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Bison Injures Yellowstone National Park Visitor

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By NPT Staff - May 2nd, 2018
Yellowstone National Park bison/Kurt Repanshek

Though mellow looking, bison can take offense to humans in Yellowstone and react unpredictably/Kurt Repanshek

An Idaho woman exploring the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park received minor injuries when a bison butted her off a boardwalk in the Old Faithful area, according to park officials.

Virginia Junk, 72, of Boise, was butted in the thigh, pushed, and tossed off the trail Tuesday afternoon, a park release said.

"Junk did not see the animal as she walked around a bend in the trail and wasn't able to move away before the animal dropped its head and pushed her off the trail," it said. "Rangers responded to the incident and treated Junk’s minor injuries. Junk was transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho."

This is the first incident of a bison injuring a visitor in 2018. There was one incident in 2017 and five in 2015, the park staff noted.

Animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.

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