A Pennsylvania woman who visited Yellowstone National Park with her daughter was devoured by a bison in the second such incident this week and the third in a month, park officials said. The 71-year-old from West Chester, Pa., Whose name has not been released by the National Park Service, was returning to her vehicle near Storm Point on Lake Yellowstone on Wednesday when a bull bison attacked, according to a press release. “The woman and her daughter accidentally approached the bison as they were returning to their vehicle at the top of the trail, causing the bull bison to charge,” the Park Service said on Thursday. The woman suffered “non-threatening injuries” and was taken to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyo. It is not clear how close the woman and her daughter were when the bison attacked. The park, which is mostly located in Wyoming, requires visitors to stay more than 25 meters from the bison. “Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park is wild and can be dangerous when approached,” the park said in a statement, reiterating the same warning it had issued just two days earlier. The incident is the latest in a series in which bison have killed visitors who did not keep their proper distance. The Yellowstone visitor was attacked a second time by bison in a month, the park says Earlier in the week, a 34-year-old man from Colorado Springs was devoured by a bison on the Old Faithful geyser. The man was walking with his family on a sidewalk near Giant Geyser on Monday when a bison bull attacked the group, according to a press release. “The family members did not leave the area and the bison bull continued to load and devour the male,” said the Park Service. The man was injured in the arm and taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Yellowstone Hospital. The Park Service said Monday’s incident involved a visitor who was “very close to the animal”. The Yellowstone bison drowns the visitor and throws him at 10 feet, the park says Prior to the two incidents, a 25-year-old woman from Grove City, Ohio, was devoured by a bison and flew 10 feet into the air on Memorial Day, as she also came very close to the animal. While on a sidewalk in the Black Sand Basin in late May, the woman approached the animal 10 feet away, park officials said. Two other people were also 25 meters away from the bison, the Park Service said in a press release. When the woman approached the bison on the sidewalk west of Old Faithful, the animal charged her. “Consequently, the bison devoured the woman and threw her 10 feet in the air,” the Park Service said at the time. The woman suffered a puncture wound and other injuries and was taken to the Idaho Regional Medical Center. As the largest mammals in North America, bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal, according to the Park Service. They are unpredictable and extremely powerful. Although they can weigh up to 1 ton and stand about 6 feet on the shoulder, bison can run up to 35 mph, which is “three times faster than humans,” says the Park Service. They can also jump up to six feet vertically “and can quickly rotate to fight predators,” according to the National Wildlife Federation. Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times, according to the Department of the Interior. Between 2,300 and 5,500 bison live in Yellowstone, according to the Park Service. Yellowstone officials have stressed that visitors should give space to animals if they come close to campsites, trails, sidewalks, parking lots or developed areas. Visitors should stay more than 25 meters away from all large animals such as bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and coyotes, says the Park Service. Advises visitors to be at least 100 meters away from bears and wolves. While wildlife attacks are rare, dangerous encounters occur, especially when people are unaware – or unaware – of the rules and etiquette surrounding wildlife viewing. Cameron Hars, program director at the US Office of Animal Welfare, an international nonprofit, told the Washington Post last month that “wild animals want to be left alone.” Yellowstone will reopen most of the North Loop this weekend The third bison incident in a month is part of this Yellowstone events. Park officials announced Thursday that its northern loop will reopen on Saturday, less than three weeks after the park was severely damaged by floods. Record rainfall and historic floods caused Yellowstone to close all five entrances on June 13. But 93 percent of the park’s road system is now open and the temporary alternating traffic sign system to restrict visitors will be lifted during the holiday weekend. Wednesday’s incident remains under investigation, according to the Park Service. In its news release, the Parks Authority urged visitors – again – not to approach the bison. “Make room for bison when they are near a campsite, trail, sidewalk, parking lot or in a developed area,” the Park Service said. “If necessary, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal nearby.” Andrea Sachs and Natalie B. Compton contributed to this report.
