Bison Attack at Yellowstone: Grandfather’s Recovery

A grandfather, recently filmed being tossed into the air by a bison at Yellowstone National Park, has assured everyone that he is “okay,” even after undergoing surgery for a broken femur.

Carl Isom McDaniel, 65, was visiting the park with his 13-year-old grandson when the incident occurred on Friday night. In its fury, the bison launched him about eight feet into the air.

McDaniel suffered multiple fractures to his femur, but he reported to CNN that, following surgery, he was able to stand as early as Monday.

In a Facebook post shared late Sunday, he expressed gratitude: “Thank you everyone. I’m fine,” and accompanied it with a thumbs-up emoji.

The retiree from Kendall, Washington, also made a point to commend the bison for showing restraint during the ordeal. “I was just sitting on the ground, not moving, and he got on top of me,” he recounted. “He could’ve done much worse.”

Mike McLeod, the photographer who captured the dramatic moment, noted that McDaniel had a good attitude throughout, mainly worrying about whether he had provoked the animal. “He was in a lot of pain but conscious and joking,” McLeod said.

“He was really concerned and wanted to see the video to make sure it wasn’t his fault,” McLeod added, emphasizing that it was clear the bison was agitated.

Before the incident, the aggressive bison had already startled several other visitors, including a group of teenage boys. McLeod observed that after scaring the teens, the bison had rested near a picnic area, potentially drawn by food scraps.

When McDaniel and his grandson, unaware of the bison’s agitation, stopped their truck to take photos, the animal seemed to take notice. After they paused, McDaniel suggested they leave, sensing the change in the bison’s demeanor.

In a surprising turn, as another truck passed by, the bison became momentarily distracted, but once the vehicle moved on, it focused back on McDaniel and his grandson, chasing them around some pine trees. While his grandson managed to evade, McDaniel found himself in harm’s way. The bison charged and struck him, flipping him into the air.

From a distance, McLeod could see the bison was “really, really angry,” and driven by fear for McDaniel’s safety, he ran at the bison, yelling to divert its attention.

With help from other onlookers, the bison eventually retreated. Fellow tourists stayed with McDaniel until an ambulance arrived about ten minutes later, taking him to the hospital.

Park regulations emphasize the need for visitors to maintain at least a 75-foot distance from bison, particularly during mating season, which coincides with the busy tourist months. McLeod commented that, in this incident, all visitors maintained a respectful distance from the wildlife and did not provoke the animals.