Bison tosses grandfather 8 feet in the air at Yellowstone Campground [VIDEO]

Bull animal tossed elderly man during rutting season attack at Bridge Bay, grandson escaped unharmed

A bull bison tossed a grandfather approximately 8 feet into the air at Yellowstone National Park’s Bridge Bay Campground on Friday evening, with the entire incident captured on video by a professional photographer. The 69-second footage shared by @breaking911 shows the man airborne, performing a full flip before landing hard on his side as the bison stood over him.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was walking along a road with his young grandson when the agitated bison charged. The grandson escaped unharmed. The grandfather sustained significant injuries, including a broken hip, and remains hospitalized as of press time. The photographer who captured the footage intervened by yelling at the bison, causing it to flee.

A Bison’s Agitation Unfolds on Camera

The footage, filmed by Bozeman-based photographer Mike MacLeod, opens with the bull bison centered in a grassy field near the campground. The animal appears agitated, with its head lowered and dust rising around it as it paws the ground. A white pickup truck is parked nearby with two people observing from a distance.

The bison then rolls on its side in the dirt, creating a large dust cloud. It appears to calm temporarily. But when it rises, the animal begins moving aggressively toward the road, head low and tail raised. The two observers, including the grandfather and grandson who had been at least 100 yards away, begin retreating.

The bison charges across the road toward a white pickup truck, then redirects toward the trees where the pair had moved for cover. The grandson escapes. The grandfather attempts to run and use trees for evasion but is caught by the animal.

8 Feet in the Air: The Toss That Shocked the Campground

The bison hooked the man with its left horn on his hip area and launched him into the air. The footage shows the man airborne, body inverted with one leg bent, approximately 8 feet above the ground. He completes a full rotation before landing hard on his side.

Immediately after the man lands, the bison stands over him, shaking its head aggressively. MacLeod, who had been filming from a safe distance, stopped recording and ran toward the bison while yelling and attempting to appear large. Several other bystanders joined him, causing the bison to flee the area.

Bystanders then assisted the victim. One held his hand while another provided perimeter security against the bison’s return. A woman called 911 from a vehicle, and another performed a visual check for external bleeding. The man was conscious and talking but in significant pain.

Rutting Season Turned the Bison Into a 2,000-Pound Missile

The incident occurred during the annual bison rutting season, which runs from roughly June through September. During this period, bulls become highly territorial, energetic, and aggressive while competing for dominance and breeding rights. Bison are responsible for more human injuries in Yellowstone than any other animal species.

MacLeod described the bull as “angry, agitated and charging anything and everything.” He noted that the animal had already charged a group of children taking photos before encountering the grandfather and grandson. The children scattered safely.

The photographer emphasized that the grandfather and grandson had maintained appropriate distance. They were at least 100 yards away when the bison first entered the area, well beyond the National Park Service’s recommended minimum of 25 yards. The pair had been taking photos while the bison lay in the dust with its head oriented toward the road.

The Photographer Stopped Filming and Started Running

MacLeod, a former U.S. Army combat photographer, was camping at Bridge Bay with his wife when she alerted him to the bison entering the campground. He began filming from what he described as a safe distance, intending to capture dramatic footage of the animal’s behavior.

When the bison stood over the victim after the toss, MacLeod became concerned about a secondary goring. He stopped recording and ran toward the animal while yelling and making himself appear large. Other bystanders joined him. The combined effort caused the bison to flee.

After the bison left, bystanders provided aid. The victim was conscious and talking but in significant pain, particularly in his hips and the leg on which he landed. Yellowstone Emergency Medical Services arrived promptly and transported him to a hospital. His grandson confirmed to MacLeod that the video demonstrated the pair had not approached recklessly.

X Reacted With Shock and Sympathy

The video, licensed through NewsFlare and first posted by @Breaking911 on X, has received over 43 million views. Reactions have ranged from shock at the physics of the toss to concern for the victim and debate over whether the pair were at fault.

“I was expecting a dumb tourist getting all up in a Bisons face but these guys were way far away. Definitely didn’t deserve that. Hope he’s okay,” one user wrote.

Others focused on the visual of the airborne man. “That would be this years Christmas card,” one user commented, sharing a still of the man mid-flip. Another wrote, “Well that’s Me, you’re probably wondering how I got here,” accompanying a still image.

Some users emphasized the unpredictability of bison behavior during rutting season. “You can be 100 yards away and a bull can still decide to charge,” one user noted. Others called for visitors to respect wildlife distances more rigorously, even when following the recommended guidelines.

The Grandfather’s Fight for Recovery Continues

The grandfather sustained “pretty significant injuries,” including indications of hip and leg trauma. One secondary report mentioned a broken hip. His grandson described him as “not out of the woods yet,” though conscious and under medical care.

The National Park Service has not issued an official public statement on the specific incident as of July 12. This is the second reported human-bison encounter of the 2026 season in the park. The first occurred on June 26, involving a 12-year-old near Mud Volcano. That incident remains under investigation with limited public details released.

The victim’s identity has not been publicly confirmed. No additional information about his condition or treatment has been released.

Conclusion

The footage of the bison tossing a grandfather at Yellowstone has become the latest reminder that wildlife does not follow human rules. The victim and his grandson maintained the recommended distance, retreated when the animal rose, and still could not escape the charge. The bison’s behavior, driven by rutting season hormones, proved that even cautious visitors remain vulnerable in unpredictable encounters.

For the grandfather, the road to recovery is just beginning. His broken hip and other injuries will require significant rehabilitation. The emotional toll on his grandson, who watched the attack unfold and escaped unharmed, is unknown but likely substantial.

The video will continue circulating, serving as both entertainment and education. Yellowstone officials have not commented, but the incident will almost certainly inform future safety messaging. And as the park enters peak tourist season, visitors will watch the footage and reconsider their own proximity to the animals.