Officials said the attack happened during a hike in Custer State Park after a bull bison separated from a nearby group.
CUSTER, S.D. — A 70-year-old woman died after a bison charged and struck her while she was hiking with her husband on a trail in South Dakota’s Custer State Park earlier this week, according to state and county officials investigating the incident.
The fatal encounter happened May 18 along the Grace Coolidge Trail, a popular hiking area inside the Black Hills park known for frequent wildlife sightings. Authorities said the couple had stopped multiple times to avoid approaching a group of bull bison before one animal suddenly broke away and attacked. The death has renewed attention on safety concerns involving close encounters between visitors and wildlife in state and national parks during the busy spring tourism season.
Investigators said the woman and her husband were hiking behind a group of about five bull bison during the afternoon when they first stopped and waited roughly 500 yards away for the animals to move farther up the trail. After the herd disappeared around a bend, the couple resumed walking. Officials said they later encountered the animals again at a much shorter distance, estimated at about 50 yards. The pair reportedly stopped once more and waited as the bison slowly moved away. Authorities said one animal then separated from the group and charged toward the woman. The bison struck her with its horns and tossed her into the air. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but the woman later died from her injuries. Her identity had not been publicly released as of Friday while authorities continued notifying family members.
The Custer County Sheriff’s Office said investigators are still reviewing the circumstances surrounding the attack and speaking with witnesses who may have been nearby on the trail. Officials have not indicated whether the bison displayed signs of agitation before charging or whether any environmental factors contributed to the encounter. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks spokesperson Nick Harrington said park employees later moved the animal away from the area and began monitoring its behavior. Harrington said dry conditions across portions of the park have caused bison to spread into areas where hikers may encounter them more frequently. He said visitors should remain alert while using trails, especially near blind corners, ridges and wooded sections where animals may not be immediately visible. Park officials also reminded visitors that bison are unpredictable wild animals capable of moving quickly despite their large size.
Custer State Park, located in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota, attracts more than a million visitors each year and is known for its free-roaming herd of approximately 1,400 bison. The animals are among the largest land mammals in North America and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Adult bulls can run at speeds approaching 35 mph and are capable of sudden bursts of movement over short distances. Wildlife experts have long warned that bison can become defensive when surprised, crowded or approached too closely. Encounters involving injuries are uncommon but occur periodically in parks and recreation areas across the western United States. Earlier this month, officials said a 22-year-old hiker suffered non-life-threatening injuries after another bison incident near Center Lake inside the same state park. That earlier encounter did not involve fatalities, but authorities said it highlighted the risks that can develop quickly when hikers and large wildlife share narrow trails.
No criminal investigation has been announced, and officials have not said whether any additional restrictions or temporary trail closures will follow the incident. Park managers are expected to continue evaluating conditions in the area where the attack occurred while monitoring bison activity through the coming weeks. Wildlife officials said there were no immediate plans to euthanize the animal involved, though its behavior remains under review. Authorities also have not announced whether they will increase ranger patrols or post additional warnings along nearby trails. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is expected to release more information once the investigation is completed and the woman’s family has been fully notified. The case remains under review by local authorities and state wildlife officials.
Visitors and residents familiar with the park described the Grace Coolidge Trail as a scenic but sometimes narrow route where wildlife sightings are common during warmer months. Hikers often stop to photograph bison grazing near roads and trails throughout the park’s rolling grasslands and forested hills. Several visitors at the park this week said they were saddened by the woman’s death and shaken by the details released by investigators. Some described seeing bison near hiking paths in recent days because of the dry weather conditions affecting the region. Rangers and park staff continued speaking with visitors about maintaining distance from wildlife and remaining cautious while hiking. Officials emphasized that even animals that appear calm can react suddenly. The attack marked one of the most serious wildlife incidents reported at the park in recent years.
Authorities said the investigation remained active Friday as wildlife officials continued monitoring the bison involved in the attack. Additional updates, including the release of the woman’s identity and any future safety measures, are expected in the coming days.