Yellowstone Insider Your Complete Guide to America's First National Park
A nine-year-old girl was injured in a Yellowstone bison incident yesterday, part of a larger event that saw a group of approximately 50 people being far too close to a bull bison near Observation Point Trail in the Old Faithful Geyser area.
According to National Park Service officials who interviewed witnesses, a group of approximately 50 people were within 5-10 feet of the bison for at least 20 minutes before eventually causing the bison to charge the group. A nine-year-old girl from Odessa, FL was charged and tossed into the air by the bull bison.
The girl was taken to the Old Faithful Lodge by her family where she was assessed and treated by a park emergency medical providers, and later taken to and released from the Old Faithful Clinic.
No citations have been issue, but the incident is still under investigation.
While the consequences of the Yellowstone bison incident could have been far more serious, the event does point out the need for visitors to treat the wildlife with respect. Yellowstone guidelines call for visitors to stay 25 yards away from all large animals–bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes–and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.
Image courtesy National Park Service.
