Another Yellowstone Wildlife Incident, as Bison Gores Woman

We have another yet another Yellowstone wildlife incident to pass along, as a California woman was gored by a bison after a crowd gathered around the bull at Fountain Paint Pot.

The incident happened yesterday morning, as 59-year-old Kim Hancock of Santa Rosa, California was part of a crowd within ten yards of the bison while walking along a boardwalk. was gored by a bull bison at Fountain Paint Pot in the Lower Geyser Basin.

According to Yellowstone officials, at one point people were closer than 15 feet from the bison. When it crossed the boardwalk, the bison became agitated and charged the crowd, goring Hancock. The bison immediately left the area. (No, the image is not of the bison in question; it’s an older file photo.)

Rangers responded to the incident and treated Hancock for a hip injury. She was transported by paramedic ambulance to the Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, Montana, in good condition.

This incident remains under investigation.

This is the second incident of a bison injuring a visitor in 2018. There was one incident in 2017 and five in 2015.

In a little over a month, four people have been injured by wildlife in Yellowstone.

As noted by Yellowstone officials: animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk. If you can’t maintain these distances, turn around and find an alternate route.

RELATED STORIES: Another Elk Incident at Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel; Mammoth Employee Seriously Injured by Cow Elk

About Kevin Reichard

Check Also

Yellowstone National Park South Entrance, Yellowstone visitation

2024 Yellowstone free admission days unveiled

While we don’t expect any of you to change your 2024 travel plans, the National …