A 12-year-old visitor was injured by a bison in Yellowstone National Park on Friday morning and transported to a nearby hospital, according to the National Park Service.
The incident happened June 26 at approximately 9:15 a.m. near Mud Volcano, just north of Fishing Bridge. Yellowstone officials said the visitor sustained injuries, but did not release the extent of the injuries or what happened before the encounter.
“The incident remains under investigation,” the National Park Service said in its official release.
According to Cowboy State Daily, the incident is the first recorded bison attack in Yellowstone this year.
The injury is a reminder for Yellowstone visitors who may encounter bison near roads, pullouts, trails, boardwalks, and campgrounds that the animals are wild and can be dangerous even when they appear calm.
Yellowstone Warns Visitors to Keep Their Distance
Yellowstone officials used the incident to remind visitors that wildlife in the park should never be approached, touched, fed or crowded.
Park rules require visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes. Visitors must stay at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves and cougars.
If an animal moves closer, visitors are responsible for moving away to maintain the required distance.
That can be easy to forget in Yellowstone, where bison often walk near roads, boardwalks, parking lots and visitor areas. But park officials warn that bison are unpredictable and will defend their space when threatened.
“Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” the National Park Service said.
The agency also said bison can run three times faster than humans.
A Calm-Looking Bison Can Still Be Dangerous
Bison in Yellowstone are often seen grazing near roads or walking through areas filled with visitors. That can make them seem relaxed around people, but experts warn that visitors should not treat them like livestock or assume they are safe to approach.
Biologist George Wuerthner told Cowboy State Daily that bison may show irritation through body language, including raising their tail.
“That’s how they indicate to the herd that something is wrong,” Wuerthner told the outlet.
Without more information from investigators, Wuerthner said it is difficult to know what led up to Friday’s incident. He said the most common problem is people getting too close to bison.
Yellowstone bison may be used to seeing crowds, vehicles and cameras, but that does not mean they are tame. A bison that appears calm can still react quickly if it feels crowded or threatened.
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