Additional Coverage:
- Grandpa tossed 8 feet into air by Yellowstone bison says he was totally caught off guard by huge beast (themirror.com)
A 65-year-old grandfather, Carl Isom-McDaniel, has recounted his harrowing experience after being thrown eight feet into the air by an aggressive bison at Yellowstone National Park. The incident, which left him with a severely broken femur, took place on July 10 at Wyoming’s Bridge Bay Campground, where he was walking with his 13-year-old grandson.
Isom-McDaniel described the bison as initially calm and lying down without any signs of hostility. “We saw the bison, and he was down, he wasn’t showing aggression or anything like that,” he said from his hospital bed at Bozeman Health in Montana, where he underwent surgery.
The grandfather recalled how the situation quickly changed. “Until it picked a target – that target happened to be me,” he said.
He emphasized the speed and power of the animal: “They move faster than you could ever imagine. He just kept coming, and he was more aggressive.
As soon as he got off that tree, he launched me in the air.”
Despite standing well beyond Yellowstone’s recommended 25-yard safety zone, the park is currently in “bison rutting season,” a period when bulls become highly aggressive and unpredictable. After being thrown, Isom-McDaniel focused first on ensuring his grandson’s safety before attempting to escape by weaving through the trees.
He broke his femur in four places, attributing the injury more to the landing than the initial impact. Reflecting on his ordeal, he expressed relief that the outcome was not worse. “Even though I was on the ground, he could’ve stomped me, he could’ve gored me, he could’ve done anything,” Isom-McDaniel said.
Onlookers, including former Army combat photographer Mike MacLeod, noted that the bison was already agitated before the attack. The bull had earlier charged at a group of children who managed to evade harm. MacLeod abandoned his camera to intervene, shouting and waving to distract the bison until it eventually retreated.
Despite the severity of the attack, Isom-McDaniel remained conscious and even joked during his hospital stay. Yellowstone officials continue to advise visitors to maintain a minimum distance of 75 feet from large wildlife, including bison, to prevent such dangerous encounters. No actions have been taken against the bison involved in this incident.