Woman gored by bison at Yellowstone after 'getting too close'

'To be safe around bison, stay at least 25 yards away, move away if they approach, and run away or find cover if they charge'

A 72-year-old California woman was gored by a bison while trying to take photos of it, according to officials at Yellowstone National Park.

The unidentified woman approached the animal multiple times within ten feet to take photos, a National Park Service statement released on Monday said.

She sustained multiple goring wounds in the incident at Bridge Bay Campground on 25 June.

Park rangers provided immediate medical care before she was flown by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Centre in Idaho Falls. The incident is under investigation.

Chris Geremia, Yellowstone’s senior bison biologist, said: “Bison are wild animals that respond to threats by displaying aggressive behaviors 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.”

“To be safe around bison, stay at least 25 yards away, move away if they approach, and run away or find cover if they charge,” he added.

The National Park Service advises to always give space to any animals they see, reminding people that they are wild and not to be approached.

The 25 yard rule also applies to elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes. It is advised to stay 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

In July 2019 a nine-year-old girl was thrown into the air by a charging bison in the park, and in 2018 a man was filmed taunting a bison on a busy road in the park.