A dramatic wildlife encounter is making the rounds online after video captured a man being violently tossed into the air by a charging bison in a Yellowstone-area campground incident.
The footage, first reported by Cowboy State Daily, shows a massive bison charging an adult male before hooking him and launching him several feet off the ground in front of stunned onlookers.
Professional photographer Mike MacLeod witnessed the incident and described a chain of events that began when the animal entered a campground area crowded with visitors.
“He started walking through the campground,” MacLeod told Cowboy State Daily. “He was coming up to this group of kids, who were taking pictures on their cellphones from a good distance away, and then the buffalo charged these kids.”
According to MacLeod, the situation initially appeared to calm down. The eventual victim and his grandson reportedly moved to what National Park Service guidelines would generally consider a safer distance from the animal.
Then things changed quickly.
A tourist was seriously injured Friday evening after being thrown 8 feet into the air by a bull bison in Yellowstone National Park. Professional photographer Mike Macleod filmed the incident and said the bison was “angry, agitated and charging anything and everything.” (No audio) pic.twitter.com/ELmHQjvxFj
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) July 12, 2026
“The bison was charging the truck,” MacLeod said. “The guy in the truck saw that happening, and he just kept going. The bison (then went) to where these two were hiding in the trees.”
The video shows the man attempting to flee as the animal closes the distance.
“The bison hooked him with his left horn on his hip and tossed him in the air,” MacLeod said. “He made a perfect flip and landed on his side.”
Witnesses estimated the victim was thrown several feet above the animal’s back before crashing to the ground.
Park officials have spent years warning visitors that bison may appear slow, docile, and harmless but can sprint significantly faster than humans and can become aggressive with little warning. National Park Service guidance recommends maintaining at least 25 yards of distance from bison and other large wildlife.
The warning has become increasingly necessary as viral videos and social media culture encourage tourists to get closer to wildlife for photographs and videos.
Yellowstone and surrounding park areas record multiple bison-related injuries nearly every year. Park officials repeatedly emphasize that bison are not domesticated animals despite their calm appearance.
Wildlife experts note that bison can weigh more than 2,000 pounds and react unpredictably when they feel crowded, threatened, or startled by people, vehicles, or other disturbances.
The viral footage sparked a flood of reactions online, with many viewers expressing shock at both the power of the animal and the speed of the attack.
America’s national parks remain wild places. The scenery may be breathtaking, but the wildlife doesn’t care about social media likes.
