YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — A 65-year-old man was tossed by a bison in Yellowstone National Park. The victim was identified as Carl McDaniel, who sustained severe injuries during the encounter while walking with his 13-year-old grandson.

McDaniel was accompanied by his grandson at the time of the attack, according to park officials. The incident occurred as the pair were walking along a road within the park boundaries. Mike MacLeod, a professional wildlife photographer who witnessed the event, described the moments leading up to the attack. "They were walking along the road, quite a ways away from the bison, and it started running at them," MacLeod said.

McDaniel suffered a leg broken in four places during the bison’s charge. He was rushed to a hospital and underwent surgery to address the extensive fractures. Despite the severity of his injuries, McDaniel expressed a sense of gratitude for having survived the encounter. "He could have stomped on me, he could have gored me, he could have done almost anything to take my life, but he did not do so," McDaniel said.

The attack marked the second bison-related injury reported in Yellowstone National Park that summer. Bison are responsible for more human injuries than any other animal in the park, according to National Park Service data. Yellowstone is home to the largest population of bison in the United States, contributing to frequent wildlife encounters in the region.

Bison-related injuries, while rarely fatal, are the most common type of animal-inflicted harm in Yellowstone National Park. The park’s bison population—the largest in the country—requires ongoing management, including seasonal capture operations near the northern boundary during winter to control herd size and limit migration outside designated areas. This incident underscores the persistent risks visitors face despite park regulations advising them to maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from bison.