Bison charges tourist, tossing him in Yellowstone National Park

A tourist suffered severe injuries in Yellowstone National Park after a bull bison charged, gored, and tossed him several meters into the air. The attack happened as the man approached the bison, which was rolling on the ground in the Bridge Bay campground, to take a photograph.

“

I had to get the bison's attention. I was very afraid it would charge the man on the ground, so I stopped recording and ran towards the bison, shouted loudly and tried to look as big and intimidating as possible.

Witnesses described the bison, estimated to be at least 1.80 meters tall, hooking the man with its left horn on the hip and throwing him. He landed with a perfect flip. The tourist, accompanied by a family member, attempted to flee around trees as the bison pursued him.

Mike MacLeod, a photographer who witnessed the event, intervened to try and scare the bison away. "I had to get the bison's attention. I was very afraid it would charge the man on the ground, so I stopped recording and ran towards the bison, shouted loudly and tried to look as big and intimidating as possible," he told Cowboy State Daily. MacLeod noted the bison also charged children.

“

The bison hooked him with its left horn on the hip and threw him into the air. He did a perfect flip and landed on his side. The bison was at least 1.80 meters tall, and the man was several meters above it.

While the bison eventually left, MacLeod and others rushed to help the injured man, who was in significant pain. Park officials recommend visitors stay at least 91 meters from bears and wolves, and 25 meters from other animals, including bison, emphasizing that Yellowstone wildlife is wild and can cause injury or death.

“

The wildlife of Yellowstone is, precisely, wild. Bison, bears, and elk have caused injuries and even death to people! Therefore, always maintain distance from animals and use zoom. The best way to observe them is from the safety of your vehicle or with a telephoto lens, a spotting scope, or binoculars, always from a safe distance.