Man Sent Flying Eight Feet in the Air by Charging Bison at Yellowstone

A grandfather was thrown approximately eight feet into the air by a charging bison while walking with his grandson in Yellowstone National Park. The incident occurred Friday evening in the Bridge Bay Campground.

A witness, Mike MacLeod, who was photographing the area, told Cowboy State Daily that the bison charged the man, hooking him with its left horn and tossing him upside down. MacLeod described the bison as at least six feet tall and the victim as being several feet above it when airborne.

Following the attack, witnesses found the man experiencing significant pain in his hips and landing leg, though no obvious external injuries were immediately apparent. Emergency services were contacted, and bystanders ensured the bison did not return to the scene.

The victim's grandson indicated that his grandfather sustained serious injuries. MacLeod, who captured the event on video, stated that the bison initiated the charge and appeared agitated. He noted the encounter was unusual, as the bison targeted the man and his grandson when other people were closer and behind the animal.

This incident followed a separate encounter at the same campground where the same bull bison reportedly charged a group of children. The children were able to escape unharmed before the bison wandered through the campground, causing panic among visitors. The animal eventually settled in a patch of dirt.

Minutes after the bison calmed, the elderly man and his grandson entered the area. They maintained a distance of about 100 yards, as recommended by the National Park Service. However, their presence, or possibly a passing white pickup truck, appeared to agitate the bison again.

The bison charged the truck, and after the truck continued on, the animal pursued the grandfather into nearby trees. The grandson evaded the bison, but the grandfather was caught and tossed into the air. MacLeod intervened by shouting and running toward the bison, attempting to draw its attention away from the fallen man. Other campers joined in, and together they were able to scare the bison away.

Campers remained with the injured man until Yellowstone EMS arrived. The encounter occurred during the annual bison rut, a period from June to September when male bison are known to exhibit increased aggression due to heightened energy and competition.

The National Park Service has not yet released official information regarding the incident.