Man gored by bison in Yellowstone after getting too close, NPS says
This is the second reported person injured by a bison in the park this year, officials said.
A man was gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park on June 10 after getting too close to the animal, the National Park Service said.
The man, a 30-year-old from New Jersey, sustained minor injuries and was treated by emergency medical personnel, NPS said in a news release.
He was among a large group of visitors in the Old Faithful Geyser's Upper Geyser Basin at around 9:45 a.m. on June 10 when the incident occurred, NPS said. It is currently under investigation.
This is the second reported person injured by a bison in 2025, according to NPS. There were two incidents last year.
Officials warn to stay back from animals at Yellowstone
The NPS is warning visitors about maintaining proper space from wild animals at Yellowstone after a man was gored by a bison.
Particularly, bison have injured more people than any other animal at the park. They can run three times faster than humans and will defend their space when threatened, according to the agency.
Here's how far visitors should stay back from animals at Yellowstone, per NPS:
- Bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes: Stay more than 25 yards, or 75 feet, away
- Bears, wolves and cougars: Stay at least 100 yards, or 300 feet, away
How many bison are at Yellowstone?
According to NPS, Yellowstone is the only place in the country where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.
In 2024, there were an estimated 5,400 bison at the park. The number has ranged from 3,500 to 6,000 in recent years.
At Yellowstone, bison can roam relatively freely, despite most other herds around the country.
Males weigh up to 2,000 pounds while females are at most half that size. They live on average 12-15 years and can run up to 30 miles per hour, per NPS.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for Paste BN. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.