Woman, 72, repeatedly gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park after trying to snap photo
- Victim was treated by rangers for multiple wounds before being flown to medical centre for further care
- Woman had come within three metres of animal several times before it attacked
A 72-year-old California woman intent on getting the perfect photo inside Yellowstone National Park was gored by a bison after she repeatedly approached the giant animal, officials said.
The unidentified woman “sustained multiple goring wounds” and was treated by Yellowstone rangers before being flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Centre for further care.
In a statement released by the National Park Service on Monday, officials said the 72-year-old came within three metres (10 feet) of the bison several times on Thursday.
She was near her campsite at the Bridge Bay Campground in northwest Wyoming during the incident, which occurred just more than a month after the park reopened to guests amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The series of events that led to the goring suggest the bison was threatened by being repeatedly approached to within 10 feet,” Yellowstone’s senior bison biologist Chris Geremia said in the release.
“Bison are wild animals that respond to threats by displaying aggressive behaviours like pawing the ground, snorting, bobbing their head, bellowing, and raising their tail. If that doesn’t make the threat (in this instance it was a person) move away, a threatened bison may charge.”
According to park rules, visitors should maintain at least 7.5 metres (25 feet) of distance between themselves and any large animals – like bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes – and at least 30 metres (100 yards) away from bears and wolves.
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“If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity,” the Yellowstone Safety Guide reads.
Officials added it is a good time to remember that “wild animals are wild”.
Authorities said the incident remained under investigation.
