What began as a peaceful evening walk through Yellowstone National Park quickly turned into a frightening ordeal when a large bull bison charged a visitor, tossing him several feet into the air.
The incident occurred at Bridge Bay Campground on a Friday evening. According to witnesses, the bison suddenly became aggressive, struck the man with one of its horns, and launched him an estimated eight feet before he landed on the ground with serious injuries.
The dramatic encounter was captured on video by photographer Mike MacLeod, who was camping nearby when the attack unfolded.
Footage shows the man walking through the campground with his grandson moments before the bison unexpectedly charged. Both attempted to move out of the animal’s path, but while the grandson managed to get away safely, the older man was unable to escape before the bison caught up with him.
After knocking the man into the air, the animal remained in the area, raising concerns that it might attack again.
MacLeod later explained that he stopped recording and shouted to draw the bison’s attention away from the injured man. Other campers quickly joined him, and together they were able to drive the animal away until emergency responders arrived.
Once the area was safe, bystanders rushed to assist the victim. Although no obvious injuries were immediately visible, the man reportedly complained of severe pain in his hip and leg. His grandson later said his grandfather had sustained significant injuries and was still recovering.
The exact cause of the attack has not been confirmed. However, MacLeod suggested the bull may have been influenced by Yellowstone’s annual bison mating season, when male bison are known to become more territorial and aggressive. Earlier that same evening, he said, the same animal had reportedly charged toward another group of visitors, including children.
Officials have not announced what specifically triggered the encounter, and the National Park Service has released only limited information about the incident. The event serves as a reminder that bison are powerful wild animals and can become unpredictable, even when people believe they are keeping a safe distance.
