(NEXSTAR) A New Jersey man was gored by a bison after rangers at Yellowstone National Park said he got too close to the animal. This marks the second time a visitor at the Wyoming park has been injured by a bison this year.
According to Yellowstone officials, a large group of visitors in the Upper Geyser Basin of Old Faithful got too close to a bison on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old man was then gored, sustaining minor injuries. He was treated and transported by emergency medical personnel.
Authorities are now investigating the incident. No additional details were immediately available.
In May, a 47-year-old Florida man was gored by a bison after approaching the animal. Yellowstone officials said he suffered minor injuries.
Last summer, two people were reported to have been injured by bison in Yellowstone. There was only one reported in 2023.
The latter incident had a relatively happy ending, though. While the Arizona woman suffered fractured vertebrae and collapsed lungs after being gored, she later said “yes” to her boyfriend’s proposal at the hospital.
Also last summer, an Idaho man suffered minor injuries and was arrested on alcohol-related charges after allegedly kicking a bison at Yellowstone.
“Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” officials said. “They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”
If you see a bison, wildlife officials say you should stay more than 25 yards from it. That same advice applies to all large animals, like elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. When it comes to bears, wolves, and cougars, that distance should be at least 100 yards.
