In brief
A 2,000‑lb bull bison erupted from the grass at Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone National Park and rammed 65‑year‑old Carl Isom‑McDaniel in the hip, flipping him into the air before landing on his side. Media reports describe multiple injuries and hospital treatment, while National Park Service warnings emphasize keeping a 25‑yard distance from bison and avoiding photo‑taking closer. The attack occurred on a busy visiting day during July, a peak breeding period for bulls that heightens their unpredictability. Witnesses noted the bison’s aggressive pursuit and the family’s attempts to flee through a thicket before the animal finally caught up.
On the evening of July 13, a 65‑year‑old man, identified by the U.S. media as Carl Isom‑McDaniel, was struck by a 2,000‑lb bull bison. The massive animal rammed the man’s hip with its left horn, causing him to flip into the air before landing on his side.
The incident, captured in viral footage, shows a boy and his grandfather raising a camera toward the bison before the great animal leaps to its feet and charges. The pair ran through a thicket trying to escape, but the bison eventually caught the elder man. Witness Mike Macleod reported that Isom‑McDaniel “was in a lot of pain with his leg”, but “otherwise he was conscious the whole time, in good spirits, joking.”
Isom‑McDaniel was reportedly taken to a hospital; the National Park Service (NPS) has not released details on his condition. The NPS reiterates that bison, though often perceived as tranquil, have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Visitors are advised to keep a minimum distance of 25 yards (23 m) and never approach a bison for photographs.
The attack occurred on Friday at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake, just before sunset. The bison flopped on its side several times before flinging the victim. A white truck approached the scene, but its driver sped away after the animal struck it. The bison left a cloud of dirt as it chased the couple.
July is the busiest month in Yellowstone, with nearly 60% of annual visitors arriving between June, July and August—coincidentally overlapping the bulls’ mating season. During this period, testosterone levels rise, elevating aggression and unpredictability, according to Jennifer Barfield, scientific lead at Colorado’s Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd.
Barfield’s team maintains distance from bison during breeding season, observing from an enclosed vehicle whenever possible. She stresses that 25 yards remains the minimum safe distance for people on foot.
