Bison Charges and Tosses Elderly Man at Yellowstone National Park

A dramatic incident occurred on Friday at the Bridge Bay camping area near Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, where a bison aggressively chased and tossed an elderly man about 2.5 meters into the air. The event was captured on video by professional photographer Mike McLloyd, who witnessed the bison acting nervously and wildly around the campsite before the attack. Initially, the bison appeared agitated and rolled on the ground as the man and his granddaughter walked nearby, stopping briefly to photograph the animal from a distance.

As a white pickup truck passed between the bison and the hikers, the bison shifted its focus from the vehicle to the man and his granddaughter, pursuing them. The granddaughter managed to escape behind a cluster of trees, but the bison charged the grandfather, lifting him with its head and causing him to roll and land on his side. The man sustained serious injuries and remained in critical condition. Other campers, including McLloyd, intervened by shouting and approaching the bison to divert its attention, preventing further harm.

McLloyd explained that the hikers were unaware of the danger because they were on a separate trail from the main camping area, where others had been warning each other about the aggressive bison. He emphasized that no provocation occurred from the hikers, contrasting this with other incidents where people have triggered bison aggression. McLloyd believes the bison was seeking confrontation, as it had been charging at various people and objects in the area. The incident is the second bison attack at Yellowstone this year, following a similar injury to a 16-year-old last month.

Local news outlet Cowboy State Daily noted that the bison's aggressive behavior is likely linked to the rutting season, which runs from June to September, during which male bison become particularly energetic and combative as they compete for dominance and mating rights. McLloyd also shared that the victim's granddaughter was concerned and wanted to review the footage to confirm the man was not at fault, which the video clearly shows. The incident underscores the risks of close encounters with wildlife during this volatile period at Yellowstone National Park.