Bison Charges Group, Injures Girl in YNP
According to officials with Yellowstone National Park, On Monday, July 22, a bull bison near Observation Point Trail in the Old Faithful Geyser area, charged a group of approximately 50 people.
According to witnesses, the group was within 5-10 feet of the animal for at least 20 minutes before the bison to charged the individuals.
A nine-year-old girl from Odessa, Florida, was one of the people within the group. The charging bison tossed the girl into the air.
She was taken to the Old Faithful Lodge by her family where she was assessed and treated by park emergency medical providers, and later taken to and released from the Old Faithful Clinic.
Park officials say that despite people being in such close proximity to the bison, no citations have been issued at this time. Yellowstone National Park does make it clear that the incident is still under investigation.
When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, officials ask people to give it space. Stay 25 yards away from all large animals such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes.