Bison injures visitor at Old Faithful

Yellowstone National Park officials report a bison butted 72-year-old Boise woman in the thigh and then pushed and tossed her off a trail in the Old Faithful area Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said Virginia Junk did not see the animal as she walked around a trail bend and wasn’t able to move away before the animal dropped its head and pushed her off the trail.

Rangers responded to the incident and treated Junk’s minor injuries.

An ambulance transported her to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg.

No citations were issued.

This is the first incident of a bison injuring a visitor in 2018.

There was one incident in 2017 and five in 2015.

Animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot or in a developed area, give it space.

Always stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including bison and elk.