Montana grandfather sent flying by Yellowstone bison says hitting the ground was the worst part, actual bison impact not so bad

On July 10, a Montana grandfather went viral after a video posted online of him being tossed eight feet into the air by an upset bull bison in Yellowstone National Park. Now, while recovering, the grandfather has opened up about what that was like.

65-year-old Carl McDaniel appeared in an interview with CBS News to talk us through the experience. He confirmed that the incident left him with a femur broken in four places, required surgery, and is now recovering in Bozeman Health Deaconess Medical Center in southern Montana.

The footage was captured by professional photographer Mike MacLeod, who said he’d been filming the bison, noting that it seemed to be agitated. He said,

“I was just trying to get some dramatic footage of that bison having a fit. 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.”

“It was the landing that became the problem”

MacLeod said the bison became particularly enraged after a white pickup truck drove past. The bison initially charged that vehicle as McDaniel and his grandson hid in the trees, but when the truck kept moving, the bison turned its attention to them and charged again.

McDaniel said he was shocked by the bison’s speed, saying, “They move faster than you could ever imagine. He just kept coming, and he was more aggressive, and as soon as he got off that tree, he launched me into the air.”

But, reflecting on the incident, he underlined that all things considered, he was glad the bison went for him rather than his 13-year-old grandson who was with him. McDaniel also said that the tough part of being propelled high into the air isn’t being hit by the bison, it’s clattering onto the hard ground soon after,

“I didn’t get bruises from him launching me in air. It was the landing that became the problem.”

McDaniel says he’s lucky that was the end of it, “even though I was on the ground, he could have stomped me. He could have gored me. He could have done anything.”

MacLeod underlined that he didn’t think McDaniel or his grandson did anything wrong, saying that everyone involved was keeping their distance, but ultimately there was nothing they could do. After the impact, he says he stopped filming and sprinted over to McDaniel with several other people in a successful attempt to scare the bison away.

Incidentally, Yellowstone has only ever recorded two fatalities from bison attacks since the park was founded in 1872. One death occurred in 1983, another in 1902, and there have been 56 people injured.

Official park guidance is that visitors should always stay 100 yards away from bison, but they underline that you’re far more likely to be injured or killed by a car, falls, or other park hazards (like hot springs) than by a bison.