BOZEMAN, Mont., July 26 (Bozeman Times) — A Yellowstone National Park visitor’s account is a reminder of one of the park’s most basic safety rules: keep your distance from bison.
Carl Isom-McDaniel, who was injured in a bison attack on July 10 at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake, described the encounter from a Bozeman hospital bed in video shared through coverage by Fox News and other outlets. He said he was with his grandson when the animal first seemed calm, then singled him out.
“They move faster than you could ever imagine,” Isom-McDaniel said.
What happened at Yellowstone?
The National Park Service confirmed to CNN that park emergency medical personnel responded after a bison charged and tossed the visitor at Bridge Bay Campground. The park service said he was taken to a nearby hospital.
In his own account, Isom-McDaniel said the animal chased him around a tree and launched him into the air. He said, “It picked a target. That target happened to be me.”
Coverage of the Bozeman Health video says he suffered multiple fractures, including a femur broken in four places, and underwent surgery.
Why are bison so dangerous?
Bison may look slow, but Yellowstone officials warn that they are wild animals and should never be approached. CNN reported that the park advises visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from bison.
That distance rule matters because bison can react quickly if they feel crowded, surprised, or threatened. The Yellowstone incident is not a climate story or a weather event; it is a wildlife safety issue tied to how people and large animals share space in a federal park.
What do park rules require?
The National Park Service guidance quoted by CNN says visitors should stay at least 25 yards from bison and never approach them.
That rule is part of a broader park safety message: even in a place built around watching wildlife, visitors are expected to give animals room and avoid trying to get closer for photos or a better view.
What is known about the visitor’s recovery?
Isom-McDaniel was recovering in Bozeman after surgery, according to the hospital video and the later coverage. The reporting did not include a full prognosis or a discharge date.
The sources also vary slightly in how they identify him, with some using Isom-McDaniel and others shortening the name to McDaniel.
For Yellowstone visitors, the takeaway is straightforward: bison are part of the park’s draw, but they are not safe to approach. Park guidance says to keep well back, and the hospital-bed account from this attack shows why.
