Grandfather Airborne: Bull Bison Tosses Tourist 8 Feet at Yellowstone

When you’re visiting one of America’s most iconic national parks, the last thing you expect is to become a human projectile. But that’s exactly what happened to a grandfather at Yellowstone National Park on Friday night when a raging bull bison decided he’d had enough of tourists snapping photos.

Professional photographer Mike MacLeod was already documenting the bison’s unusual behavior—the animal was rolling around in the dirt looking agitated—when an older man with a white beard and his younger companion wandered over to grab a quick picture. They weren’t being reckless about it. They were standing at a reasonable distance, minding their own business, doing what thousands of visitors do every summer at Yellowstone. But something about their presence triggered this particular bison, and what happened next is both startling and a stark reminder of just how unpredictable wildlife can be.

The animal charged with purpose. The older man tried to evade the beast for a few critical moments, but the bison was faster and more determined. Using its head and horns with brutal efficiency, it launched him into the air—the footage shows him flying roughly 8 feet before crashing down. MacLeod and several other visitors immediately sprang into action, rushing in to scare the bison off while calling 911. The grandfather, who’d been visiting with his grandson, was seriously injured in the attack.

Here’s the sobering part: the National Park Service recommends maintaining at least 75 feet of distance from bison and elk. According to MacLeod, these visitors appeared to be respecting that guideline. They weren’t disrespecting the animal or acting foolishly. Yet nature doesn’t care about park recommendations or good intentions. A bison weighing up to 2,000 pounds with horns and the temperament to match doesn’t need much provocation—or any provocation at all—to remind us that national parks aren’t petting zoos. They’re wild places where we’re the visitors, and the animals set the rules. This summer, if you’re heading to Yellowstone or any other park, keep your head on a swivel. And maybe zoom in with your camera instead of walking closer.