The agency noted that the bison appeared to be “holding its ground.”
An 83-year-old woman suffered “serious injuries” after being attacked by a wild bison in Yellowstone National Park, officials said Monday.
A Greenville, South Carolina woman was walking in a park on June 1 when a bison came within feet of her and lifted her about a foot off the ground by its antlers, according to a National Park Service report.
The agency noted that the bison was “protecting its position” during the incident.
Park emergency responders transported the woman to Lake Medical Clinic, where she was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Officials said the woman suffered “serious injuries” from the encounter, but did not provide further details on her current condition.
According to the National Park Service, the incident happened near the Storm Point Trail in Yellowstone Lake.
The National Park Service advised that “if wildlife approaches you, move away from visitors to the area,” and that visitors are responsible for “respecting safety regulations and viewing wildlife from a safe distance.”
Officials advise individuals to stay more than 25 yards from all large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes, noting that people should keep 100 yards from bears and wolves.
The National Park Service notes that bison have injured more people in the park than any other animal, noting that cows are “unpredictable” and can run three times faster than humans.
“Bison are not aggressive animals, but they defend their space when threatened,” the agency said.
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