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Yellowstone Visitor Tossed by Bison Is Recovering as Park Keeps Animal Under Review

Park leaders are monitoring the bull under their nonintervention policy, drawing calls for stepped-up safety outreach during bison rut.

Overview

  • A 65-year-old man was charged and thrown by a bull bison at Bridge Bay Campground, sustaining multiple broken bones and undergoing surgery at Bozeman Health.
  • The encounter was captured on video that shows the man stopping to take a photo, being chased around a tree, and then hurled into the air while his young grandson escaped unharmed.
  • Yellowstone officials have reviewed the incident and announced they will not euthanize or relocate the bison but will continue to monitor the animal.
  • ZooMontana experts and the injured man say the behavior fits the bison rut, the peak mating season that raises male aggression, and they urge visitors to maintain safe distances.
  • The case highlights the park’s long-standing wilderness nonintervention stance and could prompt more outreach or enforcement to reduce risky close encounters this season.