Yellowstone bison are beautiful to observe, but dangerous if you get too close, as a California woman painfully discovered/NPS file

A 72-year-old California woman who wanted a closeup of a bison got much too close and was gored in return, Yellowstone National Park staff announced Monday.

The unidentified woman was staying at the Bridge Bay Campground in the center of the park and approached within 10 feet of the bison to take its picture last Thursday evening and was gored. Rangers provided her with immediate medical care before she was flown via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, a park release said.

“The series of events that led to the goring suggest the bison was threatened by being repeatedly approached to within 10 feet,” said Yellowstone’s Senior Bison Biologist Chris Geremia. “Bison are wild animals that respond to threats by displaying aggressive behaviors, like pawing the ground, snorting, bobbing their head, bellowing, and raising their tail. If that doesn’t make the threat (in this instance it was a person) move away, a threatened bison may charge. To be safe around bison, stay at least 25 yards away, move away if they approach, and run away or find cover if they charge.”

Rangers were continuing to investigate the incident Monday and had no additional information to share.

This was the second incident in the park this year in which a visitor got too close to a bison. On May 20 another woman was knocked to the ground, but didn't sustain any serious injuries.

Park regulations require visitors to keep their distance from wildlife. Guidelines call for visitors to stay 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes -- and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves.