Tourist gored by bison at Yellowstone National Park

A Yellowstone National Park tourist was gored by a bison when he came too close to the animal, according to officials.The 47-year-old man from Cape Coral, Fla., was hooked by the bison’s horns and lifted Sunday but escaped with only minor injuries, the National Park Service said.The visitor was attacked around 3:15 p.m.at Lake Village, an area of cabins, lodges and campsites that are frequented by bison on the shore of Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming.The goring was the first such violent encounter of the year at the park.

The animals can be aggressive when people don’t give them enough space, officials said.They are “unpredictable” and can run “three times faster than humans,” the park said.At least two people were gored by bison at the park last year, including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was seriously injured.

The animal “lifted her about a foot off the ground with its horns,” the park said.In 2024, an Idaho man allegedly kicked a bison in the leg and was then attacked by the provoked animal.He was charged with driving under the influence and disturbing wildlife, according to park officials.“It is your responsibility to stay more than 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,” the park said in a warning to visitors.

“Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” officials said....