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A Pennsylvania woman visiting Yellowstone National Park with her daughter was attacked by a bison in the second such incident this week and the third in a month, park officials said.
The 71-year-old West Chester, Pennsylvania woman, whose name has not been released by the National Park Service, was returning to her vehicle near Storm Point on Yellowstone Lake on Wednesday when a bull bison charged, according to a news release.
“The woman and her daughter inadvertently approached the bison while returning to their vehicle at the trailhead, causing the bison to charge,” the park service said Thursday.
The woman suffered “non-life threatening injuries” and was taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyo.
It’s unclear exactly how close the woman and her daughter were when the bison attacked. The park, which is located mostly in Wyoming, requires visitors to stay more than 25 yards from bison.
“Wild animals in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous when approached,” the park service said, repeating the same warning it issued just two days ago.
The incident is the latest in a series of bison mauling visitors who do not keep a proper distance.
A Yellowstone visitor has been attacked by a second bison in a month, the park says
Earlier in the week, a 34-year-old man from Colorado Springs was attacked by a bison at Old Faithful Geyser. The man was walking with his family on a boardwalk near Giant Geyser on Monday when a bull bison attacked the group, according to a news release.
“The family members did not leave the area, and the bull bison continued to attack and gore the male,” the park service said.
The man suffered an arm injury and was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Yellowstone Hospital. The park service said Monday’s incident involved a visitor who was “too close to the animal.”
Yellowstone bison gore female visitor and throw her 10 feet, park says
Before those two incidents, a 25-year-old Grove City, Ohio, woman was gored by a bison and thrown 10 feet into the air on Memorial Day after she also got too close to the animal. While on a trail at Black Sand Basin in late May, the woman came within 10 feet of the animal, park officials said. Two other people were also within 25 yards of the bison, the park service said in a news release.
When the woman approached the bison on the boardwalk west of Old Faithful, the animal attacked her.
“As a result, the bison gored the woman and threw her 10 feet into the air,” the park service said at the time.
The woman suffered a stab wound and other injuries and was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
As the largest mammals in North America, bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal, according to the park service. They are unpredictable and extremely strong. Although they can weigh up to 1 ton and stand about 6 feet at the shoulder, bison can run up to 35 miles per hour, which is “three times faster than humans,” the Park Service says. They can also jump up to six feet vertically “and can turn quickly to fight off predators,” according to the National Wildlife Federation.
Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times, according to the Department of the Interior. Between 2,300 and 5,500 bison live in Yellowstone, according to the park service.
Yellowstone officials stressed that visitors should give the animals space if they approach campgrounds, trails, boardwalks, parking lots or developed areas. Visitors should stay more than 25 yards from all large animals, such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and coyotes, the park service says. He advises guests to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
While wildlife attacks are rare, dangerous encounters do occur, especially when people ignore—or don’t know—the rules and etiquette surrounding wildlife viewing. Cameron Harsh, program director at the U.S. office of World Animal Protection, an international nonprofit, told The Washington Post last month that “wild animals want to be left alone.”
Yellowstone will reopen most of the northbound line this weekend
The third bison incident in a month is part of what has been an eventful time in Yellowstone. Park officials announced Thursday that its north loop will reopen Saturday, less than three weeks after the park suffered severe flood damage. Record rainfall and historic flooding caused Yellowstone to close all five of its inlets on June 13. But 93 percent of the park’s road system is now open, and the temporary license plate rotation system to limit visitors will be removed over the holiday weekend.
Wednesday’s incident remains under investigation, according to the park service. In its news release, the Park Service stressed to visitors – again – not to approach bison.
“Give bison space when near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area,” the park service said. “If necessary, turn around and walk in the other direction to avoid interacting with a wild animal in the immediate vicinity.”
Andrea Sachs and Natalie B. Compton contributed to this report.
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