Bison Launches Man 8 Feet into Air at Yellowstone, Video Captures the Moment
Wertynews.com – Yellowstone National Park officials reported a severe incident in which a bull bison hurled a man 8 feet into the air, as captured in video footage from Friday. The bison, visibly agitated, targeted the visitor during a chaotic encounter at one of the park’s campgrounds. The sequence shows the animal charging toward the man, cornering him among trees, and striking him with its horns before launching him into the air and flipping him over.
Certainly, the man involved, identified as 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel, sustained significant injuries and was transported by park emergency teams to a local hospital. The incident unfolded shortly after he was seen standing near his grandchild, approximately 100 yards away from where the bison initially lay, capturing photos with his phone.
Photographer Witnesses the Event
“You can see these two people walking along the campground’s perimeter road,” said Mike MacLeod, a professional photographer present at the scene. “And as soon as the bison stands up, the grandfather, he’s like, ‘we’re out of here, let’s go.'”
As the pair sought refuge behind trees, the bison pursued the grandfather, who made a circular path to evade it. The animal caught up and tossed the man into the air, with MacLeod noting he landed beside the “very, very agitated” bison. At that point, he paused filming to assist in driving the bison away. “I charged the bison, yelling and screaming, and tried to put my camera up in the air,” MacLeod explained. “A group of men joined me, and we successfully hazed the bison off the victim.”
Bison Safety and Past Incidents
According to the National Park Service, male bison—also known as bulls—can reach weights of up to 2,000 pounds and sprint at speeds three times faster than humans. The agency emphasizes that bison are unpredictable and may become aggressive when defending their territory. Yellowstone visitors are advised to maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from animals like bison, elk, and moose, while keeping 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars.
This recent event follows a similar incident in late June, where a 12-year-old child was injured by a bison. Officials at the time mentioned an ongoing investigation into the accident. Last year, multiple bison encounters led to injuries among tourists. For instance, a New Jersey man was gored near the iconic Old Faithful geyser, and a Florida resident was harmed in the Lake Village area, which hosts restaurants and hotels.
Isom-McDaniel is currently recovering after surgery, sharing on Facebook: “Thank you everyone I am O K,” accompanied by a thumbs-up emoji.
