A 43-year-old woman was bitten by a coyote while cross-country skiing in Yellowstone National Park Tuesday morning.

Park officials say the woman, who was skiing on the Grand Loop Road near the South Rim Drive, suffered puncture wounds and lacerations to her head and arm.

Witnesses took the woman to Canyon Visitor Education Center, where she received initial treatment. Rangers transported her to Mammoth Hot Springs by over-snow vehicle and she then continued on to a medical facility. The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m.

Park staff temporarily closed the road, then positively identified and killed the coyote. The coyote is being necropsied and will be tested for rabies, park officials said.

“Encounters like these are rare, but they can happen,” said Yellowstone wildlife biologist Doug Smith. “We suspect this coyote may have been starving due to having porcupine quills in its lower jaw and inside its mouth. Its young age likely led to its poor condition and irregular behavior.”

In a news release about the incident, park officials reminded visitors to be aware of their surroundings, to never feed wildlife, to pack away food and garbage and to keep at least 25 yards away from large animals (including coyotes) and 100 yards away from wolves and bears.

“Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and unpredictable,” the release said.