A Man Thrown 8 Feet by an Angry Bison: A Super Simple Story

Imagine you are walking in a huge outdoor park called Yellowstone. Suddenly, a giant furry animal (like a really big cow with a hump) gets mad and flips a person into the air! That really happened. Let’s break it down so it’s super easy to understand.

The Basics of the Story

• Who: A grandfather (the victim) and his grandson were walking. A professional photographer named Mike MacLeod saw it all.
• What: An angry male bison (a "bull") tossed the grandfather about 8 feet into the air with its horn.
• Where: At Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone National Park, which is south of a place called Fishing Bridge.
• When: On Friday evening, July 10, 2026.
• Extra: The National Park Service (the people who take care of the park) hasn’t shared official details yet.

Important Callout: Even though the man was hurt, the bison was the one being aggressive. Nobody did anything silly to cause it. The victims were at a safe distance and respectful.

Bull In A China Shop (A Bison Charging Around)

You might have heard the saying "a bull in a china shop" – it means someone big and clumsy breaking things. Here, a real bull bison walked into the campground where people were staying.

• Mike MacLeod, who takes photos for a job and lives in Bozeman, Montana, was camping there with his wife.
• His wife saw the bison coming, so Mike grabbed his camera and filmed from far away (safe!).
• Mike told Cowboy State Daily: “I was just trying to get some dramatic footage of that bison having a fit. It’s changed my idea of what to expect from these guys at this time of year, because I would not have predicted that happening.”
• The bison first walked toward some kids who were taking phone pictures from a good distance. It charged at them, but the kids ran away safely.
• Mike used to be a combat photographer (someone who takes pictures during wars) in the Army, so he knew how to stay calm and record what was happening.
• The bison ran through the camp, people yelled to warn each other, and then the bison rolled in some dirt (called a "wallow") to cool off.
• Meanwhile, the grandfather and grandson were just walking on a road far away from the bison – not even in the same camping area. But the bison noticed them and started running at them.

(There is video and many photos from Mike that show these moments, like the bison coming close and the man trying to run away.)

Closed The Distance, Up And Over (The Attack)

Let’s look at the attack step-by-step in simple terms:

1. The grandfather and grandson were staying at least 100 yards away from the bison. That’s about the length of a football field! They thought it was safe.
2. The bison lay down in the dust (bison like to do that) and seemed calm. The two stopped to take pictures.
3. When the bison got up, the grandfather said, "OK, time to leave," and they hid behind some trees.
4. Suddenly, a white pickup truck drove by. The bison got angry at the truck and charged it. The truck kept driving, so the bison went to where the two were hiding.
5. After bumping a small tree (sapling) and using up some energy, the bison tore into the trees and chased the pair. The grandson got away, but the grandfather did not.
6. The bison hooked the man’s hip with its left horn and tossed him into the air. Mike said the man did a "perfect flip" and landed on his side. The bison was at least 6 feet tall, and the man was several feet above it – about 8 feet off the ground!

Important: The bison was not provoked. It was just in a bad mood and picked them for no clear reason.

Observer To Rescuer (From Watcher to Helper)

When the man fell, the bison stood over him, shaking its head – still mad. Mike MacLeod knew he had to act:

• He stopped filming and ran toward the bison, yelling and making himself look big to distract it.
• A few other people did the same. This scared the bison away – it ran off fast!
• Then everyone rushed to help the injured man:
  • One person held his hand.
  • Another watched for the bison’s return.
  • A woman called 911 (emergency number) from her car.
  • Another woman checked for blood but found none outside, though he was in pain in his hips and leg.
• Yellowstone’s emergency medical team (EMS) came quickly and took care of him.
• Mike later talked to the grandson, who said his grandfather has "pretty significant injuries and is not out of the woods yet" (meaning still very hurt and not safe). The grandson worried it was his fault, but Mike’s video shows it wasn’t.

No Fault (Why Nobody Was to Blame)

This was the second time in 2026 that a bison hurt a person in Yellowstone. The first was on June 26, when a 12-year-old was hurt near Mud Volcano (north of Fishing Bridge).

Mike MacLeod said clearly: nobody was being stupid here. People kept their distance and respected the animal. The bison was the instigator (the one starting trouble). He said:

• "I didn’t see anybody getting close. People were yelling, ‘Careful, there’s a bison coming through,’ and they kept their distance. They were very respectful."
• "You can tell he was agitated, pissed off, and charging anything and everything."
• The reason? It’s called the bison rut – a special time from June to September when male bison get extra energy and aggression because they want to show off and find female bison. (Like teenagers with raging hormones!)
• The grandfather and grandson were just on an evening walk, turned a corner, and boom – bison. Mike said, "Why did it pick those two? There were so many people around, and most of them were closer to and behind the bison. It was really weird."

Important Callout: Wild animals are unpredictable, especially during mating season. Always stay far away (at least 100 yards for bison in Yellowstone) even if they look calm.

Summary

To wrap it up in a nutshell:

• A man was seriously hurt when a grumpy male bison at Yellowstone’s Bridge Bay Campground tossed him 8 feet into the air on July 10, 2026.
• He and his grandson were at a safe distance (100+ yards), but a passing truck set the bison off.
• Brave bystanders, including photographer Mike MacLeod, scared the bison away and helped the man until medics arrived.
• The man has serious injuries but is being cared for; his grandson confirmed it wasn’t their fault.
• The bison was just being aggressive because of its yearly mating season (rut), and no visitor did anything wrong.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is a "bull bison"?
A bull bison is a male bison – the big, hump-shouldered, horned animal you might see in movies about the Old West. They can weigh over a ton!

2. Why did the bison attack if the people were far away?
It was the bison "rut" (mating season) from June to September. Bulls get super cranky and may charge at anything, even from a distance, for no reason.

3. How far is 100 yards, really?
About the length of a football field. Yellowstone rules say stay at least that far from bison to be safe.

4. Is the man going to be okay?
He has significant injuries and is "not out of the woods yet," meaning still in danger, but emergency workers took him for help quickly.

5. Can I see the video of the attack?
Yes, the original news story includes video and photos taken by Mike MacLeod, showing the bison and the moments before and during the flip.

This article is based on a report by Andrew Rossi for Cowboy State Daily. You can email him at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.