Yellowstone cross-country skier attacked by coyote

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

The unidentified woman, who was skiing on Grand Loop Road near South Rim Drive when the mid-morning attack occurred, was treated for puncture wounds and lacerations to her head and arm.

RELATED: Yellowstone tourists get jail time for trespassing at Old Faithful

She was subsequently transported to a nearby medical facility, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

The road, in the Canyon Village area, was temporarily closed to skiers. The coyote was located and killed, and will be tested for rabies.

“Encounters like these are rare, but they can happen,” park biologist Doug Smith said. “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.”

Most roads within the park are closed to automobiles for the season, but some are open for skiing and other winter activities.

–Generic coyote images are courtesy of the National Park Service