Yellowstone National Park is home to a thriving population of bison that range between 3,000-6,000 individual animals. Their success story is testament to the protection and stewardship of Yellowstone’s managers which began way back in 1902 when numbers inside the park dwindled to about two dozen bison.
At the turn of the century 21 bison were purchased from private owners and raised at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch. In the ensuing decades these ranch raised animals began to mix with the park’s free-roaming population and make up today’s herds.
Yellowstone’s bison are not typically known for navigating mountainous terrain as they are primarily adapted for life on open grasslands and prairies but from time to time they find themselves in situations that require a bit of mountaineering like this big bull spotted on March 9th, 2025 deep in the Blacktail Plateau on Yellowstone’s Northern Range.
The educational tour group that filmed this wild scene estimated the bison slid around 50-60 feet down the snow covered mountainside before regaining its feet and ambling away. While bisons’ body structure is well suited for flatlands where they graze on grasses and move in large herds, it would appear their stout physiology take a bump when descending steeper terrain. Learn more about bison safety inside Yellowstone National Park below.
Yellowstone National Park Bison Safety Guidelines:
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. Always stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from bison.
- Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity. 
- Approaching bison threatens them, and they may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, or snorting. These are warning signs that you are too close and that a charge is imminent.
- Do not stand your ground. Immediately walk or run away from the animal. Spray bear spray as you are moving away if the animal follows you.
