A man was injured after he was attacked by a bison in Yellowstone National Park on Sunday, May 4, the National Park Service (NPS) said in a Wednesday, May 7, news release.
Around 3:15 p.m., the man, 47, was gored by a bison after he approached it too closely in the Lake Village area of the Yellowstone National Park. The location of the incident, which includes dining and lodging, is where bison are commonly found in the park.
The man, who was from Cape Coral, Fla., sustained minor injuries and was treated by emergency medical personnel. The NPS is investigating the incident.
This is the first reported incident of a person injured by a bison in 2025. There were two reported incidents in 2024, the first of which occurred in April. The animal attacked a 40-year-old man after he kicked the bison. He was arrested and charged with four counts, including disturbing wildlife. Shortly after, in June 2024, an 83-year-old woman was seriously injured after a bison gored her near Yellowstone Lake.
Bison are known to defend their space if they feel threatened. Additionally, bison have injured more people than any other animal in Yellowstone. “They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans,” per the NPS news release.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/yellowstone-bison-1-081023-45aeee3587364102a2bfea78c4b7e0fd.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Utah-Man-Gored-by-Bison-He-Tried-to-Pet-on-Neighbors-Property-120423-56cfd525be674bd2ba9a8340a92a0feb.jpg)
American bison are the largest animals in North America. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, they can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, reach heights of six feet, jump high fences and are strong swimmers.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/yellowstone-bison-081023-7e72fa53a4264864b5fa49db91002e6f.jpg)
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The NPS advises park visitors to stay more than 25 yards away from all large animals, which include bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. The park also states people should keep a distance of at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.
“Wild animals can be aggressive if people don’t respect their space,” the NPS said in the news release. “If wildlife approach you, move away to always maintain these safe viewing distances.”
Read the full article here