A 65-year-old man is recovering after being injured in a bison attack at Yellowstone National Park’s Bridge Bay Campground on July 10.
Photographer Mike MacLeod witnessed the incident and said the man had been walking with his grandson shortly before the attack occurred.
According to MacLeod, the bison suddenly charged and launched the man into the air.
Video captured by MacLeod shows the bison rolling around in the dirt before appearing to settle down. But moments later, after a white pickup truck drove past, the animal abruptly became agitated and charged toward the man and his grandson.
The pair tried to get away, moving behind nearby trees as the bison approached. Despite their efforts, the animal caught up to the grandfather, using its head and horns to throw him into the air.
MacLeod said he had only been filming the bison because it seemed to be acting unusually. He told a local news site that the bison had already shown signs of aggression before the attack. He said it had charged toward a group of children who were taking photos from what appeared to be a reasonable distance.
After the animal seemed to calm down, the man and his grandson stopped to take a few pictures of it. MacLeod believes they thought they were far enough away to be safe.
Several bystanders also stepped in to help. According to MacLeod, one person notified campground security while another called 911.
MacLeod emphasized that, in his view, the victim and his grandson had acted responsibly around the wildlife and were not behaving recklessly.
“They were very respectful,” he said. “The bison just seemed agitated and was charging at anything and everything.”
Even as someone with experience around bison, MacLeod said the attack struck him as unusual.
The National Park Service advises visitors to stay at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 yards away from other wildlife, including bison and elk.
