Updated

Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 21

Yellowstone Bison Tosses 65-Year-Old Man, Leaving Multiple Fractures After 35 mph Charge

Updated

Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 21

Yellowstone Bison Tosses 65-Year-Old Man, Leaving Multiple Fractures After 35 mph Charge

Q: If staying 100 yards away isn't enough to prevent a bison attack, what distance is truly safe?

There is no distance that is completely safe from a wild, agitated bison. The Yellowstone case shows that even about 100 yards can fail if an animal is already stressed, aggressive, or in rut. Park guidance is still the baseline: Yellowstone advises staying at least 25 yards from bison and other large animals, while many wildlife experts urge giving them much more space whenever possible. In practice, the safest distance is “as far away as you can be while still observing,” ideally from inside a vehicle or behind solid cover if the animal seems unsettled. During the summer rut, when bulls are more unpredictable, extra distance matters even more. What makes this difficult is that distance alone is not enough. Bison can run 35 to 40 mph, pivot quickly, and charge with little warning. If a bison changes its behavior because of your presence, you are already too close, regardless of the yardage. Warning signs include head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, tail raised, bluff charges, or repeated agitation toward people, vehicles, or other animals. The practical rule is to treat the posted minimum as a legal floor, not a guarantee. If you see any sign of agitation, back away immediately, put a tree, vehicle, or other barrier between you and the animal, and be ready to use bear spray if it charges. In short, 25 yards is the minimum rule, but the truly safe answer is much farther—and sometimes no open distance is fully safe at all.

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 21

Carl McDaniel, 65, said a bison suddenly singled him out during a July 10 evening walk with his grandson at Yellowstone's Bridge Bay Campground and hurled him into the air.
Multiple fractures came not from the horns but from the impact when he hit the ground, McDaniel said from Bozeman Health Deaconess Medical Center, where a doctor confirmed breaks in several places.
His grandson was not hurt, and McDaniel said the animal had shown no obvious aggression before charging; a witness in an earlier report said the bison had also rushed teenagers nearby.
Bison can run up to 35 mph, stand 6 feet tall and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, making them among Yellowstone's most dangerous animals.
Yellowstone averages a couple of bison attacks each year, and at least two people were attacked in the park in 2025.