A woman has been gored by a bison while she was visiting Yellowstone National Park.
The 47-year-old woman walked away from the animal after she and the person she was with spotted two bison in the park, the National Park Service said in a statement.
Then one of the bison charged and gored the woman.
Advert
"The woman sustained significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was transported by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center," the statement read.
"This incident remains under investigation, and there is no additional information to share, including the woman’s condition."
The National Park Service reminded people to steer clear of bison when they're in Yellowstone.
"Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous when approached. When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space," they said.
Advert
"Stay more than 25 yards (23 metres) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes - and at least 100 yards (91 metres) away from bears and wolves.
"If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in proximity."
The Service also said that during mating season, which is mid-July to mid-August, bison can become agitated more quickly.
Advert
"Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans," they said.
This isn't the first time people have had encounters with bison in Yellowstone National Park.
In May, a woman narrowly avoided being gored after she tried to pet a bison for a selfie.
Advert
In a video of the incident, the woman can be seen leaning towards the bison with her arm outstretched while another woman takes a photo.
When the bison lunges towards her, the group runs away and screams.
In another incident, a different woman was caught on camera trying to take a selfie with the wild animal.
In a post to the Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone - dedicated to 'moron' tourists who visit the park - the caption read: "Sighted at Biscuit Basin. She was trying to pet it. It was insane.
Advert
"Like inches. Her arrogance was so infuriating. People were telling her to move away and she kept posing for like 10 minutes."
.webp)
In the video, the woman can be seen posing and fixing her hair while the bison tries to relax on the grassy plain.
And in June, a man was fined after he touched a baby bison and it was rejected by the herd.
“Interference by people can cause wildlife to reject their offspring. In this case, park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd. These efforts failed," they said in a statement.
The park rangers later had to euthanise the calf.
Keryn Donnelly