83-Year-Old Woman Gored By Bison At Yellowstone National Park

An 83-year-old woman from South Carolina was gored by a bison while visiting Yellowstone National Park on June 1. The woman was near Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake when she got too close to the large animal.

Park officials said the bison was defending its space and lifted the woman about a foot in the air. The woman was rushed to Lake Medical Clinic with severe injuries before being airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

No information was released about her condition.

Officials noted that bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal.

"Bison are not aggressive animals but will defend their space when threatened. They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans," the National Park Service said in a news release about the incident.

The National Park Service said that visitors must be cautious around wildlife and should always give animals space.

"It is your responsibility to stay more than 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. If need be, move or turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity," NPS officials said.