A Yellowstone National Park visitor was seriously injured after a large bull Bison charged and tossed him into the air during a frightening encounter caught on camera.
According to the New York Post, the Attack happened Friday at Bridge Bay Campground in Wyoming, where video showed the Bison striking the unidentified man and sending him several feet off the ground.
The man had been walking with his grandson when the animal suddenly became aggressive, according to witnesses.
Footage showed the Bison moving through the campground before charging toward a group of visitors who were nearby.
The animal then turned its attention toward the older man, who attempted to escape by running around a group of pine trees. The Bison caught up with him and used its head to launch him into the air.
Montana photographer Mike MacLeod captured the incident and said the Attack changed his understanding of how quickly a Bison can become dangerous.
“I was just trying to get some dramatic footage of that Bison having a fit,” MacLeod said. “It’s changed my idea of what to expect from these guys at this time of year, because I would not have predicted that happening.”
MacLeod said he became concerned the Bison could continue attacking after the man fell to the ground.
He stopped recording and moved toward the animal, yelling and trying to appear larger in an effort to scare it away.
“I was really afraid he was going to gore the guy on the ground,” MacLeod said. “I stopped videotaping and ran at the Bison, yelled loud, and was trying to be as big and intimidating as possible.”
After the Bison moved away, several people rushed to assist the injured visitor.
Witnesses said the man was in significant pain, especially around his hips and the leg where he landed, though they did not see visible bleeding.
Emergency crews responded, but no update on the man’s condition has been released.
MacLeod said the Bison may have been acting more aggressively because of the park’s rutting season, which runs from June through September.
During this period, male Bison often become more territorial as they compete for mates.
Park officials routinely warn visitors to keep a safe distance from wildlife, as Bison can move quickly despite their large size and may react unpredictably when they feel threatened.