Trail runner explains bison attack wasn’t her fault
Generic photo of bison. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.
A trail runner who encountered a bison on a trail in Antelope Island State Park in Utah turned back to warn her companion—a victim of a bison attack in June—and wound up getting gored and tossed into the air by the bison.
Kayleigh Davis, who suffered a compound ankle fracture and laceration of the thigh, was eventually forced to defend herself against online attacks from people who blamed her for the attack, which occurred Friday around 7:30 p.m., according to KSTU in Salt Lake City.
She told KSTU that she didn’t antagonize or approach the bison.
“I was kind of scared that people can approach them, and they don’t get hurt and then I am actively avoiding it and I get hurt,” Davis told KSTU while recovering at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden.
Utah State Parks Lt. Eric Stucki told KSL that Davis was jogging on Lakeside Trail when she spotted the bison 50 yards away. KUTV reported she had run up ahead. Knowing her date was uncomfortable around bison, she went back to warn him.
Kyler Bourgeous sustained broken ribs, a collapsed lung and injuries to his internatal organs when attacked June 1 at Antelope Island State Park, the biggest of 10 islands within the Great Salt Lake.
“I knew, hearing my friend’s story, that I didn’t want it to happen to me,” Davis told KSTU.
A bison crossing road on Antelope Island State Park. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.
Davis, 22, first was forced to avoid some bikers.
“The four bikers pass me and then all of a sudden I see the bison charging,” Davis explained to KSTU. “I saw him coming pretty fast, and I was like, ‘I know I’m not going to get distance,’ and I could see him.”
The bison caught up and tossed her into the air.
“While I was up in the air, I was like, ‘Am I going to hit my head or my back? I don’t know.’ I was scared.”
While on the ground, she remained still. The bison nudged her with its nose but eventually moved on.
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Davis and Bourgeous laugh about it now because of how unlikely that they both be attacked by a bison.
“It feels like it would be a one-in-a-million chance,” Davis said.
As for going back to Antelope Island State Park?
“I don’t know if I can do it again, go back out there knowing they apparently have it out for me,” Bourgeous told KSTU.
Photos of bison at top and crossing road in Antelope Island State Park from Wikipedia Commons.