Massachusetts Man Gored by Bison at Yellowstone

A Massachusetts man visiting Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming learned the hard way why you shouldn't get too close to wild animals after being gored and tossed by a bison.

According to the Yellowstone Gate, the man, who was not identified by park rangers, was tossed nearly 10 feet in the air by an advancing bull bison and pinned to the ground while visiting the national park Saturday, suffering a broken collarbone, a broken shoulder blade, several broken ribs and a groin injury.

According to the park officials, the man refused to move from where he was sitting while the bison was approaching just a few feet away from him. Officials say the man was not taunting the animal.

After the attack, the man, who is in his mid-50s, was flown to a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he is expected to recover.

Though it is considered uncommon for bison to gore or trample visitors, park officials said it was the first such attack in nearly two years.

Animals like bison may seem docile compared to others, like cougars or grizzly bears, but every wild animal has a temper, and when one the size of a bull bison is nearby, you'd better create some space.

Here's hoping the victim makes a speedy recovery. In the meantime, we hope other visitors respect the power of these animals and the damage they can do.

---