A young child was forced to sprint from an agitated bison in Yellowstone National Park after a family walked too close to the animal. The incident, captured on video, occurred weeks after a 65-year-old man was thrown several feet into the air by a bison in the same park.
Video footage shows a family, including two young children, walking on a path dangerously close to a large bison. Onlookers expressed alarm, with one heard saying, "No, you're way too close. Dude what are you doing?" As the family approached, the bison appeared agitated and suddenly lunged toward them. A child in front of the group broke into a run to escape the charging animal, which pursued for a short distance before stopping. Bystanders shouted at the family to retreat.
This encounter follows a serious incident on June 17 where Carl McDaniel, 65, was attacked by a bison. McDaniel and his grandson had stopped to photograph the animal when it charged. McDaniel was thrown approximately eight feet into the air. "He was in a lot of pain and he was trying to not move his leg, but his immediate concern as for his grandson," said photographer Mike MacLeod, who witnessed the event and attempted to distract the bison. McDaniel, who is from Washington State, suffered a broken femur in four places. He expressed gratitude for surviving, noting that the bison could have inflicted more severe injuries. "Even though I was on the ground, he could've stomped me, he could've gored me, he could've done anything," McDaniel stated.
Park officials have previously stated that bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison can run at speeds three times faster than humans and will defend their territory aggressively. Yellowstone National Park recommends visitors maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from large animals like bison and elk, and at least 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars. The motivation behind McDaniel's attack remains unclear, but it occurred during bison mating season, a period when males may exhibit increased aggression. Another incident in June involved a 12-year-old park visitor being injured by a bison.
