A man visiting one of the Land Between the Lakes bison enclosures was injured by a bison on Wednesday, according to officials with Land Between the Lakes.
According to a news release, the 37-year old man was inside the restricted area of the South Bison Range when he was injured by the animal. He was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center when he is listed in stable condition. His name has not yet been released.
Wildlife Technician Curtis Fowler says this is an unfortunate example of why people are urged to never enter restricted enclosures. He says, “We continue to stress to the public that bison and elk are wild animals. Bison will aggressively protect their calves by confronting any perceived threat. Their sharp horns and hooves are unforgiving and they can react surprisingly fast.”
There are two bison enclosures in LBL that are safe for the public that offer limited viewing of the wild animals in their natural habitat. It gives people a chance to observe the animals from the safety of a vehicle.