JACKSON (WNE) — A bison injured a 12-year-old Yellowstone National Park visitor Friday.

The child is the first person to be injured by one of the free-roaming ungulates this year. Almost every year, bison injure, or “gore,” at least one Yellowstone visitor.

“The visitor sustained injuries, and emergency medical personnel transported them to a nearby hospital,” a park press release said. “The incident remains under investigation.”

The child was injured near Mud Volcano, north of Fishing Bridge.

Yellowstone visitors are no strangers to bison gorings. Bison have injured more people in the park than any other animal, according to the National Park Service. There have been at least eight bison gorings in the park since 2022.

Last summer, two people were gored by bison, according to Yellowstone. The first, a man from Cape Coral, Florida, sustained minor injuries after approaching a bison too closely. The second, a 30-year-old man from New Jersey, also got too close to a bison. He sustained minor injuries and was transported by emergency medical personnel.

The Friday injury is the second high-profile human-wildlife conflict in Yellowstone this year. 

On May 4, two hikers were mauled by one or more bears on the Mystic Falls Trail near Old Faithful. The attack caused the first bear-related injury incident since September 2025, according to the Park Service.

Wildlife is often unpredictable, and can be aggressive when visitors invade their space. Park regulations require visitors to maintain at least 25 yards of space from bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, deer and coyotes. Visitors are also required to maintain at least a 100-yard distance from bears and wolves.

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