BOZEMAN, Mont., July 26 (Bozeman Times) — A bison attack at Yellowstone National Park has put one of the park’s most basic safety warnings back in focus. Carl Isom-McDaniel, who was recovering at Bozeman Health in Bozeman, Montana, said the animal attacked him at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake, threw him into the air and left him with multiple fractures.
What happened at the campground?
In a hospital-bed video, Isom-McDaniel said he was with his grandson when the bison first did not seem aggressive. He said the animal then singled him out, chased him around a tree and launched him. “It picked a target. That target happened to be me,” he said. He also said, “They move faster than you could ever imagine.”
The National Park Service said park emergency medical personnel responded to the July 10 incident and took him to a nearby hospital.
How badly was he hurt?
Isom-McDaniel said he suffered multiple fractures, including a femur broken in four places. A doctor quoted in the Bozeman Health video said the injury was broken in multiple pieces. Reports said he had surgery and was still recovering in a Montana hospital.
What are Yellowstone’s bison rules?
The National Park Service says visitors should stay at least 25 yards from bison and never approach them. The warning exists because bison are wild animals that can move quickly and react suddenly. Even when they appear calm, they can become dangerous if people get too close.
Why does this matter in Bozeman and Montana?
The attack happened in a federal park, and the recovery happened in Bozeman, so the story matters both for Yellowstone visitors and for people in Montana. The basic message from the park service is simple: give bison space, and do not assume a calm-looking animal is safe to approach.
