Carl McDaniel, 65, is recovering in a hospital after a violent encounter with a bull bison in Yellowstone National Park on July 10, speaking out about the harrowing experience from his bed at Bozeman Health.
The incident occurred at Bridge Bay Compound in the Wyoming section of the park. Video footage captured the bull bison becoming agitated and charging at McDaniel, pursuing him through the trees. The animal ultimately caught McDaniel, hooking him with a horn and throwing him into the air. The attack resulted in McDaniel breaking his femur in four places near his hip.
McDaniel, a great-grandfather, was out for a walk with his grandson when the attack happened. He told his grandson to seek safety while he attempted to escape the bison, but the animal continued its pursuit. "He just kept coming, and he was more aggressive, and as soon as he got off that tree he launched me in the air," McDaniel recounted.
Despite the severity of his injuries, McDaniel expressed gratitude for surviving, noting that the outcome could have been worse. "Even though I was on the ground, he could've stomped me, he could've gored me, he could've done anything," he said.
The exact provocation for the bison's behavior remains unclear, though the attack occurred during the species' mating season, a time when male bison are known to have increased testosterone levels. The animal had reportedly charged other campers in the vicinity shortly before the incident with McDaniel.
Park officials have stated that no management action will be taken against the bison, meaning it will not be euthanized. Yellowstone National Park's policy is to generally allow nature to take its course within the wilderness, intervening only in situations where human life is at stake or as directed by Congress. The park's website emphasizes that Yellowstone is a natural habitat for its wildlife, not a zoo.
