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A bison attacked a 65-year-old man at Yellowstone National Park over the weekend, flipping the man eight feet in the air, in a moment that was caught on camera and has since gone viral.
The man’s family tells NBC News he was injured and remains in a hospital after undergoing surgery.
“A 65-year-old man was injured by a bison on the evening of July 10 at Bridge Bay Campground near Lake Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park,” the National Park Service said in a statement to NBC News. “Park emergency medical personnel responded and transported him to a nearby hospital. There are no further details to share.”
The photographer who captured the incident on video says the people near the scene did not appear to do anything wrong and adhered to policies about how to deal with the situation when confronted by a bison.
“They were doing everything right. They were respectful, and once the bison showed any agitation, they left, and they were just at the wrong time in the wrong place,” Mike MacLeod told TODAY in a segment that aired July 13.
What Happened in the Viral Video?
The clip captures the bison racing toward the man, hurtling him into the air.
A few moments prior to that, the man and his grandson were spotted taking pictures of the animal as it lied in the grass before it rolled over and then charged at a car driving by the area.
The man who got hurt then started running from the bison, who chased him through several trees.
The bison eventually caught up to the man and rammed him with its head, sending the man up in the air and flipping over before he came crashing down on the ground.
What Did Eyewitnesses Say About the Moment?
“It went from a little bit of amusing to watch to critical emergency,” said MacLeod, who captured the incident on camera before he ran over to help.
“I stopped the video because I could see that bison was standing over him and was pumping his head, very aggressive and agitated. And I knew that somebody had to distract that thing,” he added.
MacLeod says he was joined by other campers, who chased away the bison, before they helped the man.
Bison attacks at Yellowstone are hardly new.
Last month, a 12-year-old boy was taken to a hospital after he was mauled by one.
In June 2022, two people were gored by the animals within a matter of days. Those came roughly a month after a 25-year-old woman was sent 10 feet in the air by one of the animals at the park.
Why Are Bison So Dangerous?
Bison are the largest land mammals in North America.
There are anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 bison living in Yellowstone, which is “the only place in the United States where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times,” according to the NPS.
They can run up to 35 miles per hour, while males can weigh as much 2,000 pounds and females can tip the scales at a maximum of 1,000 pounds.
How to Avoid a Bison Attack
Remain at least 25 yards away from bison, if you see them.
However, there are steps you can take if one should charge, even if the animals can run three times as fast as humans.
“If approached too closely, bison may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing while staring at you, pawing, bellowing, or raising its tail,” the NPS says.
Those are the “warning signs” that “a charge is imminent,” the NPS says. In that case, the NPS urges you to get moving.
“Do not stand your ground! Immediately walk or run away from the animal. If the bison follows you, spray bear spray as you are moving away, and seek cover behind nearby trees or cars,” the website reads.
The NPS also says the best way to see wildlife at Yellowstone is from inside a car. Should an animal come close to you while not in a vehicle, the NPS says you should “back away to maintain a safe distance.”
The Department of the Interior also notes that it’s possible to see how a bison is feeling by observing tail.
“When it hangs down and switches naturally, the bison is usually calm,” the agency writes. “If the tail is standing straight up, watch out! It may be ready to charge. No matter what a bison’s tail is doing, remember that they are unpredictable and can charge at any moment.”
Visitors should also not feed animals and remain with their own food.
“Don’t leave packs, bags, or coolers containing food unattended, even for a few minutes, as animals can learn new food sources quickly. Store these items in vehicles or bear-proof storage lockers, if available,” the NPS says.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
