A tourist was seriously injured in a wild bison attack at Yellowstone, one of the most famous national parks in the US. The incident occurred on July 10 at the Bridge Bay campground in Wyoming, when a male bison weighing about 900 kilograms gored an elderly man walking with his grandchild, tossing him about 2.5 meters into the air.
Professional photographer Mike Maclaud, who was camping with his wife, noticed the bison becoming aggressive and recorded the events second by second. Speaking to the Cowboy State Daily newspaper, Maclaud said the animal first ran toward a group of children, then began attacking randomly in the campground.
Eyewitness details of the attack
According to Maclaud's account, the elderly tourist and his grandchild were trying to film the bison with their cell phones when the animal suddenly charged. The bison first headed toward a pickup truck, and after the vehicle moved away, it turned toward the grandfather and grandchild hiding among the trees. While the grandchild managed to escape, the bison chased the elderly man, circled him, and gored him in the hip area with its left horn, tossing him into the air. Maclaud said, 'The man did a complete somersault and landed on his side.'
Photographer and other witnesses intervened
After the attack, fearing the bison would attack the man lying on the ground again, Maclaud said he stopped recording, ran toward the animal, and tried to scare it away by shouting. With other witnesses intervening similarly, the bison retreated. Maclaud reported that the injured tourist's grandchild said his grandfather had suffered very serious injuries and was in critical condition. The National Park Service (NPS) did not share detailed information about the attack.
Mating season triggers aggression
The incident occurred during the bison mating season, known as the rut. During this period, male bison compete for females, displaying their strength and endurance, which raises their aggression levels. According to Cowboy State Daily, this attack was the second bison attack recorded in Yellowstone in 2026. The first incident took place on June 26 in the Mud Volcano area, injuring a 12-year-old child. The NPS had stated that the investigation into that incident was ongoing.
Yellowstone National Park's official website emphasizes that animals are wild and dangerous no matter how calm they appear. Visitors are advised to stay at least 100 meters away from bears, wolves, and cougars, and at least 25 meters from other animals such as bison and elk. According to the rules, intentionally approaching or standing near wild animals in a way that disturbs them is legally prohibited. Maclaud, however, noted that he observed the injured tourist complying with park rules, saying, 'I didn't see anyone getting too close. People were keeping their distance and being respectful.'
