Woman killed by bison in South Dakota’s Custer State Park, weeks after another visitor was injured
A 70-year-old Canadian woman died after being struck by a bison Monday while hiking with her husband in Custer State Park, South Dakota, after another park visitor was injured by a bison earlier this month.
The couple was on the Grace Coolidge Trail and found themselves behind a group of about five bull bison, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. The couple stopped about 500 yards from the animals and waited for them to continue down the trail and out of sight. The couple then continued their hike, rounded a corner and encountered the bulls at a distance of 50 meters.
The couple stopped again, then continued to follow the bison as the animals moved away. A bull finally broke away from the group, charged the woman, grabbed her and threw her into the air.
The woman died from her injuries.
Custer State Park is managed by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Spokesman Nick Harrington said staff moved the bison from the area and were monitoring the animal’s behavior “to ensure public safety and prevent future incidents.” He said dry conditions have caused bison to spread throughout the park in search of grass, increasing the chances of visitors encountering them on the trails.
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Harrington said park visitors should keep their distance from wildlife, make noise when hiking, use caution on corners and ridges and keep their pets on a leash.
“It is important to remember that bison are wild animals and should be treated as such,” Harrington said in a written statement. “Visitors are reminded to keep their distance from all wildlife and safely enjoy the park’s trails and wildlife.”
On May 1, a 22-year-old hiker encountered a bison while hiking the Lost Trails near Center Lake, Harrington said in response to questions from South Dakota Searchlight about previous incidents. The hiker was with a friend and their dog when they turned a corner.
“The hiker was struck by the buffalo in the back of the legs and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” Harrington said.
Harrington said the department is not aware of any other incidents involving bison in Custer State Park this year, and there has not been a fatal incident involving a bison in the park since 2001.
The 110-square-mile park in the Black Hills is home to a herd of about 1,400 bison, also known as buffalo. Male bison can stand up to 7 feet tall at the shoulders, weigh 2,000 pounds and run up to 35 mph. depending on the department.
