A witness said the animal charged through Bridge Bay Campground before lifting the man several feet into the air.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY — A bull bison tossed and seriously injured a tourist Friday evening at Yellowstone National Park’s Bridge Bay Campground, according to a photographer who witnessed and recorded the encounter.
The National Park Service had not released an official account of the July 10 incident as of Sunday. The injured man’s name, age, hometown, medical condition and hospital destination had not been made public. Witness Mike MacLeod said the man was walking through the campground with his grandson when the animal charged.
MacLeod, a professional photographer from Bozeman, Montana, told Cowboy State Daily that the bison appeared agitated as it moved through the campground south of Fishing Bridge. He said the animal charged toward a group of children before continuing through the area while campers called out warnings.
Video recorded by MacLeod showed the bison lying in a dusty area as the man and his grandson watched from a distance. When the animal stood, the two visitors began moving behind nearby trees, MacLeod said. The bison briefly turned toward a passing pickup truck before pursuing the visitors.
The grandson escaped as the bison chased the older man around the trees. MacLeod said the animal caught the man near the hip with a horn and threw him several feet into the air. The man landed on his side and remained on the ground as the bison stayed nearby.
MacLeod said he stopped recording and tried to draw the animal away because he feared it might strike the man again. Other people in the campground joined him, and the bison eventually left the immediate area. Bystanders then went to help the injured visitor.
MacLeod said the man’s grandson later described the injuries as serious. No confirmed medical update was available Sunday, and park officials had not said whether an investigation was underway. The available video and witness account did not show the visitors deliberately approaching or harassing the animal.
Yellowstone requires visitors to remain at least 25 yards, or 23 meters, from bison and other large wildlife. Park officials say visitors must move away when an animal comes closer. Bison may appear calm but are unpredictable, can run about three times faster than people and have injured more visitors in Yellowstone than any other animal.
The encounter came two weeks after a 12-year-old visitor was injured by a bison near Mud Volcano on June 26. Emergency workers took the child to a nearby hospital, and the National Park Service said that incident remained under investigation. Officials did not release the child’s identity or details about the injuries.
The Bridge Bay encounter occurred during the summer bison mating season, when bulls may display heightened activity and aggression. The National Park Service continued to advise visitors to view wildlife from inside a vehicle when possible and maintain the required distance if animals enter campgrounds, roads or developed areas.
Author note: Last updated July 12, 2026.