A visitor to Yellowstone National Park ignored guidance to stay at least 25 yards away from all large animals was attacked Wednesday by a bison, park officials confirmed.
The unidentified woman was treated by park medical staff after being knocked to the ground by the wild animal, but she refused transport to a hospital, CNN reported.
The park had been closed since March in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but its phased reopening began Monday.
A tourist got too close to a bison at Yellowstone National Park. Again. https://t.co/JiXDwDjYYi
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 21, 2020
Although Wednesday’s incident marks the first bison-related injury to a human within the park in 2020, a reporter for NBC Montana gained national attention in March when a herd of bison walked through his live shot, prompting him to exclaim comically, “Oh no, I ain’t messing with you” to the delight of social media. The park then turned the viral moment into a teachable one by producing a safety poster commemorating it, USA Today reported.
“Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” the park’s website states, adding, “Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. Always stay at least 25 yards away from bison.”
Cox Media Group
