Yellowstone: Bison Attacks Girl In The National Park Over Photo Op

Yellowstone’s bison can be quite dangerous if approached, as one unlucky foreign exchange student found out the hard way. The student’s bison photo had her turning her back on the potentially dangerous animal, and in response, the bison gored her right through the buttocks.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Russian experts are recommending that Vladimir Putin use Russia’s nuclear weapons against the Yellowstone volcano in order to make the supervolcano blow, but is that war strategy even possible?

Yellowstone’s bison are not the only interesting animals that have been making the news lately. Yellowstone’s wolves have changed the entire ecosystem, even including the geography. In addition, bears in Yellowstone were caught on video, but it is the crazy tourists who made the video notable.

Unfortunately, it was the actions of tourists that provoked the attack by Yellowstone’s bison. Eyewitnesses say the Taiwan native and her host family were standing only several feet from the large animal during a stop at hike near the Old Faithful geyser. A group of people had gathered to watch a bison grazing next to the trail, and that’s when the attack occurred, according to Yellowstone National Park officials.

“The girl turned her back to the bison to have her picture taken when the bison lifted its head, took a couple steps and gored her,” the park service said.

Park spokesperson Amy Bartlett said the Yellowstone bison’s attack was not fatal.

“The rangers, with assistance from bystanders, moved the girl a safe distance from the bison,” Bartlett said in a statement. “The girl was transported to the Old Faithful Clinic, treated, and then taken by helicopter ambulance for further medical treatment.”

It is believed the young girl will survive her attack. Unfortunately, not everyone can say the same. Deaths from Yellowstone’s bison are not uncommon.

“Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run,” notes the park’s website. “Every year visitors are gored, and some have been killed.”

In addition to Yellowstone’s bison, it is recommended that all tourists maintain distance when taking photos with any large creature, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes.

“Visitors are reminded that Yellowstone wildlife is wild. Wildlife should not be approached, no matter how tame or calm they appear. Visitors must stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other large animals.”

[Image via Gawker]