A 9-year-old girl was treated for injuries after being tossed into the air by a bison in Yellowstone National Park, NBC News reports.
The unidentified girl from Florida was part of a crowd standing near a bison around the area of Yellowstone's famous Old Faithful Geyser on Monday. Witnesses report that the crowd was within 5 to 10 feet of the animal. The woman who recorded the frightening video of the bison charging claimed she even saw visitors petting the bison before it suddenly charged.
“My brother and I were looking at the hot springs, and we saw a bunch of people running down the path to the bridge. We saw through the trees some people petting the bison, super close,” Hailey Dalton said told NBC News."Because it was agitated by all the people and noise, it just kind of attacked."
The video shows the young girl attempting to run away from the charging bison, before being thrown into the air. While she was hurt, statements from the park service seem to indicate that her injuries were not severe. They said that the girl was "assessed and treated by park emergency medical providers, and later taken to and released from the Old Faithful Clinic."
Yellowstone officials said that they are investigating the incident and have not issued citations. They also warned that animals need space.
"Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Stay 25 yards away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes," they said.
