An 83-year-old woman was gored by a bison Saturday, June 1 while she was visiting Yellowstone National Park. The bison came within a few feet of the woman and lifted her about a foot off the ground with its horns, causing serious injuries.

Yellowstone emergency responders transported the woman from the incident at Storm Point Trail near Yellowstone Lake to Lake Medical Clinic where she was flown by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

The bison was “defending its space,” according to a Tuesday press release.

“It’s your responsibility to respect safety regulations and view wildlife from a safe distance. Move away from wildlife if they approach you,” the Public Affairs Office reported.

The woman, from Greenville, South Carolina, was not named in the report, nor were there details of why the animal and woman were so close. The incident remains under investigation and has been no additional information to shared by park officials at this time, including the woman’s current condition.

It was the second time a visitor was injured by a bison this year; the first happened April 21 when a 40-year-old man approached a bison too closely on West Entrance Road near Seven Mile Bridge, located 7 miles east of the park’s West Entrance. Rangers responded to the area after receiving a report of an individual who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg. They located the suspect’s vehicle near the West Entrance and stopped it in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Clarence Yoder, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was arrested and charged with four counts, including being under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct, approaching wildlife and disturbing wildlife.

The driver of the vehicle Yoder traveled in, 37-year-old McKenna Bass, also of Idaho Falls, was also arrested and cited for driving under the influence, interference for failure to yield to emergency light activation, and disturbing wildlife. Yoder sustained minor injuries from the encounter with the bison.

Rangers transported Yoder to a nearby medical facility where he was medically evaluated, treated and released from medical care. He then was transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center. Yoder and Bass appeared in court on April 22 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, give it space,” park officials said on April 29 when the incident was first reported to the public.

The park requires visitors 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.

“If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity,” park officials said in the report.

There was one reported incident with bison in 2023 and three in 2022. Bison injure more people in Yellowstone than any other wildlife species, according to the National Park Service.

“Bison are not aggressive animals but will defend their space when threatened,” the NPS warned. “They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans.”

Park officials said the safety of animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment and following a few simple rules; never approach wildlife, keep your children and pets close and don’t let them run, never feed wildlife and keep all food, garbage, or other smelly items packed away when not in use. The park also asks that visitors never park in the road or block traffic — use pullouts to watch wildlife and let other cars pass and to stay with your vehicle if you encounter a wildlife jam.