A 43-year-old woman from Mississippi received minor injuries Tuesday when she turned her back on a bison to get a photo with it near the Fairy Falls trailhead in Yellowstone National Park. This is the fifth person injured after approaching bison this season.
The woman and her daughter were by the trailhead sign when they decided to take a picture with a bison that was approximately 6 yards away from them near the trail. When they turned their backs to the bison to take the picture, someone warned that they were too close. They heard the bison’s footsteps moving toward them and started to run, but the bison caught the mother on the right side, lifted her up and tossed her with its head. The woman’s father covered her with his body to protect her and the bison moved about 3 yards away. The family drove to the Old Faithful Clinic, where the woman was treated and released with minor injuries.
“The family said they read the warnings in both the park literature and the signage, but saw other people close to the bison, so they thought it would be OK,” said Colleen Rawlings, Old Faithful District Ranger. “People need to recognize that Yellowstone wildlife is wild, even though they seem docile. This woman was lucky that her injuries were not more severe.”
Wildlife should not be approached, regardless of how tame or calm they appear. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, visitors must give it a wide berth and not approach it closer than the required minimum distances: 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves.
Bison can run three times faster than humans can sprint and are unpredictable and dangerous. Visitors are advised to give the animals enough space and alter their plans to avoid interacting with an animal in close proximity.
For further information on park safety, please visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm.
Source: NPS
Ofelia Zawodniak liked this on Facebook.
Use your head, just not that way.
Deborah Amelia liked this on Facebook.
陳靜芳 liked this on Facebook.
We visited Yellowstone for 8 days in late May, 2015, and were continually astounded at how really stupid people are about the animals. Apparently they think they are tame, in a petting zoo, or this is a video game. The park makes it very clear to keep various distances from wild animals. We were glad that the park takes the attitude that it is people’s responsibility to take care of their own safety and use good sense! Yellowstone is the animals home and we are visitors.
Fifth Person Injured in Bison Encounter This Summer https://t.co/aWym1RUMCd
Raymond Gipson liked this on Facebook.
Jane Mitchell liked this on Facebook.
Linda Webb liked this on Facebook.
stay out of their way and in your car.
Stupid is as stupid does
Thomas D. Jones liked this on Facebook.
Those things are like tanks that poop. Wow, look at that bison, way over there. Let’s keep moving.
Fred C. Adams liked this on Facebook.
Vern Roberts liked this on Facebook.
Robert Cozad liked this on Facebook.
Nora Shaw liked this on Facebook.
idiots. wild animals are wild. duh.