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5h ago

Yellowstone to Leave Bison Carcass in Grand Prismatic Spring

Rangers will oversee in situ decomposition following officials’ renewed safety warnings about the springs’ near-boiling temperatures.

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A bison walked through the Prismatic Hot Spring at Yellowstone National Park and fell in, the National Park Service said. "An unfortunate example of what can happen by wandering off boardwalk in thermal areas," the National Park Service said.
Yellowstone National Park Bison
A large bison dying in a Yellowstone National Park hot spring, on June 21, 2025.

Overview

  • The bison carcass has remained in Grand Prismatic Spring since the June 21 incident and will be left to decompose naturally under ranger supervision.
  • Surface waters around the spring hover near 192°F, with deeper zones likely reaching or exceeding Yellowstone’s 200°F boiling point at high altitude.
  • Officials have reiterated cautions for visitors to stay on boardwalks and marked trails to avoid thin, fragile crusts that can collapse under weight.
  • The June 21 event marks the first observed death at Grand Prismatic Spring, although animal skeletons have been discovered in less-visited thermal pools like Skeleton Pool.
  • Rangers will monitor scavengers drawn to the decomposing remains to ensure visitor safety and maintain park protocols.