A bison met a tragic end last week at Yellowstone National Park when it accidentally fell into a hot spring, horrifying onlookers. The incident occurred at the Midway Geyser Basin, near the park’s famous Old Faithful geyser, according to park officials.
Louise Howard, a first-time visitor to the park, witnessed the unfortunate event. She recounted that two bison were standing near the basin when one of them stepped into a small part of it. The animal attempted to escape but was unsuccessful.
The bison’s struggle became even more distressing as it neared the edge of the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the park. Despite its efforts, the bison fell into the spring and was unable to get out. Howard captured the animal’s final moments in photographs.
Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, stated that the bison’s death was relatively swift. The animal’s intense thrashing moved it into a hotter area of the Grand Prismatic, hastening its demise. Poland clarified that the water’s high temperature, not acidity, was the cause of death. The Grand Prismatic can reach temperatures of up to 192 degrees, while the boiling point at Yellowstone’s high altitude is about 200 degrees.
Poland explained that the bison’s carcass was essentially sitting in nearly boiling water, which would gradually dissolve the organic material until only bone remained. He noted that it’s not unusual for animals in Yellowstone to fall victim to the park’s hot springs.
The park’s Lower Geyser, which can reach similar temperatures, is unofficially known as Skeleton Pool due to the numerous animal remains found there. Bison and other animals often walk along the edges of hot springs, but their weight can cause the thin crust surrounding the pool to break.
The incident occurred during Yellowstone’s peak tourist season, with Old Faithful being a popular attraction. In recent months, two tourists were gored by bison in separate incidents near Old Faithful. Both incidents happened when the individuals got too close to the seemingly calm but potentially dangerous animals. Fortunately, both men sustained only minor injuries.