A 59-year-old woman from Santa Rosa, California, was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park after a crowd got too close to the animal, the third animal attack in a week at the park.
The group she was in were within 15-feet of the bull on a boardwalk in the Lower Geyser Basin when the incident took place. The crowd apparently saw the animal but still drew closer. The bison charged the crowd, goring 59-year-old Kim Hancock of Santa Rosa, California. Hancock was taken to a hospital with a hip injury and was in good condition.
“When it crossed the boardwalk, the bison became agitated and charged the crowd, goring Hancock,” officials stated. “The bison immediately left the area.”
Park officials say some in the crowd came within 15 feet (4.6 meters) of the bison when the safe distance is at least 75 feet (23 meters). Rangers responded and treated Hancock’s injured hip. The matter remains under investigation.
On Sunday and again Tuesday, a female elk with a calf injured two women near a Yellowstone hotel. Park officials aren’t sure if it was the same elk, and a bison rammed and slightly injured a woman in Yellowstone in early May. There was one such incident last year and five in 2015.
For most wild animals in Yellowstone, park guidelines recommend that visitors stay at least 75 feet away. For wolves and bears, Frank said, the distance should be 300 feet.
People are stupid
“after the crowd got too close” How many times does it have to happen????