Further details have emerged about the bison attack at Yellowstone National Park‘s Bridge Bay Campground that left an elderly man seriously injured Friday, July 10th.
Bozeman based photographer Mike MacLeod was on scene photographing the bull bison before the attack unfolded and spoke with local station KTVQ about the incident. He said the animal had been agitated for several minutes before, first charging a group of boys near a tent before chasing off a young couple from their campsite.
The bison then turned its attention to the grandfather and grandson walking near Fishing the Bridge. The pair had kept a respectful distance from the animal, even more so than the other visitors involved, but the bison closed in regardless and eventually launched the man into the air.
MacLeod stopped filming as soon as the man left the ground and turned his focus to helping. He and several other campers moved in to haze the bison away from the injured man while others called 911 and checked him for injuries. Emergency responders arrived within minutes.
The victim was 65-year-old Carl McDaniel. He was hospitalized with a broken femur after the attack, with park emergency personnel responding to the scene and providing transport. He posted to Facebook on Sunday, July 12th, thanking everyone for their concerns and stating that he is okay.
While many of Yellowstone’s bison incidents are caused by tourists approaching recklessly close to wild animals, it appears pretty evident that McDaniel and his grandson, and just about everyone involved in this situation, respected the animal’s space from the beginning. Nonetheless this case is a great reminder to how unpredictable and dangerous North America’s largest land mammal can be. Read more on bison safety in Yellowstone below.
Yellowstone 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.