A Grandfather’s Scary Bison Encounter at Yellowstone — Explained Simply

What Happened?

A fun trip with family turned scary at Yellowstone National Park. A grandfather and his grandson were just taking a walk when a big wild animal called a bison (think of a giant, hairy cow with horns) suddenly attacked.

The People Involved

• Carl McDaniel, age 65, was the grandfather hurt in the attack.
• His 13-year-old grandson was with him and was not hurt.
• Mike MacLeod, a photographer, recorded the event on video and later helped.
• The National Park Service (the group that takes care of national parks) confirmed what happened.

How the Day Started

McDaniel and his grandson were on their yearly trip to the park. After dinner on Friday evening, they decided to walk around the Bridge Bay Campground (a place where people camp in the park).

Along the way:

• They saw a large bison rolling in the dust.
• It looked calm and was not bothering anyone.
• They were about 100 yards away (that’s like a football field away).
• McDaniel said, “He was not aggressive… we took some pictures and decided to walk on.”

The Attack Happened Fast

Here is how things went wrong, step by step:

1. The two took a quick photo and kept walking.
2. A truck drove by, and the driver honked the horn loudly to try to make the bison move. (The video has no sound.)
3. The bison seemed to get upset and started running toward them.
4. McDaniel told his grandson to run one way, and he ran the other way to distract the bison.
5. The bison pushed McDaniel with its head and tossed him into the air.
6. He landed on the ground and could not move.

Important Point: McDaniel said the bison stood right over him and could have hurt him much worse—but it did not. “He could have stomped on me, he could have gored me… and he did not do so.”

A Brave Photographer Stepped In

After McDaniel fell:

• Mike MacLeod was filming and got scared the bison might hurt the man on the ground.
• He stopped recording, ran at the bison, yelled loudly, and tried to look big and scary.
• The bison ran off.
• People rushed over to help. A nurse helped his leg, and another person held his head.

Help Arrives and Hospital Time

• Yellowstone EMS (emergency medical helpers in the park) came quickly.
• They took McDaniel to a nearby hospital, then to a hospital in Bozeman (about 2 hours away).
• He was in a lot of pain, but he was thankful for the paramedic who helped him.

McDaniel’s Injuries

• He broke his femur (the strongest bone in your body, in your thigh) in four places near his hip.
• He had bruises too.
• He had surgery on Sunday and could stand by Monday.
• He will do physical therapy (special exercises to heal) for a few days to walk again.

Important Point: McDaniel said it “was not as catastrophic as it could have been.” He is going to be okay!

Not the Only Bison Incident

This was the second bison attack at Yellowstone this year:

• A 12-year-old was hurt near Mud Volcano on June 26.

Park Safety Rules

The National Park Service wants everyone to stay safe. Their simple rules:

• Stay at least 25 yards (about 23 meters) away from bison at all times.
• Never walk up to a bison to take a photo.
• If a bison comes within 25 yards, turn around and go the other way.
• If it follows you, use bear spray (a strong pepper spray for animals) while moving away.
• Hide behind trees or cars if you can.

Important Point: A correction was made to this story—earlier it said the wrong distance. The real rule is: stay at least 25 yards from bison.

Two Videos You Can Watch

• One video (39 seconds) shows the man tossed by the bison at Yellowstone.
• Another video (17 seconds) shows photographer Mike MacLeod saying the victim first asked about his grandson after the attack.

Summary

Carl McDaniel, 65, was thrown into the air by a bison at Yellowstone after a calm encounter turned scary when a truck honked and the animal charged. His grandson was safe, a photographer scared the bison off, and McDaniel broke his femur in four places but is recovering. This was the park’s second bison incident this year. Remember: stay 25 yards away from bison and never approach them.

FAQ

Q: Who was hurt in the bison attack?
A: Carl McDaniel, a 65-year-old grandfather, was hurt. His 13-year-old grandson was with him but was not injured.

Q: Why did the bison attack?
A: The bison seemed calm at first. A truck honked its horn, and then the bison became agitated and ran at the pair.

Q: How far should you stay from bison?
A: The National Park Service says stay at least 25 yards (about 23 meters) away and never approach them.

Q: Is the man okay now?
A: He broke his femur in four places and had surgery, but he could stand the next day and is doing physical therapy to walk again.

Q: Has this happened before at Yellowstone?
A: Yes, a 12-year-old was injured by a bison on June 26, making McDaniel’s case the second this year.