On Wednesday morning, June 28, 2017, a married couple received injuries after being “butted” by a bison at Mud Volcano, just north of Lake Village in Yellowstone National Park.

Theodore Schrader, 74, and Patsy Holmes, 72, from Heber City, Utah, were taking photographs on a boardwalk at Mud Volcano, when a bison approached them. The bison butted Mrs. Holmes, who then fell into Mr. Schrader and both individuals fell to the ground.

Park rangers responded immediately and evacuated the couple from the trail, a quarter mile, to the road. The couple was transported to the Lake Clinic.

Mr. Schrader had minor injuries.

Mrs. Holmes was transported by Life Flight to Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was in stable condition.

Citations were not issued to either individual.

Officials with the park say that wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild. When an animal is near a trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Stay 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals – bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity.

This is the first confirmed incident of a bison injuring visitors in 2017.

In 2015, five people were injured after approaching bison.

Please protect the park and protect yourselves.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the season. Roads include:

• Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris

• Norris to Madison

• Madison to Old Faithful

• Madison to West Entrance

• Norris to Canyon Village

Be advised there may be delays due to road construction. Construction will occur between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris. Expect up to 30 minute delays.

Additional information and updated road status can be found on the park website at Plan Your Visit and Park Roads.

Each spring, Yellowstone National Park clears snow and ice from approximately 321 miles of road including the Beartooth Highway outside the park’s Northeast Entrance in preparation for the summer season.

Springtime in Yellowstone provides excellent opportunities for smaller crowds and wildlife viewing. Viewing opportunities special to this time of year include bison calves, bears, bull elk antlers in velvet, and the arrival of migratory birds.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, select roads in Yellowstone National Park will open for the season. Roads include:

• Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris

• Norris to Madison

• Madison to Old Faithful

• Madison to West Entrance

• Norris to Canyon Village

Be advised there may be delays due to road construction. Construction will occur between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris. Expect up to 30 minute delays.

Additional information and updated road status can be found on the park website at Plan Your Visit and Park Roads.

Each spring, Yellowstone National Park clears snow and ice from approximately 321 miles of road including the Beartooth Highway outside the park’s Northeast Entrance in preparation for the summer season.

Springtime in Yellowstone provides excellent opportunities for smaller crowds and wildlife viewing. Viewing opportunities special to this time of year include bison calves, bears, bull elk antlers in velvet, and the arrival of migratory birds.

Roads in Yellowstone National Park will begin to close to oversnow travel the week of March 5. All oversnow travel will end for the season Wednesday, March 15, at 9 p.m.

Spring plowing will begin after the roads close. Weather permitting, roads will likely reopen to automobile travel Friday, April 15.

Road Closure Dates

• Sunday, March 5, at 9 p.m. the road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris will close.
• Tuesday, March 7, at 9 p.m. roads from Norris to Madison and Norris to Canyon Village will close.
• Sunday, March 12, at 9 p.m. roads from Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge to Lake Butte Overlook will close. The road from Lake Butte Overlook over Sylvan Pass to the East Entrance is already closed for the season.
• Wednesday, March 15, at 9 p.m. the remaining park roads will close.

At Old Faithful, the Bear Den Gift Shop, the Geyser Grill and the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center will remain open through Wednesday, March 15.

At Mammoth Hot Springs, the Mammoth Campground, Yellowstone General Store, Post Office, Medical Clinic, the Albright Visitor Center and self-serve fuel pumps are available all year.

The road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana through Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City, Montana is open to automobiles all year.

At Tower Junction, self-serve fuel pumps are available all year.

Visitors driving to and in the park during the spring should have flexible travel plans and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time.

For the most current information on road conditions and closures, visit go.nps.gov/YellRoads or call 307-344-2117 for recorded information.