Woman remains hospitalized after bison attack on Antelope Island, officials say

A woman remained hospitalized Saturday after being attacked the day before by a bison at Antelope Island State Park, park officials said. | Stock image

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK — A woman remained hospitalized Saturday after being attacked the day before by a bison at Antelope Island State Park, park officials said.

Saturday evening, the 22-year-old woman was jogging down an established park lakeside trail when she saw a bison 50 yards away, said Utah State Parks Lt. Eric Stucki. After seeing the bison, the woman turned back to warn her friend, who is uncomfortable around bison, Stucki said.

As she was heading to her friend, the bison, apparently wanting to cross the trail to get to the lake, became disturbed and hit the woman, throwing her into the air, according to Stucki.

Witnesses saw the bison strike the woman, park officials said in a statement.

The woman sustained a compound fracture in her left leg and a cut on her right leg. After the attack, Stucki says she remained motionless on the ground waiting for the bison to leave.

The bison returned to the woman, nudged her with its nose, and left, Stucki said.

The woman was flown to McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. As of Saturday, she was expected to be released within a few days, Stucki said.

“Antelope Island State Park management encourages visitors who may encounter a bison on the trails to back away and return the way you came, or leave the trail and give the animal a very wide berth when passing it. If an incident occurs with wildlife, visitors are encouraged to report such incidents to state park personnel,” park officials said in the statement.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2m3rMAS