A woman visiting Yellowstone National Park has died after a bison gored her and threw her into the air, park officials said Tuesday.
The 25-year-old, who was from Ohio, was not identified in a National Park Service press release.
The woman approached the female bison Monday morning after she approached from a boardwalk at Black Sand Basin, near Old Faithful Geyser, the park said.
Park rules require visitors to stay more than 25 meters away from animals, North America’s largest mammals, which are unpredictable, can reach top speeds of 35 mph and can leap several feet.
An estimated 2,300 to 5,500 bison live in the park, and they have injured more people than any other animal, the park said.
When the visitor came within 10 feet of the animal, the bison impaled her and “threw” her 10 feet in the air, the park said.
The woman suffered puncture wounds and other injuries and was taken to a hospital in Idaho, the service said. It is not known where she died.
Two other people were also close to the animal when it gored the woman, the park said. The statement did not say whether they were injured.
The park has warned people to stay 25 yards from bison, elk, bighorn sheep and moose and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves.