A BISON has gored a man in front of horrified national park tourists after he made a silly mistake near the wild beast.
It’s the second such violent encounter so far this summer season with the beloved animal which weighs up to 2,000 pounds.
Visitors to Yellowstone National Park have been urged to “respect wildlife” after a 30-year-old from Randolph, New Jersey, was spiked yesterday.
A man was charged by a bison when a crowd of people approached the animal too closely, causing it to become frightened, while it was near the Old Faithful area.
The visitor was treated for minor injuries after being gored around 9:45 am, according to a park statement.
Park officials have not released the wounded man’s name or condition, however the incident is under investigation.
They said in a statement, “The individual sustained minor injuries and was treated and transported by emergency medical personnel.
“There are no photos or videos of this incident to share.”
Two men have now been gored by a bison so far this summer in Yellowstone.
On May 7, a 47-year-old from Cape Coral, Florida, sustained minor injuries after being spiked in the Lake Village area.
The park warned on social media, “Wildlife in Yellowstone are wild and can be dangerous.
“Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal.
“They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”
Bison attacks are rare – but they can be deadly, said National Geographic.
There have been three documented events in recent years involving bison attacks – two occurred in 2024 and one in 2023. In the latter incident, a woman, 47, from Arizona sustained severe injuries to her chest and abdomen.
CALF KILLED
In a separate occurrence, Clifford Walters from Hawaii admitted guilt to the offense of intentionally disrupting wildlife within Yellowstone National Park. His offense involved being photographed while holding a newborn bison calf, which is strictly prohibited in the park.
The calf was later euthanized by park staff because it was abandoned by the herd.
Walters was fined $500 and ordered to make a $500 Community Service payment to Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund.
In 2022, a 25-year-old visitor from Ohio was gored and tossed into the air after getting within 10 feet of a bison.
Bison advice from Yellowstone National Park
Bison can move at speeds of 35 miles per hour, leap over high fences, and they’re also strong swimmers
Yellowstone officials have signs in the park warning visitors against approaching bison, as they can be “aggressive.”
They said, “It is your responsibility to stay more than 25 yards (23 meters) away from all large animals including bison.
“If wildlife approach you, move away to always maintain these safe viewing distances.
“Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal.
“They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”
Bison calves tend to be born from late March through May.
A 2019 report from Utah state university said that bisons injure more people in Yellowstone than any other wildlife.
KILLED VISITOR
Between 1978 and 1992, 56 people were wounded and two people died from bison attacks at the famous park.
Half of such attacks occur when visitors try to take a pic with a bison.
Bison are not fluffy cows or gentle Disney critters
Besides getting too close, ignorant visitors have been known to pick up baby bison.
Such contact can cause the baby to be shunned by its herd and thus die.
NOT DISNEY CRITTER
News of the latest attack hasn’t won any sympathy from Americans.
Many claimed such incidents were “natural selection” for such “morons.”
One person added: “I was in Yellowstone a few months ago, and there were signs all over the place, telling you not to approach the wildlife. If he ignored the signs then what did he expect?”
Another advised on social media, “OK all you tourists. Bison are not fluffy cows or gentle Disney critters.
“They are massive beasts that everyone should give them their space.
“People learn the hard way, and painfully so, that these animals have a quick temper and will react violently if they feel threatened or harassed.”
Others said that visitors deserved to be gored if they ignored plentiful signs warning the bison are wild beasts, and tried to either pat the animals or get too close for selfies.
One bison fan added, “Yellowstone is not a petting zoo.”
Yellowstone had 4,744,353 visitors last year.
The American bison was named the national mammal of the United States on May 9, 2016.
