A bison attack at Yellowstone National Park left a 47-year-old Arizona woman with severe injuries on Monday, park officials reported. The woman and a companion were near the Lake Lodge Cabins on Lake Yellowstone’s north shore when they encountered two bison.
As they attempted to retreat from the animals, one bison charged and gored the woman, inflicting serious injuries to her chest and abdomen. She was subsequently airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Her current condition remains undisclosed.
The exact proximity of the visitors to the bison at the time of the attack is still under investigation by park authorities. No further details have been released as the investigation continues.
The NPS has consistently advised visitors to keep a minimum distance of 25 yards from all wildlife, including bison. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in penalties, injuries, or even fatalities. Bison are particularly unpredictable and can outrun humans by three times.
According to park officials, bison have been responsible for more visitor injuries at Yellowstone than any other animal. They have urged visitors to be particularly cautious during the mating season, from mid-July to mid-August, when bison are more likely to become agitated.
This incident marks the first reported bison attack at Yellowstone in 2023. In a similar incident last year, a bison gored a 25-year-old Ohio woman and threw her 10 feet into the air near a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin, just north of Old Faithful.