South Dakota Officials Confirm Woman Dies After Bison Incident

It's no secret in South Dakota that bison that roam in Custer State Park can be dangerous and unpredictable.

In a new interview with KOTA Territory News, officials with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks did confirm a 70-year-old woman died after an encounter with a bison on the Grace Coolidge Trail.

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The way South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials describe this incident does sounds like this was a complete accident. It happened on Monday, May 18th when the woman and her husband encountered a group of bull bison. She was struck in the back and later died from her injuries.

Is It Unusual To See Bison Wander Off the Normal Path at Custer State Park?

Obviously, you never know what any wild animal can do. However, officials noted that drier conditions have cause bison to explore more of the park. It's a good reminder to be smart when you're around bison in Custer State Park.

Officials noted that drier conditions have caused bison to spread out more in the park, increasing the chances of visitors coming into contact with them. They continue to remind the public to stay 'bison wise' by keeping a safe distance, making noise while hiking and using extra caution around corners and ridgelines.

This bison has been removed from the area. More details about this tragic incident can be found here.

Bison or Buffalo are not just big fluffy cows. They can weight as much as 2000 pounds and are actually very agile reaching speeds of up to 35 miles an hour. Plus, they can get angry pretty quickly.

So stay 'Bison Wise' this tourism season. Trust me, it's not worth it to get a selfie or a close-up picture of a bison.