everwhere to control onlookers!The awful outcome is the animal some times pays the price for the humans stupidity !!!
Well said, Linda
They were only protecting their territory
When will people learn? It's wildlife, not Disney.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility? This "average person" doesn't need a park ranger to prevent me from doing things the signs clearly tell me NOT to do!