The evening quiet of Bridge Bay Campground, located in the southern portion of Fishing Bridge within Yellowstone Park, has turned into a nightmare scenario. Professional photographer Mike MacLeod captured with his camera a huge male bison weighing around 900 kilos chasing and running over an elderly man who was walking with his grandson.
The two were about 90 meters away from the mammal, well within the 23 meter safety limit imposed by park authorities, when the animal focused its attention on them. Shortly before, the visibly nervous specimen had already attempted to attack a group of children intent on taking photographs, forcing them to flee. The situation worsened when the bison, which had momentarily rested on the ground, suddenly woke up due to the passage of a white pick-up truck.
After attempting to ram the vehicle, the bovid directed its blind fury towards the trees where the grandfather and grandson were seeking safe shelter. The boy managed to escape quickly, while the elderly man tried to use the logs to protect himself. The animal reached him, hitting him in the hip with its left horn and throwing him into the air, where the man performed a complete somersault before impacting violently on the ground.
Timely rescue and the dangers of the mating season
The drama unfolded before the eyes of those present, and the worst was avoided only thanks to the courage of the witnesses. Seeing the animal towering menacingly over the helpless victim, Mike MacLeod himself interrupted the video recording to run towards the bison, screaming and trying to appear as imposing as possible. The timely action of the photographer, supported by other campers, scared the mammal into moving away. The park’s medical staff arrived on site shortly afterwards, transporting the man to hospital with very significant injuries which still leave him in a delicate condition.
Experts point out that the aggressive behavior of male bison intensifies dramatically as the courtship season, known as rutwhich usually starts at the end of July. In this period the specimens show minimal tolerance towards any element perceived as a threat. This dramatic event represents the second accident recorded in 2026 in Yellowstone, after the attack suffered last June 26 by a twelve-year-old in the Mud Volcano area.
