(Yellowstone National Park) – Yellowstone National Park officials are reporting that an 83-year-old Greenville, South Carolina woman was seriously injured after a run-in with a bison on June 1st.
The animal reportedly lifted the woman several feet off the ground with its horns on the Storm Point Trail near Yellowstone Lake. ABC News reports that the woman was flown by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, and is in serious condition.
Park officials noted the bison was “defending its space” and remind any visitors to move away from wildlife if they approach you.
Standard protocol is to be more than 25 yards away from all large animals, including bison, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. Individuals should be at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. Yellowstone officials noted that bison injure more people in the park every year than any other animal and that visitors are often surprised to learn they can run up to three times faster than humans.