A 12-year-old child was hospitalized after being attacked by a bison during a visit to Yellowstone National Park.
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The incident happened on Friday, June 26, near the Mud Volcano area close to Fishing Bridge.
According to the National Park Service, the attack occurred at around 9:15 p.m. local time.
Emergency medical personnel transported the child to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the encounter.
Yellowstone National Park Investigates Bison Attack
Officials have not released further details about the circumstances of the incident, which remains under investigation.
"Wildlife in Yellowstone are wild and can be dangerous," a National Park Service news release reads. "Wild animals can be aggressive when people do not respect their space. Visitors are responsible for staying at least 25 yards away from all large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes, and at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves and cougars."
The agency also reminded visitors that if wildlife approaches them, they should "move away and maintain the required distance."
Park officials strongly advise visitors not to approach, touch, feed, or crowd wild animals, even if they appear calm.
Bison Have Injured More Visitors Than Any Other Yellowstone Animal
The National Park Service says bison are among the most dangerous animals in Yellowstone and have "injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal."
"They are unpredictable, can run three times faster than humans, and will defend their space when threatened," the release notes.
The latest incident comes just weeks after a 47-year-old man was gored by a bison in the Lake Village area after reportedly approaching the animal too closely.
More recently, a 30-year-old visitor suffered minor injuries near Old Faithful after a large group of people approached a bison. He was the only member of the group to be injured.
Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, was the first national park in the United States and is widely recognized as the first national park in the world.
In 1978, Yellowstone was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of America's most visited national parks.
