A young Florida girl learned the hard way that while bison might appear docile, they can quickly charge you/NPS, Jacob W. Frank file
A 9-year-old Florida girl avoided serious injury when tossed into the air by a bison bull at Yellowstone National Park.
Park staff said the incident happened Monday afternoon after a group of roughly 50 visitors came within 5-10 feet of the bull near the Observation Point Trail not far from the Old Faithful Geyser. The bison tolerated the crowding for about 20 minutes before charging the onlookers and tossing the girl into the air, according to witnesses.
The girl's family, from Odessa, took her to the Old Faithful Lodge, where she received initial care from medical providers, and then was taken to the Old Faithful Clinic for a more thorough checkup before she was released.
Rangers were said to still be investigating the incident Tuesday.
Each year some visitors at Yellowstone approach bison too closely and are injured, some seriously, when charged. Yellowstone staff continually try to remind visitors that the park's wildlife can be dangerous and that they need to keep their distances. Park regulations say visitors should stay at least 25 yards away from bison, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, deer and coyotes, and at least 100 yards from wolves and bears.
Comments
YELLOWSTONE IS NOT A PETTING ZOO!!!
They want to see the wildlife up close, forgetting that it's WILDlife and they are in the animals' house. It ain't Disneyland, folks. Wise up or stay out of our parks.
Yes, banned for life for sure.Why? Because we all know everyone will pay the price for "Stupid." 'Stupid is What Stupid Does.'
In other words: Stupid Behavior from persons who possess at least minimal intelligence.
Dogs & cats need to wear a license tag but Parents do not? Please, let's round up these Stupid (not Ignorant - they know better) Parents (and persons who walk their dogs near alligator-infested waters & then complain that the alligator ate their puppy dog or their ownselves) and keep them away from all creatures (except their fellow cockroaches).
Let's give our beautiful wild and free Creatures a Peaceful chance to enjoy the Great Outdoors. These 'Stupid Parents' are So Unfair to God's Creatures of the Earth.
I agree, the parents are the reason this happened & to make things worse, they abandoned their 9yr old daughter when the bison charged at them. Idiotic Cowards.