A 65-year-old man identified as Carl Isom-McDaniel sustained multiple injuries after being rammed by a bull bison in Yellowstone National Park on Friday evening. The incident occurred at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake.
Viral footage shows Isom-McDaniel and his grandson standing a distance from the bison before raising their cameras to take a picture. The bull bison, estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms), appeared agitated, flopping on its side before standing and charging at the pair.
Isom-McDaniel and his grandson attempted to flee through trees, but the bison caught up to the man, goring him with its left horn and throwing him into the air. A witness described the man as having made a "perfect flip" before landing on his side.
Witnesses reported that Isom-McDaniel was conscious and in good spirits despite being in significant pain, particularly with his leg. He was transported to a hospital for treatment.
The National Park Service (NPS) advises visitors to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards (23 meters) from bison and to never approach them for photographs. The agency notes that bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal and can run three times faster than humans.
July is part of the bison mating season, a period when bulls can exhibit more unpredictable behavior due to heightened testosterone levels, according to Jennifer Barfield, scientific lead at the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd. Summer is also the busiest season for visitation in Yellowstone, with nearly 60% of annual visitors arriving between June and August.