BOZEMAN, Mont., July 26 (Bozeman Times) — A Yellowstone visitor was badly hurt in a bison attack near Yellowstone Lake, and his account is a reminder that the park’s biggest mammals can be far more dangerous than they look.
Carl Isom-McDaniel said the July 10 attack happened at Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone National Park while he was with his grandson. Speaking from a hospital bed at Bozeman Health in Montana, he said the bison first seemed calm, then changed direction and came after him.
“They move faster than you could ever imagine,” he said.
He said the animal chased him around a tree and launched him into the air. He also said, “It picked a target. That target happened to be me.”
A doctor quoted in a Bozeman Health video said Isom-McDaniel had a serious injury that was broken in multiple pieces. Other coverage described multiple bone fractures, including a femur broken in four places. He underwent surgery and was recovering in Bozeman.
What happened at Yellowstone?
The National Park Service confirmed to CNN that park emergency medical personnel responded after a bison charged and tossed the visitor at Bridge Bay Campground and that he was taken to a nearby hospital.
Bridge Bay Campground is near Yellowstone Lake, one of the park’s most visited areas. Yellowstone is a federal park managed by the National Park Service.
Why are bison so dangerous?
Bison may look slow and steady, but they are powerful wild animals. They can charge quickly, and they can injure people with their horns, bodies, or by knocking them down.
That is why Yellowstone tells visitors to keep at least 25 yards away from bison and never try to approach them. The park’s safety guidance, quoted by CNN, says distance matters because even an animal that appears calm can react suddenly.
What should visitors remember?
The main lesson from this case is simple: bison are not safe to treat like wildlife in a zoo or petting area. In Yellowstone, they roam freely, and people are responsible for keeping a safe distance.
If a bison gets too close, the best move is to back away slowly and give it room. Visitors should never try to corner, follow, or stand in the path of a wild animal.
Isom-McDaniel’s account also shows how fast an encounter can turn serious. He said the bison seemed to choose him, chased him around a tree, and knocked him into the air before he landed hard enough to break multiple bones.
For Yellowstone visitors, the warning from park officials is clear: admire bison from far away, and do not test how close you can get.