Bison Knocks Grandfather Into Air At Yellowstone

A bull bison said to weigh about 2,000lb (900kg) injured a 65-year-old man in Yellowstone National Park after charging at him and his grandson near a campground in Wyoming.

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Video Shows Sudden Charge

Viral video of the encounter shows the pair stopping to photograph the animal while it was lying in grass. Moments later, the bison rose and ran toward them, eventually striking the older man and throwing him into the air.

US media have identified the man as Carl Isom-McDaniel. He suffered multiple injuries and was taken to hospital, the New York Times reported. Witnesses said he appeared to be in significant pain after the impact.

The National Park Service has not issued details about the incident. The BBC reported that it had sought comment from the agency.

Attack Near Yellowstone Lake

The encounter happened on Friday evening at Bridge Bay Campground, close to Yellowstone Lake, during the last hour before sunset.

In the footage, Isom-McDaniel and his grandson appear to be some distance from the bison when they stop walking and lift their cameras. The animal rolls on its side several times before getting up.

A white truck then approaches slowly. The bison charges toward the vehicle, prompting the driver to leave quickly, before the animal continues after Isom-McDaniel and the boy, kicking up dust as it runs.

The pair attempt to get away by moving through a stand of trees, but the bison catches up with Isom-McDaniel.

Mike Macleod, who filmed the scene, told the Cowboy State Daily that the bison caught the man on the hip with its left horn and threw him upward. Macleod said Isom-McDaniel flipped and landed on his side. He added that the man had leg pain but remained conscious and was still joking afterward.

Park Warns Visitors

The NPS says bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal in the park, despite often seeming calm. The agency says they can run three times faster than people and urges visitors to keep well away.

Its guidance tells visitors to stay at least 25 yards (23 metres) from bison and not to approach them for photographs.

Summer is Yellowstone’s busiest period, with almost 60% of yearly visits taking place in June, July and August, according to the NPS.

Mating Season Risks

July also falls during the bison breeding season, when bull bison have higher testosterone levels, said Jennifer Barfield, scientific lead at Colorado’s Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd.

Barfield said that can make the animals more unpredictable than at other times of the year. She said her team avoids getting close to bison during the breeding period except when observing from inside a vehicle.

For visitors on foot, Barfield said the 25-yard rule should be treated as the minimum safe distance.

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14 July 2026