ELLSWORTH COUNTY—Ellsworth County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Slaught injured by a bison Aug. 7 was discharged from Salina Regional Health Center and is recovering, according to Sheriff Murray Marston.
Slaught reported he located the bison just South of Kansas Highway 4. When he exited the vehicle to find a pasture gate, the animal had not seen him, yet.
When the bison did see him, according to Slaught, the animal charged so fast he was unable to return to the patrol car in time.
The bison struck Slaught in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Slaught was able to get to his feet and the animal charged a second time, goring him in the left thigh and tossed him 10-12 feet in the air.
A Rice County deputy arrived at the scene just as the attack occurred and put the animal down as it appeared it would charge Slaught again, according to Marston.
Following Slaught's encounter, 56-year-old Scott Schroeder of rural Bushton, was found dead in a nearby pen and it is believed a bison killed him, according to Marston.
Schroeder's body was in a row of trees north of K-4 at 5th Road near where Slaught was injured by a bison a few hours earlier. Schroeder was the owner of over 20 buffalo kept at that location, according to Marston.