iStockphoto / Mark Alexander
A woman in Texas has gone viral for capturing stunning first-person POV footage of a bison attack and sharing it on TikTok. She was hiking in Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway in Texas which is about halfway between Amarillo and Lubbock but a little to the East when she spotted a group of bison and was attacked by one of them.
Bison attacks are rare. In the 14 years between 1992 and 1978 only 56 people were attacked at Yellowstone which is home to one of the most robust bison populations in the USA. Nationwide there is an average of 3.73 bison incidents per year. But there has been a rise in attacks recently as more Americans have been visiting State and National Parks.
Rebecca Clark’s video on TikTok has already been viewed over 2.2 million times since she uploaded it on October 12. In the video, we see her talking out loud in an effort to calm her nerves. She is trying to pass by the bison on her way back up the trail and is attempting to be cautious.
Towards the end of the clip, one of the three nearby bison (with horns) makes an about-face and charges her. The bison attack happens so quickly it’s hard to tell here it hit her but she uploaded a follow-up video (below) as well. There is some colorful language in the footage so consider this your warning for that.
Woman goes viral after filming bison attack in Texas state park after she was thrown into the bushes
@rebeccaclark Solo hiking at Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway in Texas. I was charged and gored by a bison because I was to CLOSE to be passing them on a trailway They are beautiful creatures protected by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) and are a part of the Texas State Bison Restoration Project where the park has restored the historic Charles Goodnight Bison herd (The Official Texas State Bison Herd) to a portion of its former range in the park. I am posting to support safety while enjoying Texas State Parks #TPWD #bisonetiquette101 #hikingsafety #llbean #chaos #rei ♬ dumb dumb – sped up – mazie
As long as I live I hope to never find myself on the business end of bison horns. That seems like an excruciatingly painful and terrifying way to be attacked.
She has since uploaded a handful of additional videos describing the incident
After Rebecca Clark’s video went viral with millions of views on TikTok she uploaded a second video answering some questions about the bison attack and encounter. In this clip she specifies which bison it was that charged her. Rebecca mentions that she was hiking alone which experts would caution against.
She said the bison ‘rammed’ her back, ‘gored’ her and sent her flying into the mesquite bush. She then laid there in pain calling out for help for 50 minutes before someone found her. There was apparently limited cell service which isn’t uncommon in State Parks which complicated her situation because she was unable to dial ‘911’ for help.
Eventually, she was reached by rescuers and then had to take a helicopter to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. Rebecca said there was a ‘hole in her back’ and ‘lots of stickers and thorns’ from the bush the bison threw her into. Here is her follow up video:
@rebeccaclark I am okay! Thank you for all your concerns and to tell you the truth your humor as well. I'm on the road to recovery after a run-in with a bison at Caprock Canyon State Park. #caprockcanyonsstatepark #TPWD #hikingsafety ♬ Asking Alll Them Questions Tik – AmongMemes
What an absolutely nightmarish scenario.
Rebecca Clark has uploaded a few more TikTok videos detailing her bison attack experience in Texas
I was ‘today years old’ when I learned that you should ‘watch the tail’ of a bison and the more twitchy it is the more gassed up they are:
@rebeccaclark Replying to @johnranft1965 Bison Culture & Safety- watch their tails. #bisons #caprockcanyonsstatepark #TDWP ♬ Lessons Learned – Tracy Lawrence
Here she outlines ‘the thumb rule’ which helps people keep the recommended 50-yard distance away. If you hold your thumb up and you cannot cover the bison then you are too close to the animal at risk of a potential bison attack, should things go south:
@rebeccaclark Replying to @brendita707 ♬ Too Close – Zindee & Holly Auna
For anyone out there planning trips to Yellowstone or this State Park in Texas where bison are in the area, let this serve as a warning to always be cautious and stay at least 50 yards away!