New Jersey man gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

A New Jersey man was gored by a bison in Yellowstone Park.
The incident occurred after a large group approached the bison too closely.
Park officials urge maintaining safe distances from wildlife to prevent injuries.

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. — A man sustained minor injuries after being gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park Tuesday morning.

It happened about 9:45 a.m. in the Upper Geyser Basin at Old Faithful, according to a news release from park officials.

Officials say the bison charged the man, a 30-year-old from Randolph, New Jersey, after a large group approached it too closely. Though his injuries were minor, the news release says he was treated and taken to a nearby hospital.

Authorities are still investigating the situation.

This is the second reported incident of a person injured by a bison in 2025. The first occurred on May 7.

There were two reported incidents in 2024 and one in 2023.

"Bison will defend their space when threatened and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. They are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans," park officials say in a news release.

Officials are reminding people to stay more than 25 yards away from all large animals — bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. Stay at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars.

"If wildlife approach you, move away to always maintain these safe viewing distances," the news release says. "The safety of these animals — and humans – depends on everyone using good judgment and following these simple rules."

Both the National Park Service, Utah Division of State Parks and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources have tips for people to stay safe around bison and other wildlife:

Give animals space. Stay at least 75 feet away from all large animals and at least 300 feet from predator species like bears, wolves and cougars. Double that distance if you still feel too close.
Back away or go in the other direction if a bison stops what it is doing and starts paying attention to you. That typically means you are too close.
If a bison is standing in the middle of a road, wait for it to pass. Don't get out of your vehicle.
If a bison is standing on the side of a road, drive slowly past it but stay inside your vehicle.
Don't walk across any rangeland to get closer to a bison. Take photos from a safe distance.
It is OK to go off a trail if a large animal is close to it. Safety always comes first.

Contributing: Carter Williams

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