Second person injured by elk in accidental encounter in Yellowstone

Posted 6/5/18

For the second time this week, an elk has attacked a person at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

Penny Allyson Behr, 53, from Cypress, Texas was attacked by a cow elk in an accidental encounter behind …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Second person injured by elk in accidental encounter in Yellowstone

Posted

For the second time this week, an elk has attacked a person at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

Penny Allyson Behr, 53, from Cypress, Texas was attacked by a cow elk in an accidental encounter behind the hotel this morning (Tuesday).

Behr was walking between two cabins when she was surprised by an elk bedded along the cabin wall with a calf nearby. She attempted to back away but the elk pursued and struck her with its legs in the head and torso, according to a news release from the National Park Service.

Behr was taken by ambulance to Livingston Memorial Hospital.

Rangers hazed the elk away from the cabins and continue to monitor the area. No citation was issued.

It’s not known if this was the same elk involved in a similar incident on Sunday.

In that incident, a cow elk was protecting a calf — bedded down roughly 20 feet away and hidden by other cars — when it attacked 51-year-old Charlene Triplett, according to the Park Service.

Due to the severity of her injuries, Triplett was flown to the trauma center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

“It’s very common for cow elk to aggressively defend newborn calves and hide them near buildings and cars,” the Park Service said. “Be extra cautious anywhere elk and calves are present: approach blind corners slowly and maintain a safe distance (at least 25 yards).”

Comments