Bison injures Idaho woman walking Old Faithful trail

Yellowstone Nat’l Park — On Tuesday afternoon, May 1, 72-year-old Virginia Junk of Boise, Idaho, was butted in the thigh, pushed, and tossed off a trail she was walking on by a bison in the Old Faithful area. Junk did not see the animal as she walked around a bend in the trail and wasn’t able to move away before the animal dropped its head and pushed her off the trail.

Park rangers responded to the incident and treated Junk for minor injuries. Junk was transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho.

This is the first incident of a bison injuring a visitor this year. There was one incident where a husband and wife were injured by a bison in 2017 and five incidents in 2015.

Please remember that 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.

If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.