Carl McDaniel, 65, sustained multiple bone fractures on July 10 when a bison charged and tossed him during an evening stroll with his grandson near Bridge Bay Campground. McDaniel, who was hospitalized at Bozeman Health Deaconess Medical Center in Montana, described the experience in a video posted on Instagram.
"He wasn’t showing aggression or anything like that until it picked a target. That target happened to be me," McDaniel said. He noted that his grandson was unharmed as the bison did not target him. McDaniel recalled the animal's surprising speed, stating, "They move faster than you could ever imagine. He just kept coming."
Bison, North America's largest land animal, can reach speeds of up to 35 mph (56 kph), outpace humans, stand up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall, and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). Yellowstone National Park averages a couple of bison attacks annually, with at least two people attacked in 2025.
Dr. Eric Lowe of Bozeman Health's emergency department confirmed McDaniel suffered fractures in multiple areas. McDaniel emphasized that the impact of the landing, rather than the horns, was the most painful aspect of the encounter. "I didn’t get bruises from him launching me in air. It was the landing that became the problem," he said.