Yellowstone National Park said Thursday that a 71-year-old woman from Pennsylvania was stabbed by a buffalo on Wednesday, just a day after another visitor was injured by a buffalo in the park. The attack on the woman was the third reported incident this year, in which a visitor got too close to a bison and the animal responded to the perceived threat by hitting the man, the park service said.
The woman and her daughter inadvertently approached the buffalo as they returned to their vehicle on the trail, which caused the animal to throw itself, according to a statement from the park manager.
The woman received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital in Wyoming, according to the report.
The park notes that bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. The NPS said bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. The park office begs visitors to stand at least 25 yards from large animals.
Another attack came just a day earlier Monday, when a 34-year-old Colorado man was stabbed by a bison in the park after walking with his family along the promenade near the Giant Geyser in Old Faithful. When family members did not leave the area, the buffalo “continued to attack and stab” the man, injuring his arm, park officials said. The man was taken to hospital and the incident is being investigated.
A 25-year-old woman from Ohio was also stabbed by a bull in late May, the first reported incident this year. The woman received a stab wound and other injuries after approaching a bison near the Black Sand Basin promenade, according to a previous press release.
She was thrown 10 feet into the air by a buffalo after approaching 10 feet from the animal, park officials said. Two other people were also 25 feet from the same bison, they added.
Add Comment