A grandfather was tossed by a bull bison in Yellowstone and is now recovering; this version tells what happened, why bison are dangerous, and how the man, identified as 65-year-old Carl Ison-McDaniel, fared after the attack while preserving eyewitness notes and the subject’s own short message.
Over a recent weekend at Yellowstone National Park, a bull bison charged and hurled a man into the air at Bridge Bay Campground. The victim, later named as 65-year-old Carl Ison-McDaniel, did not appear to provoke the animal or make any sudden moves before the incident. Witnesses say he seemed to put himself between the animal and his grandson, drawing the bison’s attention away from the child. The footage that circulated shows the suddenness and raw force of the assault.
Photographers and bystanders captured the moment, and the video quickly drew wide attention because of how unprovoked the attack appeared. One observer described the scene and relayed that Mr. Ison-McDaniel even tried to make light of the situation immediately after it happened. Medical updates indicate he broke his femur in multiple places and was hospitalized, but responders and family say he is expected to recover. He later posted a brief note to reassure friends and strangers alike.
The grandfather tossed by a bison at Yellowstone National Park’s Bridge Bay Campground has a long road of recovery ahead of him but is expected to recover.
He was even making jokes about it in the moments after it happened, the photographer who witnessed the event tells Cowboy State Daily.
Carl Ison-McDaniel, 65, of Kendall, Washington, broke his femur in four places after being tossed airborne by a bull bison Friday. He remains hospitalized as he recovers from being thrown at least 8 feet off the ground and landing hard
On Sunday, he posted a brief note on Facebook.
“Thank you everyone I am OK,” he wrote.
Mike MacLeod, a photographer from Bozeman, Montana, said he’s been in contact with McDaniel’s grandson, who was with him when it occurred.
“(The family) seems to be protecting their privacy, so I don’t want to pry any more than I already have,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
Footage shows the bison’s behavior right before the strike: the animal was shaking its head and lashing its tail, classic signs of agitation in large ungulates. Observers noted the tail went straight up, which often signals a bison has locked onto a target. Whether by misfortune or fate, Mr. Ison-McDaniel became that target while trying to shield his grandson. The video makes clear how fast the situation escalated and how little time anyone had to react.
Adult Plains bison are imposing animals, capable of standing well over six feet at the shoulder and weighing up to about 3,000 pounds. They can sprint at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, and their thick hides, dense manes, and heavy, hooked horns make them formidable in a charge. Those physical facts explain why even a single strike from a bull can send a human airborne and produce severe injuries in an instant. Respect for that power is the only practical defense when people are near wild megafauna.
Witness accounts emphasize that not all encounters are the result of foolish behavior; people can follow the rules and still end up in danger when wild animals choose to act. In this case, multiple witnesses said Mr. Ison-McDaniel was not creeping up on the animal and did not appear to provoke it. That reality underlines two hard truths: big animals are inherently risky, and sometimes ordinary outdoor moments can turn dangerous no matter how careful someone is. The park’s guidelines exist for a reason, but they cannot eliminate every hazard.
The community notes attached to the story point to Mr. Ison-McDaniel’s long history of local involvement and civic work in his area, illustrating that this was an ordinary person doing ordinary things who suffered a sudden, dramatic accident. Recovery will likely be lengthy given the nature of a multi-fragment femur break, but reports are that he is resting and responding to care. Friends, neighbors, and strangers have flooded social channels with concern and best wishes after he posted his brief reassurance to say he is OK.
For anyone who spends time around large wildlife: watch body language, give animals a wide berth, and be prepared to move calmly and quickly if an animal shows signs of agitation. That advice will not change the fact that sometimes incidents occur despite precautions, but it does reduce the frequency of close calls. With Mr. Ison-McDaniel now hospitalized and on the mend, the episode is a stark reminder of how powerful and unpredictable wild animals can be in a moment.
After the incident, people shared accounts and memories of the event while also expressing relief that the man is expected to recover. The quick social message from Mr. Ison-McDaniel — “Thank you everyone I am OK” — brought a collective exhale from those who had seen the footage. Recovery and rehab will follow, and the message stands as a concise update amid the attention the encounter generated.
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