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
guys thats a monster animaal. let them be . just walk away
This isn't a park problem, it's a people problem. People are stupid. I've been to Yellowstone NP on several occasions - the park goes out of its way to educate people about the dangers posed by animals, particularly bison and bears. They have warning signs everywhere. The Vistor Centers show clips of people being attacked by bison.
People are stupid.