ALL NEWS

Visiting Antelope Island? Heed these wildlife safety tips

Jun 3, 2022, 6:00 PM
Bison at Antelope Island State Park. Photo credit: Utah State Parks...
Bison at Antelope Island State Park. Photo credit: Utah State Parks

SALT LAKE CITY — This week, a 25-year-old woman from Ohio got too close to a bison at Yellowstone National Park. She was thrown 10 feet in the air and hospitalized with a puncture wound.

Reportedly, the woman was on one of the boardwalks that surround the piping hot natural features of Yellowstone when the bison gored her.  It seems she did at least one thing right, by staying on the boardwalk. 

But she made at least one mistake that anyone visiting Antelope Island State Park in Davis County, where a large herd of free-range bison makes themselves at home, should keep in mind.

The bison roam on Antelope Island

In 2021, Antelope Island State Park hosted over one million visitors, and Utah State Parks officials say the trend of more people heading to state parks is on the rise.

Devan Chavez with Utah State Parks says that for the most part, visitors know the best practices that can help keep them safe around the bison that number between 500 and 750 on any given year.

“How they react might not be how one would expect a bison to react,” Chavez told the Dave and Dujanovic Show on KSL NewsRadio. (Think of the bison lowering its head, or digging the ground with its forelegs.)

But really, if you see a bison and it stops what it’s doing and starts paying attention to you? Right there, that already means you’re too close and you need to slowly start backing away.”

Male bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. They can stand six feet tall. And on Antelope Island they are free-roaming, so there’s no fence holding them back or keeping them away from visitors.

In other words, they’re not in a zoo. They are wild animals. 

“And they will react to people who are harassing them or infringing on them in any way,” Chavez said.

That’s why, if the herd is blocking a road at Antelope Island State Park, visitors are warned to just stay in their cars and let the animals clear from the road at their own pace.

“I mean, how many places can you go in the United States still where you can have that be an issue?” Chavez said. 

In other words, waiting in your car for bison to cross the road is a unique experience. A “memory-making” experience for you and the kids.

Chavez says there have been a couple of gorings at Antelope Island State Park in recent years and he calls it an uncommon experience. Investigate these safety tips provided by Utah State Parks to keep it that way.

Related:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

All News

A single vehicle accident at 300 West 1700 South....
Waverly Golden

Clearfield power and traffic alert

Clearfield Police Department said in a Facebook post that a single-vehicle accident has occurred at 300 West 1700 South.
1 day ago
(Photo credit: Shelby Lofton)...
Waverly Golden

Robbery at swap meet leaves one victim shaken up

Around 5:50 p.m. today, a suspect armed with a handgun fired shots inside an indoor swap meet in the area of 1500 W. 3500 S.
1 day ago
Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally on March 25 in Waco, Texas....
Eric Bradner and Kate Sullivan, CNN

Trump baselessly rails against ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ at Waco rally as investigations loom

Former President Donald Trump baselessly railed against what he called "prosecutorial misconduct" at a campaign rally Saturday night in Texas, denying any wrongdoing amid investigations in New York, Georgia and Washington.
1 day ago
Gov. Brad Little signed a bill this week that prohibits transgender students in the state from usin...
Sydney Kashiwagi, CNN

Idaho governor signs bill that restricts transgender students’ bathroom use in schools

Idaho governor Gov. Brad Little signed a bill this week that prohibits transgender students in the state from using public school bathrooms that do not align with their gender assigned at birth.
1 day ago
Members of the police work, after two migrants suffocated to death aboard a freight train that got ...
CNN

Two migrants found dead in shipping container on train in Uvalde County, Texas

Two migrants were found dead in a shipping container on a train the authorities stopped east of Uvalde, Texas, on Friday, according to local police.
1 day ago
tiktok logo pictured, a possible ban is looking...
Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN Business

Where TikTok users may go if the app gets banned

Washington's efforts to crack down on TikTok could ultimately benefit some of the same American tech companies that Washington has scrutinized.
1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...
BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.
Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a new winter activity? Try skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.
Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...
Intermountain Health

Five common causes of Cervical Cancer – and what you can do to lower your risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.
Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.
happy friends with sparklers at christmas dinner...
Macey's

15 easy Christmas dinner ideas

We’ve scoured the web for you and narrowed down a few of our favorite Christmas dinner ideas to make your planning easy.
Spicy Homemade Loaded Taters Tots...
Macey's

5 Game Day Snacks for the Whole Family (with recipes!)

Try these game day snacks to make watching football at home with your family feel like a special occasion. 
Visiting Antelope Island? Heed these wildlife safety tips