One month ago, at Custer State Park in South Dakota, a bull bison attacked and killed a 70-year-old woman after she was thrown six feet in the air along a popular hiking trail. The woman’s death marks the first fatal bison attack at the park in more than 20 years.
The woman and her husband, who lived in Canada, had been on vacation where the two had been hiking on the Grace Coolidge Trail. The couple spotted five bull bison walking along the trail an estimated 1,500 feet ahead of them. The bulls continued walking down the trail and were soon out of sight while the couple stopped several times to make sure they were giving the bison a wide enough lead as not to bother them.
As the couple turned the corner, according to the Custer County Chronicle, the couple saw the bulls standing about 50 yards away. They stopped walking and just watched; the bulls started to walk away and the couple began to follow them. When the bulls turned around and looked at the tourists, the couple stopped.
As they got closer to the bulls, one of them turned around and came at her, and him’, the sheriff said. ‘One of the bulls charged her and hit her.’
The bull threw the women roughly six feet in the air, and as the husband rushed over to reach his wife, the bison turned and charged at her a second time; this time tossing her into the air and throwing her 20 feet.
As a prey animal, unfortunately, pressure was placed on him that caused him to REACT, not attack…
The bison walked away again. The man hid behind a tree and called 911.
After the attack, the fate of the bison was unknown. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, said in a one-sentence email that “all options were being considered and evaluated.”
After significant public outrage, the bull will be turned over to the care of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Game, Fish and Parks. The relocation will allow the bison to continue in his natural life in a secure environment away from the public.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe agency announced the decision Wednesday, which effectively lifts his anticipated death sentence.
As with all wild animals, they need to be left alone and their space protected. In national parks, we are the observers, and wild animals get to live their lives as Mother Nature intended. While this bison was spared, park officials emphasize that when wild animals injure humans, they may be euthanized to ensure public safety. Sadly, in most cases the incidents are due to tourist failures, yet the wild animals pay the price.
The name of the woman has not been released at the family’s request.
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Good dog 😉
