A Florida man visiting Yellowstone National Park was injured when he got too close to a bison, leading the animal to charge and gore him.According to the National Park Service, the 47-year-old man from Cape Coral was hurt around 3:15 p.m. Sunday. He sustained minor injuries and was treated by EMS personnel.Park officials said the incident took place at Lake Village, an area of cabins, a lodge and campsites on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.The incident remains under investigation, and no further information has been released.This is the first reported injury involving a bison at Yellowstone this year. Park officials noted there were two such incidents in 2024 and one in 2023.Yellowstone staff remind visitors that wildlife in the park are wild and potentially dangerous. Officials urge people to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from large animals, including bison, elk and moose, and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. If animals approach, visitors should move away to maintain these distances.Bison, in particular, are known to defend their space and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. They can be unpredictable. Usually seen grazing or lolling peacefully, bison can run up to 35 mph — faster than the men’s world record in the 100-meter dash.At least two people were gored by bison last year, including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was seriously injured. A bison gored and significantly injured an Arizona woman in the park in 2023. Bison injured two people in 2022. Besides getting too close, visitors have been known to pick up baby bison. Such contact can cause the baby to be shunned by its herd with deadly results, not to mention the risk to the tourist. Bison are North America’s biggest land animal. They stand up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.For more on safety and wildlife viewing tips, visitors are encouraged to check the park’s guidelines to ensure a safe experience.The Associated Press contributed to this story

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