JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Authorities in Yellowstone are reporting a visitor was injured last Thursday by a bison at Fountain Paint Pots in the Lower Geyser Basin.
The injured woman was identified as Kim Hancock, 59, of Santa Rosa, California. Hancock was gored Wednesday morning by a bison after she was part of a group that approached within 10 yards of the animal.
Rangers said Hancock and a crowd of people approached within 10 yards of a bison while walking along a boardwalk. 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.
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, reportedly in ‘good’ condition.
The incident remains under investigation. It 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.
Animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. Give animals space when they’re near trails, boardwalks, parking lots, or in developed areas. 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.