STEWART COUNTY, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) — A spokesperson told WKRN News 2 that the man who was gored by a bison at Land Between the Lakes will not be charged.
On July 4, the 37-year-old Clarksville man entered the restricted area of the South Bison Range and was attacked and badly injured by a bison.
“This person chose to climb the fence and go in near them and he went apparently near the herd where the cows and the calves were,” Wildlife Program Manager Steve Bloemer told News 2. “Those animals circled around those calves and he got too close, and they wanted him out of here, and they came, and they got him out of there.”
He said the animals are able to run 35 miles per hour and are not considered tame.
Documents released by first responders showed the man was “thrown up in the air a couple times” and suffered a “puncture wound about 1″ into his ribcage.”
The man was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he spent two days receiving treatment for his injuries.
“Their instinct is to protect those calves and if you come too close to where they perceive a threat, they’re gonna come after you,” Bloemer said. “The message is clear— these are wild animals and the rules are there for a reason.”
Land Between the Lakes reported this was the third time someone entered a restricted area and was seriously injured by bison.
*WKRN News 2 contributed to this report.