The Bison That Tossed a Grandfather 8 Feet in the Air Just Got Its Fate Decided

Yellowstone National Park has decided what happens to the bison that seriously injured a 65-year-old visitor earlier this month. The animal won’t face any consequences. Officials confirmed to TMZ that “no management action” will be taken against the bull bison that charged Carl McDaniel on July 10 at Bridge Bay Campground while he was walking with his 13-year-old grandson.

The attack spread fast online after wildlife photographer Mike MacLeod caught it on video. McDaniel and his grandson had stopped to take pictures of the bison from what McDaniel estimated was about a hundred yards away.

“He was not aggressive, he was not having problems, and we took some pictures and decided to walk on,” McDaniel told CNN.

Then the animal charged.

“There was little time to decide what to do,” McDaniel said. “He could be to us in seconds, so I told my grandson to run in one direction and I went the other to try and draw him away.” The bison struck McDaniel with one of its horns and threw him roughly eight feet into the air.

What happened once he was on the ground

McDaniel described lying immobile as the bison stood over him. “He could have stomped on me, he could have gored me, he could have done almost anything to take my life, and he did not do so,” he said.

MacLeod, still filming, said he made a call to stop.

“I was really afraid he was going to gore the guy on the ground, so I stopped videotaping and ran at the bison, yelled loud, and was trying to be as big and intimidating as possible,” he told Cowboy State Daily.

The bison ran off. Bystanders rushed over, and Yellowstone’s emergency crew responded shortly after, transporting McDaniel to a hospital. He’d suffered a broken femur in four places near his hip and underwent surgery two days later. He was on his feet the following day, and expects several days of physical therapy. His grandson wasn’t hurt.

Wild bison at Yellowstone aren’t euthanized for defensive behavior toward people who get too close, and park officials confirmed to TMZ this one won’t be an exception. It’s mating season for bull bison, when the animals tend to run hotter than usual.

Yellowstone is reminding visitors to stay at least 25 yards from bison. If one starts following you, the park’s advice is blunt: use bear spray while backing away, and get behind a tree or a car.