A 70-year-old woman from Canada was fatally injured by a bull bison while hiking with her husband on a popular trail in Custer State Park, marking the first bison-related death in the park in more than two decades.
The incident occurred last Monday while the couple was traversing the Grace Coolidge Trail, when they spotted a group of about five bull bison roughly 1,500 feet ahead of them. According to reports, they stopped multiple times in an attempt to maintain distance, waiting as the animals moved along.
After coming around a corner, the pair saw the bison again, this time, at approximately 50 yards away. As the bison began to move off, the couple continued forward, following in behind them. Then suddenly, without warning, one bull broke from the group, charged the woman, and struck her, sending her about six feet into the air.
The woman’s husband took cover from the charging bull behind a tree and dialed 911. Investigators said the bison remained in the area for roughly 15 minutes while the woman was still conscious. When her husband attempted to reach her, the animal charged a second time, tossing her another 20 feet. Once the animal retreated, the husband was able to perform CPR but it was too late.
While park staff responded quickly, the woman had unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and died on the scene. Air transport was requested but canceled due to weather conditions.
As of right now, the victim’s name has not been released at the family’s request.
Bison attacks on humans are uncommon, but when they happen, they can be extremely serious. This incident is the first fatal bison attack in Custer State Park since 2001, when a 76-year-old man from Michigan was killed after getting too close to a bison while taking photographs.
While visitors are occasionally injured (particularly in Yellowstone National Park, where bison have caused more injuries than any other animal in recent decades), deadly encounters remain exceptionally rare.
Custer State Park is home to one of the largest publicly managed bison herds in the country. Park officials noted that drier conditions this year have caused the animals to spread out more, leading to increased trail encounters. The specific bison involved in the attack has been removed from the area and is currently being monitored by staff.
In the aftermath of the deadly attack, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials are urging hikers to keep their distance from wild animals, make noise to avoid surprising wildlife and to never approach or follow bison when encountered.
