Overview
- A bull bison charged through campsite trees and tossed 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel while he walked with his grandson at Bridge Bay Campground on July 10, a moment captured on video.
- Emergency responders stabilized Isom-McDaniel at the scene and he was flown to Bozeman Health for surgery to repair multiple broken bones near his hip, including a fractured femur.
- Park officials announced they will not euthanize or relocate the specific bull and said staff will monitor and review the incident under Yellowstone’s nonintervention policy.
- Experts and a ZooMontana curator said the bison’s behavior matches rut, the peak mating season that runs through late summer and can sharply raise male aggression toward people.
- The attack has prompted renewed visitor warnings about safe distances, possible stepped-up outreach or enforcement in campground areas, and attention to how many tourists put themselves close to wildlife.