Man Injured in Bison Encounter at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has become known for tourists making unsafe choices around wildlife. However, a recent incident stands out for its severity.

A man was seriously hurt and launched several feet into the air when a bull bison chased him at Bridge Bay Campground on Friday night. This dramatic altercation was documented by photographer Mike MacLeod.

The unidentified man was reportedly walking with his grandson when the bison charged him from about 100 meters away—far more than the 25-yard minimum distance that Yellowstone advises for human safety.

Interestingly, the bison had already shown aggressive behavior moments before. Prior to the attack, it charged at children who were taking pictures from a distance, causing them to scatter.

As the bull seemed to settle down, the grandfather and grandson came around the corner unaware of the earlier events. According to MacLeod, they paused to take photos but quickly decided to retreat behind a tree when the bison started to rise from its resting position.

At that critical moment, a white pickup truck passed by, which seemed to agitate the bison further. The bull charged the truck, which continued on, and then redirected its focus to the man and boy hiding nearby.

Video shows the bison pushing into the tree with the man attempting to stay out of the way. In a sudden turn, the bull spotted the man again, charged, and threw him into the air with its horns.

“The bison hooked his left horn around his waist and tossed him into the air,” MacLeod recounted. “The man ended up several feet above the bison after doing a flip.”

Surprisingly, instead of moving on, the bison lingered over the injured man, shaking its head. MacLeod stopped filming at this point and rushed to divert the animal’s attention, joined by other witnesses. Eventually, they were able to get the bison to leave the scene.

“I was genuinely afraid it would stomp on him,” MacLeod expressed. “I was yelling and trying to appear intimidating.” Emergency services from Yellowstone quickly arrived to assist.

Later, MacLeod spoke with the man’s grandson, who mentioned that his grandfather had sustained significant injuries and was still in recovery. As of now, Yellowstone’s National Park Service has not issued an official update on his condition.

This incident does not appear to involve the typical cases where tourists recklessly approach bison, attempting selfies or disregarding safety warnings in the park.

MacLeod noted that the campground visitors were cautious, warning each other as the agitated bison roamed around. “Despite the chaos, people respected the wildlife and did their best to keep distance,” he observed.

It’s important to note that bull bison can become particularly aggressive during mating season, typically starting in late July, often displaying defensive behaviors against perceived threats.

This was the second reported human-bison interaction in Yellowstone this year; in June, a 12-year-old visitor was injured near Mud Volcano, although details about that incident remain scarce.

Having spent considerable time around bison, MacLeod mentioned he had never witnessed behavior like this before. “It felt bizarre; there were so many people around, yet this unusual aggression was directed at them,” he reflected.

The takeaway from this event seems clear: respect wildlife, adhere to safety protocols, and avoid risky behavior for the sake of a photograph. Unfortunately, it seems the man and boy were simply in the wrong place at an unfortunate time.