Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Getting Too Close: Two Yellowstone tourists gored by bison in 3-week period




Bison seriously injures 2nd Yellowstone tourist in 3 weeks. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/2/2015)
The man wasn't the only person to blame for the encounter, park officials said. Several people crowded the bison as it lay on the grass near a paved sidewalk not far from the famous Old Faithful Geyser.

"The bison was already getting agitated," Yellowstone spokeswoman Amy Bartlett said.

The man stepped forward and snapped photos with an electronic notepad just 3 to 5 feet away from the animal, she said.  [Emphasis added]

Some helpful facts from the National Bison Association:
  • A mature bison bull will weigh approximately 2,000 pounds while a mature bison cow will weigh approximately 1,100 pounds.
  • Bison can run at speeds up to 40 MPH.
  • Bison are not domestic animals and should be treated with caution and respect.  Each animal has its own distinct personality.
 

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