A WOMAN WAS attacked by a bison at Yellowstone National Park when she tried to take a selfie with it.
The 43-year-old woman from Mississippi received minor injuries earlier this week when she turned her back on a bison to get a photo with it. She is the fifth person injured after approaching bison this season.
According to the National Park Service (NPS), the woman and her daughter decided to take a picture with a bison that was approximately 6 yards away from them on a trail.
When they turned their backs to the bison to take the picture, someone warned that they were too close. They heard the bison’s footsteps moving toward them and started to run, but the bison caught the mother on the right side, lifted her up and tossed her with its head.
The woman’s father covered her with his body to protect her and the bison moved about 3 yards away. The family drove to the Old Faithful Clinic, where the woman was treated and released with minor injuries.
Colleen Rawlings, Old Faithful District Ranger, said: “The family said they read the warnings in both the park literature and the signage, but saw other people close to the bison so they thought it would be OK. People need to recognize that Yellowstone wildlife is wild, even though they seem docile. This woman was lucky that her injuries were not more severe.”
In a statement, the NPS said:
Wildlife should not be approached, regardless of how tame or calm they appear. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, visitors must give it a wide berth and not approach it closer than the required minimum distances: 25 yards (23 meters) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves.
“Bison can run three times faster than humans and are unpredictable and dangerous. Visitors are advised to give the animals enough space and alter their plans to avoid interacting with an animal in close proximity.”
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