A 900-kilogram bull bison at Yellowstone National Park tossed 65-year-old tourist Carl Isom-McDaniel about 2.4 meters (8 feet) into the air on July 10, 2026, at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake [1, 2, 3, 4].
Isom-McDaniel was visiting the campground with his 13-year-old grandson when the bison charged without provocation [1, 2, 3, 4]. The park reported the aggression likely stemmed from the start of the bison mating season and a surge in testosterone [1, 2, 3, 4].
Photographer Mike MacLeod captured the attack on video and helped haze the bison away afterward [1, 2, 3, 4]. MacLeod said Isom-McDaniel, though in pain, was conscious and joking through the incident. "His biggest concern was that people would think he had done something to provoke the bison," MacLeod said [1]. He added, "It’s not his fault. From the beginning, it was a really angry bison" [2].
Isom-McDaniel instructed his grandson to run in one direction while he drew the bison’s attention the other way, allowing the boy to escape safely [3]. The bison had earlier charged a group of teenagers [4].
The injured man suffered a broken femur near his hip and underwent surgery two days later on July 12 [1, 2, 3, 4]. By July 13, he was standing and recovering well [1, 2]. He expressed gratitude that the bison did not stomp or gore him when he was on the ground, saying, "He could have stomped on me. He could have gored me... and he did not" [1].
Yellowstone National Park has confirmed no management action, including euthanasia, will be taken against the bison [1, 2, 3, 4]. The park advises visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from bison, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and run up to 30 mph [4].
