Overview
- A bull bison at Bridge Bay Campground charged and flung 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel into the air while he and his 13-year-old grandson were nearby, with the grandson escaping uninjured.
- Isom-McDaniel suffered a broken femur, underwent surgery on July 12, and has been reported as standing and recovering from the injury.
- Wildlife photographer Mike MacLeod recorded the encounter, stopped filming to run in and distract the bison, and said the grandfather and boy had kept a respectful distance before the charge.
- Yellowstone officials confirmed no "management action" will be taken against the animal and it will not be euthanized, while park staff said they will continue to monitor the animal and review the incident.
- Bison are large and fast, the National Park Service urges visitors to stay about 25 yards away, and experts note that summer mating season raises male bison aggression which can increase the risk of dangerous encounters and prompt renewed park outreach and enforcement.