On the night of July 10, 2026, anarchy broke out in Bridge Bay Campground, Yellowstone National Park. The angry bull bison rampaged in the campsite area close to Yellowstone Lake, first attacking children who were photographing it, and then moving on to a passing pickup truck. A man and his grandson took cover among some trees. Suddenly, the bison spun around and with a powerful horn blow sent the man flying about eight feet up in the air.
Witnesses said the victim performed a perfect flip before crashing to the ground. The incredible footage of the collision went viral on social media and news outlets.
The professional wildlife photographer captured the whole incident while camping the night in Bozeman, Montana. He was near the area when the incident occurred. Mike MacLeod and other bystanders yelled and charged at the bison, which was towering over the victim, in an effort to divert its attention. Their efforts drove the animal away before Yellowstone EMS arrived on scene.
The victim, whose name was Carl McDaniel, an influential person from the eastern part of Whatcom County in Washington state and who was in his 60s, was conscious and cheerful when help arrived. The injuries he received were to the hips and legs where he had broken bones including the femur bone. McDaniel is expected to make a full but lengthy recovery. His grandson escaped unharmed.
Local reporting from Cowboy State Daily detailed the events with direct accounts from MacLeod. East Idaho News and Cascadia Daily News corroborated the timeline, noting the bison was already agitated and charging multiple targets around 8:30 p.m. during the early rut season.
McDaniel suffered “pretty significant injuries” to his hip and leg area. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. Bystanders provided immediate assistance until professional responders took over. As of the latest reports, no further official medical updates have been released by authorities.
The Yellowstone National Park is also home to one of North America’s biggest herds of bison, which comprise about 4,000-6,000. These adult bison bulls can reach a weight of 2,000 pounds and run as fast as 35 miles per hour. It is worth noting that bison inflict more harm on tourists compared to any other wild animal found in this park.
This event has happened in Yellowstone National Park for the second time this year after the 12-year-old boy was injured on June 26 by bison near Mud Volcano. The National Park Service advises tourists not to approach bison closer than 25 yards (or 75 feet) due to the fact that they may be very unpredictable, particularly during the rutting season when bulls demonstrate great aggressiveness.
“If an animal reacts to your presence, you are too close. Back away slowly.”
In the wake of the viral video, there have been fresh warnings about exercising caution at the parks. The two McDaniel and his grandson had been maintaining some distance and were in the process of moving away when the bull bison started charging towards them, according to park authorities. However, it is important to note that the video has once again underlined the point that despite being in the developed area of the national park, the wild animals here are unpredictable and must be approached with caution.
The park rangers have also continued to warn visitors that bison can remain one of the most dangerous animals at Yellowstone.
“They are big, fast, and strong,”
stated the superintendent.
“Keep your distance.”
To stay informed about more information, check out the official site of the National Park Service.
