A 17 year-old from Colorado was gored by a bison while hiking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park last weekend. The boy encountered a herd on one side of the trail and a lone bull on the other. Seeing other hikers successfully pass before him led him to believe there was enough space to safely get through the herd of animals.

The teenager insists that he did not approach the bison, nor was aggressive in any way. He was calmly walking along the trail when he realized the bison was chasing him. He began running and soon after the bison gored him in the back of his leg, throwing him into the air. Witnesses claimed that the bull that gored the teen had been fighting with another bison before the incident occurred, and speculated that this had likely spurred the attack. After the encounter, witnesses administered first aid and called 911, after which the teen was transported to the local hospital via helicopter. In a weird twist of fate, while at the hospital, the teen was given a teddy bear (named after Theodore Roosevelt) and a visit from a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, and released after his injuries were attended to, according to CBS News.

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The attack comes on the heels of another bison attack earlier this week in Yellowstone National Park, where a young girl was tossed by a bison after approaching the animal. These attacks should serve as a reminder that animals are wild and unpredictable. Check out the National Park’s info on how to safe in the parks for more information.