Bison Injures Woman Who Got Too Close

A crowd of people got a little too close to a bison Wednesday morning – and a woman was injured as a result.
59-year-old Kim Hancock of Santa Rosa, California, was with a crowd of people who approached within 10 yards of a bull bison at the Fountain Paint Pots in the Lower Geyser Basin. According to the National Park Service, at one point, people were closer than 15 feet from the bison. As it crossed the boardwalk, the animal became agitated and charged the crowd, goring Hancock in the hip.
Park officials say that the bison immediately left the area. Rangers responded to the incident, and Hancock was transported by paramedic ambulance to the Big Sky Medical Center in good condition.
The 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. However, this is the fourth time in just over a month that people have been injured by wildlife in Yellowstone – and the third time in a week.
The Park Service advises that visitors give animals space when they’re near trails, boardwalks, parking lots, or in developed areas. Always stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including bison and elk.