Jeff Bunch of Dallas has some advice for those who may be traveling in national parks this summer — watch out for the bison.

According to the Aberdeen American News in South Dakota, Bunch suffered a deep puncture wound to his left buttock July 6 and underwent surgery to remove an inch-long splinter of bison horn.

Bunch, 30, was touring Custer State Park with his mother, Deanna, and brothers, David and Brian, all of Dallas, when the attack occurred. According to the South Dakota newspaper, the family was driving in a rented minivan and stopped to watch a herd of bison near the road.

Bunch told the newspaper he was standing near the open driver’s door about 20 to 25 feet from the nearest animal. Bunch had unknowingly intruded on the bison’s fight or flight space, and the animal decided to fight. Without warning, it lowered its head and charged, tossing Bunch into the side of the van.

Bunch likened the attack to being run over by an NFL linebacker with horns. Actually, a full-grown bison weighs about eight times as much as the average pro linebacker.

“I just want to get the word out to people about how dangerous buffalo are,” Bunch told the newspaper. “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. Stay in the car and use binoculars.”

Bunch’s mishap was the second bison incident of the year at Custer State Park. June 16, an unidentified motorcyclist was injured when he and his motorcycle were hooked and tossed by one of the big animals.

South Dakota is not the only vacation destination where visitors may encounter bison. Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma has a free-ranging herd of the big, woolly critters, and the Oklahoma bison have also caused human damage.

The most famous bison herd is in Yellowstone National Park, which is also known for free-ranging grizzly bears. Guess which of the two species is more dangerous? If you said bison, treat yourself to a private viewing of “Dances With Wolves.”

Despite Yellowstone signs that warn park visitors about the buffalo, I once saw a group of camera-toting tourists surround a bull bison that was bedded beside the road. They formed a complete circle around the bull. Luckily, it lay quietly chewing its cud. It could just as easily have jumped up and trampled the nearest bystander.

Bunch merely underestimated the speed at which a bison can react. Because the park animals are so visible, many people seem to think they’re tame. Animals that live in a park become habituated to people. That doesn’t make the animals safer. It makes them more dangerous.

They’re dangerous because they’ve lost their inherent fear of humans. Park animals are not tame, but they are unpredictable. One second, a moose, elk, bison, bear, mountain sheep or deer is casually minding its own business.

Accidentally come between the animal and its baby, however, or simply cross an imaginary line that only the animal understands, and there could be an instant transformation from a gentle forest creature to the incredible hulk.

Running away is the correct response to a charging herbivore. A herbivore is only interested in removing you from its space. Never run from a bear, a mountain lion or any other carnivore. Running is what their prey does, and a carnivore may be encouraged to chase you.