A Yellowstone bison attack sent 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel to surgery after a viral video captured the animal charging and throwing him into the air.
A Yellowstone bison attack put 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel in the hospital after a charging animal injured him on 10 July. The grandfather described the encounter in a video shared by Bozeman Health in Montana, where he underwent surgery.
Isom-McDaniel said the bison seemed calm at first, but then turned on him. In the video, he said the animal kept moving toward him and became more aggressive before it lifted him into the air. He said the bison had not appeared threatening until it chose him as a target.
The encounter was caught on viral video. It showed Isom-McDaniel and his grandson taking a photo of the bison before the animal got up and chased them. An X-ray later showed that his hip was broken in multiple pieces. Dr. Eric Lowe of Bozeman Health said the injury was clearly painful and pointed to fractures and break lines in the scan.
Isom-McDaniel said the impact itself was not what caused the worst of the damage. He said the landing was the real problem. He also said that, while he was on the ground, the animal could have stomped or gored him. The video gave a close look at a frightening Yellowstone bison attack that could have ended much worse.
The National Park Service warns that bison may look calm, but they have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. It tells visitors to stay at least 25 yards away and never approach a bison for a photo. Officials say the pair likely drew the animal’s attention because it was mating season, when testosterone and aggression are higher. The takeaway for visitors is simple: keep your distance, because wild animals can turn dangerous in seconds.
