Bison gores woman in Wyoming

 

>>> In just a matter days, two

women were injured in bison

attacks while visiting national

parks.

Saturday in North Dakota a woman

suffered injuries to her stomach

and when bison charged her.

On Monday, a bison gored a woman

in Wyoming.

Both were September to hospitals

to be treated for their injuries

and investigations into the

attacks are ongoing.

Joining us now with more insight

into this is yellowstone

wildlife safari guide grant

trchlt Johnson.

Grant, wow.

This sounds really scary and

both of these incidents are

different, but I wonder, are

people just getting too close to

these animals or is something

else happening here?

>> So, overwhelmingly, the

incidences between bison and

people are a result of people

getting too close to the

animals.

Right now we have a bit of a

convergence of who factors.

First, the beginning of the

bison rut, the mating season.

So both the male and female

bison have elevated levels of

hormones and that makes them a

little bit more agitated, a

little bit more competitive on

the landscape.

Secondly, July is the busiest

month for people to be visiting

the national parks.

So the risk of being attacked by

a bison or any other animal is

outrageously low.

With this many people in the

park, it's not surprising this

time of year these things

happen.

>> I am going to ask the thing I

think everybody is thinking.

It shouldn't be that hard to not

go close to bison.

Seems like a logical thing.

So my initial question as I have

seen these reports, is this a

social media thing?

Is this people trying to take

pictures?

Why are people going so close

based on your experience?

>> So I think it's a bit of a

few factors.

I think for sure social media

has been a negative influence.

People are re-creating photos

they have seen or a new one that

no one has seen and doing risky

behaviors is a way to get that

done.

Also, a lot of people don't have

familiarity with real authentic

wildlife.

When they come to the areas they

think they are visiting a zoo.

And this is not a zoo.

These are national parks, true

wild, authentic wildernesses and

these answers are wild and

potentially dangerous if we push

the limits with them.

>> What is your advice to people

if they find themselves -- we

are looking at some scary

footage there -- of a bison

charging at one?

What happens if you are in that

situation?

What would you advise people to

do to basically save themselves

from being seriously injured or

perhaps even killed?

>> So the park service is very

clear on their rules that they

have set forth.

They are not just polite

suggestions.

This is the law in the national

parks.

If you are in your car, there is

no risk.

As long as you are pulled off

the side of the road, stop, ento

joy the wildlife, take photos.

If you are outside of your car,

walking, hiking or just standing

on the side of the road, you

need to stay certain safety

distances away from the animals.

Bears and wolves, that's 100

yards and all of the other

animals, including bison, is 25

yards.

If you see the animal

drastically changing behavior

because of your presence you are

too close, even if you are

beyond those limits.

With bison, they are nice enough

to give us warning signs they

are getting agitated.

You will see an exaggerated head

bobbing, scratching and stomping

at the ground.

And you will see their tail go

up.

If you see any of those factors

happening, back up, increase the

amount of space between you and

the answer and let other people

know, too, they are getting too

close.

You are not just putting

yourself in danger.

You are putting other people in

danger and putting the animals

in danger.

>> National parks are a