A witness said the bull charged the man near Bridge Bay Campground before bystanders intervened and called emergency responders.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A bull bison charged a tourist and tossed him several feet into the air near a Yellowstone National Park campground Friday, leaving the man with what a witness described as serious injuries.
The July 10 encounter occurred at Bridge Bay Campground as the unidentified man walked with his grandson, according to photographer Mike MacLeod, who recorded the attack. The National Park Service had not released an official account of the incident or an update on the man’s condition as of Sunday.
Video of the encounter shows the bison rolling in the dirt near a picnic area before standing and running toward the man. The tourist tried to move away and seek cover among nearby trees, but the animal caught him and lifted him into the air with its head and horns.
MacLeod told news organizations that the man landed on his side after being thrown above the animal. He estimated that the tourist rose about 8 feet into the air, although that distance has not been independently confirmed by park officials.
The witness said the man and his grandson had been observing the bison from what appeared to be a considerable distance. MacLeod said the animal had also acted aggressively toward other visitors shortly before the attack, including children who were taking photographs farther away.
A passing pickup truck appeared to agitate the bison shortly before it charged, according to witness accounts and the recorded footage. The precise reason for the animal’s behavior is unknown, and Yellowstone officials had not publicly announced whether the encounter was under investigation.
After the man fell, MacLeod stopped recording and attempted to draw the bison away because he feared it might charge again. Other visitors also intervened, while one person contacted campground security and another called 911, he said.
The man reportedly complained of significant pain in his hip and leg after the encounter. Reports said emergency responders later transported him for medical care, but authorities had not disclosed the nature of his injuries, the hospital involved or whether he remained hospitalized.
The attack came two weeks after a separate bison encounter injured a 12-year-old visitor near Mud Volcano on June 26. The National Park Service said emergency personnel transported that child to a hospital and that the earlier incident remained under investigation.
Park officials require visitors to remain at least 25 yards from bison, elk, moose and other large animals. Visitors must remain at least 100 yards from bears, wolves and cougars. The agency says people should move away when wildlife approaches so the required distance can be maintained.
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal, according to the National Park Service. Despite their heavy appearance, the animals can run about three times faster than humans and may charge when they feel threatened or crowded.
The agency advises visitors to watch for warning behavior such as head bobbing, pawing, bellowing or a raised tail. Yellowstone’s safety guidance says people should immediately create distance and seek cover behind a vehicle or sturdy tree when a bison charges.
Yellowstone officials had not confirmed the tourist’s identity or released additional details about the Bridge Bay encounter as of Sunday. Any official account or medical update would provide the next confirmed development in the case.
Author note: Last updated July 12, 2026.